ryharris1983

i've heard its better to not load a round in the chamber thats sitting on the firing pin. Has anyone heard of this and why that is? also for personal defense is a 38 better than a 357?

Maine Shooter

Many use this when referring to the single action revovlers that don't have any type of transfer bar system. Those models without this feature could be fired if the hammer was stuck and inturn had the firing fin strike the primer in the cylinder. Most modern SA's don't need this "load 1 skip 1 load 4" techinque.
What's best for personal defense is entirely personal and subjective. Use what YOU feel most comfortable with and can shoot best. Of course in the case of .357 v .38 Special. The later is very useable in the .357 mag chambered firearms so you can shoot both from the one firearm.

White Falcon

Good answer M. S. . If it is for someone who is not used to guns, a revolver or a auto that has no safety would be best. You don't want some one in a panic mode trying to get the safety off.

Maine Shooter

Actually I'd rather have folks new to firearms be using models WITH safety features. Safety is not an accident nor is comon sence. With firearms, safety and common sence are neccessities. Unfortunetly not everyone has these traits so the safeties really come into play. For many the peace of mind of the safety helps them feel more at ease.
For the discussion at hand, the revovlers don't have a safety as far as one requiring conscience manipulation. The transfer bar design incorportes all that interanlly and is "disengaged" upon squeezing of the trigger.

millagerobert

Unless you are buying a replica cowboy revolver like a colt SA, or an old (30+ years) you should not have to worry about leaving the chamber under the hammer empty. Be sure when you do purchase a revolver to throughly read the owners manual, which will advise you to the correct operation of the revolver. Also the place where you purchase said revolver should be able to give you advice in this area.
If you are getting the gun for self defense, a 4 inch smith or ruger in 357 will suit you fine. If a more compact package is required you may go with a hammerless smith in 357 or 38. I would stick with the 357 because of the increase in power for self defense, and you can practice with the lighter 38 special loads. Go to a gun shop and ask for their help, handle several guns, then go back home and look up all the info you can find on the internet about the revolver you like. If there is anything negative to be said about the revolver, it won't take you long to find it online. If you stick with a S&W or Ruger you should have no problems.
Make sure once you have purchased to spend allot of time on the range. Learn the safe handling of your gun, put several hundred rounds of practice ammo through it and a box or so of the load you will be carrying in it. You want to know where your bullets will strike in reference to your sights at different ranges, and ensure your ammo of choice functions properly in your firearm. At home, make sure your gun is unloaded, (triple check, then check again, I leave ammo in a differnt room) and practice your draw from holster, dry fire in a safe direction to learn trigger control, and just like anything else the more you handle your gun, the safer and more effective in its operation you will become. Just remember Safety, Safety, Safety, Guns are not toys, don't aim at anything you would not want to destroy. Good luck, and hopefully all you'll ever have to shoot is paper and pop cans.

wis_bow_huntr

I do this with my 44mag double action revolver.

eldeguello

The caution to leave an empty chamber under the hammer applies only to the old Colt Single Action Army design and clones, and other similar actions such as the early model Rugers, etc. It DOES NOT apply to double action revolvers, such as the S&W's, Colts, Tauruses, etc.

The reason for this procedure with the old-style single actions is that the safety notch on the hammer can be sheared by any significant blow on the hammer spur, allowing the firing pin to hit the primer & fire the piece.

Many of the old-time gunslingers used to carry a $5.00 bill in the empty chamber to pay the undertaker in case they got killed......

IF you can handle the recoil and do good shooting with the .357 (which is just a souped-up .38 Special), the .357 is generally regarded as a superior cartridge for hunting and self-defense. But it depends on how well you can shoot that round. Some people get a .357, and use .38 Special ammo in it for target shooting, practice & plinking. They then load it with .357 cartridges for "social" purposes.....