Before you pick up a gun or hand a gun over, prove the gun is clear before you do anything else. Point the gun in a safe direction towards the target and keep your finger off the trigger.
1. Keep the gun pointing down range. Pull the hammer back gently to half-cock (NOT full-cock) and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Look at the back of the cylinder and check that there are no caps on the nipples. Look at the right hand side where there is a recess. Rotate the cylinder clockwise viewed from the back to bring each nipple into the recess in turn.
3. If there are caps on the nipples they will have to be removed. The gun may be loaded! Keep the gun pointing down range. With the hammer on half cock (NOT full cock) pull the caps off at the recess on the right side either with your fingers, or flick them off carefully with a small penknife, or pull them off gently with a pair of fine nosed pliers. Rotate the cylinder clockwise viewed from the back to bring the next nipple into the recess in turn. If the caps are unfired then put them safely away.
4. If there are no caps on the nipples then tip the gun slightly up carefully but don't point the barrel at your head or anyone else. Look at the front end of each cylinder as you rotate it. Each cylinder should be empty.
If you can see a ball in the cylinder then it is loaded.
un-cocked/de-cocked
half-cock
full-cock
photo of rear of cylinder -uncapped nipple -nipple clear
capped nipple- gun not clear
chambers empty, unloaded - chamber clear
chambers loaded - gun not clear
5. The safest and easiest way if the cylinder is loaded is to get permission from the Range Officer (R.O.) to fire it at the target. Cap the cylinder and fire it. Remove the spent caps and the gun is unloaded.
If this is not possible, then (remove caps first) use a nipple key to unscrew a nipple and tip the revolver barrel up to dump the powder. (Collect the powder to dispose of it carefully.) Repeat for each cylinder in turn.
6. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to remove the cylinder. For the Ruger, turn the screw on the right hand side of the revolver in front of the cylinder anticlockwise gently as far as it will go. Unlatch the loading lever and swing it down. Slide the loading lever/rammer/cylinder axle pin forwards and remove it.
7. Rotate the cylinder slightly clockwise and slide it out of the left side of the frame.
8. Spray the front of the cylinder with WD40 or similar. Spray inside each cylinder from the back.
9. Place a brass rod into the cylinder being careful not to damage the nipple threads. Support the cylinder on a hollow block. Gently tap the rear of the rod until the ball comes out of the front of the cylinder. Repeat for all cylinders.