Question: Has anyone else heard this? I saw a comment in a YouTube video talking about preventing the "turn line" on your revolvers' cylinders.
When closing the cylinder, do not rotate it by hand to lock the cylinder in place. Instead, cock the hammer so it locks the cylinder, then uncock it (or fire if you're at the range).
Cocking the hammer retracts the cylinder stop as the cylinder turns. It then locks in place when rotation is complete. Turning the cylinder by hand lets the stop drag on the cylinder, causing that turn line.
Looking at my revolvers, it seems to make sense. Opened and closed my 686+ cylinder and cocked the hammer. Sure enough, the stop located on the yoke below the cylinder retracted, the cylinder rotated, and it all locked up at the proper location. No hand-rotating the cylinder across the cylinder stop.
I've been shooting revolvers forever, and this was the first time I remember seeing that helpful tip.