Speed Loaders

[smoothshooter]

For me, speed strips for best concealment, HKS speed loaders when attire allows them to be carried. With speed strips, I use 6-round strips, this gives me more gripping area on the strip when reloading.

As much as I like the Safariland speed loaders, speed strips are what I routinely carry.
I have only used the mechanical speed loaders in conjunction with Safariland speed loader carriers that have the flap over the top and straddle the belt.
I don’t know if Safariland even makes the speed loader carriers anymore. Probably not.

 

[smoothshooter]

Nothing beats moonclips for speed. I prefer them over speedloaders if carrying a reload in a speedloader pouch. TK Custom also chamfers the charge holes when they machine for moonclips. You can still load cartridges individually, or from speed strips or speedloaders with this option.

Moon clips force you to dump loaded rounds on the ground when doing a partial or tactical reload.

 

[smoothshooter]

Nothing beats moonclips for speed. I prefer them over speedloaders if carrying a reload in a speedloader pouch. TK Custom also chamfers the charge holes when they machine for moonclips. You can still load cartridges individually, or from speed strips or speedloaders with this option.

Moon clips force you to dump loaded rounds on the ground when doing a partial or tactical reload.
For playing on the range they are okay though.

 

[smoothshooter]

Nothing beats moonclips for speed. I prefer them over speedloaders if carrying a reload in a speedloader pouch. TK Custom also chamfers the charge holes when they machine for moonclips. You can still load cartridges individually, or from speed strips or speedloaders with this option.

Moon clips force you to dump loaded rounds on the ground when doing a partial or tactical reload.
For playing on the range they are okay though.

 

[xfarfuldog]

As a revolver firearms instructor for both police and security basic academy for over 30 years I STRONGLY endorse the Safariland comp II loaders. Particularly when trying to load one handed with strong or weak hand. The HKS come in second. But you must have the right grip loader combination. The other loaders are just to slow. YMMV

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

HKS but I rarely use them, all three of my J frames have the S&W two finger synthetic grips which are my favorite. I've been using speed strips since 1973 under timed conditions running.from the 50 to the 25 yd. Line with two added reloads. You get pretty fast and not many bobbles. For the J frame I load 2-3 loading the 2 first, then 2-1.

The HKS was only used while in full uniform with an already bulky gun belt rig. Hey what's two more things sticking you in the ribs and back. Guys that were never on the job have no idea how annoying a full duty belt can be.

This is why the cops here tend to favor light and small guns after promotion, transfer to the D's and retirement. Tacticool is for rookies, they don't know any better.

 

[Sistema1927]

Much of the advice given here isn't going to help you with the Kimber. I reached out to Safariland and asked if they would consider making loaders for the K6S, and was told that they have no plans.

The 5-Star and Kimber branded ones are OK, but they turn opposite of the HKS, which I find to be a negative. Speed Beez also makes one, but they are quite pricey. It's about the same size as the Comp III. A Comp II for the Kimber would be perfect, but alas.

 

[steelslaver]

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.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

That is a good point. The HKS does not work well with the factory rubber boot grips.

I had a 637 I had to put on Hogue Grips since S&W factory grips were such poor quality.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

HKS or Safari land

+1 Those two are significantly better anything else on the market.

Everyone has different dexterity so you should try them both for yourself. I prefer the HKS for N frames and Safariland for K frames.

 

[Neumann]

I have several speed loaders, and fixtures to hold rounds for easy insertion into the loader. However, they're too bulky to carry in a pocket, and best suited for shooting events. Instead, I carry speed strips for 6, 7, or 8 rounds, in various calibers. They keep rounds together, and are much faster than single loading, at least with a little practice.

 

[smoothshooter]

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.

When I have carried the Safariland speed loaders, I also used a leather belt slide with 6 individual cartridge loops, or a speed strip in my pocket or in a small belt pouch so I could replace individual rounds in the cylinder, or do a complete cylinder dump and reload with the speed loader.

 

[BrBa]

Moon clips force you to dump loaded rounds on the ground when doing a partial or tactical reload.

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.

 

[stansdds]

Moon clips force you to dump loaded rounds on the ground when doing a partial or tactical reload.
For playing on the range they are okay though.

And heaven help you if the clip somehow gets bent when your life depends upon that reload.

 

[681ismyfavorite]

Safariland Comp I.

 

[.357magger]

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.

 

[Piwo]

I rarely carry a J frame as a primary anymore, but when I did I used all of the above. I prefer the Safariland. I usually carried speedloaders on the belt with K frame and in the pocket with J frame. I back it up with a 2x2x2 or speed strip pouch on belt. It helps that I wear baggier pants than most.

More important than type of reload is how much you practice with your method. I think smoothness is far more important than blind speed. Most of the old timers that were on the job when I came on carried loose ammo in their pocket! Then again, in the academy we trained loading from a speedloader, cartridge loops and loose in the pocket. Sometimes you only get 2 or 3 in the gun before you get back in the action. Not too many practice that anymore.

 

[Doug M.]

An additional J frame is the best answer if you find a J frame to be functional for your life. I do not, so that answers the issue.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Safariland Comp I.

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

 

[PhilT]

Nothing beats moonclips for speed. I prefer them over speedloaders if carrying a reload in a speedloader pouch. TK Custom also chamfers the charge holes when they machine for moonclips. You can still load cartridges individually, or from speed strips or speedloaders with this option.

TK machine for moon clips + chamfer charge holes works for me.