1863 Remington (58 pattern) cylinder swap

Mild Bill #36361

I am right handed and I can only do it that way so keep that in mind. The method is simple but it is the wording that is hard. The key to efficiency is doing things with both hands at the same time. The weight bearing hand also swaps back and forwards very quickly. The process takes about 5 - 6 seconds.

Ok here goes...

1. Hold the gun in the right hand (shooting grip, barrel downrange).
2. Half cock.
3. Roll the gun onto its right side (about 45 degrees to the right).
4. unlatch the load lever with the left hand at the same time, thumb and forefinger (thumb on top).
5. Grip the cylinder pin with the left hand and allow the load lever to drop into the web of hand.
6. Take the weight of the gun in the left hand with the other fingers.
7. Move the right hand and surround the cylinder/frame hand and grip the frame (thumb on top, fingers underneath).
8. Take the weight of the gun in the right hand.
9. Pull the cylinder pin.
10. Take the weight of the gun in the left hand again.
11. (Bind the load lever slightly against the cylinder pin. This keeps the plunger out of the way and also the cylinder pin for the first few chambers. Gunk will do it later).
12. Simultaneously Roll the cylinder clockwise with your right thumb and forefingers.
13. The cylinder will drop into your right hand but you can assist with your thumb.
14. Bring the replacement cylinder up cupped in the fingers of your right hand and roll it in clockwise. (Thumb is on top to help rotate and prevent the cylinder coming up too far.) You need to get the cylinder hand to align with a notch before it will depress the hand. (If the cylinder hand has a sharp edge, a light chamfer would assist this step.) At the same time the left hand applies delicate pressure to the cylinder pin until it finds its place. This is the stage that takes the most practice.
15. Push the cylinder pin home and snap the load lever shut. I do this by rotating my left hand clockwise bearing against the lever with the side of my index finger/first knuckle.
16. Re grip the gun in the shooting hold and waste some time rotating the cylinder to get the uncapped cylinder to the top.
17. Full cock and shoot.

• At all times the gun points downrange.
• Always lowering cylinder into, and lifting from, a cupped hand. A dropped cylinder = a dropped loaded gun so good cylinder control is paramount.

Good luck and happy shooting.

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