Speedloaders

[Old cop]

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 used an early model of the speedloader in a 1974 gunfight w/armed robbery suspects and it got me back in the fight in an instant. Another cop was shot trying to reload from his dump pouch. Speedloaders were not issued equipment until later, I’d purchased these on my own.

 

[delcrossv]

For speed- Safariland.
HKS are somewhat slower. For twist knob, 5- Star is much better made than HKS

 

[66snub]

I never liked the HKS. Too wobbly, and they take a bit of fidgeting to make line up. Plus, a knob to turn just adds more steps. Safariland is the only way to fly. I have them for all my revolvers, including my model 629. 38, 357, 44 spl/mag. J, K, L, and N frames. They work flawlessly, and are easy to load. For my money, they are THE best. I practice with them often, and can peel very respectable reload times with them.

 

[IAhunter]

Safariland for me. Once you put the rounds in, press the bullets against the palm of your hand while pushing down and turning the knob with your other hand. You'll hear a click and they are locked in. Should take less than 10 seconds.

 

[Buzzzer]

I still have two HKS 44 speedloaders which work. The cartridges were never loose while in them but they are quite a bit older. I also have the double holder to put them in (boy is that a big block of hard leather!).

For CC, to me, they're too big/bulky to lug around, unless I plan on wearing my old duty belt, not! I went to speed strips. A hunting firearm would be a different story...

 

[Muss Muggins]

I use the HKS. I've seen the Safariland do one of two things more than once on the range.

a: Fail to release because of debris under the star . . .

2: Fly apart like an Indy car, sometimes as the reload is completed, sometimes while it's in progress . . .

 

[elpac3]

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.

Ditto that. The issue we had with the HKS loaders were officers would grab the speedloader by the knob when removing them from the pouch and often times wound up twisting the knob as they were removed, dumping the rounds onto the ground. Never had that issue with the Safariland's. Safariland also held the rounds tighter with less wiggle which facilitated loading.

Still using Safariland loaders in competition.

If you are doing casual reloading - as in hunting, then HKS might be your ticket. Critical reloads - I would go with Safariland.

 

[BAM-BAM]

When I was shooting PPC in the 80s I started with HKS..... but carried in a Bianchi double leather open top "pouch" that retained the speedloaders with friction. When you grabbed the knob on the HKS speedloader it "wasn't hard" to twist the knob; leaving you holding a empty speedloader and leaving the reload loose in the pouch.

I switched to Safariland Comp IIs (and Comp I's for J-frames)

 

[Buford57]

I was mandated to carry what are now called "Comp 1" N-Frame Safarilands in the 80s. After buying several I found 2 that would work...mostly...in the right phase of the moon. In one case while qualifying the thing seized up and would not until release the rounds until thrown to the ground and smashed with a boot heel (remember - I'm staking my life on this junk). I did qualify - that's a revolver malfunction drill. Once I found the ones that usually worked I kept them in my pouches and used them for qualification. I carried HKS in my pocket in case I actually needed a reload. Maybe I was just unlucky and kept getting Friday production, but I never trusted them after that. I had 2 K-frame models for my wife's 67 that worked fine.

 

[Goldstar225]

I started using speedloaders in the mid 80's when I started as a resrve officer in civilian law enforcement. Tried both HKS and Safariland and preferred the Safariland. One of the more senior officers criticized the Safariland as being too fragile. I really hadn't considered that so I popped one out of my pouch and chunked it down the 40' hallway hitting the floor then bouncing off the metal door at the end. No rounds came out and the speedloader was undamaged. He had nothing more to say and my question was answered. Never had a failure with them. HKS are good too, Safariland is just my preference.

 

[BB57]

When I was shooting PPC in the 80s I started with HKS..... but carried in a Bianchi double leather open top "pouch" that retained the speedloaders with friction. When you grabbed the knob on the HKS speedloader it "wasn't hard" to twist the knob; leaving you holding a empty speedloader and leaving the reload loose in the pouch.

I switched to Safariland Comp IIs (and Comp I's for J-frames)

HKS speed loaders require some proactive treatment to prevent dumping the rounds. They release with a clockwise twist on the knob, so you intentionally put some counter clockwise pressure on the knob when you pull them out of the holder.

And you do it every time you pull it out of the holder, so that it becomes an ingrained habit that you'll do under pressure without having to think about it.

Similarly, with any speed loader, you use the speedloader for EVERY reload, tactical or administrative, so it becomes a natural, unconscious act that will happen naturally under pressure.

 

[BB57]

Ditto that. The issue we had with the HKS loaders were officers would grab the speedloader by the knob when removing them from the pouch and often times wound up twisting the knob as they were removed, dumping the rounds onto the ground. Never had that issue with the Safariland's. Safariland also held the rounds tighter with less wiggle which facilitated loading.

Still using Safariland loaders in competition.

If you are doing casual reloading - as in hunting, then HKS might be your ticket. Critical reloads - I would go with Safariland.

As noted in my post above, what you are describing is a training issue, not a fault with the HKS speedloader. Then again, most LEOs are not gun people, don't shoot more than necessary to qualify, and are on balance poorly trained, so a Safariland speedloader arguably eliminated an item from the (dumbed down) training syllabus.

----

As for tighter versus looser, it depends. In general "tighter" seems to facilitate loading better - with round nosed bullets.

However with hollow points, I generally find a little wiggle makes alignment with the cylinder easier and faster.

 

[BAM-BAM]

HKS speed loaders require some proactive treatment to prevent dumping the rounds. They release with a clockwise twist on the knob, so you intentionally put some counter clockwise pressure on the knob when you pull them out of the holder.

And you do it every time you pull it out of the holder, so that it becomes an ingrained habit that you'll do under pressure without having to think about it.

Similarly, with any speed loader, you use the speedloader for EVERY reload, tactical or administrative, so it becomes a natural, unconscious act that will happen naturally under pressure.

True ... not saying it happened every time,twice in competition was enough, once it happened the second time I lost some faith in the HKS.... figured it would/could happen at the worst time ..... so I tried the Safariland and "never" had the issue again.......

By the way still have some HKS and it's not an issue with loose fit flapped pouches.....which I'll use for woods carry!

 

[haywood]

I like Speed Strips. They may not be as fast but, I fumble less with them. I do not shoot competition.

 

[gerhard1]

HKS loaders have almost always worked well for me. My experience with the Safariland is that it won't lock.

 

[WR Moore]

I've used both, prefer Safariland. However, at least the N frame ones are larger than HKS and you have to use Safariland pouches. Anyone know if the Comp II versions fit the faux leather cheapo HKS pouches?

Added info: the HKS large pouches take both the HKS & Safariland N frame speedloaders. However, the HKS units are much taller and the Safariland loaders would need the tops of the pouches trimmed to make quick access easier. The smaller knobs on the top of the Safariland Comp 1 loaders make grabbing by the knob a possible problem. Probably not an issue with the Comp 2 loaders with the larger knob.

 

[Rudi]

I like HKS as well.

 

[sctman800]

I have had the HKS drop rounds before getting to the empty cylinder also, not good. Safariland has never done anything like that and for me are much faster. Agree they are harder to load I have found two ways that work for me. First is a loading block, easy peasy. The other is if I am loading at a table or bench instead of holding the rounds in place while I turn them up side down keep right side up and push up against the bottom of the bench. Jim.

 

[Sistema1927]

For speed- Safariland.
HKS are somewhat slower. For twist knob, 5- Star is much better made than HKS

I agree, but I wish that 5-Star turned the same way as the HKS that have been around for ever.

 

[fatcat3]

Ditto that. The issue we had with the HKS loaders were officers would grab the speedloader by the knob when removing them from the pouch and often times wound up twisting the knob as they were removed, dumping the rounds onto the ground. Never had that issue with the Safariland's. Safariland also held the rounds tighter with less wiggle which facilitated loading.

Still using Safariland loaders in competition.

If you are doing casual reloading - as in hunting, then HKS might be your ticket. Critical reloads - I would go with Safariland.

In all the years we carried S&W m65 on duty I never saw this happen. I suspect ether old worn equ. or people playing with their gear. Some people just can't keep their hands off stuff. Put me down for HKS, but thats what I'm used to. I'll bet Safariland are just as good.