I recently purchased the S&W 340PD 5 shot revolver. I find that the Speed Loader HKS 36 takes too much time aligning the rounds to fall into the cylinder. Thus in an emergency I could see it being a problem..... Can anyone with this Model 340PD recommend any Speed Loader that will quickly drops right in?
I also have the Speed Strip that I like to carry in my pocket.

Thanks.

Jetloader. All the way.

For personall carry as a civilian, I do not like speed loaders. They are just too awkward and bulky for me

I use speed strips since they sit flat in the pocket

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Yes I also have using Speed strips and like them. The past 10 days or so I received 5 different holsters for different occasions and will in time see which one is my go to.

Yes. they look like a quality product and just ordered for a 340PD J frame 5 shot JetLoader Speed Loader and Carry case.

I came to the same conclusion when I carried a wheelgun. Unless it was winter jacket weather, I didn't wear anything with pockets that were comfy with speedloaders. Speed strips fit nice and flat in jeans pockets. Not always as quick as speedloaders, but a speed strip in the pocket sure beat a speed loader at home.

I carry my speed strip in a pouch on my belt.

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In Omnia Paratus

I usually carry one speed strip in my front pocket. I keep a speedloader or two in the Jeep console. I like J-Clip, which is material like the speed strip, but in a speedloader configuration. It's built with a tab that you grab to peel off the loader from the rounds when they're in place . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Practice, practice, practice. That will increase your speed. And keep in mind that you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning while being eaten by a shark than needing to reload your EDC in a gunfight.

I’ve had a 340PD for years and use the HKS w/o a problem. It’s all about the left side of the grip panel, I had to sand mine down a bit for a proper fit. That said I also use speed strips in my off pocket and the HKS are kept in the center console in my car. I practice w/both at the range.

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LEO (Ret.)

I'm not familiar with the Jet Loader. Also, as stated above, any speed loader seems slow and awkward if the grip panels don't allow complete clearance. If the grips that fit your hand need to be relieved for smooth reloads, do it. "Pretty" shouldn't matter for a carry gun.

I have used the spring loaded speed loaders sold by Safariland for decades. They are far superior to the HKS knob & gravity system. You load it by pressing the loaded rounds down on a flat surface and turning the knob. I have never had one release in a pocket or pouch. The center post of the loader releases the cartridges and drives them forward when pressed against the center of the cylinder. No knob turning during the reload. I use them on all frame sizes from J up to N. Sadly they are no longer available for my N frame .41s.

I've really come to like the NeoMag RASC for holding speed-strips.

It's a bit expensive, but it should hold up for a long time. If I lost mine, I'd buy another, if they were in stock!

My experience is mostly with HKS speedloaders. They work fine for me and the technique I was trained back in the day.

I like the Safariland models a little better though for pure speed and not having to worry about turning knobs during the reload. They don't have as many models though. For instance, IIRC they aren't made for a 686+.

I also use speed strips for the flat ease of carry idea. They are definitely slower for a complete reload, but very useful for a "tactical" reload (if you have only fired a few rounds and you don't want to dump the whole cylinder).

I regard HKS devices as good holders for cartridges but without a great deal of practice they don’t give the user much speed in loading. The Jet-type spring loaded devices including the Safariland units drive the rounds into the chamber to speed load. BUT join must have revolver, grips, and sometimes even thumb release configured in such a way that the captive rounds enter the cylinder deeply and smoothly to achieve this release.

Froggie

Have you seen this product: https://zetasix.com/?

Mix of a speed loader and strip. I bought a few but have not tested them yet.

I made this video a while back, I hope it helps!


Covers the SL Variant, jetloader, safariland, HKS, and 5 star for the 5 shot j frame





J Frames and Speedloaders - YouTube




IMHO The jetloaders are the best available now, unless SL Variants start coming back into the US which I hear they won't because Longowitz is done making them. The SL variants ARE the best. You can find them, for around 100 bucks on gunbroker and ebay when available. 32 bucks seems much better at this point. So jetloader it is.



Easiest to pocket carry, sit right next to my wallet in front pocket and easy to pull out and stay upright, and easiest to manipulate during a reload. I am NOT a fan of gravity drop loaders.



That being said I carry the SL variant mostly when I carry my J frame.



I am not a pro so forgive the video quality.

Anything Safariland.
Or speed strips.
Don’t waste your time or money on HKS speedloaders.

A Jetloader or similar Safariland Comp 3 is about as big as the gun and I doubt they come in 5 shot anyhow.

Safariland Comp 2 is good but must clear the grips. Comp 1 may be a bit smaller in diameter.

There is a Chinese copy of the SL but it seems to have dropped off eBay and the www.

The jetloader is comparable to the sl.variant. See above video . If I had to go gravity drop, the 5 star is superior to the hks in every way.

Nicely done, eb07. It would have been interesting to see how you felt about the hybrid rubber device that is like a round speed strip. I find them slow to fill, but pretty quick to operate… not on a par with Jet Loaders or Safariland, but faster than the HKS style.

Again, for all who are reading this, the keys to what works for you will be practice and familiarity. Any of these techniques will require you to pass through a learning curve, and some people are amazingly fast with loose ammo in a dump pouch! Being inherently lazy, I liked the spring loaded Jet style family of loaders for ease of use and shortness of the learning curve. YMMV.

Froggie

Like you I am a spring loaded fan. The sl variants and jetloaders coupled with speed strips fit all my needs. Like i said above the 5 stars are superior in every way to the hks. I use them for my lcr as the spring loaded ones don't work well due to cylinder differences.

FWIW, I use HKS 36 speed loaders and or speed strips.

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213th FBINA

Way back in the late 70's I was going to join the Concord, CA police reserve. The Coast Guard office of personal nixed that idea when they said any damage done to me as a result of my service in the PD would result in my being discharged with a medical discharge. I couldn't afford such so I got the training without being an asset to the PD. They were using M28's and suggested that I acquire some form of revolver but ideally a M28, and Safariland speed loaders. I asked why the Safariland speed loaders and was told, "Because they can be tossed across a street and all 6 rounds will arrive at their destination." Made sense to me and all my speed loaders to this day are Safariland. For my 5 shot revolvers I use the Comp I model and they work a treat.

I did a test with some HKS loaders and every one failed to hold the rounds when being tossed to a friend across a street. Bump that silver knob and you are likely to have ammo spread across the street from where it touched the pavement to the curb on the far side. You can do the same with a Safariland loader and all five or six reach the far side in one location.

Yes, they are bulky, but the choice is yours, loaders or strips, regardless of your choice get the best you can afford and practice, and practice, and practice some more.

I use the comp 1s for all my k frames.

Safariland speedloaders.
Cost effective. Easy to use.
It requires shaving of grips for speedy use though. .

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