Prof Young said:
I still have a lot to learn. Can you tell me that again in less "revolver" language?
It can't be explained in "less revolver language," because it's a revolver issue.
With modern double action revolvers, to reload you push [something, depending on brand] and the entire cylinder swings out. But the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk aren't modern double actions, they're quasi-modern single actions.
If you know anything about cowboy revolvers, to reload a Colt 1873 Single Action Army (or any of the Italian clones thereof) you move the hammer to half cock and open the loading gate on the right side of the revolver. One chamber will (hopefully) be lined up with the loading gate, so you can punch out the empty case and insert a loaded cartridge. Simple.
Old Ruger single actions worked the same way. But, when Ruger eliminated direct hammer firing and created the transfer bar ignition system they also changed the loading operation. The new large-frame Ruger's don't have a half cock position. Opening the loading gate releases the cylinder, and you have to manually move it to align a chamber with the gate. If you go too far and miss the alignment -- you can't go back, you have to go all the way around and try again.
Ruger apparently took enough heat over this that the even newer flattop models have a revised loading sequence that is an attempt to overcome the widespread dissatisfaction with the way the Blackhawks have to be handled to load.
There was a recent thread that got into this in some detail:
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=596307