Speed Loaders

.357magger said:

For speedloaders I've used HKS for so long that the reloading sequence is second nature. All the other push button types just slow me down.

But as a practical matter these days I primarily carry "Zeta6" speed strips. These allow a very natural 3 and 2 load for J frames and 3 and 3 for K frames. They follow the curvature of the cylinder and are the first upgrade to the speed strip I've seen in 30+ years. And they work well.

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Never seen those before. Looks interesting, of course is wider than the original speed strips, taking up more pocket space.
Larry

boykinlp said:

Never seen those before. Looks interesting, of course is wider than the original speed strips, taking up more pocket space.
Larry

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VERY little more space Larry.

I hardly know they're there, just like Bianchi. They also fit in the watch pocket of jeans too, just like Bianchi.

HKS. Been using the same ones I bought for the Academy in july 1981. They just work.

Many good points being made here.

I have carried a J-Frame Smith in one form or another for many more years than I care to remember while in law enforcement and now as a civilian. I prefer a larger frame revolver or pistol, but during the warm weather months a J-Frame .38 Special revolver conceals well with the proper holster. It is the minimum I consider adequate for protection, (my opinion). I always carry a Safariland Comp 1 speed-loader. I also carry a spare tire in my truck.

I have found that the Safariland Comp 1 is good to go. I also have tried carrying the Bianchi Speed Strip. It too has a place in my tool box, especially if there is a need to partially reload only two or three rounds during a tactical pause. The only downside to this that I found is when withdrawing the loaded speed strip from a pocket under exigent circumstances or even training, there exists the possibility of one or more rounds being accidentally ripped from the strip due to an adrenalin dump when fine motor skills may be lacking. For me the round speed-loader is easier to manipulate under stress. Others may know more though.

Find out what works for you and drive on. A wise man once told me, "Fight your enemy, not your equipment".

As an aside, it's great being a civilian . You don't even have to take a test.

HTH

BrBa said:

If I'm under duress, the last thing I want to do is waste time fumbling individual spent cartriges out of the cylinder to replace them one by one or, at most, two at a time from a speed strip. It's much faster to dump the moonclip and insert a new one, just like with a magazine.

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That is a Training Issue.

BAM-BAM said:

Found shooting USPSA that using any carrier with "friction retention" I would,sometimes, twist the HKS release leaving me with an empty speed loader in hand and 6 loose rounds in the carrier.

Switched to Safariland Comp Is or IIs..... and a "split six" for ED concealed carry

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That is a Training Issue too.

You could always go old school.
Not the quickest but carries well.

I was mandated to carry Safariland when in uniform. What absolute junk. After I had to smash one with my heel to release the rounds during qualification I determined never to risk my life on them ever again. I carried them for inspection but kept HKS and speed strips in my pockets. I've heard the qc has improved in the past 40 years, and they seem to have a devoted following, but for my J frames it's still HKS and speed strips. They work fine with Uncle Mike's grips.

Zeta6 "Sym-strip" is a symetrically 2-1-2 strip with a tab on each end. The advantage is that it doesn't matter which end you grab from a pocket, or which end you put in a carrier or pouch. Disadvantage is that its slightly longer than a normal 2-2-1, and yes practice with one means the other is no longer 'automatic'.
https://zetasix.com/product/sym-strip/

So that's what I normally carry with 5 shot and think its pretty good.


Of the speed loaders I've only tried the Comp I. It feels a little cheap and is a little tricky to get the cartidge loading at first. I chose it in part based on the comparisons posted at RevolverGuy.com and in part because the short length seemed like an advantage for clearing the grips. As it turned out clearing the wood stocks was very tight depending on bullet (a short conical like the 110 grn FTX tip provides more room). That was with both a CA undercover and 36-1 with targets stocks. 36-1 with magnas is OK. YMMV.

That said I like them enough I bought two more for classes or competitions that require speed. Occassionally, typically in cooler weather, I'll actually carry one. As long as it clears the stocks its must faster than the strip.

Paying attention to your bullet's profile is important also. While I like sharp shouldered semi wadcutters a lot, they slow my reloading times a lot.

Does anyone know of a civilian reloading a snubby in a gunfight? Where I live, my chances of needing a gun for anything except shooting armadillos is pretty low. Needing to reload quickly is probably extremely unlikely.

SGT ROCK 11B said:

That is a Training Issue.

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You can train all you want, when there are bullets in the air, trying to save 2 or 3 rounds in a 5 or 6 round cylinder is not a good plan. The difference between getting the empties out and ending up with everything on the ground while under duress and an huge adrenaline rush isn't worth it. I plan to dump the cylinder and refill it ASAP. If I run out of ammo, it isn't because of moon clips or speed loaders and lack of training on reloads, its because I got my butt in the wrong situation with the wrong weapon.

steelslaver said:

I Keep hearing hear that "moon clips may make you dump live rounds", but that is also true of speed loaders. First of all even without clips it is hard to quickly dump the spend rounds and keep the live ones in their chambers, next how are you going to insert any of the rounds in a speed loader when several of the chambers are still full. Your NOT. Even if you did manage to keep your live rounds chambered and you got X number from the speed loader into the empty chambers what will happens with the left overs in the speed loader?? More important, just how long are you willing to fumble around trying to save a couple rounds in the middle of a gun fight when what you need is a full gun in a hurry? I would rather loose a couple rounds and have a full gun in a hurry. IF it boils down to the last 2 round you dumped, you never really had enough ammo anyway.

But, for my 325 45acps I carry 2 round and 3 round clips for my reloads anyway. If wanted to run clips in one of my 32 H&R J frames I would have some one cut some from spring steel with a water jet or laser. You could get 2 or 3 rounders made, just smaller than those for a 45 acp. Might as well, because most people have to spend cash to get the cylinder cut for clips anyway.

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If you carry a round speed loader and a few individual single rounds on leather loops on a belt slide both options are available instantly with no fumbling. Shooter’s choice.