Speedloader with Crimson Trace?

vintage40s · Sep 7, 2020

I have a 642-2 Airweight .38 with Crimson Trace grips from the factory. I have been using speed strips for loading pretty well, but am curious to try a speedloader. A found a sale on eBay where the buyer said he bought a speedloader for this gun and the grips interfered with the loader.
Has anyone been able to use a speedloader on this gun with laser grips?

MO_mule · Sep 7, 2020

vintage40s,

The laser is on the right hand side so a speedloader will work just fine.

On a separate topic, what do you recommend as Kentucky's best sippin' whiskey?

HTH,

Chris

vintage40s · Sep 8, 2020

MO_mule said:
... The laser is on the right hand side so a speedloader will work just fine. On a separate topic, what do you recommend as Kentucky's best sippin' whiskey?...

I would like to hear from people who actually use a speed loader on their 642 CT, as I have seen several feedbacks on eBay and Amazon saying speed loaders require mods to the gun. Like:
"The HKS and Safariland speedloaders will work. I chamfered the cylinders on my S&W 642CT and Dremmel-ed the top front edge of the left stocks to provide more clearance."
I don't want to do that to my 642 CT.

There are many great Kentucky sipping bourbons, but they are too expensive for me. For daily use, I like Old Forester and Ancient Age. I think Ancient Age is the best bourbon for the money and 1.75 is often in short supply.

colt_saa · Sep 8, 2020

You might want to tell folks which model of Crimson Trace grip is on your firearm.

There are/have been 5 different design laser grips available for the Smith & Wesson J-frame from Crimson Trace over the years.

I think 4 are still currently available.

If my memory is working correctly, the Model 105s and the Model 305s have shipped with revolvers from the Factory.

vintage40s · Sep 8, 2020

colt_saa said:
You might want to tell folks which model of Crimson Trace grip is on your firearm.
There are/have been 5 different design laser grips available for the Smith & Wesson J-frame from Crimson Trace over the years...

I did not know the CT model was a factor.
So my 642-2 Lightweight came with a factory CT.
Looking at the gun and what came with it, I don't offhand see a CT model number.
Why would there be any left side differences in the CT grips for a 642?

hostler · Sep 8, 2020

I've got a model 442 and an older model 60, both have LG405 rubber overmold laser grips. No issues at all with HKS speed loader clearance.
That said, I doubt the "factory" CTC is the 405, I think they may use the LG-305, which may be shaped different on the left side, I don't know. I do know the 405 clears HKS speedloaders fine.
The 405 is shaped like a "boot grip", kind of short and stubby while the 305 is longer with a pinky hook on the end.

You can buy speedloaders for less than $10, Or you can walk into a gun store and ask them to take one out of the package to check for clearance.

FredBart · Sep 9, 2020

I have the model LG-105 Defender C-T grips on an older model 60 and also on a newish 442. There is some interference on the left side with the HKS speedloader. It will work, but more slowly that it is intended. If it bothers you, you will need to dremel the left side stock interference area and perhaps paint some clear polyurethane on the area you grind away. This will make it slicker.

Green Frog · Sep 9, 2020

Hostler beat me to it as far as trying the speed loader goes. If you look at a variety of grips (factory and otherwise) you will see all manner of shapes on the left grip panel; high or low, thick or thin, dished or with a thumb rest, ad nauseum. Obviously, the closer the grip gets to the open cylinder, the less room you will have to maneuver a speed loader of any sort, and about the only dependable measurement I can think of is to try the actual speed loader with the actual grips in question... not a great answer I know, but probably the answer.

BTW, and strictly as an extra possibility, I found some speed loaders for a J frame 38 that are constructed like speed strips but hold the rounds in a circle like a “hard body” speed loader... you put the rounds in then pull the tab to release them. I haven’t used them yet, but I currently have a pair on order.

Froggie

PS The item I have on order is a Zeta6 Speed Loader (on the ‘Bay, of course!) I’m sure it will work on my service stocks, but I’m also hoping it will work with a pair if finger groove combats with a big speed loader cut out. HKS loaders sorta work, but they aren’t Speed Loaders!

Green Frog · Sep 13, 2020

My Zeta6 rubber speed Loaders arrived. Due to their flexibility it take a little extra time to align wadcutter rounds to the chambers,but they work pretty well with RN and SWC rounds... and I’ll probably get a little faster with practice. This still isn’t as fast as Jet Loaders, but fully as fast as HKS claims to be. I fully believe they will work with the OP’s CT grips if they are relieved to use any kind of speed loaders.

Froggie

vintage40s · Sep 16, 2020

FredBart said:
I have the model LG-105 Defender C-T grips on an older model 60 and also on a newish 442. There is some interference on the left side with the HKS speedloader. It will work, but more slowly that it is intended. If it bothers you, you will need to dremel the left side..

Green Frog said:
My Zeta6 rubber speed Loaders arrived... they work pretty well... I fully believe they will work with the OP’s CT grips if they are relieved to use any kind of speed loaders.

I am the OP with CT grips on a 642-2 Lightweight, and was leery of trying the round metal HKS speedloader.
And yes, so I just got Zeta5 rubber speedloaders, which are 5-sided for best clearance, and they work perfectly.

Cal44 · Sep 16, 2020

I have Crimson Trace 105s on two of my J frames snubs.

On my 340PD, the HKS works OK but not perfectly. They 5 star also works ok. I haven't felt the need to dremel or sand down the grips.

On my 431PD (32 Magnum) the HKS works well, and the 5 star I have works very poorly. In fact I don't use it. Note that the HKS in 32 Caliber is slightly smaller in diameter than the 38 HKS. And the J frame has the same geometry. So HKS works better on 32s.

Speedloader with Crimson Trace?

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