So I was at the range this week with my 627PC and R8( both favorites of mine!) As it was an impromptu range trip, I didn't have time to load up some moon clips. Loading those 8 holes by hand wan't a chore but it got me to thinking about speed loader options for these big 8 shot 357 revolvers. Seems the only makes I can find are Speed Beez and 5 star. The Speed Beez seem expensive (and have reviews reporting of scratching the 627's.) The 5 Star seems decent but the knob works opposite of the HKS I've grown familiar with. So, besides "carry " type solutions like speed strips, am I missing anyone's product? HKS? DS? Safariland? If I'm going to invest in a pocket full of these, I'd like them to be helpful and not something I regret.

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Dave

Hmm, I suspect from the silence that I have not missed anything. Got to say that I do find the lack of speed loader (and block) options for these guns odd.

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Dave

It’s probably because they are cut for moon clips, and everyone who wants to reload fast uses these. So there isn’t a huge market for 8-shot speedloaders. That’s my only guess.

I don’t use the moon clips that came with my TRR8 because they are too damn hard to load. In fact, the first time I had to improvise a tool to load them with two blocks of wood. I switched to SpeedBeez clips, which are much easier to load by hand.

You might want to try them.

You cannot go wrong with 5 Star Firearms speedloaders. I bought some for my 686+ and they are a significant upgrade from the 7-shot HKS speedloader I had (which also broke).

The opposite twist was a little different at first, but now it's natural. I still have an HKS speedloader for another gun and I don't find myself getting confused as to which way to twist the knob.

The only traditional speed loaders for the 8 shot Model 27/327/627 revolvers that I can recall is 5 Star.
They are expensive but beautifully made



There is a company that makes rubber speed loaders that after you insert the cartridges you pull the speed loader away at a 90 degree angle for the release. I found these awkward
Like most folks, I just use the moon clips

Moonclips!
I keep boxes of 200 filled just ready to go. I was going to order some of those 5 star ones; on those days when I just want to pop them in and go. Especially on my wild experiments....
I have the 5 star ones for the 44 mags. Yea. The button twists in the opposite direction of the hks ones. But I take my hks speedloaders and use 5 stars loading blocks. Or depending what I forget and have in the range bag at the time...But if they scratch the guns using them, I may not.
I just make sure I keep those boxes filled! Yea. SOMETIMES it's harder work to load them and unload them. But when they're ready to go, awfully convenient!

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I may try the 5 stars eventually. At $25 each, the price isn't crazy. That said, I think Lou nailed it. I just need to plan ahead and have a coffee can full of loaded moon clips at the ready ( like I do for my 625.) After all, I'm retired now, there is no excuse for not having the time.
Think I'll put it on tomorrows to do list....
Thanks to all who weighed in,

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Dave

I've tried Speed Beez. They work, but not real well - for me, they're slow because they need careful alignment to get past the cylinder release button on my 627. And like most speed loaders, they tend to be a bit fussy as to the grips they'll slip past. Probably not a good choice for competition. But for my range time, they do okay.

However, I still like Speed Beez better than moon clips. I understand the secret to moon clips is finding the right clip and brass combo - I guess I haven't found it yet.


I haven't tried Five Star - as was mentioned above, they twist in the opposite direction than the HKS that I'm used to and still use for some guns.

I have the same issue as grinner with the moonclips provided in the box. Moreover, wobbling makes loading troublesome with wad cutters. I am happy with the 5stars speed loaders and both their leather and nylon carriers. I especially like, and find it most intuitive, the counterclockwise release because it doesn’t make the cylinder move, thus preventing the speedloader to snag on the frame. The only drawback of these solid, well made, easy to use and carry speed loaders is that, being made of aluminum, they can get dented if dropped.

I have two 5 Star speedloaders and a loading block for my 627. They look nice and are very well made. And have used them a couple times.

However, I find it much easier to just load up a bunch of moonclips before I go to the range or match.
Loading moonclips without the proper tools is a pain, so some sort of moonclip tool / tools are a must.
I use a moonclip tool to load the clips and a screwdriver type tube to unload.

I load enough moonclips to shoot the entire match, that way I don't have to mess with loading & unloading clips during the match.

I have found that .022 clips with Winchester brass and .025 works with about everything else.

(edit: I use a board drilled and fitted with wood dowels, that fits inside a 30 cal. ammo can or my shooting bag, to hold the loaded moonclips that I take to the range. )

I will sit in the big chair with the News on the TV and load up 20-30-40 or more moon clips a day or so before going shooting

A day or so after shooting, I get back in the same big chair and de-moon while watching the News.

I have a hollow water pipe that has the half cut on the end to de-moon with, a piece of pipe insulation as a grip and I let the other open end hang into my bucket of brass that is heading to be tumbled. The brass just slides down the tube from the moon clip directly into the bucket.

This is not just for my 8 shot 27/327/627 revolvers. I do the same routine for any moon clip enabled revolver that I am heading out to shoot with.

That sounds oddly familiar. If you would have said while watching the price is right or let's make a deal!

Hahahha!

I tumble my brass and moonclips together. That way the moonclips are clean when I load them. Always work clean right?

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Old&slow makes a good comment. The .025 moonclips work great on starline and Winchester. Most everything. I use mixed range brass for 38 specials only. Starline for 38 short colts and new starline 357 magnums for 110 and 125gr only!(with a count on loaded times) Mixed 357 magnum range brass for 158gr or heavier.
I use ranch products 8 shot moonclips.

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I use Ranch products clips and mixed brass as well. Not just for my 627 but for all my moon clip guns and calibers (610,986,625,R8,686+pro). Mostly because I'm lazy and cheap :-) Most combinations work very well. I will admit though that some 38 brass can give me issues with binding though.

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Dave

I've always used Ranch Product moonclips in my 45 acp's. They work great.
Don't remember the brand for my 610. But it wasn't Ranch. Ranch had a slit between the rounds that I didn't care for.

And I've been using Revolver Supply moonclips in my 627. I don't think I have tried Ranch in the 627.. I may have to order some..
Thanks.