Revolver - Six Gun

A Six Gun is a revolver that holds six cartridges. The cylinder in a six gun is often called a 'wheel', and the six gun is itself often called a 'wheel gun'. The classic six gun was commonly carried by Old West cowboys and gunfighters. A well-known example of the six gun is the Colt Single Action Army, or Peacemaker, in .45 Long Colt caliber. The six gun has many modern incarnations, such as the Ruger Vaquero and Beretta Stampede, as well as the currently produced Colt Single Action Army.

On six guns made in the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries, it is unwise to load all six chambers as a normal mode of carry. With the hammer in the uncocked position, the firing pin rests on the primer of the cartridge immediately under the hammer. This means that if the gun is dropped or something bumps the hammer, the gun may fire. Most revolvers made today have drop safeties (such as firing pin blocks, hammer blocks, or transfer bars) that prevent the firing pin from contacting the cartridge's primer unless the trigger is pulled, which correlates more closely to an intentional firing. Safe carry of old-style revolvers requires carrying on an empty chamber.

The basic operation of the six gun is:

1. The hammer is cocked with the thumb, which rotates the cylinder to line up a new cartridge with the barrel, and positions the hammer for firing.
2. The trigger is pulled, which causes the hammer to drop and drive the firing pin into the cartridge primer, firing the gun.
3. The hammer must be cocked again for the next shot. This is called 'Single-Action'.

Modern six guns are used commonly by Single-Action Shooting enthusiasts in shooting competitions, designed to mimic the gunfights of the Old West, and for general target shooting and personal defense.