Pistol stand

[user 49399]

Dug out my pistol loading stand that I made a couple years ago. Hope to do some pistol shooting this weekend. It folds up when not in use for easy carrying.

 

[crgator]

Nice. I was looking for plans to make one. I think I found them.

 

[SDSmlf]

Dug out my pistol loading stand that I made a couple years ago. Hope to do some pistol shooting this weekend. It folds up when not in use for easy carrying.
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Not picking on you or your stand, but the design is a great way to break pistol stocks.

Back in the day, I saw plenty of TC Patriots with broken stocks (I was requested to fix a few of them) that occurred in loading stands similar to this one. Support needs to be directly in line with the centerline of the barrel (‘yellow’ arrow) and NOT on the butt of the pistol. Supporting only the butt while loading puts a lot of strain on the stock at the top of the grip and through the lock area (‘red’ circle’). You are basically forcing the butt towards the barrel, kind of like closing a book. The weak point is where the pistol grip joins the rest of the stock and through the lock area.

 

[user 49399]

SDSmif,

I understand with what you said and that’s good information for someone who might want to make a stand similar to mine. However, my loads are powder, tow, shot or ball and tow which go down very easy.

My loading methods put hardly and pressure on the stock wrist. If someone was inclined to use loads that required a great deal of downward pressure to load then they might want to consider something different than my stand. My stand works fine for me since I use loads that go down easy.

Thanks for the input.

 

[fistmil]

I have a similar loading stand. I am not worried about breaking stock at all. The stand frees up both hands to measure powder , pour down barrel and start ball. The gun is then taken out of stand and ball is rammed home gun being held in left hand. Stand also makes swabbing barrel easier.

 

[Notchy Bob]

I made a stand some years ago for a Lyman Plains Pistol:

The "corner braces" were made from pieces of angle iron. This stand does not fold, so it takes up some space in storage, but it is good and sturdy.

@SDSmlf makes an excellent point in his post above about the fragility of pistol butts and their tendency to break when stressed by improper loading. I use this stand for holding the pistol when it is unloaded and not being handled, and I leave the pistol in the stand for measuring and pouring in powder and for starting the ball and patch in the muzzle. However, I take the pistol out of the stand and hold it by the barrel for ramming and seating the ball.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[Timber Wolf]

Thanks for the stand pictures. I want to make one for next year’s rendezvous prize blanket, now I have to make one that folds. : )

 

[BlazingIron]

Not picking on you or your stand, but the design is a great way to break pistol stocks.

Back in the day, I saw plenty of TC Patriots with broken stocks (I was requested to fix a few of them) that occurred in loading stands similar to this one. Support needs to be directly in line with the centerline of the barrel (‘yellow’ arrow) and NOT on the butt of the pistol. Supporting only the butt while loading puts a lot of strain on the stock at the top of the grip and through the lock area (‘red’ circle’). You are basically forcing the butt towards the barrel, kind of like closing a book. The weak point is where the pistol grip joins the rest of the stock and through the lock area.
View attachment 132885

I get what you are saying but how else would you build a frame supporting where you describe?

 

[Kipawa17]

First time posting. I dusted off my old black powder revolvers and somehow "found" a new 50 cal Trapper. Shot them all over Thanksgiving and found the need for a loading stand. This is what I came up with. The last shows the support for the Trapper. Our next shoot should be much easier loading.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I like it!

 

[Bunk]

loading stands for revolvers usually have a notch to hold the hammer at half cock. My sytem is to measure powder in each cylinder and place a lube wad to mark it. When I seat the ball I take it out of the stand and hold the gun while seating the ball/bullet.
It gives me the willies to see people mash down on the loading lever putting all that load on the small trigger tip.
Don't ask me how I know but when the tip breaks off shooting is done intil parts come from VTI. Not as bad as the broken stock but bad enough.
A smart man learns from experience. A wise man learns from others experiences.
Hold Center
Bunk

 

[Kipawa17]

Bunk, thanks for the comments. The neat thing is when I built the stand was to be able to modify it.

 

[necchi]

Oh, Cool, it folds.