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Practical Revolver

  • 11113 James Monroe Highway Culpeper, VA, 22701 United States (map)

Learn how to select, set up, shoot, operate, and maintain a revolver for personal defense or field use.

You could be forgiven for thinking that nobody uses revolvers anymore...but Smith & Wesson and Ruger are producing more than half a million revolvers every year. Colt has re-entered the revolver market. Even Kimber is making revolvers now. Revolvers are experiencing something of a renaissance at the moment, but unfortunately most modern buyers don't know the practical realities of living with the revolver on a day to day basis.

Practical Revolver is a coaching-intensive class designed to help you learn the keys to shooting the revolver well, loading and manipulating it reliably, and how to care for the revolver so it will operate as expected when you call on it to protect yourself, hit a target, or harvest game.

Rangemaster Master Instructors Tim Chandler and Ashton Ray have been using and learning about revolvers for most of their lives...and they'll pass along some of those lessons to you!

Topics in the course (time permitting) will include:

  • Proper grip of the revolver

  • Managing the double action trigger

  • Thinking differently about your sights

  • Reloading methods and equipment

  • Critical maintenance

  • Handling practices to maintain long term reliability

  • Ammunition selection

  • Reloading techniques and equipment

  • When single action operation makes sense

Equipment requirements:

  • At least one revolver in good working order : having a backup, or having a snub and a full sized revolver are advised. All day with a lightweight snub might be unpleasant

  • Quality belt holster: OWB, IWB, AIWB are all fine assuming they fit your revolver properly

  • Soft bristled brush: suitable for cleaning the forcing cone and underneath the ejector star of your revolver. A toothbrush will be fine.

  • Cleaning rod & brush for your caliber: In case your cylinder needs a scrubbing during class

  • IF you are not using a .38, at least six dummy cartridges: We only have .38 dummies.

  • 150 rounds of ammunition: FMJ ammunition is suggested as it cuts down on lead buildup on the revolver. More than 150 rounds would be useful if you want to do more live fire

  • Reloading devices: Speed loaders (Safariland, HKS, SpeedBeez, etc), speed strips, pouches...it's your choice. Whatever you want to work with. Each device has its benefits and drawbacks as you will see in class.

  • Eye and ear protection: ballistically rated eye protection is required, electronic hearing protection is preferred.

Practical Revolver will be an opportunity to test your revolver and your support gear under the eye of skilled coaches who can help you optimize your performance. It should be a fun and interesting day focusing on the not-quite lost art of the wheelgun guided by instructors who have used revolvers all their lives.




Earlier Event: October 22
Home Defense Shotgun
Later Event: April 15
Shotgun Skills