Henry Rifle Forums

I normally shoot left handed so the pistol is in my left hand by default. When I reload the loading is done with my right hand. My question is why was it designed that way? Aren’t most people right handed? I’m guessing you switch hands when loading.

I don’t have a lot of experience with DA but if I remember right you hold it in your right hand and load with the left.

Maybe I should only shoot break-tops where it doesn’t matter.

I personally hold either SA or DA with my left hand and load with my right. That is easiest for me in a non stress situation.
SA, the gun is lying on its left side in my left hand.
DA, the gun is lying on its right side in my left hand.
I am right handed, but, if I were left handed, I assume it would be just the opposite.

My guess is that out goes back to percussion revolvers. The cut out was put on the right side probably because it's easier for right handed users - the majority of users - to handle and load those tiny percussion caps with their right hand on the right side of the gun. Being right-handed, I can see this logic. I think it would be very difficult for me to load those tiny percussion caps on the left side.

When revolvers went to cartridges, a lot of those percussion revolvers were converted to cartridge guns. Since they already had the cut out on the right side, I suspect no one saw the need to change things.

I think I could probably load a single action revolver on the left side with cartridges, though, given that cartridges are a lot easier to handle than those little percussion caps. Single action revolver purists, though, would have a heart attack these days if anyone messed with the traditional SA design. Some of them have fits just seeing adjustable sights on a Colt.