Opening the cylinder on a revolver

This brief photo blog will show how to open the cylinder on a revolver. This information can also apply to most revolvers for sale on the market today (IE: Smith and Wesson, Taurus, Rossi etc).

Opening the cylinder on a revolver is pretty much the only thing you will have to do when you want to load, unload, or check the status of your revolver. This is one of the main reasons revolvers are easier to operate than a automatic firearm for first-time gun owners.

And, as always, remember the four rules!

#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY

# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

While all four rules are equally important, let me emphasize that while opening the cylinder on a revolver, be certain to keep the firearm pointed away from any target AND your finger off the trigger at all times.

The first step is to push forward on the thumbpiece, as in the photo below.


While pressing the thumbpiece forward, use your opposing hand to cradle the revolver and press the cylinder out from the right side of the firearm toward the left side. When you do this, the cylinder will rotate out of the frame and come to a stop. In the photo below, I am using the thumb on my right hand to press forward on the thumbpiece, and the fingers of my left hand to press the cylinder out.


This next photo is a back view of the revolver with the cylinder open. Note that you can see the cartridges of ammunition in the cylinder. In a future blog entry, I will show how to add and remove cartridges from the cylinder of the revolver. You do not have to keep the thumbpiece pressed forward once the cylinder is open as in the photo below.


Important note: In some revolver models, the thumbpiece does not move forward, but requires that it be pulled BACK to release the cylinder. You can tell by the design of the thumbpiece which way it is designed to be used. If there is no "pattern" or set of grooves on the thumbpiece for your thumb to rest on, then it is most likely a rear-pull thumbpiece. For those models, just pull back on the thumbpiece and follow the same directions as before for opening the cylinder.

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