Are there any un-obvious ways to carry speed strips?

I just put them into a pocket, but what with 4 pockets to contain wallet, gun, comb, keys, cell phone, and speed strip multiple things end up in the same pocket.

The other day, I had my speed strip in with my keys, and when I pulled out the keys the speed strip was stuck to the keys ended up on the ground.

Fortunately this happened on my front porch so no harm done.

But it could be embarrassing. Not to mention untangling the speed strip from the keys in an emergency would be a problem

I never put anything into the pocket with the gun, but if I dedicate a pocket to reloads, I end up with all the rest of this sh$t in the other two.

Dave

When I carry a reload, on my person, I use a 2X2X2 holder; both of the ones I have from Lobo Leather fit a speed strip perfectly. Try shirt pocket carry, or two speed strips will fit in an empty Altoids can, I use this method to conceal them in the car.

Back right pocket, with nothing else in it.

I'm a lefty and I carry a J frame snub in a pocket holster in the front left pocket of my jeans. I keep a speed strip with five rounds in the small watch pocket. It hides well with the tab sticking out at an angle for quick access.

They fit well in the little coin/watch pockets in many jeans. Or back pocket, or shirt pocket or wherever. Tuff Strips makes a nice little carrier for their speed strips, or the Bianchi speed strips.

Another vote for watch pocket storage. On some of my jeans that pocket is big enough that it will hold my Kahr P380

I am with you on the whole issue of too many items for the available pockets.

If I could find better solutions my EDC would then include a knife and/or a light.

As it is I always carry two outside the house. Modern gizmos are getting closer to eliminating the need to carry keys and maybe wallets if we carry a smart phone.

Thanks for the thread.

Joe

Simply Rugged holsters makes an "around the belt" ammo pouch that works well with speed strips. I have a couple and like them.

I requested Erik at Sideguard put one of these together for me; now he offers them for sale. Mine has been in hard use for a long time.

Side Guard Holsters - Rough Pouch

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Now go make God proud...

I keep it in my strong side pocket with my flip phone or the watch pocket. Thinking about getting a 2x2x2 type carrier.

I keep mine in my strong side front pants pocket with nothing else in it but the strips.

I use an old 6 round ammo pouch designed for detectives, I used one myself once. It holds a six round speed strip and I just wear my shirt untucked, w/my 442 in the L/F pocket. In the winter the speed strip goes in my jacket pocket.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I have tussled with this also. I try not to bury it too deep or put too many stages into accessing it since its not super fast with reloading to begin with.
I'm watching here as someone will have a good idea or two, as usual.
Such as the watch pocket....keeps it handy and clear of other junk.

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“Look life in its iron face”

If you are a righty, the coin pocket is perfect.

I carry a S&W 642 as a BUG (back up gun), primarily in an ankle holster. I bought a Tuff Products Quickstrip Nylon Belt Pouch from Midway USA that holds two 5-rounds speed strips on my belt. Very small and very inconspicuous.

Tuff Products Quickstrip Belt Pouch Nylon Black

I carry two 5 round quick strips in my left front pocket.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Watch pocket carry in jeans works for me. I've also used cell phone holsters, especially the ones with a fold-over velcro tab closer and made for older small phones.

You carry a comb? I haven't since I was 20 years old.

It takes all kinds

Tuff Products makes a holster that has a pouch for a speed strip: 5077 Pocket-Roo Holster

I do carry one reload in the same pocket as the gun, down in that little void below the trigger guard. I depends on the pants and the shape of the pocket.

Good luck!
Frank

PS: I carry a comb, too!

I also use the Tuff Products belt pouch.

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Mike
686 no dash

Pistol in the strong side pocket, wallet in strong rear, speed strip in weak rear, with everything else in weak side pocket.

Another vote for the coin/watch pocket of my jeans. Strong side and nothing else in that in that pocket, especially keys.

Am I showing my age by calling it a watch pocket or just misled at what it is?

Take some time to think out how you carry and access everything and how it could affect your concealed carry situation.

Weak-side pockets are for wallets, keys and such while right side pockets are for speed strips, knives, and revolvers.

If one is carrying an auto, then the weak-side pocket is dedicated to the spare mags if they are not on one's belt in a pouch.

Also, with one's wallet always in the weak-side rear pocket, one is in the habit of keeping the gun-hand free when one is handling it. Makes it less likely that the hostered gun will show for a moment while retrieving the wallet.

Think through all that you carry every day, along with what you wear. Create some good habits and adapt.

I carry a couple of Bianchis, or one and a little flat Gerber folding knife, in an old pager holster, canvas with Velcro flap closure. I'm old, so people just think I'm years behind the times.

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Oh well, what the hell.

A related question:

When you reload from a speed strip, do you keep the gun in your strong hand and use the weak hand to put the cartridges into the cylinder?

Or do you transfer the firearm to your weak hand and load the cartridges with the strong hand and then transfer the gun back to the strong hand?

Operate the cylinder latch with the strong hand, transfer the firearm to the weak hand which also pushes open the cylinder, hit the ejector rod with the strong, then reload with the strong. After reloading the grip will be open and the strong hand re-grasps.

Buy some 38 dummy rounds and practice this drill with the speed strips. Once on the range, load two rounds, fire them, then reload...you will get the whole process mastered after about a box of ammo.

I use a small, leather cell phone case with a flap......holds 3 six shot speed strips, 1 facing up and 2 facing down. It attaches to a belt by a clip. Works great, very inexpensive, cost about 3 dollars at a flea market. Clip it on and go.

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I wear 511 jean-cut trousers, which have 9 pockets. Plenty of room for speed loaders.

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USAF 1971 - 1978

Im with Erich, ever since he sujested the Side Guard rough pouch
About 3 years ago I've been carrying my speed strips in one.
They are exteamly well made and will last you for ever!!!!

This is exactly how I run, too. I also have a couple of extra speed strips, or speedloaders, in my laptop bag. I tried the watch pocket off and on but couldn't always get my speed strip out fast enough to make me happy.

In my work situation I have the flexibility to wear jeans or 511 pants. I've started using "carpenters jeans" a lot, that have two overlapping pockets on the right thigh. They're perfect for a cell phone, etc. and help free up pocket space for that speedstrip in the "regular" strongside pocket.

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Wait....... What?

OUR FELLOW FORUM MEMBER LEFTY, AT BELL CHARTER OAK HOLSTERS, MAKES A COUPLE OF NICE SPEED STRIP CARRIERS…..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Ah yes, the dance of figuring out where to compromise on what goes into what pocket.

I dislike sharing the pocket in which speedstrips/loaders get carried with anything else.

Sometimes, though, depending on the pocket, I'll slip a speedstrip into the same pocket with a pocket-holstered gun. The soft cloth/neoprene pocket holsters I use (UM) don't seem to bother the speedstrips, and it seems easy to reach past them to get at the speedstrip (with practice).

Check your speedstrips, though. I have a bunch of them that are getting old. I noticed some "tabs" breaking off a few of them. Then, the other day I reached into my pocket and removed a section of speedstrip containing 3 rounds, and another one containing 2 rounds. That would seem to take the "speed" out of things at this point.

Guess it's time for new ones.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

My Tuff pocket holster can carry an extra speed strip to go along with the one in my watch pocket. Counting what's in the gun, that's 15 rounds. If that's not enough, it just ain't my day.

20? It was probably Jr High since I carried one.

Love the watch pocket idea. Why didn't I think of that!

You guys are in good company.

Einstein didn't carry a comb either.

Wow, the resemblance is striking. Staying on topic, he could just carry his speed strips in his hair.

I agree with an appropriate pouch on the belt especially if you only carry speedstrips & not speedloaders. The last thing you need is pocket fishing while in a fight with an empty wheelgun. With all these ginormous tablet like smartphones around, it's hard to not have an unusual bump around the waistband. Besides, I'm all to painfully aware (as are all the cops are on this forum) of how most of the public doesn't notice what people are toting around, good, bad or otherwise. They just blithely go about their business chewing on grass.

I make it a point to devote my right front pocket for EDC when appropriate. No change, no keys, no kleenex. Nada, except EDC items - a pocket holster or speed strips. Speed loaders are too bulky for anything besides a jacket pocket (also clean) or a belt holder.

That's not necessary when carrying a pistol on a belt, but I find it a good habit to maintain. Spare magazines go in a holder on the weak side, often a left, back pocket.

I use my speed strip as a tactical comb. And I have a shoe phone.

It all goes back to training for me. When reloading the revolver it starts in the strong-side hand, thumb releases the cylinder, middle two fingers of the weak-side hand opens the cylinder, weak-side thumb operates the ejector rod, strong-side hand feeds fresh ammunition into the cylinder, thumb of weak-side hand closes the cylinder, strong-side hand grips the weapon and it is ready to go again.

I was trained that way before speedstrips or speedloaders were available. The options were cartridge loops on the belt (pull out one at a time), drop pouches (dumping 6 rounds at a time, hopefully into the hand instead of on the ground), or the 2X2X2 pouches (allowing two cartridges to be removed at a time and inserted into the chambers).

The speedstrips are good, if for no other reason than keeping all of the cartridges oriented for insertion into the chambers, with the added benefits of providing exactly what is needed for the reload and holding everything together during the reloading process. Speedloaders are undeniably faster in use, but they are also rather bulky and can be harder to carry comfortably and discreetly.

Now, over 40 years later, when I carry a revolver I am using the 2X2X2 pouches. Low profile, comfortable, easy to conceal, and reasonably functional for the purpose. The only exception to this is when I'm carrying the old Colt Single Action Army revolvers, which just seem to demand cartridge loops on the belt and have to be reloaded one round at a time anyway.

I don't like the idea of carrying ammunition in a pocket. Interference from other items, lint or other debris, difficulty in accessing in some positions (like when I'm flat on my belly behind a telephone pole, or crouching behind a dumpster, or seated in a car, etc). Even with speedstrips I see a very real likelihood of cartridges being separated from the strip while being yanked out of a pocket. And I already have the experience of fumbling with loose ammunition, trying to orient it bullet-forward into a chamber, dropping them on the ground while the adrenaline surges, etc.

Simple, controlled, easy access works for me. Add in regular training (like EVERY TIME you reload during a range session) and the likelihood of keeping everything under control while under stress increases.

My $0.02 worth.

Most Versatile Ammo Pouch

111003_084101.jpg


I have used this SR for a year or so and if my pants are on so is it.
Along with a key fob.

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Have a blessed day ,
Bull

I still have an older Safariland basket-weave, black leather, brass-snap 6-rd pouch that folds and snaps over a regular belt. I used it with & without speedstrips many years ago. It usually gets tossed into a center console instead of slipped onto a belt in recent years. Don't ask me why. I used to use it a lot when I wasn't trying to pocket speedloaders off-duty.

Got a newer make nylon & velcro one sitting in some box or cabinet somewhere, too.

I think I got rid of my original issued double dump pouch some years ago, but it may just be tucked away somewhere with some other older leather gear. That was back in the days when a lot of guys were still wearing Buscadero gun belts with bullet loops (even if they'd had a new-fangled double speedloader carrier stitched to the front of their belts ).

Maybe I'll slip one of the folding carriers containing a speedstrip on my belt next time I pull a J-frame from the safe. It would certainly "feel familiar".

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I carry them this way too!

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David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

I found an old police double sided dump pouch at the LGS for $7. I cut the two sides apart from each other and put the speedstrip inside one of the now-single sided dump pouches for belt carry. Looks just like a pouch for a zippo. No pocket necessary.

One person here mentioned putting his speed strips in a 2x2x2 pouch.
I like the idea but wondered if they may tend to hang up when pulling it out or strip a round or two off the speed strip.
Anyone have experience?

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“Look life in its iron face”

One zips right by the other

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Now go make God proud...

A friend on another forum asked me about my Side Guard Rough Pouch today, so I took a picture - thought it might be of interest on this thread.

The first Side Guard Rough Pouch

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Now go make God proud...

Yep..that void in the pocket does hold a Bianchi speed strip nicely. That is where one always is when I pocket carry one of my "J" .38s.
When I first started in LE in 1981, our Circuit Court baliffs wore blazers instead of a uniform. They had the six round plainclothes ammo pouches to go with the Buchiemer pancake holsters they carried their 4" M64s in. I looked in every used holster bin in every gun store and at every gun show I attended looking for one of those pouches. Finally spent $45 for a new Galco 2x2x2 ammo pouch which works for all my .38s I carry.

The most prevalent train of thought is to transfer the gun to weak hand, and use the strong hand for manipulating the reloading of rounds.

I trained with Michael deBethancourt (who specializes in defensive snub) who advocates and teaches keeping the revolver in the strong hand for reloading.

We keep auto loaders in our strong hand for reloading, so why not revolvers?

I keep my speed strips in my weak side front pocket (with a flashlight and nothing else)