can i load 6 rounds in a Uberti single action

[Soundtrackzz]

I am considering buying a Uberti single action and i know that in some SA's you can only load 5 rounds while in others you can load all six. What can Ubertis hold?

[jtg452]

Since the Uberti is a copy of the Colt Single Action Army (SAA) design, it has a hammer mounted firing pin. If you were to load all 6 rounds, when you lowered the hammer it would be resting on the primer of a live round. Any sharp blow to the hammer (like dropping it) would set that round off. Uberti's will hold 6 but you do NOT want to carry them loaded with all 6 rounds. For safety's sake, if you are going to carry the pistol, load only 5 and have the hammer resting on the empty chamber. On the firing line at the range, it doesn't make much difference if you load 6 or 5 while shooting it but if you are going to holster the gun, the hammer needs to be down on either a spent round or an empty chamber. Personally, I think lowering the hammer of a Colt SAA or clone onto a live round is just asking for a trip to the emergency room and is reckless to the point of absolute stupidity. For safety's sake, load 5 and leave the hammer down on an empty chamber.

A neat trick is to load 1 round, skip the next chamber and then load 4 rounds. Then cock the gun, that will align the empty chamber under the hammer and lower the hammer into place. It will work every time if you do it right.

Guns with transfer bar systems (frame mounted firing pins and a small bar that bridges the gap between the hammer and firing pin only when the trigger is pulled completely back) like the Bounty Hunters from EAA or the Ruger single actions are safe to carry with al 6 chambers loaded because the hammer face is actually unable to reach the firing pin.

[pmstone]

I have the Cattleman Hombre and it is equipped with a hammer block safety. Whenever the hammer is pulled back more than about 1/4 inch, there is a click and the safety engages. At this point the hammer is physically prevented from going all the way forward. Even if struck. The safety can only be disengaged by pulling the hammer into its full cocked position and then pulling the trigger. Even if you pull the hammer back part way and it slips from under your thumb, the hammer will still not go all the way forward. I have played with it extensively (empty of course) and tried every possible scenario and the only way that gun is going to fire is with the trigger pulled.

Now, is it totally reliable? I can't say. Am I advising you to carry the gun with a live round under the hammer? No. That's for each shooter to decide. I'm just letting you know that it is there.

I don't carry mine loaded. It's my fun gun. But if I did carry it I'd probably go with leaving a cylinder empty, no matter what safety it has. After all, there is no such thing as a 100% reliable safety. Any mechanical device can fail.

Besides, if you need more than 5 shots from a .45 to get the job done, you're better off throwing the gun at them and running.

[lightspeed68]

Who is the idiot that believes that they can get it done with one shot from a SAA. You have three cock positions and when i have my weapon loaded, I keep it on the first set and that works for me even on horseback.

[Will]

You certainly can carry six, the first notch is a safety notch on the SAA. The problem is that a good sharp blow will break the trigger and probably fire the round. A better way is to put the hammer down between cartriges with the firing pin locked between cartrige rims. Still, normal woods packing I only load five. The safety notch and putting the firing pin between the cartriges is still not as safe as a hammer down on an empty chamber. No realy dangerouse animals around these parts so rarely do I load six except at the firing line. I'm not a big fan of rugers, but if Iwanted to always carry six it'd be the gun I'd use.