Check your Bianchi Speedstrips

[Walter Rego]

Yesterday I was checking my self defense ammo supply and a Bianchi Speedstrip that had been loaded with 6 rounds of ammo crumbled into pieces in my hands. It was probably 10 years old and had not been carried but was just loaded with rounds and sitting in a box.

In addition I was surprised to see a small amount of verdigris had formed around the case heads which were Federal nickel plated cases. I thought nickel plated cases were supposed to be resistant to the formation of verdigris which we see with brass cases when stored in leather loops. Maybe some kind of reaction to the material that the Speedstrips were made of ?

Anyway not that the Speedstrips were an expensive item but I would have thought that they were fairly indestructible and their failure could certainly pose a problem if carried as a reload and fell apart in a critical situation.

 

[blues7]

If you carry them for a length of time, (years), you will notice when they become worn and begin developing cracks.

I pocket carried them for many years on and off the job. They never just mysteriously fell apart.

I agree that verdigris or buildup may occur if the rounds are simply left in place for years without removal or firing off the old ammo and replacing it.
(I bet that ammo would still function though...at a guess.)

In any case, anything that is going to be carried should be checked routinely. Unless one's safety is simply taken for granted and our arms are simply talismen.

 

[fmflorida]

Those strips are just rubber as far as I know and rubber while durable does eventually break down.

Im not sure the temperature or other conditions this particular speed strip was kept in but 10 years of just sitting in a box could cause the rubber to just break down.

As you said speed strips arent expensive. If that is your preferred method maybe it would be a good idea to buy new ones every year to carry for "defensive" purposes and use the "old" ones for around the house, range use.

Speed strips do wear out and loosen over time as well so replacing them periodically isnt a bad idea.

 

[Tubbsy]

Sounds like dry rot to me, your tires do the same thing over time whether you drive 80,000 miles or 0, the oils dry up and the rubber breaks down.

 

[Jack Flash]

I think the general rule of thumb is to rotate your self-defense / home defense ammo at least once a year (shoot up the old and replace it with new). That would be the time to ensure the speed strips (and all associated equipment) are in good working order.

 

[blues7]

^^^

From my own experience, even years working in FL heat, they last years and will provide evidence of deterioration way before they are no longer viable.

I had one crack in the middle after many years, and the tab was a little worse for wear. But this was after years of carry and using them at quarterly qualifications with my outfits in NYC and South FL.

 

[fredj338]

Yeah the issie with nickle is people think they dont need to care for ammo. Like a ss gun, yeah they do rust just slower. Moisture probably got trapped inside the strip & once the crud starts it just keeps gping unless cleaned off.

 

[bulletslap]

I had better keep a close eye on my 30 year old Glock. ��

 

[bulletslap]

I had better keep a close eye on my 30 year old Glock.

 

[blues7]

I sent my 31 year old Glock to the mother ship after it developed a crack at the mag well after 29 years. They replaced the frame for free.

It's good for another 29 I figure. (Too bad I won't be around for all of it.)

 

[SMSgt]

In addition I was surprised to see a small amount of verdigris had formed around the case heads which were Federal nickel plated cases. I thought nickel plated cases were supposed to be resistant to the formation of verdigris which we see with brass cases when stored in leather loops.

Being verdigris resistant does not mean verdigris proof.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Those strips are just rubber as far as I know and rubber while durable does eventually break down.



Im not sure the temperature or other conditions this particular speed strip was kept in but 10 years of just sitting in a box could cause the rubber to just break down.



As you said speed strips arent expensive. If that is your preferred method maybe it would be a good idea to buy new ones every year to carry for "defensive" purposes and use the "old" ones for around the house, range use.



Speed strips do wear out and loosen over time as well so replacing them periodically isnt a bad idea.

Bianchi Speed Strips are neoprene. I recently had a pair develop tears between the tab and the body of the strip. I am totally disgusted that this product would fail after only 32 years! I actually had to buy replacements! Can you believe it?
[emoji12][emoji849]

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[BC38]

Bianchi Speed Strips are neoprene. I recently had a pair develop tears between the tab and the body of the strip. I am totally disgusted that this product would fail after only 32 years! I actually had to buy replacements! Can you believe it?
[emoji12][emoji849]

Depends on age I think. Older ones may be rubber, but newer ones are poly - not neoprene. According to the sales literature they are made from urethane - (a.k.a. POLYurethane)

 

[fmflorida]

Bianchi Speed Strips are neoprene. I recently had a pair develop tears between the tab and the body of the strip. I am totally disgusted that this product would fail after only 32 years! I actually had to buy replacements! Can you believe it?
[emoji12][emoji849]

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

Haha well thank you for correcting me on the material its made of.

Hey if anything these days last 32 years its impressive.

 

[SG-688]

My oldest, original version Speed Strips from the mid 1970's are a "rubbery" material over a flat spring. My others - from when Bianchi was giving them away - are a different material with no spring insert. So there are at least two generations. I'd not be surprised if there were other variations.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I have several that have been around since the 1970's. Black neoprene rubber with no detectable metal inserts. A couple have started separating around the cartridge head recesses. All of them still work as intended.

Much easier to carry than bulky speedloaders, and much more efficient than trying to reload with loose cartridges.

Overall, a very good product that has withstood the tests of time!

 

[RoyM52]

Depends on age I think. Older ones may be rubber, but newer ones are poly - not neoprene. According to the sales literature they are made from urethane - (a.k.a. POLYurethane)

Not the same. Poly has other stuff

 

[Martya]

Mine are only 20+ years old, have that spring under the 'flexible black material' - you can see it in the tiny openings between the pockets.
I take an old tooth brush and clean them once in a while, get the pocket lint out.

 

[CB3]

Degradation of materials to this extent can be caused by proximity to batteries, cleaning chemicals, and other acidic items.

 

[cmansguns]

"rubber" in o-rings and elsewhere

Apropos of nothing whatsoever, I'll just add that I've worked with "rubber" materials now pushing 33 years at current company.

We utilize elastomeric (my engineers say this is really the correct term) materials for O-rings, gaskets, etc. My basic experience? True "rubber" meaning BUNA N is very impervious to oils, yet not good with ultra high temps inside our high pressure hot water pumps. A material called EPDM (Etheleyne Polypropelene & something more) is very good at ultra high temp situations, but breaks down & crumbles after exposure to ultraviolet rays (i.e. sunshine). For this reason all EPDM O-rings and seals, etc. are packaged in light proof packaging, vacuum sealed and still once opened shelf life is drastically reduced and they do become brittle, and crumble when handled.

Maybe the speed strips are something like that combination of materials that "age out" due to handling (finger oils, gun oils, ammo case lubes,) or UV rays.