How do you mark your empty chamber for reload

[John Kloehr]

I am liking the "shoot one, open loading gate, and fill the empty chamber."

Just got out one of my revolvers, a Taylor 1873 .44 Special. Do need to half cock to inert a round as the chamber is not quite in the right place.

[Rye Miles #13621]

On 2/15/2025 at 2:30 PM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Load 1, skip one and load 4.

Full cock and lower hammer.

Visibly confirm hammer on empty chamber.....

This ^^^^^🤠

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Rye!!

 

That ain't whatz being discussed.  The OP and most others are trying to figure out the best way to handle a revolver "Reload" on the clock.  Like, how to mark the chamber for the reload.  The problem mostly applies to Rugerites.  No need to mark Colt pattern SAs. 

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

On 2/15/2025 at 11:42 AM, R. R. Ranger said:

Have some stages coming up that will require a pistol reload. How can you temporarly mark your empty chamber on a Blackhawk. Want something that will stay for whole match without messing with rotation. I could engrave a star or something but rather have removeable for now. Only thing I can think of so far is dab of fingernail polish. Any better ideas?

 

 

the easiest is to load the single before you shoot half cock on colt or clone open gate on ruger the empty cylinder is under hammer rotate load round close gate cock revolver and engage 1st target.

[Major Crimes]

This won't help you, but it was funny.

 

As OP there was a reload but could be before engaging targets.

.

First shooter reloads closes gate and spins the cylinder and cocks it (safely) aims and ........ BANG!

 

Everyone laughs and much ribbing ensues.

 

I'm next, load round- decide what the hell and repeat. Aim and ..... BANG!

 

Jaws hit ground and we are all wondering what odds we could have gotten on that.

 

Third guy, loads spins, cocks, aims....... CLICK! of course it went click what did you expect

 

 

[Matthew Duncan]

On 2/17/2025 at 11:20 AM, Cypress Sun said:

Spin the cylinder to the empty hole, load one, click, click, click, click, bang. 

 

What's so hard about that?

Some cowpokes have a hard time counting to four under stress?

[watab kid]

so far all of mine save the 22s dont need marking , still have a couple to check tho 

[Tn Tombstone]

A mark like you all are talking about (temporary and white) could be considered an external modification that is not listed in the approved list.

You are not allowed to mark the front site with any color that was not common back in the day. Not sure about marking a cylinder to facilitate at quicker reload. 

 

 

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

2 hours ago, Tn Tombstone said:

A mark like you all are talking about (temporary and white) could be considered an external modification that is not listed in the approved list.

You are not allowed to mark the front site with any color that was not common back in the day. Not sure about marking a cylinder to facilitate at quicker reload. 

 

Marking the empty chamber in that manner is a very common practice used by percussionists and shooters using revolvers with recessed chambers.

 

It has never been questioned as an "external modification".

 

[G W Wade]

I don't mark the cylinder but I was shown a trick by an old shooting buddy. I only shoot Rugers so nit sure about Colts,      Open the gate, your empty cylinder is there,  Put cartridge in, Then place your index finger on the cylinder at the bottom of the frame opening, rotate to the top of the opening (free spin), close gate.    If not free spin, put your finger at top of frame and rotate down 2 times.  Close gate, close gate and go for it.          GW

[Eyesa Horg]

To me, the bad thing with marking is that you'll begin to rely on it. Then what happens when it accidentally gets rubbed off? Learn or pick a method and you'll do it by muscle memory. Either way you do it, you have to take the time to do it, so why not do it right at the beginning when the empty chamber is at the gate and just keep shooting. Doesn't matter if the chamber is marked or not, or which one you left empty. Equal rights to all chambers!

[Cottonmouth Mark]

Didnt read through all the responses, but I spent like $1 on a bunch of mini dot stickers. They're maybe 1/8 dia, so easily fit between the flutes of the cylinder and dont' get in the way of any timing/lock workings. 

 

I figured they last a match until I clean the gun. Easily do. $1 and I am set for a few yrs.

[R. R. Ranger]

I’m thinking this is a great excuse to purchase another NM Vaquero, strictly for safety reasons mind you, so I can see rims on reloads. Right?

[Dusty Devil Dale]

On 2/17/2025 at 8:27 AM, Eyesa Horg said:

I still like... bang,open gate and insert cartridge in empty chamber, bang,bang,bang,bang,bang!

That is much faster than re-indexing. 

Just fire first round, do NOT re-cock.  When you open the gate, the open chamber is staring at you.  Drop in a round, close the gate and fire 5, like Eyesa said.  Easy-peasy!

Edited February 20 by Dusty Devil Dale

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Best way to deal with any kind of a revolver reload is as follows...

Obtain a S&W top break revolver (real or replica).

When it comes time to reload, break open the gun, ejecting the empties.   Place new cartridge(s) in empty chambers as needed.   Close and shoot.

Edited February 21 by H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619

[Griff]

I've seen two ways that stage writers address a reload of a single round on a stage.  1 - by stating such reload is done after the initial 5 rounds are fired;  and, 2 - not so stipulating.  I don't know if it's faster under option 2, to take the time to raise the gun up to shooting position, firing a single round, then lowering the gun to conveniently load that 6th round as the empty chamber at ½ cock will be under the loading gate, then proceeding to reacquire a sight picture on the next target.  I just start off with the reload and fire 6 rounds without any extra manipulation of the firearm.  If, it's option 1, where you fire the 5 shots and then reload... I never even think about it.  Just fire 5 rounds, bring the gun to ½ cock, cap the empty nipple and rotate the cylinder to where the new cap is ready to be rotated to be under the hammer when brought to full cock.  Marking empty chambers is wholly unnecessary.  Suppository cartridges for the handgun are totally superfluous, and meant to ease the burden on lesser mortals.  True gods of this game shoot as Frontiersman.

Edited February 21 by Griff

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

I haven’t seen a pistol reload in over 10 years. I thought it had fallen out of favor along with distant targets. 

[Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667]

13 minutes ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

I haven’t seen a pistol reload in over 10 years. I thought it had fallen out of favor along with distant targets. 

The OP plans to use revolvers on all targets in my club’s Josey Wales category.  One of the stages has six shotgun targets which means the shooter must either perform an “on the clock” reload or take a miss.

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

4 minutes ago, Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667 said:

The OP plans to use revolvers on all targets in my club’s Josey Wales category.  One of the stages has six shotgun targets which means the shooter must either perform an “on the clock” reload or take a miss.

Got it. I haven’t seen a Josie Wales match in eons either. They weren’t popular at our club. 

[watab kid]

long way around the barn on that question it seems but hey i dont shoot BP much