Revolver Timing: What You Need to Know

It seems like revolver use is on an upswing these days and if you’re one of the new-to-revolver shooters, you may have questions. There’s an idea behind revolvers that they’re simple, that they never fail, and while it’s probably true that they’re less likely to fail, there’s a catch. When a revolver fails — because everything does — it tends to do it in dramatic, get-to-a-gunsmith fashion.

In that vein, one thing you need to be familiar with if you’re going to get into revolvers, is timing. We’re going to break it down for you.

What is revolver timing?

Figuring out what timing is requires a bit of a dive into how these guns are designed. For example, magazines are what semi-automatic handguns require to keep them fed while revolvers have cylinders. Cylinders are basically what they sound like—a round cylindrical piece of metal drilled with holes made to hold ammo.

Capacity varies by gun, but usually it’s between 5 and 7 rounds. Sometimes you come across a revolver with an 8 or 10-round capacity—there’s even a 20-rounder in .22 LR. Unlike semi-autos, which eject spent brass as you fire, the cylinder on a revolver holds the cartridges and doesn’t eject them. Until you empty the spent brass yourself, it’s sitting there taking up space.

The holes in the cylinder are chambers (bear with me, this is all relevant). When you fire a revolver, one chamber lines up with the barrel. Specifically, the chamber aligns with the forcing cone located at the breech end of the revolver’s barrel.

That’s very different from how a magazine-fed gun feeds rounds into the chamber of the gun. Revolvers are made so the cylinder turns to align with the barrel, the round is fired, and then the cylinder rotates just a little to line up the next chamber for another shot.

It’s also worth noting that although most revolvers have a cylinder that swings out for loading and unloading, some have a fixed cylinder you load and unload one round at a time through a loading gate (the loading gate swings outward to allow access to the chamber, then snaps back in place for live fire).

What does all this basic revolver talk have to do with timing? Well, “timing” refers to the way the chambers in the cylinder align with the barrel. Think of it like an analog clock. The cylinder moves a little at a time in a clockwise direction (keeping in mind that although most revolvers rotate clockwise, there are some that move counterclockwise). When the cylinder turns to line up the next chamber, it’s designed to lock in place rather than just casually hanging in space.

That makes sense because the last thing you need is a wiggly cylinder failing to line up the next round of ammunition with the barrel of the gun. Even seemingly tiny shifts out of alignment are going to be trouble. Revolvers that rotate properly are considered to be “in time,” and if they don’t line up correctly, it’s considered “out of time” (or as having a timing issue…basically the same thing).

Timing issues aren’t minor at all. If you decide to run a revolver that has a timing problem, you’re likely to have a really bad time. Maybe the gun will misfire and you’ll end up with a revolver loaded with live ammunition and a frozen cylinder. That’s actually the tamer possibility. It’s also possible for the firing pin to do as it’s designed and strike the primer. That means the round fires, but because the timing is off, the bullet won’t have a clear path.

The results of that include a lot of potential negative outcomes including serious hand injuries and a destroyed revolver that may or may not be peeled like banana (maybe it’ll just implode). In short, when a revolver’s timing is off, you don’t shoot it.

How do you know if timing is off?

The good news is that you can easily check your revolver’s timing instead of waiting for things to go south. If you have a double-action revolver, you can dry fire it in double-action mode. Rather than your usual trigger pull, you should pull the trigger slowly so you can feel and hear what’s going on. You should hear two audible clicks, the first of which is made when the cylinder stop is released and the second of which occurs when the cylinder stops moving by clicking into the cylinder’s next notch (that’s how it locks into place).

Revolvers that are out of time might still produce some sort of second click, but won’t be secured into place—you’ll be able to turn the cylinder manually into the next notch with no problem. That’s because when timing is off, the cylinder doesn’t lock into the next notch before the hammer drops. Instead, it slips and wiggles. Be aware that the wiggling isn’t a massive movement but is instead relatively small, so you must check timing carefully and mindfully. Don’t just assume—you feel and see it, but you need to take a close look.

On a single-action revolver, you can check the timing by pulling the hammer back and paying attention as you do so. It’s just like checking timing on a double-action, meaning you need to move slowly. If things are working properly, the cylinder will lock into the next notch before the hammer is fully cocked. Depending on the gun, the timeframe we’re talking about might be only fractions of a second, so move the hammer at a snail’s pace.

Here’s the other thing about revolver timing: you have to check every chamber. This isn’t a one-and-done scenario. The odds are definitely in your favor if the timing is good on one chamber, but it isn’t a guarantee. Save yourself potentially explosive trouble and take the time to check each chamber, especially on a new-to-you used revolver.

Can you fix revolver timing?

Yes, timing can be fixed, but no, you probably shouldn’t attempt it yourself. Revolver issues tend to be best handled by gunsmiths with specific skillsets. That means we’re not talking about gunsmiths who build custom bolt-action rifles or that guy who put new springs in your GLOCK. For revolver work, you want someone who’s intimately familiar with their inner workings and parts.

Taking that a step further, remember that not all revolvers are the same, so you need to ensure the gunsmith in question knows how to handle your specific model. There’s a lot to consider with revolvers and correcting timing takes skill.

From the outside, revolvers look simple: frame, barrel, cylinder, trigger, hammer. One neat package, right? Once you remove the side plate, however, you discover there are a lot of tiny moving parts to contend with. The hand tends to be the key component when it comes to fixing timing, but it’s possible you’ll also need to replace or fix the ratchet—that or there could be a variety of parts with wear or damage that have to be repaired or replaced. And if you’re wondering why they’d be repaired rather than replaced, it’s because there might not be replacement parts for an older gun.

What’s “the hand?” The hand on your revolver is a small piece of elongated metal. At one end they’re typically slightly rounded and the other has a hook or ledge. The exact dimensions and shape of the hand depend on the model. The hand’s job is to rotate the cylinder, which is why it’s the usual culprit for timing being off. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be as straightforward as just replacing the hand.

If you’re lucky, fixing timing will only require a new part or parts (assuming you can find said parts). But odds are good it’ll take some skilled hands-on work and focused attention to detail. No, you can’t just take a file or hammer to a part and hope for the best. Please…just don’t. The precision required to correct revolver timing can come down to adjustments measured in thousands of an inch. Not all gunsmiths can do that, let alone gun owners.

What else do you need to know about revolver timing?

The most important thing you need to know is that it’s wise to let a professional fix your revolver’s timing if it’s off. It’s also good to understand that not all revolvers are made the same way. Tiny movements in a cylinder that signal a problem in one model could be the norm in another. Being familiar with a particular brand and model matters. Of course, you also need to be aware of what happens during live fire if timing is off.

Some common signs of timing issues include unexplainable accuracy problems, failures to fire, or fitment that’s getting sloppy. These issues tend to start small before major, potentially dangerous problems, so it’s good to catch it early. You can avoid big trouble and bigger gunsmith bills by keeping up maintenance and routine inspections.