So, if you're carrying a 5-shot J-frame . . .

[STCM(SW)]

5 in my speed strip, but if I really need them, I'm in deep $XXX anyway..

 

[snowman.45]

I usually carry the five cartridge strips, but if I have 6 rounders, I fill all of the holes. As some have said above, you can't have too much ammo, even if it leaves one round in the strip. I load 2, 2 and 1 from them, regardless of whether they are 5 or 6 rounders. I never carry less than two reloads, be they in speed loaders or strips.

 

[DeadWhiteGoose]

I only load five in the speed strip even though it holds six. The extra space helps me get a better hold on the speed strip. It's why I don't buy 5 round speed strips. So, I still have a full reload while still having a better grip on the strip. Just my strategy.


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[petepeterson]

I only load five in the speed strip even though it holds six. The extra space helps me get a better hold on the speed strip. It's why I don't buy 5 round speed strips. So, I still have a full reload while still having a better grip on the strip. Just my strategy.


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My answer, as well, although I would add probably the least logical thing...the gun holds five rounds, so I carry five extra. Reading these well-thought out responses, I'm shamed!

I do use the 6th hole for an extra shotshell if I'll be out in the wild.

 

[cadmike]

I do 3 space 2

 

[SAFireman]

6....I may have a J frame, or K frame. Mag rounds in gun, specials on the strip to eliminate the need to sort/parse which strips go to which guns.

 

[Muss Muggins]

. . . I do use the 6th hole for an extra shotshell if I'll be out in the wild.

I hadn't considered this. Interesting idea . . .

 

[SAFireman]

I hadn't considered this. Interesting idea . . .

One word of caution with the shot shells - the plastic is more fragile than regular rounds and you can end up with a pocket full of #9 shot if the capsule breaks

 

[Telecaster]

If you load four rounds in a five round cylinder, you have an empty chamber. Hopefully the empty chamber doesn't come up first.

If I was concerned about being able to shoot more than five rounds rapidly, I'd carry my Shield. For my "area of operations," a 5 round revolver is fine.

 

[Muss Muggins]

One word of caution with the shot shells - the plastic is more fragile than regular rounds and you can end up with a pocket full of #9 shot if the capsule breaks

Oh, I know. I once dropped a speedloader full on the deck . . .

 

[Ziggy2525]

While it's been a while since I've used strips, when I did I used 6 round strips and loaded 4 rounds.

My logic for doing so:

I have 5 chambers. With the 1st pair of cartridges I've got a 2-in-5 shot at getting those rounds chambered. With the 2nd pair of cartridges I've got a 2-in-3 shot at getting those rounds chambered. I can do that pretty quickly. If I had 5 rounds in the strip, that last round has exactly one chamber it can go in, which can be tricky under stress and takes longer to do than either of the previous pairs because it requires a little more precision. As soon as the rounds are chambered I drop the strip, so a 6th cartridge would just end up on the ground once I loaded all 5 chambers. By having the space in between the pairs it gives me a little more control and a little less likely to fumble the reload. By gripping it as I do in the photo I can get a good physical index between my hand and the cylinder to get the ammo loaded. This lets me reload without looking at the gun so I can keep my eyes on my surroundings.

So, my priority is to get the gun back in action quickly if I need to reload, and with as little potential for fumbling the reload as possible. After some experimentation with different combinations (6 rounds, 5 rounds, 4 rounds in different arrangements, etc.), I settled on 4 rounds in the strip. It works for me. I use speedloaders now, but I still practice occasionally with strips in case I need reloads with a lower profile.

I use 4 in the strip also. Pretty sure I saw the idea posted here (it's been a while, it may have originally been you). When I practiced with it using snap caps, I found I fumbled a lot less. I've thought about getting the 8 cartridge strips instead of the 6 cartridge ones so I could carry 5. The gap really helps.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

I carry 6 and load 5. The idea of 4 and back in the game is interesting but then you have to index so you're not pulling the trigger on an empty round. Whichever you choose you better be practicing because under pressure you'll be relying on gross motor skills to preform the reload and come up ready to fire, quickly. I like to carry at least one speed loader and two speed strips for this reason.

This whole "what if" game is what led us to semi autos in law enforcement in the first place. A quick reload with a magazine and back in the fight. Play the "what if" game long enough and you end up with a 12 ga. Riot Gun or a Service Rifle.

 

[njr]

If you load four rounds in a five round cylinder, you have an empty chamber. Hopefully the empty chamber doesn't come up first.

If I was concerned about being able to shoot more than five rounds rapidly, I'd carry my Shield. For my "area of operations," a 5 round revolver is fine.

Well it's actually faster to click to the next chamber and fire a round then it is to try to load the 5th round. See the deBettencourt link I posted.

As for snubbies and area of operations the CIA carried snubbies in Civil War Lebanon so that oughta tell you something. Although I live in the big corrupt violent city so I do carry a p32 as back up.

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[elm_creek_smith]

I load my Bianchi Speed Strips with 6 rounds of .38 Special. With my Model 642-2, if I get to the Speed Strips, I load 2, look, then 2 more. The last 2 stay in the Strip which I hold in my teeth until/if they are needed.

 

[Protected One]

I carry 5, with the empty slot near the grip tab.
The extra space makes getting a grip on the strip a lot easier.

 

[jhnttrpp]

I am new to CC and the Smith Forum. I carry a Mod 60 no dash. This is one of the best thought provoking posts that I have read. So thanks

 

[njr]

I load my Bianchi Speed Strips with 6 rounds of .38 Special. With my Model 642-2, if I get to the Speed Strips, I load 2, look, then 2 more. The last 2 stay in the Strip which I hold in my teeth until/if they are needed.

Interesting, piratey. OTOH, moving to cover might allow me to put the strip back in the pouch.

Otherwise pull the 32.

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[petepeterson]

I carry 6 and load 5. The idea of 4 and back in the game is interesting but then you have to index so you're not pulling the trigger on an empty round.

I would think snapping on an empty chamber then pulling again would be faster than trying to index the empty chamber.

 

[jimmyj]

Reloads:
old with minimum fine motor skills- two HKS speed loaders

 

[Sol-Invictus]

I did the Bentecourt thing for a while. I am not a fan of his snub reload technique either. Really it is no big deal to have all of the holes filled. I see no real difference in manipulation and it keeps my form consistent from revolver to revolver. I have never had an issue loading the last round of 5 with 6. Since I consider the speed strips a take your time reload or a solid cover top off. If it is a primary open fight, then it would be pop on 2, pull trigger 5 times.

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