I like carrying my Model 66. I would feel more comfortable with a reload or two.
What are the pros and cons of Speed Strips and Speed loaders?
Where can I find a leather pouch for each that matches my brown leather Bianchi holster?

ETA: Will a HKS 10-A clear the rubber grips that came on my revolver? (66-4 I believe the grips are Uncle Mike's.)

Thanks!

Speedstrips are slow but fit in your pocket easily.

Some speedloaders (Comp III, Jetloaders) are fast, but quite bulky and can release ammo easily.

Other speedloaders (HKS) won't release as easily and are slow, but faster than speedstrips, and bulkier, but not as bulky as fast speedloaders.

I don't even carry a reload. I'm all about ease of concealment, and no speed___ is particularly appealing for all the negatives above. So I don't bother. I do have speedstrips in the glove compartment, fwtw.

In my police career we began with dump pouches, then speed strips came along and that was considered a major step forward but I didn't think they were that much faster than dump pouches. Then speed loaders came along and the revolver world changed forever.
Speed strips are easier to conceal but speed loaders are so much faster.

Jetloaders are smaller than Comp III, and not much larger than HKS. Whether they fit at all depends on your pockets. Even the jacket of a suit will often take a Jetloader.

I carry a 442 owb on my right side and two speedstrips in my left front pocket. I've been thinking of a design for a custom leather speedloader pouch.
Speedloaders are faster but speedstrips are easier to carry.

FWIW....

When I went through the police academy we had to be able to use dump pouches and do a combat reload in darkness. A great skill to learn.

However, many years later we went to Safari speedloaders. I actually prefer the HKS.

I have used dump pouches, speed strips, and HKS and Safariland Speedloaders. When I carried a revolver in uniform I prefer HKS Speedloaders. When in plain clothes I prefer Bianchi Speed Strips for their concealability. Now a days I carry different guns based on personal preference at the time (when not on the job as a police officer) but I still use the Speed Strips when I carry a revolver. Right now my 2 main revolvers of choice are a 3" S&W 65-3 and a 4" Colt Python.

My wife and I carry HKS speed loaders for our .357 magnums and my .44 magnums. I carry 5-STAR speed loaders for my S&W460XVR. We use A.E. Nelson #61 speed loader carriers for all of our speed loaders. They print much less if you wear them upside down and it makes reloading faster.

5 Star Firearms | Speed Loaders | Range Blocks | Leather Pouches | 100% American Made
A. E. Nelson Leather Co.

__________________
U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

When I carry my 3" 66 I carry a Safariland Comp II infront of the holster in a Safariland CD-2 Spring Steel Carrier. I have also started carrying the second one weak side behind my Cell Phone carrier.

I carry in the same manner for several other revolvers I rotate through.

In the Warm Weather months (Snake Season) I will carry a Speed Strip with some shotshells in my pocket also.

I shoot numerous revolvers in our Club Defensive Pistol Matches. I have reloaded with Quick Strips, HKS Speed Loaders Safariland Comp I, II, and III Speed Loaders, Moon Clips, and Jet Loaders.

I guess you need to ask yourself, How serious am I about being able to reload Fast?

Slow to Fast:
Loose Rounds/Dump Pouch
Speed Strip/Quick Strips
HKS Speed Loaders
Safariland Comp I & II Speed Loaders
Safariland Comp III Speed Loaders & Jet Loaders

If you are pocket carrying in a jacket pocket a Comp III or Jet Loader is not a big deal to carry.

You can also belt carry a Comp III or Jet Loader. The biggest issue is what carrier to use. Most competition carriers are a little on the large and blocky side.
You can carry a Safariland Comp III ok using a Safariland 333 Carrier cut apart into 3 single carriers on a band saw. I make the Big Creek kydex carriers for the Comp III's as well as the Jet Loaders, and they also fit tight enough to the body to work ok for concealed carry.

My recomendation for belt carry would be a Comp II in a CD-2 Carrier,
or a Comp III in a cut apart 333 or Big Creek Carrier, or a Jet Loader in a Big Creek Carrier.

For coat pocket carry any of the 3 will work fine.

I reload a lot with speed loaders shooting matches. You are going to reload much faster with a speed loader on the belt held vertical. I swap the revolver to my Left Hand during a reload and grab the speed loader with my right hand. Infront of the holster is the handiest/fastest location to carry a reload.
Next the Comp III and Jet Loader having an extended handle are more positive to get a grip on, as well as more posative to position the ammunition in the revolver chambers with. And the last consideration, the Comp III and Jet Loaders are spring driven for the fastest possible reload speed.

The question is how important to you is your reloading speed? If the answer is Very Important I would go with a Jet Loader or Comp III.

If Fairly Important a Comp II in a CD-2 carrier will probably work for you.

Your cover garment is another consideration. I am retired so I can dress a little more casual than some. I wear a light weight Deluth workmans vest a great deal of the time. I also wear fishing shirts, and I even have some store bought concealed carry shirts.

If you are carrying a 66 you can probably get by belt carrying a speed loader or two.

Quick Strips:
You can also do a fairly quick reload with them with practice.
Go with Tuff Products brand.
I recommend getting the quick strips with a capacity of atleast 1 round over what your revolver holds. Why?? A little more length gives you something to get ahold of. I have a Blue Jean Jacket that is custom set up for concealed carry. I have 2 Quick Strip pockets sewn in to the inside. The Tabs stick out the top of the pockets. I have 2 each 6 round Quick Strips in the pockets loaded with 5 rounds. With a Quick Strip you put 2 rounds in the chambers at one time and Rip Up and Forward. Drop in 2 more, etc till reloaded. You also have to rotate the cylinder to keep the empty chambers where you need them. I do this with the rounds as I am loading and stop the cylinder with my finger. A reload with a Quick Strip will probably take around 8 seconds IF you have the quick strip where you can access it quickly, and IF it is oriented correctly when you get ahold of it to start the reload. Everything that is not just like you need it, is adding time to the reload.

A very good Quick Strip Reload should take around 6 - 8 seconds.
A reload with an HKS or Comp I or II should be around 4 seconds from an open top vertical belt carrier.
A reload with a Comp III or Jet Loader should be under 3 seconds from an open top vertical belt carrier.

Unless you are shooting in competition most reading this will never NEED to do an 8 second reload, let alone a 3 second one. However if you are ever in a situation where you do need to make a Tactical Reload the 5 seconds difference between loading methods is a very long time.

I normally carry the Safariland Comp II's with CD-2 Carriers because they are a good compromise between size and speed. I have 6 on my dresser at the moment.
Two are L Frame Comp II's with 357 Speer Short Barrel. They have a Green Dot on the top for identification.
Two are K Frame Comp II's again with Speer 357 short barrel for my 66 snub. They have a Yellow Dot on the top.
Two are K Frame Comp II's with Speer 135 Short barrel 38+P, for my 315 NG, 2" M10, 2" M15, and 4" M64. They are Plain with no dots.

I also have 10mm Moon Clips in Shoot a Moon spring steel carriers for my 310NG and 610.
I also have 38+P 135 Short barrel in 5 shot Moon Clips for my 442 Pro Moon Clip. They are carried in 5 shot J Frame Shoot A Moon spring steel carriers.

I also have lots of 38/357 Quick Strips, and an old Brown Bianchi Dump Pouch I have owned for almost 40 years. I am likely to carry this when I am out running around on the farm, and just need spare ammunition with me.

I use all reloading methods enough I have confidence I can make a reload no matter what I may be carrying. I also live just down the road from Mayberry, and the chances of me being in a gunfight now that I am retired is very low. BUT not low enough that I do not carry a reload or two with me.

Bob

__________________
ICORE MO2908

Put three filled speed loaders in one pocket, and three filled speed strips in the other. Now you're able to objectively decide. Then it's time to practice with loading and reloading until you become proficient.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

A second gun, known as a "New York Reload" is the fastest reload known to man. When working at the local gun shop I carry my usual J frame but back it up with a polymer frame .380. I also carry one Speed Strip and one spare magazine. Hornady FTX Critical Defense ammo is my choice load.

Whichever you decide on practice, practice, practice.

I recently attended a snub workshop with M. de Bethancourt, who specializes in snub training.

What I learned in eight hours of working hard and practicing, was that I personally prefer speed strips, with one caveat:

When performing a reload, what is your intention?
If getting back into the fight as quickly as possible is the intention.....
I learned that, a speed strip carrying only 4 rounds is perfect for me. It is easier to manipulate, and gets one back into the fight much quicker (as opposed to loading all cylinder charge holes).

during my training, we would fire 5 or 6 shots (depending on weapon being used) and then proceed to reload using the unique method being taught by Mr Bethancourt (revolver stays in dominant/firing hand).
We would then dump two rounds only into the cylinder, and bam! Back in the fight. (we worked on subconsciously indexing the cylinder, so that the rounds loaded were first up in the firing rotation, among many many other details)

Of course, we also trained with multiple types of speedloaders and loose rounds. The main theme of his training was to keep you alive during actual threat to your life.

If anyone here would like some real world snub training, look up snubtraining.com or Northeast Tactical Schools, or simply go to Youtube and look for Michael de Bethancourt.
Here is a quick video that shows some very basic beginnings of what this gentleman teaches:
http://youtu.be/sjRTdXvjBmE

Speedloaders work in the winter b/c I'm wearing a jacket. During the warm months the strip works carried in the small [watch] pocket in my jeans.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Once you practice a lot and realize that no matter how much practice speed strips are really "slow strips", speedloaders are bulky, and the faster ones bulkier and and less secure, you'll come to the conclusion that the revolver is either for backup, or carried as a multiuse gun (for hiking, hunting, etc.), but not an ideal combat handgun if more than 5-6 shots are a remote posibility.

Re: Speed strips

Tip from gun trainer Grant Cunningham:

Carry 4 rounds in strip.

Start at tab end, insert 2, skip space, insert 2 more. This
provides tabs at each end and one in center for grabbing
strip while under stress and guiding/pushing rounds into chambers.

And, I believe, gun trainer Mas Ayoob suggests 5 rounds, thus leaving a second tab at either end.

Time yourself while making the reload. A few seconds would be a lifetime in combat

Also, as you increase velocity fumble factor increases exponentially with a revolver reload.

I love revolvers, and I've practiced a lot with them. Just saying my experiences, not trying to derail the topic.

Loaders!!

__________________
NRA Certified Instructor

The fastest speedloader with the smallest relative physical profile is the Safariland Comp I - in my experience and opinion. Speedstrips definitely conceal better but reload slower. I carry one Comp I and two Speedstrips in my right rear pocket. That's one fast reload and two somewhat slower reloads.

I may be one of a few who, during my LEO days, has used speedloaders under fire and can attest to the fact that I was back up on target quickly and able to come out as the "winner." This was long before the days of the modern semi auto for LEOs.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Yes! loaders are faster and more importantly almost fumble free compared to speed loaders.

But few would carry them around in plainclothes due to the bulk. To be fast, you need a good loader/speedloader carrier, not your pocket.

this is the way we were taught back-in-the-day........exact same way jerry does it. same strong hand to weak hand move. BUT tilting the barrel straight-up for the shells to fall out. however, i use speedloaders and not moon clips as shown here by jerry.

i'm partial to HKS as that is what i cuts my teeth on.

World Record 12 Shots In Under 3 Seconds - YouTube

That is a tribute to your training and fortitude, but does not change the fact that any trained shooter is faster with an auto. At least if we discount some freaks like J. Miculek.

I also like this technique, the weak hand takes hold of the gun and strokes the ejector while the right hand gets the speedloader. Very fast if you practice, less fumble prone, and it is less abusive on the crane while ejecting.

And I also like the HKS speedloaders (other than for competition), slower but more compact and won't loose rounds easily.

around these parts, they don't teach this method anymore because the hot forcing cone may burn your week-hand. i think they used to refer to jerry's method as the FBI .38 method.

now they (LEO circles) teach to keep the revolver in your strong hand and let your week hand stroke the barrel and catching the ejector rod. thus preventing a possible burn.

sorry, but i'm stuck on the older method and proud of it!

I use speed strips, but I cut the tab off so it's the same from either end when reloading. Works for me.

__________________
Dick

accuracy and reliability, my friend....accuracy and reliability!

speed is secondary in my book.

revolvers very rarely experience a hick-up. a hick-up under stress is a bad, bad thing.

CH1966: I repeat myself, but some VERY savvy posters answering this thread! No one has answered the last question: will a certain grip impede reloading with a speedloader? Answer: you have to experiment yourself and see whether it does.
For example, S&W makes a J-frame rubber boot grip almost identical to the original Uncle Mike's. It is slightly lighter in weight, but it is also a smidge higher on the left side and does impede the HKS loader. I'm sure a few seconds work with an X-acto knife will relieve the encumbrance. The HKS works without a problem on the original Uncle Mike's J-frame boot grip.
I like the Uncle Mike's rubber grips for Smith revolvers; I find them ugly, but beauty is as beauty does. If you haven't yet bought the grip you are asking about, ask us at the range, wherever you are! Hope this helps!

I've never been in a gunfight, but I've seen/fired a lot of rounds in training and competition. Seldom see any hick-up in competition with autos, almost never while reloading, but I've seen a lot of fumbles with revolver reloading, certainly much more often that the fabled autos jams. As much as I like a revolver, a gun that you must slow reload every six rounds is not ideal as a primary IMO for combat.

I good shooter is just as accurate with a revolver or with an auto at normal distances.

Speed loaders are faster, IF they clear everything on your particular gun/grip combo. Personally speedloaders don't work that well for me with j-frames-- everything is just too close together. Speedstrips/ quickstrips are slower but way easier to carry concealed. I carry my 2" j-frames IWB in the appendix (0ne oclock) postion, and pack along a quickstrip in a little belt pouch I made at about the 230 position.

Attached Images

EDC gear.jpg (217.1 KB, 50 views)

I've concluded that if I need more than five rounds (I carry a J-frame) reloading is unlikely to be an issue; but I have a couple of speed strips and a speedloader. Only wear the speedloader in a belt pouch when I wear an OWB holster--very rarely. I have an old pager pouch I sometimes wear that contains a speedloader and a small lockback knife; but usually I just drop a speed strip in a pocket. Sometimes not.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

great video, if you haven't seen it.

037 Massad Ayoob Demonstrates how to Reload the Revolver with the Bianchi "Speed Strip" - YouTube



i believe this is the "now" method being taught for speedloaders...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXUwI_d8JlA

Choose you poison:

Revolver reload x4 - YouTube

kaaskop49 is right on. Certain grips will not accommodate a speed loader, as they lack the cut out above the thumb, or are simply too bulky.

As far as shooting quickly, I'd rather shoot precisely not fast. And never seeing a semi-auto fail under speed shooting & reloading conditions? I call Bravo Sierra on that gem. Go to any IDPA match and watch how many competitors fumble a tactical reload or short stroke the slide when switching out magazines.

All this nonsense talk about shooting fast in a combat situation is just that, nonsense, for the reason that there is no consideration for cover and concealment. If the poop hits the prop, you better make yourself a very small target behind something ... table, wall, mailbox, phone pole ... Once you've found suitable cover and concealment, the ability to place shots will far outweigh your stop watch times on a range. Too many speed merchants are preparing themselves for another OK Corral. These clowns are delusional, and the smart money goes on the precision shooter every time, even with a revolver.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

Exactly. Practice without looking, practice in the dark, practice with your eyes closed. It should be as easy and second nature as putting on a hat

IDPA is just a game, and a tactical reload is not something I would like to do unless there is plenty of time and cover. The idiocy of a tactical reload under stress and time constrains is what you have seen.

If you shoot to slide lock, as in IPSC and as teached by most combat instructors, there is no "balance two mags in one hand" act.

Anybody, be my guest. Take a timer to the range and practice and practice some more. Time your reloads, and keep notice of the fumbled ones.

Shooting fast in a combat situation? It seems to me that if you can keep the rounds centered in the target it is more logical that shooting slow. As I've said, I've never been in combat but I rather have the skills than not, and not need to pray that some COVER (not concealment) is always going to be available just a a couple feet away, that the other guy can't shoot, that there is only one assailant, etc.

Well, this post certainly started some discussion, with good points on both sides. I mostly carry revolvers, for good reasons both mentioned and unmentioned above, but I would like to thank TF for reminding us that not all possibilities are always handled with five or six rounds. I have occasionally armed myself with a BHP for exactly that reason. Of course, each individual situation has different values for a number of variables, and one should not make a blanket statement that this or that type of firearm is the wrong choice in general, nor did TF make such a statement. But he did remind us of one possibility.

Thanks!

The absolutely un-questionable fastest way to reload a revolver is with a full moon clip. And those work best with the short, stubby 45 ACP cartridge. The snag in this declaration is that 45s come in N-frames and very few are willing to carry/conceal an N-frame...and the moon clip holders are as bulky as any speed loader pouch and in this case also N-frame size.

I was my department's chief firearms instructor the last 6 years before retirement. I ran a lot of beginners through the academy's basic firearms training in addition to all the inservice training for the 400 armed personnel already on the job. Something I always stressed in both the classroom and on the range: The time to think about cover is before the shooting starts. If someone is shooting at you, looking for cover could get you shot in the back (or maybe the butt).

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Never been in a gunfight, but very sure of yourself when diminishing the efficiency of a revolver in a combat shooting situation. Obviously spoken from inexperience.

Seen a lot of competition, but seldom witnessed a problem with semi-auto reloading? Okay.


So what’s your point about competition shooting? Realistic training, or just a game?


You keep practicing the mag dump on the ground, and let me know when you realize that your two or three spares are no longer accessible to reload your big bad semi-auto.


Another graduate from the Spray & Pray Institute of High Cap Magazine Clips.

For ¾ of the 20th Century, revolvers successfully served military and law enforcement in countless “combat” situations. Not a bad resume of accomplishments. Take some time and read about what Jelly Bryce, Bill Jordan, and Jim Cirillo did with revolvers in live fire situations.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

OK historian, I've read the books... but I have a thinking brain too

And spray and pray does not fit me, I take pride in nearly always hitting what I aim to in competition. I only shoot as fast as I can.

Should we shoot one handed and the with the FBI crouch too? Com'on, Jelly Bryce teached it!

Should we shoot ditch modern hollow point ammo and use SWCs like Cirillo? BTW, he mostly had to make do with humble M10s ammo because of the NYPD rules, not because he thought that was the hot ticket. HE was.

Do you know that Cirillo actually carried a G30 (and a G27 as backup) loaded with JHPs in his later years? Perhaps he learned something along the way.

Cooper actually went on to use and preach 1911s for most of his life. That was his preferred weapon.

Most modern gurus of fighting (those big names that have been there/done that) don't teach the "tactical reload" as a basic procedure anymore, and it is easy to see why. Useful in some cases, not in most.

Read again my posts. I like revolvers, and I think that the person using the gun, his presence of mind, skill and tactics is far more important than the gun itself. The revolver today is as effective as ever, even more with modern ammo.

BUT, the time for the revolver as a main fighting sidearm for LE/mil is gone, and for good reasons (weight, size, capacity, ease/speed of reloading, etc.). Get over it. It is not an obscure plot from the wheelgun hating forces that swep the revolver from ALL modern armed military forces and police of the world. There are some good, logical reasons for it.

I use speed strips most of the time, not as fast as speed loaders but I find the strips easier to carry. A strip fits in the small coin pocket on most blue jeans, with the tab on the strip sticking out a little, this works well with an inside the pocket holster on a J frame revolver and is very discreet. I would suggest practice with the strip, loading two at a time. When I wear a coat I sometimes carry a speed loader in the coat pocket as well. I would suggest to find the option that works best for you, but always carry a reload.

TiroFijo,

I certainly agree with you about the tactical reload. Not sure who came up with that but it sure has gotten out of hand.

My take on it (tac reload) is that it's only application is when the fight is over but the bad guy may have friends. A "tactical" reload to fully recharge the weapon, preferably from cover, makes sense under those circumstances.

When there are still hostiles to be dealt with get the gun reloaded as quickly as possible. The magazine with a few rounds still in it, or the live rounds dumped from the cylinder will be picked up by the investigators when they get there. You need to make sure you are the one still standing to answer their questions (after you talk to your lawyer).

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Thinks for the input everybody.

That's my initial instinct Fr1957.

I intend to carry two reloads. If it's feasible.
Maybe one of each?

Prayers to the families of those affected by today's events.
Good night all.

Old cop, I'm with you with Safariland Comp1.At the old PPC shoots speed-reloaders was the way to go.At that time there were no Comp11 Or Comp111.My Comp 1 reloads have been used a million times and I still use the old workhorses.


Bob

I take it from your 8 year membership on the S&W Forum and average of six total posts per year that you're not: A) Experienced with, or knowledgeable about revolvers; B) A proponent of using revolvers; C) Aware of the revolver's history in combat; D) Interested in conducting reasonable and intelligent discourse about the merits of revolvers; E) All of the above.

You might try doing a bit of homework before filling your quota of visits for the year, and making ridiculous blanket statements about your perceived merits of semi-autos vs. your presumed weaknesses of revolvers.

Ever heard of Clint Smith? He teaches the tactical reload for semi-autos in his Defensive Handgun courses. How do I know? Two week-long DH classes with Mr. Smith, which is exactly two more than yourself.

And for the record, Jim Cirillo's favorite handgun was a REVOLVER, a S&W .44 magnum frame mated to a Dan Wesson barrel. He's on record as saying if he'd owned that specific custom revolver earlier in his life, it would have been his career sidearm.

But don't let the facts get you confused.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

I'm very familiar and proficient with revolvers, thank you.

I don't post much here because of knee jerk people like you Reminds me of the people endorsing wonder 1200 fps 158 GR SWC loads for the 38 spl in the reloading section, and citing Elmer Keith as their hero.

This is a wonderful place to talk about S&W revolvers, not so much for other aspects of shooting.

The art of gun handling is continuosly evolving. Clint Smith may be your guru, fine. But there are other opinions, and the mainstream of modern instructors teach something else. For example Larry Vickers:

Tactical Reload? - M4Carbine.net Forums

"The tactical reload has it's place but it has been blown way out of proportion to it's significance- IDPA is partially responsible for that; certain trainers and agencies share in the blame also

Bottom line if you expect to have to use your weapon in the immediate future that is no place for a tac load- under stress it is too easy to screw it up in case your situation turns sour in a hurry

Once again it has it's place but a relatively minor one"

I know all about Cirillo and all the other Big Names, I'm 50 and I remember his ads on gun mags promoting his wonder loads (a lightweight WC at high velocity out of his modified 44 mag revolver). But most of his feats were done with a normal M10 and the NYPD issued LSWC. And at the end of his life he carried a G30 and G27, sorry to break it to you.

Cheers, I think we have used enough bandwith and don't want to derail the topic any further.

Since I returned to reading gun forums a couple of months ago one of the things I've liked about this one is that there is so little acrimony and "I know far better than you" attitude. I've left two others and am about to bail on a third because of debate that gets nasty, rampant conspiracy theorizing, and way-over-the-edge politics. So it saddens me to see a thread here start going sour.

I'm an old man with very strong opinions, but I can state them reasonably politely and expect the same in return. Usually that works out just fine here.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

I put the Hogue Bantam one piece rubber grip on my J-frame. It is slightly more compact than the UM grip and provides good clearance for speed loaders. Great rubber grip feel, light weight, durable. I had bought some wood grips for the beauty, but gave them to a friend after putting the Bantam on. IMO, it is the best grip if you plan to carry the J-frame for self defense.

__________________
Very interesting...

we are are all friends here so i'm enjoying this discussion. i'm saddened that you interpret it as being "sour."

i've been around LEO firing range circles for most of my adult life. i've seen crazy stuff happen with young cadets getting orientated to auto-loaders. our younger folks now-a-days have real poor mechanical aptitudes. they even struggle counting rounds when charging their glocks. i refer to these mistakes as hick-ups.

my biggest gripe is the young range officers (that were in diapers when i was out laying a bead on a burglar) making all the decisions on the course of fire and such. that and they seem to despise revolvers.

...but i digress...

i appreciate all you guys and gals.

As they say, you can't miss fast enugh to win.
I will stick up for "combat" or "practical" pistol competition being good practice. Maybe the tactics aren't always the same as for real-life, but I competed in the Southwest Pistol League back about 25-30 years ago and can tell you that hearing the buzzer going off and knowing that the timer is running can really get the adreneline flowing. Short of actually being shot at, I don't know what else you can do to better simulate a self-defense situation using a real firearm.