Just acquired a 627-5 performance center (8) shot in .357. Would like to shoot IDPA (non-competition) but cannot find speedloaders to match. Anyone located a source for the loaders?

Thunder Ranch has the only 8 shot speed loaders available. Basically semi custom/hand made. Very high quality!

Thunder Ranch® Oregon 8Shot Speed Loader

Yeah, but $60.00 a whack!??? I guess you gotta do what you gotta do...it's either the Thunder Ranch speedloaders or these POC Maxfires:

Maxfire Revolver Speedloader 38 Special, 357 Magnum 8-Shot Package of 2 - MidwayUSA

Best of luck,

Dave

$60 each they better be nice. Moonclips are faster and more compact.

The IDPA rules limit revolvers to six rounds. At my local club matches, we are still limited to six. Other clubs may bend that rule a little.

I bought 5 of the Thunder Ranch Models for use with my 8 shot N-Frames. They are, as you would expect, excellently made. However, as I have used HKS loaders for years , I am having trouble "adapting" to them as they turn to release the cartridges the opposite of the HKS. They also require you to pick them up and index the flats on 2 sides of the loader with the cylinder release and frame. Still, they are the only "ballgame" in town.

I wish Safariland would release a Comp 3 for N frames. Having said that my Thunderranch are VERY high quality including machined aluminium bodies...

Double-O-Dave, have you tried the max fire speedloaders. What do you think of them (60$ is a bit rich for the thunder ranch.

Clayshooter,

I've used the Safariland and HKS speedloaders and greatly prefer the Safariland Comp II over the Comp I, and any Safariland over the HKS. I've read nothing but bad reviews about the Maxfires, and in some reviews, they report that they either lost rounds from the speedloader, or damaged the revolver unless perfect alignment and technique is used. Masaad Ayoob, among others, speaks to the loss of fine motor skill when shooting under stress, which tells me that if I owned am 8-shot S&W, Thunder Ranch would be shipping me some of their speedloaders, unless Safariland or HKS can step in with one of their products.

Best of luck,

Dave

Gentlemen, I tried the rubber Max-fire before I bought the Thunder Ranch model and I can tell you in no way shape or form did I like them. I found them extremely awkward. There is just no cheap lunch in this frame size yet.

I have run into the same problem in USPSA but as some common sense seems to come through I have been allowed to load all 8 as long as I only fire 6. Now this might be just a local issue but how about your 627, is it 4" or less? Seems to me if these clubs want everyone to come out and play and we're not a threat to the national champions that dumping a extra round or two so you stay within your 6, and maybe have a 5" or 6" gun isn't going to stop the world from turning. The moonclips will move you into ESR class but is the idea to enjoy and improve the use of the gun you have or simply get the newest a greatest gamer gun out there.

Thanks to all who chimed in to answer my question. I'm new to the site and am impressed with the responses.

AFAIK, the only sports that 8-shot revolvers are allowed to used their full capacity is ICORE, and USPSA in Open, Limited, and maybe Production. If Production is allowed, an 8-shot roundgun shooting Minor could be competitive.

Buck

Here is a pic of the Maxfire speedloaders. They are NOT easy to use. Or should I say not at all user freindly.

You have to do a little wiggling and jiggling to get them to work properly. They were cheap. I got what I paid for. And yes, moon clips would be much faster.

Bought these for a M&P R8 that I have since sold.



If you look hard enough at the pic you can see that the tips of the rounds are not evenly spaced. That's why you wiggle and jiggle.

Dumping live rounds will get you a procedural where I shoot IDPA. Ask me how I know!

I recently shot an ICORE match with my 627-5 and Maxfire speedloaders. I had all kinds of problems with those loaders and will never use them again in any other match except Steel Challenge type events, where all loading is off the clock (unless you miss a lot). That revolver is being moonclipped this very minute. There is an outfit called 3-D that apparently makes some nice aluminum speedloaders, but I don't think they are yet available for the 8 shooters. I get the impression that it is not possible to make a speedloader for an 8 shooter without that flat side that will have to be indexed toward the frame.

Dave Sinko

I just purchased the M1K maxfire speed loader from Brownells, for my 8 shot S&W 327 NG. I think they are made very well and after a quick spray of silicon, they released very easily into the chambers. I'm not using them in competition but for the price of $15 a pair, they work good for me on the range.

.357 N-Frame Accessories

While they are certainly happy to have everyone come out and shoot they want shooters to do so within their rules. I'm not all that strict in a lot of things, but I certainly can't begrudge them for wanting to have the playing field be reasonably level for each division.

It's their game and their rules (and a lot of fun, too!). I don't have an issue with it. There's plenty of good options for IDPA-legal handguns in all divisions.

Does anyone know about these speedloaders? I was looking at them for my 686+
5 Star Firearms Home | Firearm Accessories | 100% American Made

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Ephesians 6:10-20

I have the 5 Star speed loaders for my 36, 686, 627 and 629. They are very nice; aircraft aluminum, made in the US. Retail is between $20-$25 each. Here's a comparison review between the 5 Star and Thunder Ranch reloaders.

Pic from their website:

Hey, that's forum member Los' gun/photo.

I use the 5-Star Speed Loaders in my 627 PC Blood Work. Carry 2 in the DeSantis Speed Loader pouches on the belt. They run about $25.00 each. Heres a picture showing one with the gun.
Carl

Hey Carl....great looking revolver. I went to S&W to look up the 627 and couldn't find anything that looked your yours. Whats up with that?

Tom Upright

I'm not Carl, but it's on the S&W website. If this link does not work, http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...layErrorView_Y

go to the S&W site, click on handguns, then click on performance center, then revolvers, then scroll down to the snub-nose 627. It's shown with a non-fluted cylinder, but I can't recall if they are making them fluted or non-fluted now.

Hello Tom,

The 627 Performance Center Snubby is listed on the S&W Website, but its shown as an Unfluted Cylinder & with Boot-Grips. In May, 2010 S&W PC made several 627 Snubbies with a Fluted Cylinder. I got one. You'll notice the "Plug" is in place of the IL. The Boot-Grips have been changed out with these new grips. I have them on both my 627 & 686 Snubbies. They are a lot more comfortable. You can take a look at my Photo Album above under "Pictures On The Wall" for additional pics.
Carl

Tks for the info, Carl. I finally figgered out how to get to your pics. Very nice. I'm an old Marine pilot who enjoyed his S&W 38 sidearm in Vietnam back in the 60s and thus have always been partial to revolvers.

I enjoy target shooting and have had a Ruger SP 101, S&W 686 plus, and now the 327 NG. Your new 627 is very tempting, lol. It is a hell of a lot more better looking with the fluted cylinders and the wooden grips.

Tom

Thanks for your information, Neal. Appreciate your taking the time. I would be interested to know any real difference between the 327NG and the 627, besides the finish.

Tom

Heres a Pic of the complete Rig. S&W 627 PC Snubby, Galco Gun Belt, DeSantis Holster, DeSantis Speed Loader Pouches with 5-Star Speed Loaders.
Carl

This comes up locally. What is done is to name the match something else and then whoever is willing to run a match can alter rules as they like so long as enough shooters keep participating. It is wrong to turn in scores to national organizations while deviating from their rules on the sly. If you start with 8 in the cylinder then have a missfire before sending 6 bullets down range are you really going to dump 3 unfired rounds and do an extra reload like competitors with 6 shooters have to?

I apologize if this strayed too far of the original topic.

Best Regards;

Gil

I shot an IDPA match one time with an 8-shot 627 and used the full-moon clips. I wasn't competing and they let me shoot just for fun. I found that the 8-shot cylinder, even with moon-clips, was not always super quick to reload, too many rounds with edges, etc. I'm a lot faster with a 6 shot gun using either moon-clips or speed-loaders. But it was fun. I do tend to think that the advantage of 8 rounds in any sort of "practical" scenario is lost as soon as one gets to the point where he/she needs to reload.....

Nothing like the "JET SPEEDLOADERS". I used them for years and I am still using them. Absolutely no problems with them. Of course, that's only one man's opinion..............CookE