First post back, yee haw!

Anyways, I'm looking at what you all are using/carrying concerning the 7 shot 686+. I've thought about speed loaders but don't want golf ball plus sizes on my belt. I'm down to speed strips but not sure which one(s). I realize DeSantis and Bianchi make them (6 rounders), also Tuff Strips. From what I've read the Tuff brand is pretty hard and tends to crack with use (practice). Being in a colder climate up north I'm afraid they might be darn hear impossible to use effectively in the harsher winter months. How do you guys utilize speed strips for the 7 shot revolver? Just to with the 6 rounders minus one so you can actually grab it?

By way of comparison/background - the last time I used a revolver for carrying was with a duty belt plus all the "accessories", speed loaders, cuffs, radio, etc... It's been semi-autos for the last several years. I am of the opinion, and training, that if you have to reload in a defensive situation you'd better have some cover or just run until you can find some, especially with a revolver. Realizing most situations only have a couple of shots I'd still like to train and have some preparedness.

Any insight would be helpful as I've never used speed strips.

Don't have a 7-shot revolver, but I've carried a 642 for several years and use Tuff Products Quick Strips. I've used them for quite a few years. In my experience, what usually breaks is the little tab at the end. I think I've had one strip that fell apart after a lot of use.

Personally, I consider strips a consumable item, meaning that I use it until it gets to the point of not being usable anymore, then I chuck it and replace it with a new one. Kind of like tires on a car. Fortunately, they're not very expensive, even if you have to replace a set every year or two.

One thing you can do to mitigate that, and I'm considering doing the same, is to get one of their strips for more rounds than you need, maybe trim off the little flex tab. For example, you could get one of their 8-round strips and load it with 7 rounds. I normally use their 6-round strips for my 642 (I load mine with 4 rounds), but have been thinking about trying their 7-round strips and cutting off the tab.

As far as using them in cold weather, I've only tried using them with relatively light gloves (snap caps, no live rounds). It's not too bad, but you do lose some dexterity and time. The key thing would be to practice as realistically as possible. I also practice such that I use a physical index so I don't have to look down at what I'm doing, which is harder to do with gloves. Basically, I grip the strip such that my index finger is along the back of the strip and bend at the end so that the tip of my index finger is at the tip of the first round. This helps me guide the first two rounds in two chambers (load 2 rounds at a time).

Here's a video to give you one version of loading with strips:


For cold weather, you may want to consider carrying a BUG for a "New York reload."

Hope that helps.

I'm using the 8 shot Tuff Products strips. No issues so far, but I'm only between 4 and 6 weeks into them. First time using the strips, but I find 7 to be awkward - the spacing makes it impossible to get 3 at a time, and 2, 2, 2, and then 1 just feels odd - like that last round just takes forever. I'm sure it is just in my head.

My daily carries are semi's, so practice with the strips is just for fun and not something I've devoted a great deal of time to.

If you come up with any tricks or techniques, please share here.

You can't really load 3 at a time, they don't line up right. As for your 2-2-2-1 issue, that's why I only have 4 rounds in the strips I carry for my 642, 1-1-0-1-1-0. Loading that 5th round can take just as long as loading either of the pairs before it, so I just get 4 rounds into the gun and go from there. If the hammer ends up falling on an empty chamber, I just pull the trigger again until I get a bang.

I also practice just getting 2 rounds loaded and going from there. Time can be an issue and it may be better to just go with 2 rounds RIGHT NOW than 4 or 5 rounds in a couple more seconds.

And in case you're wondering why I don't use 5-round strips when I only load 4 rounds, it's because I've tried them and there just wasn't enough strip for me to grasp them and use them effectively. The longer 6-round strip gave me more leverage for stripping the round off.

Don’t do dress up so loose bulky shirts and I carry the 7 shot speed loader in my pocket and two moon clips on the belt at 4 o’clock., If I had to wear tucked in shirts etc Versa carry or break away pants come to mind.

I had thought of the 8 round speed strips and keeping a couple rounds off for grabbing the thing. I would definitely carry them on the belt or jacket pocket, not a pants pocket. I've tried to get into a front pants pocket from a crouching/sitting position, never did work. Experimentation is an awesome sometimes!

Funny about the 7 shot revolver. It's been around for a good while now, you'd think there would be more available specifically for it.

Thanks so much for the insight so far, it's nice to hear from people who actually use these strips!

I carry the eight round strips at times for use in my six round revolvers. No issues. I can load one with it if needed and it never hurts to have a couple extra rounds.

When I carry my 642 as my primary/only gun with strips, I use a Simply Rugged ammo pouch on my belt. If I carry a second strip, or a primary strip when carrying my snub as a BUG, I carry in my pocket in a Side Guard Holsters pocket strip pouch.

I also agree with the difficulty accessing a pants pocket when not standing. It's the main reason I rarely pocket carry my snub. I experimented with those options, too. But sometimes the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Have you considered carrying a strip in your back pocket? Might improve accessibility. Just a thought.

Now that I've tinkered with this a bit thought I'd report on my opinions. I went with the 8 round strips and found the best way for me is to load two, skip, load two, skip, load two. This way I can grab it, keep a good hold on it and not worry about dropping it. The only thing that caught me right away was that the spacing for the 686+ between cartridges does not allow you to put the rounds in all the way. More like you get them half way in before you feel resistance. The space between the cylinders is smaller than the spacing for the speed strips. Since the bases of the cases practically touch in the speed strip I'm guessing they would go all the way in on a six shot revolver. I've gotten used to it but it takes ALOT of practice.

Just a note in case anyone "newer" into revolvers wants to go this route...

Interesting. I hadn't thought of that, but I've only used strips with 6-shot K-frames and 5-shot J-frames. Thanks for sharing.

I prefer speedloaders the best, HKS or 5 Star. But I do have a number of Tuff strips and especially during warmer seasons I usually just throw one or two in my pocket. I have had a number of my Tuff strips crack right down the middle, though its after a number of years, and they are always loaded. However I see them as wear items unlike speedloaders, so if I have to order a few new ones every other year I don't see that as a big issue.