3 screw or old model, half #### the hammer, flip open the loading gate, insert bullet, skip next chamber, load next 4 chambers, after last chamber is loaded pull hammer back all the way, pull trigger and the hammer will be on an empty cylinder. If the firearm was sent back to Ruger for the "safety conversion" it is done differently. The "new model", open loading gate, load all chambers, close gate. the 3 screw design had 4 clicks C-O-L-T. first safety or off the primer, second half #### or loading position, third sear starting to engage, fourth full draw of the hammer. The "new model" is either down and safe or cocked and ready to go BOOM. Hope that helps.