The Down Range Forum

Flying Dragon Productions ( Michael Bane ) => Shooting Gallery on Outdoor Channel => Topic started by: MikeBjerum on August 17, 2011, 10:53:10 PM

Title: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: MikeBjerum on August 17, 2011, 10:53:10 PM
Ed Head did it tonight, and I hear it from a lot of "experts."  Good advice is given about keeping fingers away from the front of a revolver cylinder.  This is very good advice!  However, they then go off the deep end and start talking about how with the invention of the "S&W 500 people have lost fingers from the blast."  I heard if from Ed tonight, and earlier this week I heard it elsewhere.

As a part of firearm safety we do a demonstration to show this danger.  We hold a cheap disposable aluminum pie pan against the side of a revolver and fire the gun.  We use my Ruger Single Six in .22lr, an American Western Arms firing .38 special first then .357 Magnum, a S&W j frame with .38 Special +p, a S&W 642 in .45 acp, and finally a S&W 500 (which won't happen this year, but that is being chronicled in a different thread).  The only gun that does not blow holes in the pie pan is the 500!  All other revolvers blow holes from the size of a nickel to the size of your fist through the aluminum.  The 500 will show heat spots like being splattered by welding slag, but it is fully intact next to the cylinder.  However, if you move the pan next to the compensator you will blow the entire eight inch bottom out of the pan!

My rant is Don't over hype the big guns and have someone not worry about the little ones!
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 17, 2011, 10:57:34 PM
There was a thread with pictures a year or so ago that showed exactly that.
Some one got careless with a .500 and blew their thumb apart.
IIRC it was split open length ways and the end was gone.
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: MikeBjerum on August 17, 2011, 11:03:23 PM
Not saying it can't happen Tom.  What I am saying is that on my handgun wall there are smaller calibers that will do more damage than the 500!  And, these are quality, modern, well maintained revolvers.
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 17, 2011, 11:34:15 PM
My own personal opinion is that if you can't look at the system and see, "Gee, there's the end of the bullet there, it crosses this open space here, I better keep my digits away from there"
Then maybe you need to blow off a couple fingers.
You know an experiment isn't confirmed unless it's repeatable.  ;D
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: MikeBjerum on August 17, 2011, 11:46:14 PM
Considering you need a trigger finger and the thumb is too close to the trigger finger to be in danger, this experiment can be preformed eight times  :o  Would that verify there is more than one danger point on a revolver?
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 18, 2011, 12:45:47 AM
How many times have the Dems said we need to spend more to solve the debt problem ?  ;D
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: MikeBjerum on August 18, 2011, 07:04:35 AM
How many times have the Dems said we need to spend more to solve the debt problem ?  ;D

There is a point you quit counting.  It is as simple as calculating every breath they take during a speech.
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 18, 2011, 08:50:45 AM
They breath ?
I thought they just relied on the vacuum in their head to maintain equal pressure.
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: GASPASSERDELUXE on August 18, 2011, 09:38:37 AM
Was at the range a few weeks ago and 3-4 men next to me were taking turns shooting. This one old man,at least in 70s went to shoot a snub .38 revolver. His hands were shaking a little. I was sitting and loading some magazines and looked over at him. His left index finger was against the top of the cylinder and in front of it right over the gap. Before i could say any thing he pulled the trigger, he didn't bother to shoot it a second time as he was to busy holding his hand. He got burned but apparently not bad enough to seek medical attention.   
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: MikeBjerum on August 18, 2011, 10:52:15 AM
Was at the range a few weeks ago and 3-4 men next to me were taking turns shooting. This one old man,at least in 70s went to shoot a snub .38 revolver. His hands were shaking a little. I was sitting and loading some magazines and looked over at him. His left index finger was against the top of the cylinder and in front of it right over the gap. Before i could say any thing he pulled the trigger, he didn't bother to shoot it a second time as he was to busy holding his hand. He got burned but apparently not bad enough to seek medical attention.   

Or there is the macho, it ain't that bad, I'll walk it off attitude so he doesn't have to admit he done wrong factor.  How many of us have done that one before?
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 18, 2011, 12:48:00 PM
    ;D
DARN THAT HURT, but I'll die before I admit it !
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: MikeBjerum on August 18, 2011, 12:59:17 PM
    ;D
DARN THAT HURT, but I'll die before I admit it ! Someone want to pick up that piece over there for me  :-[

Fixed it for ya  ;D
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 18, 2011, 01:00:22 PM
Don't bother, I've got 9 more.   ;D
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: Pathfinder on August 18, 2011, 01:37:30 PM
Don't bother, I've got 9 more.   ;D

He's 70, and in south Texas, so that is a big MAYBE!!!!
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: Timothy on August 18, 2011, 04:48:43 PM
Kind of like the required safety training at the shop I worked with last year.

The guys complaining the most about the training were the guys with one eye, 8-1/2 fingers that limped a bit!

"Ya can't fix stupid" to quote a famous funny man!
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: Solus on August 18, 2011, 07:19:02 PM
    ;D
DARN THAT HURT, but I'll die before I admit it !

Fonzie and the Aspirin.    ;D ;D


Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: Ping on August 21, 2011, 10:10:28 PM
Little revolvers or big ones, I know that I do not want my fingers out front to get burned. I am going through a box of kleenax crying just thinking about it.  ;)
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: fullautovalmet76 on August 21, 2011, 10:17:42 PM
No thread drift intended here, but weren't the J-frames, like my 649, really designed to be shot with one hand? When I try to shoot it with two hands it feels somewhat awkward to me, but with one hand it feels very natural. Maybe it's because I shoot more semi autos than anything....
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: alfsauve on August 22, 2011, 06:26:41 AM
I think all small guns work better with just one hand.  Certainly true for me with my LCP and TCP.   I fired my buddy's alloy revolver and think that was the same.   They all certainly feel better with a one-handed grip.

Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 22, 2011, 09:37:01 AM
This subject gets to a minor peeve of mine.
Revolver carbines, like the "Circuit Judge".
It seems down right stupid to design a fire arm that requires you to put one hand in front of the cylinder gap, thereby positioning your arm alongside it.
There was a good reason Colts long guns faded into obscurity.

PS.
Did any one else notice in this months American Rifleman that the "Judge" carbines were advertised under the Rossi name ?
They even used that name in the Blurb "This Judge won't leave you hangin'".
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: jnevis on August 22, 2011, 07:50:59 PM
This subject gets to a minor peeve of mine.
Revolver carbines, like the "Circuit Judge".
It seems down right stupid to design a fire arm that requires you to put one hand in front of the cylinder gap, thereby positioning your arm alongside it.
There was a good reason Colts long guns faded into obscurity.

Actually it's just the "modern" version that people shoot that way.  IIRC an episode of Cowboys, or maybe Wild West Tech, disussed that very carbine and said that everyone held it with the off hand in a similar position as a regular revolver to avoid exactly what we're discussing.
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: Ping on August 22, 2011, 09:01:05 PM
I noticed the same thing Tom about the Rossi. Was thinking to myself that Taurus has a lawsuit on their hands.
Title: Re: Revolver Warning Pet Peeve
Post by: tombogan03884 on August 22, 2011, 09:03:59 PM
I thought Taurus owned Rossi, it might be the other way around.