spare cylinder safety

I am considering buying a spare cylinder for my Ruger Old Army. It is expensive, but would really be convenient at the range. However, I am not sure just how safe it would be to load and cap the cylinder before hand. Does anyone have experience with spare cylinders? Do you load and not cap until after installing, or is it safe to carry a spare with caps?

Thanks for your input.

 

[tg]

I would not be concerned about carrying one if it was in a properly fitted holder with a full cover that snaps in place

 

[biliff]

You can load the spare before hand but do not cap. A loaded ,capped cylinder is basically a derringer. You don't want to take the chance of dropping it while trying to install in the gun.

Of course with a loaded but uncapped cylinder you need to watch out for smokers between the loading point and the range.

 

[poordevil]

I agree. If it is capped and you drop it, you will have a rattle snake at your feet!

P.

 

[Homesteader]

I've done it for years with a variety of smokewagons. '58 Rem New Army, Starr DA (Double Action), little .31 pocket revolver, and even for a '60 Colt. (Didn't find that last one to be worth the trouble.) For each and every one I use a fitted carrying pouch, and must admit that the one time I dropped a loaded cylinder during a swap I just about had a heart attack. It didn't ignite, I'm happy to report, even though it did land caps down. Fortunately the caps are usually recessed.

Your milage will definitely vary, and I never recommend anyone follow my example. But there ya go.

 

[necchi]

Do you load and not cap until after installing,

Go ahead, but don't put it on a bench near me.

As fer the feller that "dropped" a capped cylinder, :shocked2: ,I wanna know where he shoots'. So I can never go there!!

 

[bingo1952]

A spare cylinder with light loads in it is far more dangerous than one that has a full charge. The light charges (if no filler is used) will allow the balls to be seated deeper giving them more time to build up a head of steam. A good cylinder carrier is a must. Exercise due care and all should be well.

 

[Homesteader]

As fer the feller that "dropped" a capped cylinder, :shocked2: ,I wanna know where he shoots'. So I can never go there!!

Yeah, that would be at my own range, on my own land, so there's no danger of you winding up there. :wink:

And hey, anyone here who tells me he hasn't done something stupid and dangerous is either lying, or it's his Second Coming...
:surrender:

 

[Poor Private]

I carry a spare cylinder sometimes two(real farby as some of the CW guys say). But I only use blanks- each has thier own pouch and they are capped. They are hard to cap when your in the middle of a civ war battle, and your either moving or defending yourself. Try fitting those itty bitty caps on the nipples, let alone getting them out of thier tins when your running from those bad blue bellies.

 

[necchi]

Hey Homsteader,, Thanks for being Honest,,many won't be.
And yes I have done PLENTY stupid stuff,,got scar's too prove it.
Sorry, I guess my post was rude, I really didn't mean too offend My apologeeze Sir;

p.s. what state you live in? I'll steer a little clear :grin:

 

[JJB22]

This may be a bit off topic but I shot four cylinders in my 1858 Remington for many years while at range sessions, you know load them all up twice and shoot. That gave me about all I wanted to shoot for the day out of the thing. I did this routine for years and enjoyed it until a lighting bolt (an idea came to me) struck me. I am always cussing at the sink for an hour and a half cleaning the thing and most of the labor is cleaning the cylinder, Sooooooo I went back to loading one cylinder---in the gun, and shooting it and I felt that I was enjoying the revolver more than I did when I was going through the four cylinders. Just food for thought when thinking of getting extra cylinders. By the way I loaded the cylinders with a bench tool and capped when in the revolver only. I have dropper the cylinders on the table, in the dirt, on concrete one time :redface: also; rangling the cylinder into the frame-- moving the hammer back and forth to get the cylinder to sit in properly (on a 58 revolver) always makes me have respect NOT to cap until I am ready to shoot it.

 

[Homesteader]

No harm, no foul Necchi. I kinda got a kick out of your post, really. (My thoughts during that nano-second when the cylinder was heading for the ground was something like: "well, you stupid sunuva...") :grin:

For what it's worth, it got to where I mostly kept my spare cylinder at home so I'd have one in very good shape in case I ever want to sell a revolver. I also agree with the gentleman above about having to clean more than one at a time.

These days, I mostly shoot my flinters anyway. Slower paced than those rapid fire percussin' things. :haha:

(PS: these days, I often live in the state of confusion.)

 

Thanks to all of you for your advice and comments. You never know where a thread is going on this forum, which is what makes it fun as well as helpful :grin:

I will no doubt take the advice or one or more of y'all -- just have not decided which ones.