Speed Loaders...which ones?

duppie · Oct 23, 2012

I will be taking delivery of a long awaited 27-2 soon and have already ordered some replacement grips but it just occurred to me that perhaps I should order some speed loaders, the question is which ones?
I have 4 HKS units for my HD .357 and while good I can't help thinking there's better out there.
Safariland,HKS or the blinged out 5Stars?

Thoughts?

Lenny_D · Oct 23, 2012

You've got to carry any of the mentioned Speed Loaders in pouches on your belt to be comfortable. I don't like them for pocket carry as they are too bulky. I prefer the speed strips as they are much easier for carry. I know the are slower to reload but you can more easily "top off" a cylinder after firing less than a 6 pack. Thats only my opinion.
Len

OKFC05 · Oct 23, 2012

I can't help thinking there's better out there.

Better for what purpose?
I use the Safariland Comp3 for competition, but not for carry.

Maximumbob54 · Oct 23, 2012

Repeat of my previous post:

New six shot 5Star for 27's and 28's:

eb07 · Oct 23, 2012

S.L. Variants are the best I have found:

variantfit

Desert Rat 416 · Oct 23, 2012

While I have used HKS speed loaders for many years, IMHO the most important thing is that you practice with whichever one you are using - over and over and over again. In training and thereafter, that meant loading without looking at your revolver - eyes focused at the target (read that as "the threat") and doing it until you are very fast and completely fumble free.
I keep a set of snap caps in a speed loader and still practice this drill now and again, although my days of ever having to reload a revolver in a hurry are hopefully long over.

duppie · Oct 23, 2012

OKFC05 said:
Better for what purpose?
I use the Safariland Comp3 for competition, but not for carry.

The HKS seems a bit flimsy to me,so much shake. There is effectively no CCW in New Jersey so that is of little concern. I have not used a Safariland or 5 Star loader as yet and while I like the build and idea of a billet unit like the 5 Star, it's a bit flashy.

Maximumbob54 · Oct 23, 2012

5 Stars also come in black.

duppie · Oct 23, 2012

Maximumbob54 said:
5 Stars also come in black.

Excellent.... I did not see that option on their website but how do they stand up? Not that I intend to bang them up but for their asking price I would like them to last.

k22fan · Oct 23, 2012

None of the others are as fast as Safariland's best competition speed loaders. They are too long and bulky for concealed carry and they're liable to fling you're cartrigdges out if you drop them so HKS or similar are usually used for revolvers that are carried to handle emergencies. You can throw an HKS across the room and count on it retaining the cartridges. However Safariland's competition loaders have a button in the center that when it is pressed against your extractor trips a spring that throws the cartridges into your chambers. Those two are my choices for their different uses.

I have not put out the bucks for 5 Stars or other expensive loader so hopefully some other member will post their advantages.

hotrod150 · Oct 23, 2012

I have a couple j-frame safariland speedloaders that I got as part of a gun deal. I prefer the HKS. The "shake" mentioned is there for a reason, to allow you to jiggle the cartridge noses into the cylinder.
IMHO no speedloader works very well with a j-frame- the yoke simply does not swing out far enough for the speedloaders to clear everything. And it's not just the grips-- the thumbpiece is in the way also. I have a couple 5-round quick-strips which (along with Bianchi's speed strips) seem to be the way to go, esp if you wanna pack them concealed.

duppie · Oct 23, 2012

hotrod150 said:
I have a couple j-frame safariland speedloaders that I got as part of a gun deal. I prefer the HKS. The "shake" mentioned is there for a reason, to allow you to jiggle the cartridge noses into the cylinder.
IMHO no speedloader works very well with a j-frame- the yoke simply does not swing out far enough for the speedloaders to clear everything. And it's not just the grips-- the thumbpiece is in the way also. I have a couple 5-round quick-strips which (along with Bianchi's speed strips) seem to be the way to go, esp if you wanna pack them concealed.

Well now the HKS shake makes sense......

CoMF · Oct 23, 2012

I have both SKS and Safariland COMP-1 speedloaders for my 686 and Chief's Special, respectively. I like the function and cartridge retention of the Safarilands better and never had a problem with the lack of "jiggle" once I had some practice with reloading. If anything, excessive cartridge length was the biggest issue with COMP-1's up until my favorite round started getting loaded to the proper OAL again.

I also had Safariland COMP-2's for a Detective Special which the missus claimed for herself.

They too worked as well as the COMP-1 with the M-36.

Doug M. · Oct 23, 2012

hotrod150 said:
IMHO no speedloader works very well with a j-frame- the yoke simply does not swing out far enough for the speedloaders to clear everything. And it's not just the grips-- the thumbpiece is in the way also. I have a couple 5-round quick-strips which (along with Bianchi's speed strips) seem to be the way to go, esp if you wanna pack them concealed.

I concur regarding the difficulties in using speedloaders with J frames. Simple answer: J frames are carried as BUGs only, and the better choice if carrying a J frame is too carry the reload in the cylinder of a second revolver.

-db- · Oct 23, 2012

This is a good video review of most of the popular speedloader choices out there:

Speedloaders - Michael deBethencourt - YouTube

I agree with eb07 here, and Mike de Bethencourt in the video, that the S.L. Variant is probably the best speedloader on the market. With each chamber individually sprung, no turning required and an optional handle attached, it's as quick as Safariland's competition loaders and can also be adjusted perfectly to match any cylinder unlike any other loader on the market.

Duke426 · Oct 23, 2012

hotrod150 said:
I have a couple j-frame safariland speedloaders that I got as part of a gun deal. I prefer the HKS. The "shake" mentioned is there for a reason, to allow you to jiggle the cartridge noses into the cylinder.
IMHO no speedloader works very well with a j-frame- the yoke simply does not swing out far enough for the speedloaders to clear everything. And it's not just the grips-- the thumbpiece is in the way also. I have a couple 5-round quick-strips which (along with Bianchi's speed strips) seem to be the way to go, esp if you wanna pack them concealed.

I have found the opposite to be true with regard to "shake" in the HKS and Safariland loaders in my experience.

Tha HKS are a pain to get the rounds lined up and fall into the chambers as they move around too much and cause me to fumble around with it.

The Safariland Comp II speedloaders hold the rounds firmly and the rounds go into the cylinder on my model 13 like they are sucked in there with a shop vac!

Just goes to show we all have different experiences and trying various methods is key to finding what's best for YOU.

eb07 · Oct 23, 2012

That is exactly why I like the SL variants. They are adjustable for your cylinder as db pointed out above.

growr · Oct 23, 2012

I have NEVER had a problem of any kind using HKS speedloaders . Bullet design is paramount to your smooth reloads under stress.

Randy

Green Frog · Oct 23, 2012

Practice, practice, practice... it's not the speed loader design, it's which speed loader you are comfortable with. For sheer speed, the Jet Loader™ and the Safariland Comp Series™ are hard to beat, but I'm using HKS™ with my little Baby Chief. I try out the 5 Star™ if I can justify the $$$. It's definitely what you get used to!

Froggie

SixgunFife · Oct 23, 2012

Green Frog said:
Practice, practice, practice...

Here-here to this. I have a nice supply of snap-caps for practicing reloading with both speed loaders and speed strips; at the range, I load-up for most strings with the devices rather than "loose rounds."

Speed Loaders...which ones?

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