Quick(er) reloads

[Adk.IBO]

Seems as though someone will have thought of this, is there a way to retain or cap off bullets in the conversion cylinder of say a Black Widow to make for a quicker reload?
Thanks, John

By the way, been lurking, reading ect for months now and am looking forward to seeing an NAA in the flesh. The Adirondacks where I reside shelter me from a lot of cool things and when I travel elsewhere time restricts looking and finding new stuff. Many times I wonder why I chose 26 years ago to reside amongst the 2 lowest paid per capita counties in NY state .

[ikoiko]

I've noticed caps in some pictures, but don't know where they were purchased. Assumed it was an end cap for furniture legs or something of the sort.

Welcome to the forum.

[engtee]

Some have suggested carrying a loaded conversion cylinder in a 35mm film canister, with foam on top and bottom. I carry 10 rounds of .22 mag on a Tuff Strip (can load 2 at a time).

[Adk.IBO]

I knew it had to be to simple for it not to be thought of, I use speedstrips for my 38 snubbie, which I knew they made for the 22 mag also, perfect for the Sidewinder. With the advent of digital cameras you don't see film canisters around as much any more. Just another option to practice with and see if it works.
Thanks for the responses, John

PS hope to see/ have the opportunity to purchase a Black Widow conversion at the Syracuse gun show next month.. hint, hint...

[Craigt]

I have experimented with glueing the rounds into the spare cylinder.  I used rubber cement.  A little dab on the cylindrical portion of the brass forward of the rim.  Insert the round into the cylinder making sure no cement is under the rim where the hammer will strike it (to make sure it would not cushion the strike causing a failure to ignite).  Also make sure no cement has oozed out making an obstruction to free turning of the cylinder or obstructing the mechanism that advances the cylinder when cocked.

The rubber cement does not bond very tightly to the metal.  A fingernail under the rim can pull the round out.  After firing the casing pushes out easily, not much more force than a casing not glued in.  Should the rubber cement not want to peal off or get somewhere you do not want it, the solvent takes it right off.  I have not left a loaded cylinder with glued in rounds sit for any length of time.  It is possible that the rubber cement would change over time and not continue to hold the rounds in securely.

I have experimented with this technique maybe 5 times.  So far never a failure of any kind.  All brass pushed out easily.  Not a large sampling so use this technique at your own risk.  Experiment sufficiently to satisfy yourself that it is working 100% reliably.

My spare cylinder is carried in a plastic screw lid pill bottle just large enough for a 22 mag cylinder.  A little piece of foam in the bottom.  Cylinder goes rim side first.  The white plastic has polished a ring on the cylinder.  (Most white or even opaque plastic, paint, toothpaste, cake icing, etc contains titanium dioxide.  A white powder that is non-toxic and abrasive, nearly as hard as diamond.)

CraigT
P.S.  I had a profile with this name years ago.  I tried to post several times in the past year or two without success.  Kept looking for a way to contact the moderators but could not.  So I finally made a new profile.

[heyjoe]

if you are carrying it in your pocket you could get a pocket holster for the black widow that also has a spare cylinder pouch built in.

[G50AE]

Some have suggested carrying a loaded conversion cylinder in a 35mm film canister, with foam on top and bottom. I carry 10 rounds of .22 mag on a Tuff Strip (can load 2 at a time).

An idea that won't work if your camera is medium format and thus takes 120/220 film.

[grayelky]

Ask.IBO and Craigt-

Welcome to the forum!

Craigt-
Nice informative first post.

As to a quicker reload, in the world of minis that is referred to as a second weapon.

[theysayimnotme]

I can't possibly imagine a scenario in which a rapid reload would be of any value. This is a SHORT range weapon.  A good pocket knife would be of better use than a second cylinder.

[TwoGunJayne]

Some forum members, like Uncle Lee, advocate carrying "Two Guns." 

[redhawk4]

I can't possibly imagine a scenario in which a rapid reload would be of any value. This is a SHORT range weapon.  A good pocket knife would be of better use than a second cylinder.

I agree that in most scenarios you are not going to have an opportunity to reload, if you didn't get it done with the first cylinder. I think that could also apply to just about any SD gun carried by a civilian, but then . . . . . there's that 1 in 100 event on top of the 1 in 1 million chance of it happening in the first placel, where a reload would be needed. The thought of that often has  me carrying one, I just don't like the idea of being out of Ammo. I recently got a 2nd mag for my Beretta 950, because of this what if?. With Mini revolvers it does seem carrying 2 guns would not be much harder than one and a spare cylinder and certainly give you a faster "reload". One scenario for a reload's I can imagine. is if you were chased by more than one attacker, you may have shot one, missed or whatever, but they are still coming after you, if you could hide, get behind a closed door that would take a litle time for them to break through etc. you might get time to swap that cylinder - not likely to happen, but could - it's a scene you often see in the movies 

We all have to make a decision for ourselves as to what we are comfortable with, balancing the risk against the inconvenience of carrying something bigger and with more ammunition. Regardless of what any of us carry on a daily basis , I doubt it would be our 1st choice if we knew we would be attacked that day.

[Adk.IBO]

I don't disagree with most all of what has been said. I kinda threw the question out there without giving it much thought. I guess I was more focused on that extra cylinder doing not much rather than the real life scenarios of self defense. My firearms interests have recently been rekindled and I'm still amazed at how much I've learned in the last few months from this and a couple of other forums like it.
         Thanks, John

[redhawk4]

I think if you have an extra cylinder, it makes sense to me to make use of it, even if you only do what I often do with the spare mag for my Guardian, which is leave it in it's case in the door pocket of whichever vehicle I'm driving. I don't have it on me, but I  do at least have extra rounds somewhat available in case I hit trouble out on the road.

With SD there is no ideal solution that can be reasonably carried, every set up is a compromise, in the end we settle with what works for us in the battle of ease of carry, versus effectiveness. Most people start out with big guns and then gradually get smaller as they come to terms with the inconvenience and discomfort of carrying full size handguns, medium sized etc. However once you settle on something there's no harm in trying to make the most of what that is.

[labrat]

At least for me, the hardest part of doing the reload on a mini is getting the cylinder pin to line up in the cylinder and frame.  Because of that, the only fast reload I could do is called the "New York reload", which means grab another gun that is already loaded.  I am sure that other people here are a lot better than I am at getting everything lined up to get the cylinder pin in place.  Cut me a little slack, its tuff being old.

[TwoGunJayne]

The primary reason for carrying ammo/reload is one simple fact:

So you defended yourself, say you were right. Say you called the cops and are waiting like a responsible citizen and are not leaving the scene of a possible crime.

So the a**hole's friends show up before the cops do...

I'm sure we've all "got it" now.

[redhawk4]

The primary reason for carrying ammo/reload is one simple fact:

So you defended yourself, say you were right. Say you called the cops and are waiting like a responsible citizen and are not leaving the scene of a possible crime.

So the a**hole's friends show up before the cops do...

I'm sure we've all "got it" now.

That's another great point that I've thought about before, you may not be out of the woods yet just because you've survived the first round.  That's where there's a potential difference between Home Defense and SD "on the streets", who knows who else might want to get involved after the fact, particularly if they know you are out of ammo. When you read and see about some incidents on TV, family members and friends sometimes get really angry about the BG being shot, regardless of how bad his intentions were, where he was and any other factors that might lead to the conclusion that the intended victim had every right to shoot him, because if they hadn't they'd be dead.

[RogueTS1]

Yep; and you still have to make it home from the scene. While not likely there is still some time, distance and opportunity for some other no-goodnick to try and prey upon you on the way back home.

[I]

Don't forget that a conversion cylinder may almost double your chances of catching a box somewhere, anywhere. See also "Obama Ammo Shortage."

[cfsharry]

This is kind of funny. 
Another thread has the bad guys being scared off by the mighty roar and brilliant muzzle flash of the magnum mini while this thread has the bad guy's buddies relentlessly and without fear tracking down the mini wielding warrior after he shot their good bud, in turn necessitating a rapid reload for that same erstwhile mini wielding warrior.
Resolve both issues by carrying a small semi auto .380 with an extra mag or two.  A more powerful round + faster reloads and save the mini as a back up piece.

[redhawk4]

This is kind of funny. 
Another thread has the bad guys being scared off by the mighty roar and brilliant muzzle flash of the magnum mini while this thread has the bad guy's buddies relentlessly and without fear tracking down the mini wielding warrior after he shot their good bud, in turn necessitating a rapid reload for that same erstwhile mini wielding warrior.
Resolve both issues by carrying a small semi auto .380 with an extra mag or two.  A more powerful round + faster reloads and save the mini as a back up piece.

Like a Guardian 380?

[I]

No, a Guardian .32 caliber. The ammo weighs less than .380

[redhawk4]

Anything's better than a pair of running shoes

[ikoiko]

Was at Lowes today. Took my spare cylinder.
Rubber Chair Tips, 7/8  - 1 inch.

[cfsharry]

My personal preference is the Colt Mustang. Sig  P238 also good. Both are smaller and lighter then the Guardian. But it is single action so if one is not comfortable carrying cocked and locked this is the wrong gun. Better trigger than double action or striker fired but that is just my opinion. Unlike the Guardian I have not personally, nor know of anyone who has, found either painful to shoot.

[ikoiko]

I'd like to hear more on the R51.

[I]

Was at Lowes today. Took my spare cylinder.
Rubber Chair Tips, 7/8  - 1 inch.

Beauty! That's one for the "alternate carry" thread, eh?

[redhawk4]

My personal preference is the Colt Mustang. Sig  P238 also good. Both are smaller and lighter then the Guardian. But it is single action so if one is not comfortable carrying cocked and locked this is the wrong gun. Better trigger than double action or striker fired but that is just my opinion. Unlike the Guardian I have not personally, nor know of anyone who has, found either painful to shoot.

Is a Colt Mustang really smaller than a Guardian 380?

[redhawk4]

This is kind of funny. 
Another thread has the bad guys being scared off by the mighty roar and brilliant muzzle flash of the magnum mini while this thread has the bad guy's buddies relentlessly and without fear tracking down the mini wielding warrior after he shot their good bud, in turn necessitating a rapid reload for that same erstwhile mini wielding warrior.
Resolve both issues by carrying a small semi auto .380 with an extra mag or two.  A more powerful round + faster reloads and save the mini as a back up piece.

I guess what will settle this argument once and for all is when we can compare the actual accounts of forum members, one who fired a single shot and scared everyone off for 4 blocks in any direction. with the muzzle blast, still having 4 in the gun and a loaded cylinder in their pocket, with that of another member, who emptied his gun into the BG and was subsequently brutally assaulted by the BG's 400lb mother who gave him a brutal purse whipping, while he kept repeating . . . "note to self, carry an extra cylinder next time"

[cfsharry]

Red,
You're right, the Mustang is just a wee bit longer due to it's barrel being just a wee bit longer. But at a little over 12 ozs compared to over 18 ozs it sure feels smaller in the hand.
The point is, the mini is not designed as a fighting handgun. Quick reloads are not it's forte.  It is, however, a great, last ditch back up piece. 
With that being said, if someone is comfortable with a mini as their primary, good for them. 

[I]

The coldest man I ever knew carried a colt .380 mustang, 2 spare mags and a tiny h&r .22 rim fire cylinder pin revolver conversion.

You could count on him to do the right thing.

His advice? "Shoot them in the brain, spine, or face to slow them down. Kill them with the knife or spike. Style matters, make it artistic." Never saw him smile.

He was one of the scariest Sierra foxtrot I have ever seen. He never talked much. I never saw him flinch, never saw him sweat.

What makes a man like that? He just plain made me nervous. I heard he had a thing for grenades. Said he was from "the middle of nowhere," California.

That guy could freeze water with his hands, I swear it.

[redhawk4]

Red,
You're right, the Mustang is just a wee bit longer due to it's barrel being just a wee bit longer. But at a little over 12 ozs compared to over 18 ozs it sure feels smaller in the hand.
The point is, the mini is not designed as a fighting handgun. Quick reloads are not it's forte.  It is, however, a great, last ditch back up piece. 
With that being said, if someone is comfortable with a mini as their primary, good for them.

The Guardian makes a better club or will hurt more when you throw it at the bad guy when your extensive ammo supply is exhausted.

" if someone is comfortable with a mini as their primary, good for them"

Well as I've said many times before, that's a choice everyone has to make for themselves. I'm just heading out of my office now, Guardian 380 in my pocket, Sig 290RS in what might loosely pass as a briefcase. If I knew I was going to be attacked, I wouldn't be taking either of them with me, I have much better options available, but equally, there's no way I'm carrying those every day and the long guns would be hard to conceal. Ultimately it's the balance of Comfort, Convenience and Concealability  over outright Firepower that we all make a Judgement call on. While generally I like to carry something bigger than a 22 or 25 on days when that's not possible, I'd  much rather have a Mini or something similar than nothing because although we've joked about the blast etc. of the Mini frightening people off, I still believe the mere sight of any gun will scare off most people who are likely to "bother" you, and shooting will get rid of most of the rest. If that happens to be the day you go head to head with the "drug fueled Pyscho from heck" well too bad, but, I'd still rather try and fight him  off with several rounds of some small caliber fired in to him first, than without.

[I]

FBI says most confrontations end with proper presentation without firing. What are they doing that is so right?

[OV-1D]

 Suits , ties and sunglasses and theres a half dozen of them , would make most bad guys pis* or cra* their pants and start crying . Here they are   

[Kentucky Kevin]

The NY reload works well, as does the ability to arm a companion, or two

[Classanr]

Hmmmm, I was just pondering that joke:
"Why do you carry a gun?"
"Because I can't carry a cop."

Let us extrapolate the argument that size matters more than placement.

How big a cop are you willing to carry?

How would you conceal your cop?

When do you leave your cop at home?

Is it a sign of weakness for a man to carry a woman cop?

If a woman carries a man cop, will the BG's take it away from her and use it against her?

When the cop runs out of ammo (we know they can't hit the broadside of a barn when standing inside), to what do you resort for a backup?  For instance, do you carry extra cops, or do you carry magzines or cylinders to re-stoke the cop?

How often do you take your cop to the range?