Ruger Single-Six, Old Model

This is my old model Single Six in .22LR. This revolver does not have a transfer bar safety. New models from 1973-on have the safety, and Ruger will also add the safety to old models for free. I prefer an old model without the safety, like this one. To carry such a revolver safely, you must leave one chamber empty and carry it with the hammer down on the empty chamber. There is a trick to loading the revolver so that it will end up on the empty chamber, though. You can't just load five rounds and lower the hammer, because not only would the firing pin rest on a live round; when you start shooting you will only get four shots before the hammer drops on the empty chamber. What you have to do is load one round, skip a chamber, load four more, then fully cock and lower the hammer. That works every time. There is also a trick to unloading the empty cases, as shown in the video.