Ammo Carry for J Frame

[Lobster Picnic]

Or just carry a NAA mini instead of a reload. Better in a tactical sense.

I can think of many scenarios where the reload is useless because the main pistol is dropped, lost, inoperable, grabbed by the assailant, etc.

 

[JimBianchi]

I carry my 38-3 front strong side pocket, speed strips weak side, fiocci 158grn JHP, and a box of extra ammo in my truck.

 

[snowman.45]

I usually carry my 640 Pro or 340 M&P at 3:00; consistent with my revolver carry position since I entered LE in the '70s. Having carried j-frames as backups on duty and primary carry off duty, it has always been my habit to carry two speed strips or speed loaders. The speed strips usually go into a jeans watch pocket. The speed loaders are usually carried in my right front pants pocket. The ammo is usually Buffalo Bore 158 gr. LSWCHP .38 +P. If I carry any magnums, they will usually be found in a 2X2X2 on the right side of my belt. If using moon clips for the 640, they are carried the same way I carry speed loaders.

Being an old rangemaster/firearms instructor, I have practiced right handed reloads primarily, but also will use a left handed reload on occasion to maintain proficiency.

For those who think you can't defend yourself with a revolver today, I'd like to know how we managed to do so for so many years while active in LE. Sure more initial rounds and presumably faster reloads are possible in some cases with a semi-auto, but I don't feel under-gunned with a revolver. As with anything else, practice makes everything work out better.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

FWIW, my favorite load for the .38 Special is the standard velocity 158 gr. LSWC (Lead Semi-Wadcutter - aka the Keith bullet). Excellent for informal target shooting, plinking, or even small game hunting. Easier to load in a cylinder than regular wadcutter rounds due to the bullet profile - I even carry them with me when I'm carrying a .357 Magnum revolver. I've never used them for anti-personnel purposes, but wouldn't be ashamed to use them if needed for that purpose.

Regards,

Dave

 

[NCBeagle]

I carry a 2x2x2 belt pouch at 11:00. It's filled with Speer GD 135 gr.+P. Carry the same even when my revolver is loaded with .357. No need to mess with it when rotating between .357 and .38+P. Carrying .38+P 95% of the time anyway.

 

[kthom]

I carry a 2x2x2 belt pouch at 11:00. It's filled with Speer GD 135 gr.+P. Carry the same even when my revolver is loaded with .357. No need to mess with it when rotating between .357 and .38+P. Carrying .38+P 95% of the time anyway.

I primarily use the same type ammo carrier, only I carry mine at about 01:30 on my waistbelt. I also carry reloads at times in a speed strip ... depends on circumstances. Got no problem with speed loaders either but concealment is more problematic for me most of the time with those. Having loaded revolver rounds two at a time for a great many years (much practice doing so!), the two at a time is for me very comfortable. I'd be as happy with a belt slide except that my carrier hides the ammo and is not a problem when it is exposed on my belt.

 

[WCCPHD]

When I carry a J frame its my 940 and I carry an extra moon clip in my right front pocket.



This was my EDC for two years until I bought my Sig P365, which replaced it. I rarely carry an extra mag with it.

I've been a sworn officer for 41 years, over 30 of it full time. While not particularly smart, I rarely ever carried a reload. Carried 5 or 6 shot revolvers for the first nine years and did not carry reloads. The only shooting situation I was in where I fired my gun I only fired three rounds of the six the Model 66-2 held. All my LE experience has been as a plain clothes agent and that probably played into my not carrying extra ammo. Now as a reserve drug agent, when working I carry two extra mags on my belt.

 

[Recusant]

I found this Leatherman case at a LGS. The 2 strips fit well and are easy to retrieve. It also has loops that can hold 3 loose rounds. I don't believe it's obvious that this case holds extra ammo.

 

[pasound]

Recusant, You gave me an idea about a similar Kobalt case I have.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've used an old pager case. It will carry two speed strips or one and a small, flat Gerber lockback knife.

 

[michael1000]

what about the guy that carries 5-10 loose rounds in a plastic bag in a pocket?
make the first ones count!

 

[Mister X]

Ammo wallet, speed strip, sometimes nothing.

 

[old tanker]

Two speed strips, left pocket.

 

[JayFramer]

A looped cartridge slide, while old fashioned, also works. Using the twin pinch bullet grab method you can load quick and topping up is super fast with loops.

 

[roo_ster]

OP wrote:

I've just started concealed carry of a new SW Model 638-3 JFrame. I know reloads in actual self defense shootings are rare, but what do most of you folks use to carry extra ammo (if you do) and where do you carry it?

SHORT ANSWER:
Bianchi Speed Strips in IHL Strip Wallet about 2 o'clock strong side.

LONG ANSWER:
When I pack my J-frame 638, I carry it one of three ways.

1. Front strong side pocket
2. Strong side belt holster with snap
3. Ankle holster

Load is usually FBI load, most times the Underwood +P, Remington f I can't get Underwood.

Most common way for me to carry extra rounds is with a Bianchi Speed Strip inside an IHL Speed Strip Wallet.
https://shop.ihlusa.com/product.sc?productId=134

Mine looks like this:

This usually (95%) wraps around my belt in front of the belt holster or front pocket. Sometimes in a strong side cargo pocket.

I used to carry Bianchi Speed Strips(1) naked (strips, not me) in a pocket. I stopped doing that after looking at my ammo after carrying it for a time. I did not like what I saw at the bullet end as the soft swaged lead was deforming. And I also wondered what the heat & sweat was doing to the primers/powder. After going to the wallet, I found the strips also lasted longer.

So nowadays I suggest the ammo wallet. Tried a nylon deal off amazon (TUFF brand), but it was inferior, even though it could tote two speed strips.

I will, on occasion, use a double speed loader belt pouch for either M64 or M638. In front of belt holster, strong side. I use the HKS speed loaders. Not as fast as the Safariland variants, but easier to conceal and I have muscle memory with them.

Which leads me to training. Practice your reloads with snap caps. Practice them at IDPA/USPAS competition. Some folk say the gun games (IDPA/USPSA) are not training. They are wrong. In this instance you are training your reloads with a range officer hovering over your shoulder to catch any safety violations. You get gigged if you screw the pooch, time and/or safety violation-wise.

I prefer the Universal Reload and make sure my weak-hand middle and ring fingers go deep through to the cylinder and immobilize it. Works for speed loaders and speed strips. Chris Baker demos the Universal with loaders. Note how when slowly demo-ing, he gets deep with his middle and ring fingers, but when on the range live, he does not.
DEEP: https://youtu.be/sPbTWGEPi2o?t=74
That is the sort of thing you train for.

Here is Mas Ayoob demo-ing a reload with a speed strip:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAXlT3ZLzs[/ame]

My reloads are the same Universal technique right up to the time it comes to manipulate loader vs strip.



(1) Did not like Quick Strips as they broke too easy/fast. Go Bianchi.

 

[bigggbbruce]

but what do most of you folks use to carry extra ammo (if you do) and where do you carry it?

They're in the other gun.

 

[pasound]

Been following and reading Mas Ayoob for many many years, even before the "net". I always trust his tips. Good technique, realized I do the same with my strips, my guess is it's memory from old articles in American Rifleman and American Handgunner.

 

[ContinentalOp]

My strip reload technique is similar to Ayoob's, except the strip is a little deeper in my hand and my index finger is in front of the first round, with the tip of my finger at the tip of the bullet. This helps me get a physical index on the cylinder and helps me align the rounds properly. I've gotten good results with this method, and can even do it without looking at the cylinder so I can keep my eyes on my environment. YMMV.

FWIW, I use a similar approach when reloading with speedloaders. I grab them such that my index and middle fingers align with two adjacent rounds, my finger tips at the tips of the bullets. Again, it helps me get a physical index so I can get the rounds lined up properly. One of the reasons I like JOX pouches is that they're cut away in just the right spot so I can grab the speedloaders using this method.

 

[heeter3]

I carry a speed strip usually in a cargo pocket.I have speed strips configured for 5,6 and 8 round capacities. I rotate them according to what revolver Im carrying on any given day.