Loading arms?

[ZVP]

 Seriously, has anyone bent their loading arms from just normal use?
I own a Uberti London Colt and 3 Piettias ('41 .44 colt and 2 Remingtons) and I have never noticed any flex or bend in the cocking arm.
I shoot informally and just plink, i don't use the guns in competition.
All this talk of Loading Devices has got me wondering if I'll damage the gun by just using it?
I suppose all the old Open Tops and '58 Remingtons still around should tell me it won't but I really like my guns and don't want to mess them up instead of buying a $50 acessory... I hope the modern steels are even stronger!
What's you folks take on just using the loading arm on the gun?
ZVP

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

The pivot pin is more likely to yield or break before you bend any of the other parts. It is the weakest link. I have heard of shooters damaging the pin by trying to force in balls that are too hard. That's one reason you should always use pure, dead soft lead with a C&B. As long as you use soft lead, I don't think you will bend or break anything.

[Montana Slim]

Nope.... never broke a rod, but I've broken the screw used on a NM Remington..and to do that I had to do quite a bit of hammering.
ha    (Psst...this was on my 4" pocket 44)

Slim

[Pettifogger]

I've seen two people bend the levers on their RUGERS.  Cause in both cases (and in several with the Italian clones) is homemade cast balls.  As long as you are using PURE lead balls you will never have a problem.  That is why I will not use balls that are cast by any caster that I don't personally know and have inspected their lead.  Most casters will tell you they are using pure lead when they are not.  A lot of people are using wheel weights or anything else they can find to help keep the cost down.  Don't buy those!  At matches I will only use commercial swaged pure lead balls.  I.e., Hornady or Speer.

[rebsr52339]

Hey Pettifogger-----++++++10 on that one.    Guys, if you need a 12 lever arm to seat the ball, it is too big in dia. OR too hard.   

[Montana Slim]

Of course there are the two most common methods to prevent premature wear to your rammer.. or to get your screw or joint loose 

#1) Don't ever "shoot" your "piece" - turn it into a wallhanger.

#2) Use one of those mechanical contraptions to ram your balls home.


Now, back to our regular programming....

Slim

[Mako]

Seriously, has anyone bent their loading arms from just normal use?
I own a Uberti London Colt and 3 Piettias ('41 .44 colt and 2 Remingtons) and I have never noticed any flex or bend in the cocking arm.
I shoot informally and just plink, i don't use the guns in competition.
All this talk of Loading Devices has got me wondering if I'll damage the gun by just using it?
I suppose all the old Open Tops and '58 Remingtons still around should tell me it won't but I really like my guns and don't want to mess them up instead of buying a $50 acessory... I hope the modern steels are even stronger!
What's you folks take on just using the loading arm on the gun?
ZVP

Using barrel mounted rammers have led to the following problems with cap gun shooters:

• The feeling on inadequacy
• Cutaneous warts 
• Palm contusions 
• misloaded chambers 
• Inguinal hernias
• broken gun parts
• The heart break of psoriasis 

However if you use the pistol mounted loading lever you will receive a great deal of sympathy from your fellow shooters on your posse.

Seriously though it does cut down on some of the wear if your arbor is fit correctly and you use a constant wedge position.  I have never worn out a rammer or any component associated with one.  I have temporarily lost one wedge spring and the pin that holds it in place.  The next posse on the stage found it and I was fortunate that someone knew percussion revolvers and recognized what it was. I restaked the pin that night and it hasn't come out since.  I can show you pictures of my wedges and you can see how little wear there is on them.

Do I think you need to use a cylinder loader?  Nah, not unless you want to be the envy of men and the object of women's affection everywhere.  Cylinder loaders help with loading management and allow inspection of the pistols a bit better than loading on the pistol.  The modern replica and even the originals are totally capable of loading the correct ball or bullet.

Just make sure you always use pure dead soft lead.

Regards,
Mako