Editing Revolver (section)

== Six gun ==
A '''six gun''' or '''six-shooter''' 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".<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Clint |title=Wheel guns are real guns |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_9_50/ai_n6125506/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709230609/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_9_50/ai_n6125506/ |archive-date=2012-07-09 |work=Findarticles.com |publisher=Guns Magazine |date=September 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Gromer |first=Cliff |title=New Guns of the Old West |journal=Popular Mechanics |date=August 2002 |pages=86–89 }}</ref> Although a "six gun" can refer to any six-chambered revolver, it is typically a reference to the Colt Single Action Army, or its modern look-alikes such as the [[Ruger Vaquero]] and [[Beretta Stampede]].

Until the 1970s, when older-design revolvers such as the Colt Single Action Army and [[Ruger Blackhawk]] were re-engineered with [[safety (firearms)#Drop safeties|drop safeties]] (such as [[safety (firearms)#Firing pin block|firing pin blocks]], [[safety (firearms)#Hammer block|hammer blocks]], or [[safety (firearms)#Transfer bar|transfer bars]]) that prevent the firing pin from contacting the cartridge's [[Primer (firearm)|primer]] unless the trigger is pulled, safe carry required the hammer being positioned over an empty chamber, thus reducing the available cartridges from six to five, or, on some models, positioned in between chambers on either a pin or in a groove made for that purpose, thus keeping the full six rounds available. This kept the uncocked hammer from resting directly on the primer of a cartridge. If not used in this manner, the hammer rests directly on a primer and unintentional firing may occur if the gun is dropped or the hammer is struck. Some holster makers provided a thick leather thong to place underneath the hammer that both allowed the carry of a gun fully loaded with all six rounds and secured the gun in the holster to help prevent its accidental loss.

Six guns are commonly used by [[cowboy action shooting]] enthusiasts in competition shooting and are designed to mimic the gunfights of the Old West, as well as for other applications such as general target shooting, hunting, and personal defense.<ref>Handloader Ammunition Reloading Journal, August 2009 edition in the "From the Hip" article by Brian Pearce. Page 32.</ref>