reteach, I can tell you from years of personal experience …. the safety notch in Rugers hard brittle hammers break off very easily. All it may take is a "thumb slip" while lowering the hammer after loading and it can break the safety notch. Many OM gun owners don't even notice a broken safety notch because the gun will still cock and shoot just fine. This is the primary reason why Ruger offers a free transfer bar conversion. Once a transfer bar modification has been done, it's safe to carry all 6 chambers loaded because the top step of the hammer rests on the frame, not the firing pin.

 

The hammer on the old model should always be carried with only 5 rounds and the hammer on the "safety" notch over the empty chamber. However the safety notch is not a "drop" safe and that is why the hammer should always be over the empty chamber. Apparently the old model has been tested with the hammer over the empty chamber, and on the 1st notch, and when dropped just right it would have discharged a round if a round had been in the chamber. Hopefully this will make sense.

 

Thanks guys. I have a couple of unmodified Old Models but neither has ever failed at anything. I knew someone must have had some kind of failure experience somewhere along the line. "Brittle parts" makes sense.

 

TI knew someone must have had some kind of failure experience somewhere along the line. "Brittle parts" makes sense.

This warning far predates Ruger Single Actions of any type. Colt model 1873 Single Action Army revolvers were prone to firing if dropped with the hammer over a loaded chamber despite the "safety notch". The Remington and other single action guns contemporary with the Colt had the same issue. The recommendation to only load 5 rounds and leave the hammer over an empty chamber is as old as the cartridge firing single action revolver.

Hammers are hardened to withstand the impact of firing and to make the sear notch wear resistant. The downside is they are all somewhat brittle and the thin safety notch isn't very strong.

The current "transfer bar" safety system on the New Model Rugers is drop-safe and modern single actions from Ruger and others with this design can be safely carried with all six chambers loaded.

 

As I recall, many years ago, a fellow had his Old Model Blackhawk go off when it fell from the seat of his truck onto the floor. The gun went off and the bullet struck him in his leg. He subsequently filed a suit against Ruger for production of an unsafe weapon. Ruger responded with the transfer bar system on New Models and the offer to convert all Old Models free.

 

If memory serves, it was told that Bill Hickok had such an accidental discharge when his revolver fell out when he was sitting in a chair. It landed on the hammer, discharged, but no one was hit. If it could happen to Bill, just think about us mere mortals.......

 

I never use a traditional single action only ruger new model revolvers and others with a transfer bar. I own traditional single actions and know how to use them but I never do.. all my traditional single actions are collector items or nostalgia items. Nostalg items I mean owned by a friend etc.

 

A fellow I knew insisted in carrying 6 in his old model super black hawk. It fell out of his shoulder holster. Went off killing him.

 

People who are hurt by insisting to carry 6 rounds in an OM Ruger, Colt or Colt clone also seem to be the same guys that have their revolver "fall" out of the holster.
Having s strap, flap or hammer thong to keep the revolver in the holster is a must.
Ignore both of those rules and you are setting yourself up to get hurt, or hurt nearby bystanders.

 

Ever hear the old expression going off half cocked. It wasn't just a saying.

 

If you've never seen a NM hammer next to an OM hammer the notches may sound a bit abstract. In the photo above the NM hammer is on the left and OM hammer on the right. You can see the notches on the OM hammer and they are rather small and somewhat delicate. The OM owner's manual advises that the notches can be broken not only by dropping the gun or otherwise hitting the hammer but also by excessive trigger pressure. So it's possible to break either the safety or loading notch by the trigger alone. As Iowegan noted many owners don't use the safety notch so it could be broken and they wouldn't notice.

The owner's manual instructs users to lower the hammer on an empty chamber but it also advises that after loading (load one, skip one, load four) and if the gun is to be fired immediately, like at a range, then lower the hammer from the loading notch to the safety notch before cocking to fire the first time. "Unless this procedure is followed in any single action revolver, the cylinder is apt to be out of index when fired." So even at the range if you load all six chambers and follow this procedure you would be lowering the hammer from the loading notch to the safety notch and one thumb slip or a bad safety notch could result in an accidental discharge.

I have a half dozen old models and none are converted. I do shoot them some so they're not just collectibles to me but I don't carry them, I only enjoy them at the range. And I don't generally allow anyone else to shoot them unless I know they really understand all the nuances of OM operation.

 

Yes, those pictures do clarify the matter. Thanks, Waveform.

 

Post deleted in deference to IOWEGAN's commentary below.

 

Ale-8(1), Just because Ruger didn't write directions the way you thought they should, it doesn't mean they are wrong. Waveform and I have been discussing this issue. If you look at an OM Single-Six or OM Blackhawk cylinder, you will see recessed chambers and a firing pin safety groove. What's it for? Simple …. if you lower the hammer from half cock after loading / unloading, guess where the firing pin aligns? Yup, right between chambers where the gun can't possibly be fired, even if it is fully loaded. If it weren't for the safety groove, the firing pin would rest on the cylinder face and may get damaged. If you follow your procedure, the firing pin will align with the primer or rim, making the gun unsafe unless the chamber under the hammer is empty.

The procedure you outlined was the standard for Colt SAAs since 1873 and works just fine with OM Single-Sixes, Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks and even Bearcats. I would rather use your procedure because it is less likely to result in a turn ring on the cylinder. However, the procedure in the Ruger Owner's manual is less prone to "thumb slip" and is safe to carry all 6 chambers loaded when the cylinder is positioned between chambers in respect to the firing pin. The problem is ….. most people don't bother to read the manual and understand what Ruger is trying to convey …. making for a potentially unsafe firearm.

Here's Waveform's photos of NM and OM Single-Six cylinders. The blued cylinder with recessed chambers and a firing pin safety groove is the OM.

 

Years ago when I first started using single action revolvers there were no "new model" versions. It became ingrained to carry single actions hammer down on an empty chamber. I still do this today even with newer revolvers. Old safety habits die hard and if you still shoot the older ones a good practice to retain. At least for me and my shooting 5 rounds has always seemed to be enough.

 

When on the range I load and shoot five rounds at a time. Why? My cartridge boxes are set up in rows of five. Keeps thing orderly.

Everyday carry, the Blackhawk gets a full dose of six.

Bob Wright

 

to carry 6 in an OM BH you can let the hammer down all the way between the cartridge rims and the firing pin protruding through the frame holds the hammer solidly between the cartridges. The cylinder won't rotate until you either cock the hammer or the firing pin breaks off.

 

Evening. At 75 years old, I have carried Ruger Pistols for many - many years (more than I care to remember). The transfer bar safety system is that only safety system that I fully trust. I have had many instances where the loaded weapon fell on the ground or floor and have never had one fire. The old model pistols with their half cock systems may be historically accurate but they are a hazard in any ones hands. Accidents happen but the truly safe weapons are the ones that will prevent serious accidents from occurring.

 

The best safety for any style of gun is still the one between your ears.
I can honestly say I've never dropped my handgun, or any gun, on the ground or floor.
To do so "in many instances", yes, maybe you do need some additional safeguards.

 

I can honestly say I've never dropped my handgun, or any gun, on the ground or floor.

You forgot one word in this sentence: "yet".

 

Can't say that I do because I don't own a SA revolver.

 

A friend of a friend was shot due to a dropped gun, the guy was always careful. Horrible ordeal, not sure if he ever fully recovered, it wasnt even a vital organ. I met him a few tines way back, ts been years of recovery as I understsnd it.

Is it really worth it,?? (if not a duty weapon while in service). Not to my way of thinking.

 

What I've heard

Have loved revolvers for over 60 years but never owned a "single action" (well, owned one for 5 ours until realized i'm not a single action fan).
However, read several accounts that in the "old west"many carried 6 in the chamber BUT let the hammer down BETWEEN chambers to avoid the accidential discharge problem, before transfer bars and so on.
Don't know if this is even possible or safe but anyone with a "hog" might try it and see what they think. Might let the rest of us know!.

Bill.

 

Favoritesport,
I've seen it work for the Ruger Old Model Flattop Blackhawk in 38/357 mag (hammer resting between cartridges).

 

favoritesport, The procedure you described is exactly what it says in the Ruger owner's manual. It works with all models and calibers of Ruger SAs. The problem with this procedure is …. if you don't read the manual and understand what they are trying to convey (poorly worded), you could misinterpret and end up with the hammer resting on a firing pin that is lined up with a primer (or rim for 22s). In my opinion, it's safer and easier to load just 5 and make sure the hammer is resting on an empty chamber.

 

If need more than 4 or 5 rounds, great excuse to carry 2 guns. In heavy Grizz country, carried a .475 on hip then a 3 inch .50 on chest, while fishing in willows. That gave me 8 rounds when would probably might have time for 1, at least while standing - in theory that is.

 

I grew up on OM Rugers and Colt SAAs. Was taught load one, skip one load four and bring hammer to full cock and set down on an empty chamber.

This has worked for me for almost 60yrs.

Often when Cowboy Shooting I was called on this at the Loading Bench by the next Shooter waiting to load. Not checking to see if My Revolver was properly indexed. Most folks shot NM Rugers or Colt clones. This was long before the Rule about having someone else at the Loading Bench check your Guns for proper loading/indexing.
I explained the whys and wherefors of Correct Loading of a Old Style Revolvers to many other Cowboy Shooters.
Many New Cowboy Shooters were new to shooting period.

And just as many were new to reloading too. So, almost all of them had to spin the cylinders after loading to check for high primers.
So they Could Not index a Cylinder correctly.

 

The best safety for any style of gun is still the one between your ears.
I can honestly say I've never dropped my handgun, or any gun, on the ground or floor.

+1. I also can't recall that I have dropped a sixgun either with the exception of practicing spinning over a soft surface or some such activity with 'empty' guns....

Maybe I am the odd one out, but I have to understand how each gun I have can be handled safely. That is why I never considered the OM or an old Colt Peacemakers or Black Powder revolvers as 'evil'/'dangerous'/not safe' to use even though 'gasp' they don't have transfer bars.... It doesn't take much research to find and understand the concept of 'load one, skip one, load four more' and the 'why' this is so... or not rely on the hammer safety notch while riding in the holster. Obviously if you are riding into harms way (not likely in this day and age with a six shooter) there might be an exception where one more cartridge may make a difference. But today, if you can get it done in 5, a sixth probably isn't going to help.