Loading a Revolver
by: Kerry Barlow

  Loading a black powder revolver consists of 4 basic steps. Once you get used to the steps it would not be difficult to manage. In the field a soldier would become used to loading his particular weapon and could be expected to reload on a fairly rapid basis. Loading all 6 cylinders in under 1 minute is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility for an experienced soldier. Please do not take these steps as a definitive statement on how to fire any revolver or weapon.Be sure to get assistance and the specific manufactures instructions before attempting to load and fire any weapon.

 First of all the soldier would place his revolver in the half cocked position. This is a special loading position built into the revolver. The soldier pulls the hammer back half way,until it reaches a catch or stop. At this point the cylinder can be spun by hand inside the frame of the revolver. Rotating the cylinder manually by hand is necessary for the loading process. The trigger is locked into a safety position and cannot be pulled to fire the gun. To release this half cocked position the hammer must be pulled back further to full cock. The hammer also cannot be pushed down out of full cock position . The gun would be held vertical with the barrel facing up during the first 3 steps of the loading process this prevents the ball, and powder from falling out. Also it should be noted that a 6 shot revolver normally only has 5 shots loaded unless it is known it will be fired immediately. This is because you don't want the hammer of the gun resting on a live chamber. The early black powder revolvers had no safety as it is called today. However placing the hammer over an empty cylinder works like a safety. The Remington had a special notch carved in the cylinder between each chamber allowing all 6 cylinders to be loaded and still have a place for the hammer to rest, in this special notch.