Even worth bringing a speed loader or strips for a revolver?

[lrrifleman]

Many diverse views and opinions here. I look at the need to EDC from a slightly different perspective. Being noticeably disabled, I often feel like I have a neon sign above me identifying me as victim material. When I awoke from the coma after the accident that left me disabled, I adopted two philosophies: "improvise, adapt, and overcome" and "prepare for the worst and hope for the best".

In light of recent social unrest, most of the criminally inclined appear to be cowards and move in packs. As much as I like my revolvers, I fear that they lack the firepower that may be required "right now". That is why I carry a polymer semi-auto with at least one spare magazine, but preferably two. On a semi-auto I have had magazines fail, just like I have had an extractor star separate from an extractor rod on a Model 27 (during an informal competition)!

While I would feel more at ease carrying a 1911 Commander, I would rather a utilitarian polymer semi-auto in the unfortunate event I need to use it and lose it to an evidence locker! Swapping a magazine in a tactical reload is faster than reloading with my preferred HKS speedloaders.

Currently, I rely on a Sig P365, followed by either a G42 or G43, and potentially followed by my Shield Plus PC. My G26.5 could potentially nudge out the S&W, but my current G26.5 is dedicated to target shooting.

While either IDPA or USPSA could help you decide, participation in a local PPC match that welcomes civilians can be of great value.

While the typical civilian gun fight may be over in 2.3 rounds, remember, "there are lies, damn lies, and statistics". The question that really begs to be answered when you contemplate carrying an EDC is, how lucky do you feel?

 

[Laketime]

I would knowingly avoid any area were I believed a fast reload would be probable in my daily routine.Prior to 1990 folks did carry a reload with confidence.

 

[Neumann]

EDC is for self-defense. Self-defense should be a shooting, not a shoot out. Tactical competition is another matter.

I carry a speed strip, not for the "speed," but because it keeps ammunition together and oriented, without bulging the pocket or waist band. Next best, and definitely faster, is a bottom-drop belt pouch. I have pouches and holders for speed loaders, but have never used them, even on the target range.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Consider the same question with a moon clip. It is worth getting a carry gun cut for moon clips. Very fast……relatively. I’m sure mags are still faster.

 

[Muss Muggins]

See #37 this thread.

I'm not sure that a high end Rolex dealer who refused to hire security in an apparently high crime area, even after his second or third robbery, counts as an "ordinary citizen . . . "

 

[THE PILGRIM]

That LA watch dealer has killed more folks than your average Mob Hitman.
Met a Dude here who had a Pawn Shop in a pretty rough area.
Friend of a friend, this guy dealt in a lot of high end watches and diamonds.
The expensive stuff was never on display. His out in the open items just regular pawn misc.
I’ve been in his shop when a traveling Diamond Dealer came in with a briefcase.
He didn’t open it up until the Storeowner says these Guys are OK.
He had a shotgun hanging on the wall, not sure about other guns.

 

[WR Moore]

A brief revisit. I had a few spare minutes and looked at the 6 shot revolver reload in the dark-or you want to be watching your surroundings- situation. This really isn't too hard if you've got a speed loader in a pocket. The loader is cupped in the hand with your index finger resting in the valley between two rounds. The first joint is sticking out beyond the end of the loader (experiment to see how far for you). When your index finger is in one of the cylinder flutes, the rounds are lined up with the chambers/charge holes. You might need a wee jiggle to get all 6 started, but it's faster than you might think. In daylight, a quick glance is enough to ensure you're in the right place.

I was doing this with a Safariland speed loader, the center plunger also helps align things.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

IDPA SSR is won and lost on how fast the shooter can reload.
Most non-competitors never bother to learn or practice proper reloads of anything.
Even with semi-autos, I've spend many hours practice using magazines with only two or three cartridges loaded, shooting scenarios, practicing loading under pressure.
Some practice until they do it right once; others practice until they do it right every time, keeping an eye on the threat.

Heard downrange once "Daddy, what's he doing?"

His Dad said I was practicing reloading. That was correct. Shoot three rounds, drop, and reload on and on.

One last thing is to try and make every round count.

 

[ladder13]

I don’t do reloads of any kind, I’ll just take my chances.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Concentrate making the first shot placement dead on a kill zone when you can. Install mirrors in your place of business. Picking out random targets and killing them before seconds fly by is great mental practice.

Quail don't shoot back, but this adapts your mind in making every shot kill. It also creates a sense of awareness and which one to shoot next. Different scenario, but it helps make one quicker.

I miss those I've hunted with over and over again, but there's still a couple or three around. Hunting has always made me feel comfortable around guns. People and life changes.

 

[Sistema1927]

You may not need, nor get a chance for, a reload during an altercation. But do you really want an empty revolver if there is another altercation?

 

[Brian Parrish]

I have enjoyed this thread, and I think my advice is different enough from other good advice here that I might make bold to suggest something. When you said that you have tried this or that and got down to five seconds, it made me think that you might appreciate this. Don't rush it. Speed comes from proficiency not from hurrying. Pick one system strategy and run it as relaxed as you can. Throw away your timer! If you reload under fire, which has never happened to any armed citizen, then there will be other things going on which you will need to see and react to. Adapt and improvise. But if you reload, you will be fumble fingered and distracted unless you can keep your soul calm. Practice calming your soul and relaxing your core. Keep your eyes up. Move to cover all while reloading.
Just like sports, forget how many seconds are on the clock, you gotta make the shot.
Just like music, forget how hard or how fast it is, you gotta listen to and enjoy the rest of the orchestra while you play.
Also try this if you are compelled to beat the clock. Just stick two rounds in and squeeze the trigger rapidly till those two come around the circle and fire. You can qualify a revolver course which presumes a 6 shot gun but using a 5 shot snub with this technique.
Calm. Smooth. Adapt. Aware.
Kind regards brother. Please correct me I am no expert!

 

[smoothshooter]

The fastest method for reloading a revolver is full moon clips. When I carry a revolver, it's my 940 in my front right pocket. I carry two spare full moon clips in a small container in my left front pocket. Reloads are a couple of seconds max.

If I were carrying a different type of revolver that wasn't cut for full moon clips, I would send it to one of the places out there that will cut the cylinder for full moon clips.

With full moon clips, if you need or want to do a partial tactical reload, you have to dump unfired rounds on the ground.

 

[Rpg]

A watch dealer who has shot and killed five robbers since 1989 has closed his shop, saying he fears revenge.

The dealer, Lance Thomas, was wounded five times at his shop in West Los Angeles in a series of shootings that have led to him being called a hero and a vigilante. Watch Seller Who Shot Robbers Shuts Shop - The New York Times

There’s no indication that this gentleman had to reload even once to successfully defend himself in any of his SD events.

 

[BB57]

You can't do a partial reload, but I think that the partial reload "need" is greatly exaggerated. If it's time to reload, I want it done quickly. To me, that's with the moon clips.

The “load two, shoot two” thing was an after effect of the Newhall shooting where an officer was shot and killed by one of the assailants after single loading six rounds and in the process of closing the cylinder.

“Shoot two, load two” would have gotten him back in the fight sooner. However, he’d also just fired all six of his original rounds at the assailant and missed. I’m not sure loading just two rounds would have solved his problem, especially after being shot and immobilized on the ground after expending his original six rounds.

But the larger point was the importance of police departments authorizing the use of speed loaders. When you can speed load 6 rounds in the same time or less time than you can single or strip load 2 rounds, why mess with loading just 2 rounds?

 

[BabaBlueJay]

The “load two, shoot two” thing was an after effect of the Newhall shooting where an officer was shot and killed by one of the assailants after single loading six rounds and in the process of closing the cylinder.

“Shoot two, load two” would have gotten him back in the fight sooner. However, he’d also just fired all six of his original rounds at the assailant and missed. I’m not sure loading just two rounds would have solved his problem, especially after being shot and immobilized on the ground after expending his original six rounds.

But the larger point was the importance of police departments authorizing the use of speed loaders. When you can speed load 6 rounds in the same time or less time than you can single or strip load 2 rounds, why mess with loading just 2 rounds?

This is why I don't carry speed strips any more. For me it's speed loader or nothing. I see reloading all 5 at once more realistic than topping off. Even then if the first 5 don't save you, the second 5 better be used to get away.

 

[CALREB]

Old Lance may have started with a revolver but toward the end he had a double "mantrap" door and had added several semiautos. He had more guns hidden and laying around that store than you could imagine. Toward the end it wasn't even about robbery it was just gang retaliation. No single guy was going to win that fight in LA during the mid 80s to early 90s. He was smart to get out.

 

[smoothshooter]

I like doing partial reloads with a speed strip as opposed to an HKS loader. That system is faster by far. If I'm carrying on of my J's, I have a speed strip in my back pocket. If I'm carrying my 365XL, then I might not have an extra mag. Bulk begins to appear. But the XL starts out with 12.

HKS loaders are the worst. Don’t know why anyone wastes their time and money on them.
Safariland brand is so far ahead of them it is amazing.
No knob to twist. No need to hold the cylinder to keep it from turning while you twist the HKS knob.
Most people buy the HKS because they are so widely sold and they don’t know another better design exists.
Too bad Safariland spends almost no money promoting their brand. I have been using them when I feel the need for 45 years with complete satisfaction.
However, nowadays I almost always carry the rubber speed strips in a pocket because of the flatter profile.

 

[BB57]

HKS loaders are the worst. Don’t know why anyone wastes their time and money on them.
Safariland brand is so far ahead of them it is amazing.
No knob to twist. No need to hold the cylinder to keep it from turning while you twist the HKS knob.
Most people buy the HKS because they are so widely sold and they don’t know another better design exists.
Too bad Safariland spends almost no money promoting their brand. I have been using them when I feel the need for 45 years with complete satisfaction.
However, nowadays I almost always carry the rubber speed strips in a pocket because of the flatter profile.

I like the Comp II for concealed carry, but try finding one for a 7 shot 686+. I can’t buy them if they don’t make them.

—-

If it’s a six shot K frame sized revolver, I’m more likely to carry a K-Pak speed strip. It’s much lower profile than a speed loader and shorter than speed strip. It fits nicely in the watch pocket on a pair of jeans and lets you load 6 rounds in two steps rather than three.

 

[Buzzzer]

All good advice here. I always told my kids the "spray and pray" theory is just that. All the rounds in the world won't do you any good if you can't hit anything. A high cap semi-auto also won't do you any good if you're not comfortable/good with it. People shoot better, naturally, with certain firearms. I've never seen the exception yet. If it feels natural in the hand and you have total confidence in your ability to hit the target with "said" firearm that's all you need (hoping you won't need it).

You can practice to get efficient with different firearms but if you have one that feels like an extension of your hand, why?

Seems to be a never ending debate about how many rounds one carries, or doesn't, and the old semi-auto vs revolver. I, personally, don't give a rip what anyone else carries or how many rounds they carry. It's them, not me.

Practice with what you want and get efficient with it, hoping you won't need to use it. If the hair stands up on the back of your neck there's a reason. I live by "hope for the best, expect the worst"...