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 Weird revolver half-cock 
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Location: Tulsa, Ok
Joined: Mon Nov 25, 2013
Posts: 2335
Real Name: Jeremy
First off, I just wanna admit that I'm not particularly knowledgeable or experienced with wheelguns. I've owned a few of the most popular makes/models over the years, but never held onto them for long.

I'm hoping one of you experienced revolver guys who have been in the game for awhile can clue me in on this design, and the purpose for it functioning this way.

I know this isn't a traditional "half-cock" as used by old single action pistols as a safety, because the gun will definitely fire from this hammer position.

Lemme just do my best to describe it....
First off, the gun in question is a Rossi M971, as imported by Interarms sometime in the 90's. I know that they imported a lot of different models during that time which weren't actually 971's, but which had been marked as such. After studying the Rossi catalogue for the years in question, I believe this gun to actually be a Model 713. Anyway.

It has a pretty light single action, with somewhere in the vicinity of 4lb trigger pull. However, while playing with it, I discovered that if I lower the hammer with the trigger held back, and then draw the hammer back approx 1/3 it's full travel, there is a click. If you release the trigger at that point and continue drawing back...the hammer will lock at approx 2/3 full cock extension. The trigger moved back to the same rearward position as full-cocked, but the hammer is definitely not all the way back.

From this position, the gun will fire just like full-cocked, but the pressure required is considerably more. I'm guessing somewhere around 6-8lbs. This is a hammer mounted firing pin design, and pressure on the trigger will deactivate the hammer block, and there is plenty of mass and spring pressure to activate the primer.

Also from this position, you can fully draw back the hammer and it will cock-into it's normal single action mode with light trigger pull, or....draw back slightly and lower the hammer with the hammer block activated.

I'm sure that was all clear as mud, but perhaps someone knows what this design feature is for??


Sat Oct 05, 2024 4:33 am
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Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011
Posts: 2394
The half cock was never meant to be used as a safety position. Neither on old single action revolvers or the 1911 for that matter. It's more of a safety catch to stop the hammer from falling if your thumb slips off as your cocking it, or if you're decocking it (and remove your finger from the trigger as soon as the hammer starts to move). You should of course use two hands and make sure the hammer is blocked by your other thumb or a finger.

Unless I'm thinking of something different from what you're describing.


Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:37 pm
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