Colt Single Action Army: To Load Five or Six Rounds?

The "John Wayne" Load and Safety Concerns

• 💡 The common practice of loading only five rounds in a Colt Single Action Army (SAA) or its clones, leaving one chamber empty under the hammer, is often referred to as the "John Wayne" load.
• ⚠️ This method is employed to prevent accidental discharge if the hammer is struck, as it rests on an empty chamber instead of a primer.
• 🎯 Historically, this practice, known as "five beans in the wheel," was adopted as frontier wisdom due to concerns about the reliability of the hammer's safety notch.

Historical Context and Reliability

• 📜 Colt's 1874 manual considered the first notch of the hammer the "safety notch," intended to prevent firing.
• 📉 However, this safety notch proved unreliable, leading experienced gunners to leave a chamber empty.
• ✍️ Historians like Phil Spangenberger document instances from the Old West where individuals intentionally loaded only five rounds for increased safety.
• 💥 Accidental discharges have been reported, sometimes occurring when the hammer is struck by external objects like a saddle stirrup, a doorway, or even a dropped tool.

The Safety Notch Debate

• 🧐 While the safety notch is designed to prevent firing, its effectiveness can be debated, and it may not withstand significant force.
• ⚠️ Manipulating the hammer to rest in the safety notch after loading six rounds requires careful technique and can be prone to error, especially under stress.
• 🔑 The primary concern is the hammer resting directly on the primer of a loaded chamber if not properly engaged in the safety notch.

Personal Preference and Recommendations

• 🤔 The speaker acknowledges that while loading six rounds with the hammer in the safety notch can be safe, they personally prefer loading five rounds.
• 🚫 This preference stems from a desire for simplicity and a reduced risk of accidental manipulation, even though they understand the safety notch's function.
• 🚀 For situations where immediate readiness is paramount, such as a potential gunfight, the speaker would load six rounds and ensure the hammer is in the safety notch.
• 🤝 Ultimately, the decision on how to load the firearm is left to the individual, emphasizing personal safety and what works best for them.

Percussion vs. Cartridge Revolvers

• 🎯 Older percussion revolvers, like the Navy Colt, offered a more reliable safety mechanism where the hammer could be placed between chambers, making accidental discharge highly unlikely even with six loaded chambers.
• ⚠️ This is not the case with Colt SAAs and their clones, where the hammer directly interfaces with the primer if not in the safety notch.
• ⚙️ Modern revolvers like the Ruger, with transfer bars, do not present the same safety concerns when loading six rounds.