Speedloaders

Claymore33

Claymore33

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I owned a 38spl/357 speedloader 30 years ago. It worked well.
I started shooting Model 29s again and researched speedloaders for .44. Every site said Safariland was best. I order 2 of them. They are more trouble than they are worth. 2 minutes to get bullets locked in and will not release. Anyone out there have better experience or recommendation. I called safariland and they readily agreed to send replacements.

Claymore
 
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I've had nothing but good experiences with Safarilands's Comp II speedloaders in 38/357. The only three things I can think of are that your set happened to be defective, you might be trying to load/unload them improperly, or there's some difference between the 38/357 models and the 44 models aside from dimensions. I don't believe the third point is the case.

When loading, place the rounds in the speedloader and hold the loader so that they're facing upwards. Hold the body of the loader and the rounds cupped from the side in one hand, and use the other hand to push up on the knob and turn it until it clicks while still pushing upward on it.

To unload it into a cylinder, just push the speedloader body downward toward the cylinder until the rounds release. If you're trying to unload the speedloader without putting the rounds into a gun, use a pen or rigid rod to push the center section until it clicks and the rounds release.

This video demonstrates the procedures. See 0:44 for unloading rounds into a cylinder, and 1:35 for loading the speedloader. Granted, the method he uses of placing it facedown on the table to load it is different than what I described above, but it seems to work fine.



[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aUG7-UUjnw&t=0m44s[/ame]
 
I was looking for 44 mag speedloader for my new 29 a couple of weeks ago. I must have read the same article you did.

I decided to cover all bases so I ordered the Safariland Comp 1 ( fits in pocket Best and is smallest; I really like it.

HKS that has a turn to release. Easy in and out.
speed Beez: really cool looking. Largest of all. But had to have cut out grips to fit fast( which I have)

The Safari are hardest to load : I push them up against a WALL and then turn till hear them click.

I bought a vintage Tex Shoemaker and the Safari comp 1 fit flush.
I am favoring the comp 1 as it slips right in, then a downward push and it drops bullets in and drops free on its own.

I can throw 3 of them in my pocket and they take up little room.
 
I bought HKS speed loaders for my model 29 and 629 they work great, no complaints. I got talked into buying a Safariland, not my cup of tea, I gave it to a friend and he passed it along as well. The Speed Beez work great but their size is an issue. I tried some Five Star speed loaders, they are great, I bought more and a range block as well. I use the Five Star speed loaders and blocks for competition and the HKS speed loaders are for my in the mountains gun.

A link for Five Star: Speed Loading Accessories
 
Claymore33 said:
My safariland Comp 1 loaders do not look like the ones in the video at all

Claymore
Click to expand...

The Comp I loaders are a little different than the Comp II's (in the previous video), but they fundamentally operate in the same fashion.

Start at 2:10 in the video below for a demonstration on how to release and load Safariland's Comp I loaders.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQitV9CvvEg&t=2m10s[/ame]
 
I started shooting Steel Challenge this summer with a 686, and tried both the HKS & Safariland Comp IIs. For me the Safariland, with a bit of practice, was the fastest and easiest. A little more trouble to load, but no twisting to unload, just push in and drop it. I'm not sure how that translates to the .44, but can only imagine that it's not too different. Once I got the hang of it, loading them is fairly easy, too. For competition or self defense, the speed makes a difference.
 
I have multiple Safariland Comp I's for J-Frame and Model 29 and Comp II and III for K-Frames. Safariland speed loaders are absolutely the best as far as speed of use goes.

HKS speed loaders are solid and reliable but are not as easy or as fast to use.
 
I started my police career using dump pouches. I purchased HKS speedloaders when I first saw them. They worked OK. I took an officer survival class which introduced the Safariland comp loaders to me. I have used Safariland ever since.
 
I had never used the Safariland until recently it was always HKS.
I was shooting a 9 bowling pin match earlier this year and watched a young police officer using a 627, he took down all 9 with one reload as fast if not faster then the auto competitors without missing a single shot.
When we were done shooting I asked to see the rig he was using they were the comp II type. I bought some and they are harder to load up but much faster when loading the revolver.
 
Wimp Way (Jimmy):
Hold loader upward
place cartridges in
with off hand place over the bullets and turn hands over where bullets are facing down
carefully place bullets on a hard surface (table/desk top. car fender)
push loader middle button down and turn to lock cartridges in.

P.S. now that my pants have sunk smaller hanging in the closet, I normally carry speed strips
 
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