Significance of numbered cylinder chambers

[ddm]

Would someone please explain to me the significance of numbering the chambers of cylinder of a revolver. Tried to look it up and found reference to "timed and numbered" but no explanation. I was looking at a 629V-comp today and noticed chambers were numbered.Thanks

 

[steelslaver]

If I wanted to most accuracy possible our of a revolver I would shoot some groups with each chamber and then use the most accurate one. Inside 50 yards it probably wouldn't mater that much, but if you were going over that I have no doubt you could do better with a single chamber.

 

[HamHands]

If I wanted to most accuracy possible our of a revolve I would shoot some groups with each chamber and then use the most accurate one. Inside 50 yards it wouldn't mater that much, but if you were going over that I have no doubt you could do better with a single chamber.

I've always liked the idea of numbered chambers but never knew the why's as to... Now I do considering the chamber throats and their measurement's in regards to accuracy, pressures made, etc... Such certainly makes a significant difference in regards to accuracy!

 

[ddm]

Thanks for the explanation. I appreciate it.

 

[BillBro]

Yeah, my 29 has numbered chambers and the number 1 chamber will shoot a one hole group at any distance, every time, I don't think the other 5 are quite as accurate, they always mess up my one hole groups.��
Honestly? Not sure. The 29 was numbered when I got it.

 

[6string]

The practice seems to have started early in the Bullseye shooting game.

You would test each chamber individually to find the most accurate one. Sometimes you'll find an old revolver where numbers were stamped. Other times you might just find a center punch mark indicating the most accurate chamber.
For the 50 yd slow fire stage, where you have 10 minutes to shoot 10 shots, there was plenty of time to single load your revolver shot by shot. Later, after pistol matches went from being run by the United States Revolver Association and went over to the NRA, the practice was banned from matches. You had to load and fire 5 shots at a time. That's why the familiar range command is "with five rounds, load".

Anyhow, the practice might well have been the inspiration for the Colt "Camp Perry" model. At first casual glance it looked like a revolver but it was a single shot target pistol built on a revolver frame. Instead of having a cylinder, though, it had a single shot breech that swung out. The barrel was even attached to the breech, eliminating the barrel/cylinder gap and forcing cone, etc.

See attached from Julian Hatcher's "Textbook of Pistols & Revolvers" first printed in 1927.