I learned to load from the loops beginning in the mid 60's. I perfected that technique over the next several years as my employment required a belt slide with loops as a mandatory part of our uniform and gear. After using a competion model belt slide that held 18 rounds and had the loops set off from the slide leather by one piece of leather strip sewn between the loops and the belt slide, I had a uniform approved 12 loop belt slide made in the same manner. The additional piece of leather held the cartridges away from the belt slide just enough to allow fingers to quickly slide two at a time up to grasp and remove. My loops were also positioned so that the cartridge heads were just about even with the top of the slide. I was able to push up two cartridges far enough above the slide to easily grasp them and control them for reloading purposes. This worked very well for me, and since I got lots of practice reloading from these loops, I got to the point where I could reload very quickly and securely.
My method of reloading involves opening the cylinder with the left hand and allowing my two middle fingers to slip through the cylinder window and grasp the cylinder between those two fingers and my thumb. This after holding the revolver with barrel up and pressing the ejector rod to empty the spent rounds. I also held the revolver securely in my right hand until this was accomplished. I maintained control of the revolver by using my forefinger and pinkie (over the barrel and behind the hammer spur), lowering the barrel toward the ground, and extracting two fresh rounds from my loops and inserting them two at a time into the cylinder. I rolled the cylinder slightly counter clockwise to bring two empty chambers to the position most agreeable for insertion of two more rounds while reaching for two more live rounds. Upon filling the cylinder, I grasped the grips and closed the cylinder and brought the gun back up into battery with a two hand hold. I could fire twelve rounds (one reload) in less than twenty seconds while maintaining impact of all rounds within the ten ring on a B-27 target. And with much practice, this could be done with minimal looking directly at the gun or the loops. I always had less likelihood of fumbling my reloads when done in this manner as opposed to using speedloaders and it was more convenient (for me) to carry my reloads in the loops than in a speedloader holder. I always had a couple or three speed loaders handy in my howl car for back up ammo and in case I needed to reload while in the vehicle. This method worked very well for me over many years of duty carry.
I now use a belt slide device that carries six rounds, not in loops but in three individual "pockets" that allows very easy access to them for reloading in the same manner as one would with loops. The part of this device that holds the reloads is covered by a flap easily opened and the pouch part drops forward enough to keep the flap from interfering with access to the reloads. This device works very well for concealed carry since it give no real indication that I am carry reloads on my belt. If you practice with the loops until you are proficient loading from them, you can do it quickly and positively and securely, with the added benefit that you can make a partial reload if circumstances allow that. In that case, you hold the barrel down and raise the ejector rod just enough to raise the cases out of the cylinder about half an inch, then release the ejector rod after which the loaded rounds will slip back into place and the spent (expanded) cases will generally remain raised so that they can be plucked out and replaced. Takes a bit more time, of course, but it works (with practice. I like loading from the loops or this pouch I described. One place that sells this type of cartridge carrier is El Paso Saddlery. It is a quality made piece of gear and it works! I also shoot with both thumbs down and I do NOT stage the trigger. A smooth continuous pull all the way through with good follow through is the best way to get your best accuracy when shooting double action.
