How can you reload a revolver when you have only used half the bullets?

Question

I am asking this question because if you are in a gunfight and you only have two bullets left and you want to reload what do you do, drop it on the floor and pick it up, or just stand there and wait to use them.

Answer 1

Get a reloader with bullets in , all you do is flick it open ,drop the cartridges plus 2 bullets shove the reloader in close it and you are ready, you dont have to take the cartridges out one by one ,and dont worry about 2 lost bullets ,your life is worth more.Ive been there ,done that

Answer 2

I was walked through this by an instructor, and only practiced a couple of times, but not to the point where this is a reflex for me.

I might have terms wrong, but this is basically what you do.

The tactical reload for the revolvers is:

1. Cradle pistol in your non-dominate hands. ie If you are right handed, your left hand holds the pistol. The pistol should be angled slightly down and forward.
2. Dominant hand thumb, releases the cylinder.
3. Nondominant hand, ring finger pushes cylinder open.
4. The cylinder should not spin freely during this proccess.
5. Using your finger nails or finger tips, you should be able to flick the spent rounds out. This takes a little bit of practice, but isn't as hard as it sounds.
6. Reload rounds.
7. Nondominate hand thumb resets the cylinder into the revolver. Dominate hand slides back to the ready position.

Speed Reload:
1. Cradle pistol in your non-dominate hands. ie If you are right handed, your left hand holds the pistol. The pistol should be angled slightly down and forward.
2. Dominant hand thumb, releases the cylinder.
3. Nondominant hand, ring finger pushes cylinder open.
4. Turn pistol to face upwards. The back of the cylinder faces the ground.
5. Dominate hand applies chop to the cylinder, forcibly extracting all rounds. If the rounds don't fall out on their own, then either apply more force, or your cylinders are dirty.
6. Rotate back to down and forward position.
7. Reload.
8. Close cylinder and re-engage.


Never stand there to wait to use them. Find cover and concealment. Reload if you can.

If you are in a firefight, the last thing you want to hear is click, with no BANG.

Most importantly, you aren't going to be counting bullets when the SHTF. You will be moving and trying to find safety. The last thing on your mind is: Was that 5 or 6? Do I feel lucky, well do I?


If you find yourself in a gunfight, you're day just got bad.
If you find yourself needing to reload, you're having a very bad day.
If you run out of bullets before reaching safety, you're in a for an incredibly bad day.

Answer 3

You should be able to eject all (usually six) cartridges into your hand. Quickly re-insert two live rounds and add four more. I wouldn't do this if the "other guy" has the drop on you, drop him first then reload.

There are "speed loaders" available for six-guns. These hold six rounds in position to fit into each chamber and then release all at once. Kind of hard to describe but look in gun stores or magazines. If you have several "speed loaders" then you would dump all six (including two live rounds) and reload all six at once. Hopefully you could retrieve two live ones later. If you are alive.

You can't do any of the above with old fashioned single action, they have to be ejected and reloaded one chamber at a time. Better not get in any gun fights with one of these old "hog-legs".

Or cary a back-up. Recommended if you MUST get into firefights.

Or use an autoloader with extra clips. Back-ups are still good.

Or have friends along. Make sure they are good shots.

Or stay out of firefights. An appology is better than dead.

Or, best of all, just stay out of dangerous places. I do.

Answer 4

Good thinking! Your question should read, "What is the proper method for the tactical reload with a revolver?" A lull in the action can be a good time to start the next fight with a full gun.

Check the following, you'll have to read a little bit..

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-3368.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~murph864/article/revolv.html

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=tactical+reload+revolver&btnG=Google+Search

Answer 5

If you are in an action the last thing you will be thinking about is where the remaining loaded rounds are. Eject the whole schmear and put in a speedloader full. You can count your money after the card game is over.

Answer 6

drop the bullets, reload a fresh set, asses your situation, and the last thing you do is look for the 2 bullets, that is if you still need them.

Answer 7

you do not try to reload until all the rounds are fired. if it is a revolver then you need speedloader that holds 6 rounds. with a auto you discard the old mag and put in a new mag

Answer 8

Open the cylinder and drop the spent shells and reload!!

Answer 9

on my grandpa's old revolver i use to just stick my finger over the bullets that werent used and dump the rest out

Answer 10

There's no reason you can't load individually, but the main point around your question is this: if you haven't stopped a fight after 5 shots, it's past time to run.