When would a soldier "cap" their pistol?

[JollyDeathCow]

So you've heard of "cowboy loading" a revolver (only loading 5/6 chambers so jostling doesn't cause accidental discharge) but I'm wondering: in leading up to a battle, at what point would soldiers "cap" their percussion cap pistols?

 

[TrapperDude]

If the revolver had only five chambers loaded, the five loaded ones would have been capped after loading all five. It wouldn't be good to try capping them right when the enemy initiated contact. Of course, the Remington could have all six chambers loaded and capped because it had notches between the chambers so the hammer wouldn't rest over a cap.

 

[JollyDeathCow]

If the revolver had only five chambers loaded, the five loaded ones would have been capped after loading all five. It wouldn't be good to try capping them right when the enemy initiated contact. Of course, the Remington could have all six chambers loaded and capped because it had notches between the chambers so the hammer wouldn't rest over a cap.

Interesting, but I'm wondering about single shot muzzleloaders.

 

[TrapperDude]

Interesting, but I'm wondering about single shot muzzleloaders.

Mmm... Now, I'm curious, too. I always figured they kept them capped the whole time, but someone might know better.

 

[Red Owl]

They weren't that focused on safety back then, probably capped and kept on the half cock notch.

 

[tenngun]

I bet let softly down on the cap, keep it from falling off.
Falling off a horse might strike the cock just hard enough to set off the cap, but all and all not very likely.
Should you needs pistol NOW you didn’t want to stop to cap or discover your cap had fallen off

 

[JollyDeathCow]

They weren't that focused on safety back then, probably capped and kept on the half cock notch.

...but it seems like that would run the risk of your cap falling off the nipple

 

[flntlokr]

I would guess that they were kept ready for action at all times. Nobody would want to be taking the time fumbling around for a cap when something goes down. An uncapped nipple would also be a fine way to collect debris or introduce water to your load. The half-cock notch was there for that reason. No need for it otherwise.

 

[bigstick6017555]

Some where in time I read an article about the caps of that time period. I took from it that they were not like the caps we are now using, and they were made of a softer material so they fit the nipple better and did not fall off as easily.

 

[Whitworth]

Capped upon loading to seal the chamber from moisture.

 

[Ponderosaman]

If the revolver had only five chambers loaded, the five loaded ones would have been capped after loading all five. It wouldn't be good to try capping them right when the enemy initiated contact. Of course, the Remington could have all six chambers loaded and capped because it had notches between the chambers so the hammer wouldn't rest over a cap.

I heard from an expert on YouTube that the notch was invented by Ruger for the Old Army.

 

[Sam squanch]

I think it would depend……. In a large camp in settled territory, I don’t think weapons were even allowed to be loaded, except for sentries. On the far flung frontier, they were loaded and ready ALL the time.

 

[hawkeye2]

I heard from an expert on YouTube that the notch was invented by Ruger for the Old Army.

True, Remington saw them and liked the idea so much they instituted a massive recall and added notches to all their previous production.

 

[TrapperDude]

I heard from an expert on YouTube that the notch was invented by Ruger for the Old Army.

True, Remington saw them and liked the idea so much they instituted a massive recall and added notches to all their previous production.

Ruger engineers travelled back in time and sold the concept to Remington and brought back the gold coins they received as payment. They used that money to expand their business into the massive enterprise it is today.

 

[windini]

True, Remington saw them and liked the idea so much they instituted a massive recall and added notches to all their previous production.

Ruger engineers travelled back in time and sold the concept to Remington and brought back the gold coins they received as payment. They used that money to expand their business into the massive enterprise it is today.

These posts approved by Harry Turtledove.*



______________________
*Yeah, I made that up.

 

[KCode98]

Capped and hammer eased down on the cap. Really and truthfully all of these questions are easily answered by common sense. I get a kick out of most people honestly believing that in the 1870s and 80s people walked around with their Colt SAA loaded with 5 rounds and the hammer down on an empty chamber.

 

[sawyer04]

So you've heard of "cowboy loading" a revolver (only loading 5/6 chambers so jostling doesn't cause accidental discharge) but I'm wondering: in leading up to a battle, at what point would soldiers "cap" their percussion cap pistols?

Hopefully they cap them before they need to use them. I carry a 58 daily capped, but check it to make sure caps are tight daily. My revolver sets nicely on the safety notches. Loading all cylinders has never been a problem. My modern weapons is another story, five only are loaded.

 

[TrapperDude]

These posts approved by Harry Turtledove.*



______________________
*Yeah, I made that up.

Guns of the South?

 

[megasupermagnum]

I heard from an expert on YouTube that the notch was invented by Ruger for the Old Army.

Sorry to steal the thread, but is there a way to carry my Old Army safely with all cylinders capped? I've always done 5/6, and never gave it any more thought.

 

[Ponderosaman]

Sorry to steal the thread, but is there a way to carry my Old Army safely with all cylinders capped? I've always done 5/6, and never gave it any more thought.

If you look on the cylinder of your old army, there are channels cut in it between the cap nipples. You could potentially load all 6 cylinders and place the hammer de-cocked in the channel thus leaving it in a position halfway between caps and “safe” if dropped. The youtuber that explained this still felt more comfortable loading 5/6, but as described is the purpose of the the channels. You would then cock the hammer and the cylinder would travel to the first loaded chamber. Disclaimer, I don’t own an Old Army, just saw it on YouTube.