question for single action revolver hunters
- Thread starter kcub
- Start date
Bob Wright
New member
By careful manipulation of the trigger, there is very little sound.
Old model Rugers, the three screw models, can be cocked silently, but requires there be a live round under the hammer.
To do this, cock the gun fully, then let the hammer down to half cock. When ready to fire, ease the hammer back while pressing the trigger. When the hammer is fully cocked, release the trigger and begin your shot at the game.
Holding the trigger back so there is no "dragging through the notches" is faily quiet, and safer.
Bob Wright
Old model Rugers, the three screw models, can be cocked silently, but requires there be a live round under the hammer.
To do this, cock the gun fully, then let the hammer down to half cock. When ready to fire, ease the hammer back while pressing the trigger. When the hammer is fully cocked, release the trigger and begin your shot at the game.
Holding the trigger back so there is no "dragging through the notches" is faily quiet, and safer.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
New member
How close do you think? Most game animals, such as deer, thirty to eighty yards seems to be average. I've shot as much as one hundred (estimated) yards for deer.
Bob Wright
NUKE HUNTER
New member
when i hunt with a handgun i really look around and im very alert. as soon as i see a deer i just cock it slowly, if i have no shot or its not what i want , then i let it down safely right away.
FloridaVeteran
New member
Bob - you got me to thinking, as I have a 3-screw .45 Colt - why not put a snap cap under the hammer, instead of a live round? Not likely that you'd be able to get off more than five shots without time to reload.
Cheapshooter
New member
No more than a Marlin. or Winchester lever gun does. they've been killing deer, even at close "pistol" range for over 100 years. You just have to be "stealthy" in your actions.
I hunt Hawaiian wild boar from time to time with my Ruger Vaquero, .45 Long Colt, and though my game has oft heard the four clicks that preceded his demise, it has ever only gotten his attention and never actually concerned him enough to flee or charge.
Now if you pull the trigger and miss...well, let's just say you better have good follow-up shots or better running shoes
If you're concerned about cocking noise, you must either not have much ambient noise (I.e. birds, other animals), or you have a tight trigger assembly/sticky hammer. Either way, there are plenty of YouTube videos that show how to make a revolver hammer cock more smoothly and quietly.
Happy hunting!
Now if you pull the trigger and miss...well, let's just say you better have good follow-up shots or better running shoes
If you're concerned about cocking noise, you must either not have much ambient noise (I.e. birds, other animals), or you have a tight trigger assembly/sticky hammer. Either way, there are plenty of YouTube videos that show how to make a revolver hammer cock more smoothly and quietly.
Happy hunting!
Pointshoot
New member
Wild turkeys have excellent hearing and vision. I've only hunted them with shotgun and bow. Have never heard of anyone hunting them with a handgun.
Bob Wright
New member
Florida Veteran Asked:
As I described the practice, cocking the hammer, then lowering it to the half cock position, the cylinder is not rotated when the hammer is cocked again. Whatever is under the hammer remains under the hammer. I would, in effect, drop the hammer on a snap-cap.
And, besides, I don't use snap caps.
Bob Wright
As I described the practice, cocking the hammer, then lowering it to the half cock position, the cylinder is not rotated when the hammer is cocked again. Whatever is under the hammer remains under the hammer. I would, in effect, drop the hammer on a snap-cap.
And, besides, I don't use snap caps.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
New member
Tennessee is shotguns only for wild turkey. Shot glasses for Wild Turkey.
Bob Wright
22-rimfire
New member
I pretty much cock the hammer as soon as I know that I intend to try for a shot and then keep my finger OFF the trigger. I take gloves off too if I can.
I also slip my ear plugs in at this time. If I am wearing electonic muffs.... I just pay attention to the gun. The muffs hurt my ears after a while and the noise is distracting.
I also slip my ear plugs in at this time. If I am wearing electonic muffs.... I just pay attention to the gun. The muffs hurt my ears after a while and the noise is distracting.
FloridaVeteran
New member
Bob - gotcha. Mis-read your post.
One reason I like snap caps, though I may be in a distinct minority, is that I can throw one or two in, once in a while at the range, to check for flinching. And I like them for dry-firing Ubertis and a Model 25. The others I use are shotgun and bolt rifle ones, to leave the firing pin and spring "uncocked." I'd imagine that is an old fashioned notion, relative to weakening of the springs, but I am old fashioned to go along with it. And I help keep the folks at A-Zoom employed.
One reason I like snap caps, though I may be in a distinct minority, is that I can throw one or two in, once in a while at the range, to check for flinching. And I like them for dry-firing Ubertis and a Model 25. The others I use are shotgun and bolt rifle ones, to leave the firing pin and spring "uncocked." I'd imagine that is an old fashioned notion, relative to weakening of the springs, but I am old fashioned to go along with it. And I help keep the folks at A-Zoom employed.
Bob Wright
New member
If sitting with a single action at half cock with a round under the hammer bothers you, you can make a loop in a rope or piece of leather and loop it around the hammer for piece of mind.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
I've got 4 Vaqueros, a Bisley, and a New Vaquero, and none of them makes 4 clicks. Two (and the first one is very soft sounding). What did you do to get it to make 4 clicks, and more importantly, WHY?????
Game may alert on hearing a click, but its seldom they take off instantly. Lots of clicks? odds go up.
A click is like the snapping of a twig, and alert signal, but unless the game is already spooked, a single twig snapping means look around and see what is happening. A bunch of twigs breaking means something big is coming, get away! OR so I have heard tell....
Likewise I've heard tell the sound of a shot is like thunder, not recognized as a danger, unless the game has been hunted before, and makes the connection. Now, the sound of an action being worked, or a bullet kicking up dirt at their feet, that's a different thing...
FloridaVeteran
New member
44 AMP - you have the advantage of being "Da Man." I respect that, because it means you have done a heck of a lot of work and spent a whole lot of time educating folks on the forum. But it is also the reason many may be hesitant to reply. So as one of those closest to the last roundup, I will.
Clearly you're spot-on accurate that the fewer audible clicks and the less noise, the less chance of scaring game. Some of us, though, are way deep into traditional firearms, like Colt SAA's with four clicks, and relish the thought that those firearms obviously supported many people West of the Mississippi for a long time. So it follows that many of us want to duplicate that experience. Sort of a transition between black powder and modern firearms. I suspect that what some of the posters, myself included, want to learn, is how to minimize the distraction of working the action of whatever firearm it is in the situation.
Don't mean offense and hopefully did not mis-read your post. Full disclosure is that I am first and foremost a single-action shooter, but I was never a heavy-duty single-action hunter, except for hogs, rattlesnakes and luckless armadillos when I was young.
Clearly you're spot-on accurate that the fewer audible clicks and the less noise, the less chance of scaring game. Some of us, though, are way deep into traditional firearms, like Colt SAA's with four clicks, and relish the thought that those firearms obviously supported many people West of the Mississippi for a long time. So it follows that many of us want to duplicate that experience. Sort of a transition between black powder and modern firearms. I suspect that what some of the posters, myself included, want to learn, is how to minimize the distraction of working the action of whatever firearm it is in the situation.
Don't mean offense and hopefully did not mis-read your post. Full disclosure is that I am first and foremost a single-action shooter, but I was never a heavy-duty single-action hunter, except for hogs, rattlesnakes and luckless armadillos when I was young.
I'm not trying to scare anyone off, but I will admit to being a bigger fan of the New Model Rugers than I am of the Colts. Except for them not being "traditional" I find them better suited to me than Colts. I also like oversize rubber grips. My thing, and in no way meaning to disparage the colts/clones. I am very traditional about a lot of other things. (not a fan of plastic on guns, with certain limited exceptions, for one, and call it what you want, polymer is plastic, for one example, and don't like crossbolt safeties on Marlins and Winchesters, for another...)
I have a number of traditional guns, levers,bolts, single shots, etc, I just happen to like the modern Ruger SA's. Had an unconverted old model Blackhawk (.41mag) a long time ago. I know the traditional fairly well. I just can't understand people who get a ruger, and then want it to work like the traditional colt. IF that's what's important, get the COLT!
Now, here's what you do to cock the colt quietly...hold the trigger back, pull the hammer all the way back, the let go of the trigger, while holding the hammer back. Then ease the hammer down until it catches on the full cock notch, and you're ready to go. Fast, quiet, and as safe as you are.
ok, its not totally silent, but it is MUCH quieter than letting it click through C-O-L-T
For love of nostalgia, enjoy the clicks, and everything else when plinking. Work it right when hunting and you aren't spooking the game, either.
I have a number of traditional guns, levers,bolts, single shots, etc, I just happen to like the modern Ruger SA's. Had an unconverted old model Blackhawk (.41mag) a long time ago. I know the traditional fairly well. I just can't understand people who get a ruger, and then want it to work like the traditional colt. IF that's what's important, get the COLT!
Now, here's what you do to cock the colt quietly...hold the trigger back, pull the hammer all the way back, the let go of the trigger, while holding the hammer back. Then ease the hammer down until it catches on the full cock notch, and you're ready to go. Fast, quiet, and as safe as you are.
ok, its not totally silent, but it is MUCH quieter than letting it click through C-O-L-T
For love of nostalgia, enjoy the clicks, and everything else when plinking. Work it right when hunting and you aren't spooking the game, either.