Why is the wrist flick closing of cylinder a bad thing?

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I don't see what the big deal is with the model 13 in post #18. Go look at a new ruger double action. They look like that from the factory. Ok maybe not quite that bad.:D
 
Use to be a tv show that William Conrad stared in called Cannon ,he flicked his snub nose all the time . A friend of mine who is a gunsmith has shown me several guns mostly S&W's that people have slammed shut and they all were damaged .One was so bad that the cylinder on one would not rotate because the rod was bent so bad
 
don't see what the big deal is with the model 13 in post #18. Go look at a new ruger double action. They look like that from the factory. Ok maybe not quite that bad.
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compare the gap between the crane and the frame with the same on the model 19 in the same pic.
 
I remember watching Hawaii Five-O back in the day and McGuiver or McGarret or what ever his name was kept flipping his snub nosed .38 shut then making incredible shots at distance. I tried that with Dad's new Security Six and while I'm not sure it hurt the revolver, my head rang like church bells for about three days and I had two days of school work to make up because of the days I missed. So yes it does hurt to snap the cylinder shut.

We never watched Hawaii Five O again after that. I can't remember if it was for that reason or that Jack Lord turned out to be a non-gunner and the NRA did an article on him in the American Rifleman belittling him as such.

A bit off track, but I think I mentioned that yes it does hurt at least your head, to flick the cylinder closed on your DA pistol.

RJ
 
Flicking a cylinder closed is bad because it is an unreliable way of closing the cylinder. If you flick it, you still have to check that it is locked by pressing on the cylinder. As long as you have to do that anyway, you may as well do it the right way the first time.
 
I did an experiment on an older Taurus 66 a few years ago. Flicked it close a few hundred times... Not one bit of additional wear nor did it break anything or impacted the timing. However, I can see how flicking the cylinder open could cause cosmetic wear to the cylinder and frame.

I think this is one of those rules that have been blown out of proportion over the years, much like the fallacy with steel cased ammo.
 
How 'bout this for a reason. It makes you look like a complete amateur trying to look "kool", it is totally unprofessional.

Dave
 
I don't do it but I doubt the claims of damage based on this pratice. The human hand would not allow all the energy to be used up on the metal parts and the movement of the hand in the process is proof of that. You can't drive a nail in a board while holding the board in your hand no matter how hard you hit the nail. Put that board on the floor and in 2 hits it's home. Same applies here, the hand moves and takes much of the energy.
 
Well, it seems most folks here don't want their DA revolvers slammed shut. To do so is rude and bad manners.

Reason enough.

Bob Wright
 
Eldermike-
Apparently, you have no concept of physics or how a revolver works. Slamming a cylinder open or closed puts extreme stress on the crane of a revolver. I have seen it many times.
 
James K said:
Bob, the front of the Colt latch will be scored by the ratchet when the cylinder is closed no matter how fast or slow that is done. Your "correct procedure" will prevent it, but that just isn't done in the real world, and I don't recall Colt ever recommending it.
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Well, I reckon I don't live in the real world. I got my first Colt, a New Service, in 1954. No instruction manual came with it, so I sort of had to wing it. Holding the cylinder latch back as I closed the cylinder just came intuitive to me, and it became habit to close the cylinder on my DA Colts in that way. Nobody ever recommended I do it that way, just seemed right to me.

Bob Wright
 
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Posts: 6,979

Eldermike-*
Apparently, you have no concept of physics or how a revolver works. Slamming a cylinder open or closed puts extreme stress on the crane of a revolver. I have seen it many times.

[/QUOTE]

I guess being an engineer for the past 40 years has caused me to forget my physics.

if you read my post you will see I am not discounting the stresses as I mentioned that the nail drives home once the board is placed on the ground. Try my experiment.
 
Wow......surprised to see that this thread is still alive.

I was thinking that it could have been settled in one page. :rolleyes:
 
I guess being an engineer for the past 40 years has caused me to forget my physics.
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having known a number of engineers over the past 40 years, I can easily see how this is possible.
:D

The point is not how much of the force is not transferred to the crane, but that the force that is, is in a direction that the parts were never designed to accept. And that, can result in damage.

Does it always happen? Apparently not. Has it happened? Definitely. I an most others think its a bad thing to flick the cylinder open or shut. Even most of those who say they tried to damage guns this way and failed, agree its not a good idea.

Unless someone has something radically new to add, I think this one is done.
(if you do have something actually new, start another thread;))
 
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