Competition Speedloaders - L Frame

[Moo Moo]

I'm waiting to get my Permit to Acquire (you need one to purchase a firearm in Australia - issued by respective State Police Firearms Registry) back for the 4" S&W 686 that I'm intending to buy. I'm going to use this gun in 25 yard Service Pistol matches (similar to PCC and WA1500).

This will be my first L Frame so I'll have to get some speedloaders and pouches for my gun belt. Does anyone have any suggestions to brand/type of speedloaders to use in competition shooting? I've previously used Safariland but just wanted to ascertain if there was something better out there that I don't know about. Eg S.L. Variant or Jetloaders. Any advice would be appreciated.

[D Brown]

Safariland Comp. II's and Comp. III's always worked well for me in the past. Sorry, no real experience with other brands.

Enjoy your new 4" 686, I'll bet you're going to like it a lot!

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

If you can get Jetloaders for your L frame, I would highly recommend them. They work the same as Comp IIIs, but are noticeably smaller when loaded.

[Hithev]

It's a matter of feeling, personal preference and practice.
5 star speedloaders are very well built and functional.
Being made of alu, they may get scratches and dings, but imho they are worth high consideration.

[Wee Hooker]

Most I've seen in local competition use have been the Safariland Comp II or IIIs. Competitors tend to trim down the outside lip on them for better fit in the belt holders. I'm forgetting the details now. Maybe someone else here can elaborate.

[AzShooter]

Go with the Jetloader if you can get them. They are easier to tune. Basically you take it apart and sand down the handle so that there is only about 1/4 inch left to hold the bullet, then put it back together. It will release the bullets faster and you will not have cases stuck when going into the chamber, thus losing a round.

You can do the same modification to the Safarilands. Safariland has a blind hole for the pin that holds it together so it's just a little harder to take apart.

[Protocall_Design]

I use the cut down Safariland comp III loaders and they work very well. The Jet ones work good for a longer time, if I were starting over I would tool up with them. If you can only get Safariland, they will be fine.

[Texjack]

I use Safariland Comp 3 cut down with a strip of skateboard tape for a better grip. Comp-tac makes the best carriers.

[lrrifleman]

I have used both HKS and Safariland Comp IIs in informal PPC matches, and potentially for IDPA matches. I tend to prefer the HKS because they seem (for me) to be more positive. I have accidently dumped more rounds out of the Safariland speedloaders than I have from the HKS speedloaders. For CCW, I will carry the HKS speedloaders, because my experiences have been more positive.

[Kiwi cop]

Originally Posted by Moo Moo

I'm waiting to get my Permit to Acquire (you need one to purchase a firearm in Australia - issued by respective State Police Firearms Registry) back for the 4" S&W 686 that I'm intending to buy. I'm going to use this gun in 25 yard Service Pistol matches (similar to PCC and WA1500).

This will be my first L Frame so I'll have to get some speedloaders and pouches for my gun belt. Does anyone have any suggestions to brand/type of speedloaders to use in competition shooting? I've previously used Safariland but just wanted to ascertain if there was something better out there that I don't know about. Eg S.L. Variant or Jetloaders. Any advice would be appreciated.

As a fellow Service Match shooter, I have used four Safariland Comp II’s with open metal belt clips in front of the holster strong side. I have never had one drop out of the clips even when going prone at the 50 yards/meters line.

As a matter of interest only, what will you be shooting at the 50 yard line if not the 686? Or does your club use the half sized targets at 25 yards/meters instead of a 50 yard range?

[Kiwi cop]

Originally Posted by Kiwi cop

As a fellow Service Match shooter, I have used four Safariland Comp II’s with open metal belt clips in front of the holster strong side. I have never had one drop out of the clips even when going prone at the 50 yards/meters line.

As a matter of interest only, what will you be shooting at the 50 yard line if not the 686? Or does your club use the half sized targets at 25 yards/meters instead of a 50 yard range?

Okay I have just seen my mistake.

Aussie shooters have a specific 25 yard match that we here in New Zealand do not shoot (although the other Service Match events are all shot to the same rules in both countries).

But to get back to the original question about speed loaders, the Pistol Australia Rules for the 25 yard match say that all reloads, even during the 25 second unsighted 10 shot/2 target string. must be loaded from a pocket. So no speed loaders are allowed.