Revolver cranes

[CompBoy]

Got a question I've heard it said that the crane needs to be supported at all times during the reloading process and that you need to make sure it doesn't even fall down while setting it down on the bench at the range before going down range. Now when I did my safety RPAL course this wasn't brought up. It was brought up during my orientation course for my range.

How fragile is the crane? I moved away from the idea of a DA revolver due to this and I figured since this is the repository of all gun wisdom I'd ask here. I'm not talking about flicking it opened and closed just I won't touch any revolver at this point even if someone asks me if I'd like to shoot theirs. I did one guy revolver and I thought he was going to kill me when I put it down and forgot to support the cylinder after clearing it. It fell down, I apologized but he seemed pissed till he left. Is this really a big deal or??

 

[BP7]

some people are just anal. steel can take a bit of handling and it SHOULD take some handling, but not ABUSE. if the revolver is laying on its right side and the cylinder is up to show all clear and it happens to fall down back into the frame, it's not a big deal AT ALL. the people who get all up in arms about that are probably the same ones who would never compete since during reloads the cylinder has to get swung open and closed a wee bit faster than just gently dropping an inch.

some people treat their guns like Faberge Eggs, and if you look on EE they price them like that too. guns are tools. there's normal handling, and there's downright abuse.

somewhat related: when i hand someone my 1911 and they try to be all gentle with it when they put the mag in, i have to remind them to be firm and push the ####er in HARD. heck, shove it in, don't tickle it in with a feather!

 

[MTF]

I agree with BP7.

 

[bosley]

I carried S&W revolvers for years. Never spent a whole lot of time flicking the cylinder open and shut but otherwise abused the heck out of them with daily carry. Never had the cylinder fall off one or fail to line up. Some people are just a little more an@l than others when it comes to their stuff as BP7 mentioned.

 

[Lee Enfield]

Got a question I've heard it said that the crane needs to be supported at all times during the reloading process and that you need to make sure it doesn't even fall down while setting it down on the bench at the range before going down range. Now when I did my safety RPAL course this wasn't brought up. It was brought up during my orientation course for my range.

How fragile is the crane? I moved away from the idea of a DA revolver due to this and I figured since this is the repository of all gun wisdom I'd ask here. I'm not talking about flicking it opened and closed just I won't touch any revolver at this point even if someone asks me if I'd like to shoot theirs. I did one guy revolver and I thought he was going to kill me when I put it down and forgot to support the cylinder after clearing it. It fell down, I apologized but he seemed pissed till he left. Is this really a big deal or??

I think the people you talked to did not understand what the issues are.

If you use the weight of the cylinder to close the gun (flick it) like the movies & TV, the inertia will bend the crane, forcing the cylinder to be angled at the rear, which being as it still locks by the cylinder bolt and hand causes it to start locking up out of line with the bore. The gun will continue to funtion until the firing pin no longer reliably detonates the primer. I have seen extreme examples where @ 20% of the bullet was shaved off as it passed the forcing cone into the barrel.

Normal use will not damage the gun, and the whole unloading/loading/firing sequence is commonly available if you look for it. You don't have to baby the revolver, but like any type of gun it should not be abused ....

Even with this obvious problem, the gun continued to fire and function. The problem is/was correctable by a competent revolver 'smith.

I think the guy who's gun you shot was more concerned about finish wear (cylinder ring) than a function issue.

Daniel Wesson himself is quoted as saying that a properly functioning revolver will have a cylinder ring, but that doesn't stop collectors and people worried about resale value from detesting a gun which shows clearly that it has been fired. DA revolver collectors prefer to close the cylinder so that the locking bolt is in a locking slot when the gun is closed. That is simply to minimize finish wear between the locking slots of the cylinder.

With a S&W revolver the quick and easy way of testing for proper fuction is to control the DA firing sequence (pull the trigger, let the hammer continue to the bottom of it's fall, continue holding the trigger to the rear) and check whether the cylinder is now properly locked by the cylinder bolt.

 

[tjhaile]

I don't think it would be a problem.

Incidentally, a properly executed speed reload will provide enough support to keep from bending the crane.