I can see the strips would be far easier to carry while the loader will always be another mystery bulge on you. But then the loader will have it in speed and ease of use over any strip. I assume strips will be cheaper but I’m not crying over a ten dollar unit that could save my life. I have tried looking for a strip with notches that would roll sideways and you could just pull away at an angle but no one seems to make one. Maybe it risks tearing apart too much. Is there really a good benefit to one over the other or is what I already said above pretty much the cut and dry of it?

I think that's about it. Speed loader = fast. Speed strip = compact. Loaders are not all the same - I like simplicity of operation of Safariland & Jetloaders best, others like simplicity of construction of HKS best. I carry speedloaders in the open right front pocket of my vest, or sometimes in a sport jacket or suit pocket. Otherwise, strips.

There is one advantage speed strips have over speedloaders beside compactness and cost that I can't recall anyone mentioning. How many people carry a K-frame primary with a J-frame as a back-up gun? Presuming you'd want to carry a reload for either gun, you could carry 1 or 2 speed strips and reload either gun with it. The technique would be the same and you could keep the strip(s) in the same place on your person without having to think about which strip goes to which gun while under stress. With speedloaders you'd have to have one for each, plus be able to get to them and distinguish between a J-frame and a K-frame speedloader while under stress. Granted, you could keep your speedloaders in dedicated locations, i.e. J-frame loader in your pocket and K-frame loader on your belt, but that's more complicated than I'd like it to be. In this situation I think the speed strip offers a simpler solution that is more reliable and consistent for reloading under stress.

Of course, this would be a moot point if you only carry one or the other and not both at the same time.

I'm not sure that would work too well. The reason you want to peel the strip away perpendicular to the cylinder is that peeling it by rotating it flexes the holes holding the other cartridges, possibly resulting in losing those rounds before you had a chance to reload them. I'm not sure a notched speed strip that's designed to roll for cartridge release would hold them securely.

If you practice with a strip, you will find that you are only a second or two behind a speed loader...

YouTube - ‪bianchi speed strip v. hks speedloader smith &wesson 640‬‏

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

Spedloaders are the only way to go with a K or L frame. J frames are kinda finicky towards 'em. THere's just not enough clearance for a speed loader on the little guys.

Also, like was mentioned earlier, speed strips carry a helluva lot easier than speedloaders do.

Here's a good video on how to properly use a speed strip. I load mine a little different than Mas does. I load two rounds, skip one then load the last three. The little space gives me more wobble/fiddle room and insures that I get those utmost important first two rounds in there.

YouTube - ‪037 Massad Ayoob Demonstrates how to Reload the Revolver with the Bianchi "Speed Strip"‬‏

ContinentalOp makes a good point about being able to use the same strips for both a six-shot primary and a five-shot secondary revolver, and I usually do just that when carrying one of each. I also agree with Glock 'em down about the speedloaders seeming to be a bit more finicky with the smaller guns.
While I like the speed of the loader, I have too many other things that I have to carry in my pockets to risk putting the loader in with my keys, knife, etc. With a jacket or cargo pants/shorts it's not a problem due to the extra pockets, but with jeans it's just easier to tuck a speed strip into the watch pocket.

__________________
Ban lunatics and criminals

The grips on some j frames are just to large to allow the use of a speedloader. With a little practice the strips are almost as fast and they are much easier to carry.

I like the ease of carrying the speed strips and my thinking (wrong or right) is that the reload will hopefully not need to be done in too much of a hurry. If the first five don't get me out of the trouble, I'm probably in more trouble than a J frame can handle and am not going to walk away.

True, but let's say you did take care of bizness and get yourself out of forseeable "trouble" after expending your 5 shots, why would you be standing there with an empty gun while scanning for additional targets/bad guys?

Always, always, always keep your weapon topped off.

That is a good point that I had not thought about until I read that.

I must be the odd man of the crew as I much prefer a speedloader or two in my pocket over a speed strip which doesn't seem all that speedy to me. Th only person that cares what is in my pockets is ME. No one else notices or cares. With more and more gang activity, it seems to me that too much ammo is almost enough.
Randy

I do carry a speed strip to reload if needed and even though I practice with it, I still hope I never get into a situation that I have to do a quick reload. I don't think it would work.

I load 5 in mine and used to do 2 space 3 but the top round would sometimes peak out of my watch pocket...I now load it with 5 in a row and I cut the tab off so the whole thing is hidden...I don't find the tab dies much anyway...I rather grab the solid end of the strip.

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

I would have thought that with enough practice and some smooth loading bullets like Golden Sabers or similar you could reload from muscle memory with a speed loader and not even be looking at it. No good reason to break eye contact with the threat. I know the USN isn't all super tactical like the USMC is but even I learned how to very effectively reload the M9 and not take my eyes off the target. I would think that would be pretty difficult, not impossible, but pretty difficult with a speed strip. So I guess it just depends on what you want from your carry and how much practice you want to put into it. Right now I’m favoring once I get my permit to buy my 442 and carry at least two speed loaders. I had thought about an M&P9c or the Ruger SR9c only because they are both compact and have good reliability and that same trick I learned about using your finger on the front of the mag to guide the insertion would still apply. But the little 442 just looks SOOOO much easier to carry…

I had never thought about cutting off that tab. I think I may try that on one of my strips and see how it works out. Thanks.

This is how I practice with my reloads using the strips. I can consistently get my gun reloaded without looking at it. One thing that helps is to get a good physical index. The grip I use is similar to Ayoob's scalpel grip with the index finger along the back of the strip and the thumb along the side. However, I have my middle finger extended along and slightly behind the second round in the strip and my ring finger extended along and slightly behind the fourth round in the strip. I use those fingers to make contact with the cylinder during the reload and to help guide each pair of rounds into the chambers.

As for practicing, I try to do at least 10-15 minutes of dry-fire drils 3-4 times per week (I'll admit to not always being successful at keeping to this schedule, though). I usually practice things I can't do at my range with live ammo, such as drawing, moving, multiple targets, strong/weak side one-handed reloads, etc. I also incorporate reloading in each session. When I do live fire practice at the range (I try to do live-fire practice at least every other week, but again, I'm not always successful at that) I try to incorporate at least a few speed reloads with the strips.

However, I should add that I've never had to do this with someone trying to kill me, so I can't really say if my method is effective or not. But it works well for me.

I've had speed strips for years and carried them in the past. For me they are a lot slower than speed loaders. I don't care about another bulge in my pant or jacket pocket.
When it comes to J frames I suggest HKS speedloaders. I like the Safariland, but it holds the cartridges very rigidly, making it difficult to use with most grips on J frames, which I carry a lot. The HKS speedloaders have a good bit of wiggle when holding cartridges which make it easier for me to insert the cartridges in a J frame gun. I rarely carry my K frames and I've never carried my only N frame, a Mod 58. I generally opt for one of my semi auto pistols if I'm not carrying a J frame or an old Colt Agent I have.

A few thoughts on the subject...

Speed strips give you the ability to "top off" the gun. Speedloaders require you to dump the "good with the bad" if you see what I'm saying.

Speed strips are ~much~ easier to carry.

Speed strips work with every grip style.

Speed strips will work with any J, K, L or N as long as the caliber is the same.

Whether speed strip or speed loader... If we're having to reload a J (which more often than not is a backup), we're in deep poo and should start looking for a non-gun solution.

__________________
Centennial Every Day

Whatever Whatever Whatever

Whichever option you go with the key will always be practice, practice, practice.

Just spent a couple days on revolver training and started out with idea to go with speed loaders with my J frame but took the speed strips to work with as well.

Then I decided on the 2nd day to dedicate the entire day to getting more comfortable with the speed strips. Best move I could have made. Got more proficient with them and it paid off in the long run.

Now I just need to keep practicing, which isn't always my strong point.

The other point that was made was to keep the gun up in your field of vision when reloading. This was taught and reinforced whether using strips or loaders. Another bad habit I have that needs some work.

I totally agree, especially about the topping off.

Speed strips for me. Can top off easy by half stroking the ejector rod and picking out the empty and leaving in the live rounds. You can close the cly. If you have to shoot. While reloading keep your gun at chin level so you can see over it and shoot fast if needed. Remember if your not shooting you should be reloading. Top off when ever you can.

One fellow was using the moon clips in his 640 pro . He could not top off and dropped a lot of ammo ,plus his cly. Jammed from a bent clip and his gun was useless!! On the street he would be dead. Clip's are cheap made and flimsy ,I would not waste my time for my life on the line!! My pro ran fine and I could top off easy with speed strips!! 326M10 you did some fine shooting!! Near 6-7 hundred rounds in 16 hours.How's your hands??

In the event that you need to reload in the heat of a gun battle, speed strips can get you killed. No point to using speed strips on any level. There are low profile speed loader pouches that won't make a bulge in your clothing and you can also carry a speed loader or two in your windbreaker pocket.
My advice is to use speed loaders (I prefer Safariland) and practice, practice, practice with them until you can reload in 5 seconds with your eyes shut every time. You might want to watch Massid Ayoob's video where he demonstrates his speed loading technique.

Topping off can be considered a waste of time. If you fire 4 or 5 rounds and have time to reload, completely clear your cylinder and introduce a full compliment of rounds from a fresh speed loader. If feasible, pick-up your leftover live rounds and pocket - but don't make that your mission. Your mission is to come out of the situation alive. And if you're engaged with a criminal who has a semi auto, you'll need all the time savings you can get -- and plucking one or two un-fired rounds from your cylinder while under tremendous stress ain't going to cut it.

Ease of carry makes speed strips my choice.

__________________
Mike
686 no dash

I don't think I ever carried my HKS speed loader all the years I had it but the speed strips I just bought are always in my front pocket.
What's at home doesn't do much good at home. Just my thoughts about the two.
I just ordered a 2 pack of 44/45 speed strips from CTD.

In the 1970's I was trained to use a revolver: 1) I was trained to reload loose ammo from belt loops. 2) I was trained to reload with my eyes closed with the proper technique to keep from missing a chamber (so I didn't need a light), 3) I was expected to at home (with the revolver out of sight) look at people out a window while reloading by touch.

Now days the only dump pouches I find are used up and not fit to carry! so I've gone to an 8 round speed strip in a pouch on my belt. I have loaded 5 & 6 round speed loaders in the truck consul, but on my person I have a speed strip! I have 6 snubby (1 is a Colt) and 4-4" revolvers, the same speed strip works for every one of them, with 2 or 3 extra rounds.

When on the rare occasion I carry an autoloader I have a J-frame as a BUG. The auto may or may not have an extra mag, but the BUG always has a speed strip.

If at all possible, I would rather my feet get me out of trouble than my bullets. The problem is, after the stroke, my feet can't always get me out of what my mouth gets me into!

Ivan

I normally try not to post in zombie threads, but my thinking has evolved somewhat since my earlier posts.

I still think that if you carry a K-frame with a J-frame BUG, a speed strip makes a lot of sense.

However, since I only have J-frame carry revolvers now I've switched over to speedloaders for a few reasons.

I used a Simply Rugged strip pouch to hold my main reload strip at my left hip (I use the deBethencourt reload method where the gun stays in the right hand). The problem was that occasionally the snap cover would pop open when getting in or out of the car due to the seat bolster.

I've used split-six type pouches with my Safariland Comp I speedloaders, but again the seat bolster would occasionally pop the cover flap. Fortunately, the loader only fell inside the car. Also, while it hasn't happened to me, I have heard of instances where enough pressure was applied to the speedloader that the belt it straddled tripped the release mechanism, spilling rounds all over the place.

A couple of years ago I discovered JOX speedloader pouches, and they have been the best solution I've found to carrying speedloaders. They carry the speedloaders above the belt, which minimizes their profile. The kydex secures the loader in place yet allows for quick and easy release when needed. And they come with foam liners that keep the loaders from rattling in place. I now carry 2 speedloaders on my belt.

My main reason for prefering speedloaders now has to do more with secure handling than speed. Yes, I can load a second or two quicker with a speedloader, but more importantly I can reload with less likelihood of fumbling. And if I do fumble and drop a speedloader during a reload, I've got a second speedloader on my belt.

Of course, needing to reload during a gunfight is highly unlikely. In the rare instances where a reload has been done, it had virtually no effect on the outcome. However, that doesn't mean I want to stand around with an unloaded gun if I'm forced to fire in self defense waiting for the police to arrive (average 911 response time in my town is around 9 minutes).

As for the tactical reload of a revolver, or reloading a partially empty cylinder with single rounds, whether from a strip, dump pouch, or belt loops, doesn't make sense to me. With a semi-auto, it can work. It's not a difficult task to swap out magazines. But trying to press up on the extractor rod enough so I can pick out empties, and then reload only those chambers, all while likely having at least somewhat shaky hands after the adrenaline dump from a self-defense encounter, sounds like both a waste of time and a good way to fumble the reload. I don't practice tactical reloads. If I have to fire and then reload at some point, I just dump whatever's in my cylinders and reload with my speedloader, a process I can do without taking my eyes off my environment. One, it takes less time; two, it doesn't require as much dexterity; and three, it simplifies my practice regimen.

Just my thoughts on the matter. For now, anyways. Maybe if this thread gets resurrected again 6 years from now I'll have changed my mind.

Nothin' quite like a 6 year old thread to start the morning, eh? I've changed my mind a little on this subject too.


I like the speed strips. After going through a couple defensive classes, I see the value in the speed strips. It's rare that you'll empty all 5 or 6 rounds.

Even so, I'm a big fan of the moon clips. The benefit of moon clips is that they can be handled just like magazines. If you've fired two or three rounds from a magazine fed gun, it's wise to top off by removing that mag and inserting a fresh one. Well, the same goes for moon clips. Just pop out the partially spent one and insert a fresh one. Keep the partially spent one in case you need more.

It's much better than dropping live rounds on the ground to use a speed loader. And, with practice, it can be done as quickly as a mag change in a semi-auto. Even if you can't get that fast, it's as least twice as fast as a speed strip or speed loader.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

I try for the best of all worlds,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


If I'm carrying a 3" 65 or 66 in the "Burbs of the Burgh" I'll generally have one Safariland Comp I speed loader (in the cover garments right pocket ) and a speed strip..................... same with a J-frame)

At the Cabin 2 Speedloaders ( in Safariland Split six carriers) generally one with .+P.38s and one with .357magnums and a speedstrip..... with an 12 round ammo wallet in the daypack or RZR.

Thanks Jeeps. You were wheeling it pretty fine as well.

Hands are actually good and no issues. I didn't think my postings were getting on but I guess my computer updated everything now and they popped up.

Didn't notice this was a 6 year old thread but a good topic to revisit.

I will probably do a review of the TDI Snubby Revolver Class later tonight for those that may be interested in attending.

I would be interested in reading that. There aren't a lot of snub-specific classes around.

You might want to start a new thread for that, though.

I have mixed feelings about moon clips. There have been instances where moon clips have gotten bent, rendering them useless, so I don't like them for reloads. My Comp I speedloaders have never failed to release their rounds, even after being dropped on the ground. I've never read of Comp Is failing to release rounds, even after being thrown against a wall.

But I have to admit that using moon clips for the in-gun load appeals to me because it makes getting a case rim caught under the extractor star during a quick reload virtually impossible, plus the extra weight (cases + clip as one unit) seems like it would make extraction much more positive and less reliant on getting a good hit on the extractor rod. With a gun that doesn't require moon clips, I could still use speedloaders for my reloads.

However, it never occurred to me that there would be an advantage to moon clips with regards to tactical reloads. I'm not sure it'd be enough to make me want to go that route, but it is a thought-provoking idea, to say the least. Thanks.

On my 640PRO I believe I am going to use the moon clips for the initial load to ensure ejection of the spent casings after the first 5 and then carry a reload (or 2) with speed strips.

Have to qualify with it first before i can start carrying though.

And yes a new thread will be started shortly with a review. Not a talented writer but will lay out the basics.

Yes I seen the TK moon clips lock a J- frame up that was cut for them on factory pro Sw snubbys. It happened on the T.D.I. Snubby class, he would have been dead. I have seen this a dozen times over the last few years. I will not use them. I use the speed strips from Bianchi, John got these right. The tuff strips are cheaper made! Gimics are the fad,like laser grips. Be time you line them up you been shot. There so slow! Novices like the new whizz bang toys.

I don't worry about the bulge in my pocket, if I am not using a case. Depending on what I am carrying decides what type I carry. For SA revolvers I carry speed strips, for DA speed loaders.

I have had HKS's release in a pocket and I had a Comp II have 1 round come out of it while in a pocket (that one was strange as it had been loaded in that speed loader for months). I carry 1 strip in my jeans pocket and a speed loader in a jacket pocket (if I'm wearing one).

__________________
K & N S&W revolvers

Speed strips for CCW. Drop them in your pocket and they disappear. Not so speed loaders.