Ammo Carry for J Frame

[jchodur]

Galco 2x2x2 belt pouch is the primary I always have with me and nobody ever questioned it. I even went so far as to dye one black to camouflage it on a black belt. I use the natural russet one on the lighter brown belts. If I have to wear a jacket/coat I will usually put a speed loader in the pocket. If no jacket then I'll tuck a speed strip in an empty shirt or pants pocket.

 

[haywood]

Two J-Frames, 3-6 Round Speed Strips. Everything loaded with Speer Gold Dot 135gr. 38+P

 

[SquarePizza]

1 speed strip clipped to the mouth of a pocket via a rasc system.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I carry a 49 no dash and a full 8 round Quickstrip in a belt pouch by IHL, that I got fro Dillon. 135 +P Gold Dots, shoot the best out all 6 of my snubbies (2-J's, 2-K's, a four letter word that starts with C, and a LCR)

The only person to ever mention the belt pouch was a jeweler wanted what type of ammo I carried (really took me by surprise!)

I won't ever need 13 rounds of ammo, but it's there if I do.

Ivan

 

[The_Truth]

My "casual carry days" consist of either a pre-38 in a pocket or AIWB in a Masters's with a clip, sometimes OWB in a thumbstrap Falco pancake... or if I'm feeling saucy I'll wear the Model 36 in an OWB thumbstrap pancake.

Those are usually days I'm just hanging around the house or not going any further than 711.

The steel 36 gets Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHC +P and an HKS speedloader full in a little leather snap holster on my weak side. The Airweight gets some pretty tame Remington +P 158gr LSWCHC with an HKS speedloader full just in case. Sometimes I'll carry the speedloader in a weak side pocket.

 

[shouldazagged]

If I carry a reload, which is infrequent, it's a Bianchi Speed Strip in a watch pocket or cargo pocket.

My hands are so crippled up with arthritis that attempting a reload would be a clumsy process, probably leading to my demise. In the extremely unlikely event that I'm forced to use a gun to defend myself, it would behoove me to make the first five rounds count.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Hi Rockycreeker:

Welcome to the Forum. Like a few others have mentioned, I am a big fan of the New York reload. I have arthritis in both hands and wrists, so I have lost a lot of manual dexterity in my hands. In the unlikely event I needed a reload, it's faster and easier for me to draw a 2nd revolver than to try to reload the 1st one. I do however carry a fully loaded 8 round speed strip in a small nylon pouch on my belt. My primary carry is a Model 638-1 carried in my front pant pocket in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. My 2nd revolver is a Model 38-0 that I carry either in another DeSantis Nemesis holster, or in a Safariland paddle holster, or a Bianchi 9R shoulder holster.

Regards,

Dave

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

OP is correct about reloads of revolvers in actual situations being rare. Indeed, they're almost impossible, or more precisely, almost impossible to survive.

Take that j frame to a gun show, swap it for a Shield, or some other small 9mm.

No that is horrible advice. What the OP said was that "reloads in actual self defense situations are rare", which is generally true. That applies to both pistol and/or revolver. Without training on how to reload, even with a Shield, it may be impossible to survive.

 

[JayFramer]

Bianchi Speed Strip in a compact concealable pouch at the 1330 position.

 

[BB57]

An excellent point. I use a strong hand reload so my speed strip is in my right pocket.

Whatever you decide works best for you, practice and be consistent. If you should ever need it in a hurry, you don't want to wonder where you put it today and waste valuable time hunting for it.

Best wishes,

Russ

This.

Someone above mentioned that revolver reloads are almost impossible to survive. That's not the case, although it does take practice to get good with a speed loader.

There are basically three common methods and they have their pros and cons.

The FBI reload is potentially the fastest, but it's really designed for a revolver with a full length ejector rod and .38 Special or .38 +P loads. With a short ejector rod and longer and mear max pressure (sticky to eject) .357 Magnum loads the thumb often isn't enough to fully eject the cases.

The Universal reload addresses this by using the palm to slap the ejector rod. However, the thumb of the other hand still partly limits the press on the ejector rod, and the potential for an off axis strike on the ejector rod can bend it. In fact, I'll wager that at least 90 percent of bent ejector rods get bent this way.

Both of the above also leave the revolver's forcing cone in contact with the side of the index finger on the support hand. That's fine with .38 Special, but after a half dozen rapid fired .357 Magnum loads (especially with a large charge of a slow burning colloidal ball powder) the forcing cone can get hot enough to burn your finger, which can cause you to reflexively drop the revolver.

The Stress Fire reload is arguably the slowest, but it addresses all the above issues and it has some other advantages in terms of helping keep your head up and eyes on the threat.

It's worth noting that all three of the above methods use the strong hand to manipulate the speed loader. It's hard enough under stress without also trying to use your non dominant hand for the fiddly bits.

-----

As others have noted I don't ever plan to need more than 5-6 rounds, but on the other hand it doesn't hurt to practice, and speed loaders make reloading at the range a lot more straight forward.

If you practice a tactical reload every time you administratively reload, and/or practice just a couple tactical reloads per day, you'll get very good at it in a year or two and you'll retain that ability under stress.

When I went back to carrying a revolver for self defense, I checked to see if I could still shoot a clean score on the FBI's current Q course - the current course designed for semi-autos - with a 2 1/2" Model 66 or 686+. I found passing is easy, but getting a clean score was a 50/50 proposition as I tend to drop a point on stage 5:

7 Yards
Two-hand grip, 4 rounds, reload, then fire 4 more rounds
Time Limit of 8 seconds

I have to really push to get the last round off in time and accuracy can suffer on the current QIT bottle target. But that's also using the Stress Fire reload and .357 Magnum self defense loads. With the FBI reload, my 3" Model 13 and .38 +P loads a clean score is the norm.

 

[smith57]

My EDC is a 9mm Shield, loaded with 8 in the mag, and one in the chamber, carried AIWB, and a 642 in my left (weak side) front pocket loaded with BB 158 gr SWCHP w/ GC, std. pressure. I don't carry any extra ammo at all. With my old-age severe arthritis in my shoulders/elbows/wrists/hands, that's gonna have to suffice for me if the need ever arises ... hopefully not !

 

[RAPW]

Lots of info been shared here. Some good, some not so much... I'll let you decide.

I carry the 638 Airweight AIWB and 2x Bianchi speedstrips in my right front pocket. I'm probably not going to reload in a gunfight, (most are pretty quick), but what's the harm of having two reloads in a pocket?

To me it's about discipline. I carry all the time, (carrying now on my couch as I write). Will I need to shoot somebody in my home? No. But it's about the discipline of carrying. Carry a gun. Carry a reload.

I could go on.. (but won't).

 

[Fastbolt]

I carry the spare ammunition for my J's the same way I've trained to use it for all my time working in a LR range over many years. That creates lots of practice and technique reinforcement.

When I pocket holster one of my J's (R/F jeans/slacks pockets with soft UM holster) I have a speedstrip of 5 rounds in the same pocket. This is hot weather gear and apparel for me.

If I'm wearing a cover garment (light denim jacket, etc) that can also mean supplementing the pocket strip with another 1-3 strips, or speedloaders, depending on my activities and planned areas where I'm engaged in them. (If I'm belt-holstering one of my J's it means a cover garment and typically means the cover garment pocketing of spare strips/loaders, going back to my carrying service revolvers off-duty throughout the 80's.)

I have a special camera case that can be belted on to carry a J-frame and 5 or more speedloaders (in the film pocket), which I specifically adopted for riding my motorcycles while wearing a leather jacket, although my old leather jacket has been modified by a local leather company to incorporate a heavy leather "pocket holster", as have a couple of my newer leather riding vests (and jacket/vest pocket carry of spare rounds is still the same).

I still even have a couple of old basketweave leather and nylon folded belt carriers, of the old dump-pouch design, but which work fine with speedstrips, if I feel like taking up belt real estate. Lots of years using those on and off the range, too.

I've spent so many years working on our outdoor agency range, in heat and wet/cold conditions and seasons, that I've come to know where to reach for spare revolver strips/loaders by the nature of the clothing I'm wearing. On and off range carry methods reinforce each other, so to speak.

Now, the choice of type, number and carry location of spare ammo/loaders for someone will depend on their skill (training), practice and how they wish to go about doing such things. I don't shill gear or particular techniques ... unless I'm being paid to teach someone a specific technique or use of specific gear.

I tend to think back to the older revolver days, when it wasn't uncommon to hear experienced revolver shooters and firearms instructors say that they carried a 5-shot snub on their own time against the possible need of defending themselves against only 1 or 2 attackers.

Considering the time it takes a lot of average folks to empty and load their revolvers "on the clock" on a practice range - meaning when nobody is shooting at them, and they aren't injured - it would seem to make you wonder if they'd ever manage such a thing if caught up in the chaos and stress of being involved in an actual incident.

I like to tell the folks whom I've helped practice running small and lower capacity guns (whether snubs or itty bitty single stacks) that while safely loading is always a good skill to practice - whether initially or for reloading - that being better able to effective utilize the first ammo load is arguably the best thing upon which to focus.

Especially if your life may be at stake and relying upon those critical first several rounds fired.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Couple of speed strips in the off front pocket .

 

[pasound]

If carrying one of my 60's - Winchester 110gr Silvertip (non +P, still expands, a lot), usually with my Bucheimer underarm. If I have heavier clothes, my 6906 with Federal 124gr Hydra-Shok and my IWB kydex canted over on my back. They also expand a lot. I'll carry one speed strip for the 60's, usually nothing else for the 6906 - if 12 can't do it, then it probably won't matter.

 

[badge 851]

I carry IWB at 4 o'clock; Safariland® Comp I speedloader in right front pocket, and two Bianchi® Speed Strips™ rubber banded opposite each other in my right rear pocket.

 

[Spokes]

When I carry a revolver which is a lot now it is in my right front pocket in a Desantis pocket holster. Right along side of it I carry a speed strip with five or six cartridges ....

 

[Dieselhorses]

I carry the spare ammunition for my J's the same way I've trained to use it for all my time working in a LR range over many years. That creates lots of practice and technique reinforcement.



When I pocket holster one of my J's (R/F jeans/slacks pockets with soft UM holster) I have a speedstrip of 5 rounds in the same pocket. This is hot weather gear and apparel for me.



If I'm wearing a cover garment (light denim jacket, etc) that can also mean supplementing the pocket strip with another 1-3 strips, or speedloaders, depending on my activities and planned areas where I'm engaged in them. (If I'm belt-holstering one of my J's it means a cover garment and typically means the cover garment pocketing of spare strips/loaders, going back to my carrying service revolvers off-duty throughout the 80's.)



I have a special camera case that can be belted on to carry a J-frame and 5 or more speedloaders (in the film pocket), which I specifically adopted for riding my motorcycles while wearing a leather jacket, although my old leather jacket has been modified by a local leather company to incorporate a heavy leather "pocket holster", as have a couple of my newer leather riding vests (and jacket/vest pocket carry of spare rounds is still the same).



I still even have a couple of old basketweave leather and nylon folded belt carriers, of the old dump-pouch design, but which work fine with speedstrips, if I feel like taking up belt real estate. Lots of years using those on and off the range, too.



I've spent so many years working on our outdoor agency range, in heat and wet/cold conditions and seasons, that I've come to know where to reach for spare revolver strips/loaders by the nature of the clothing I'm wearing. On and off range carry methods reinforce each other, so to speak.



Now, the choice of type, number and carry location of spare ammo/loaders for someone will depend on their skill (training), practice and how they wish to go about doing such things. I don't shill gear or particular techniques ... unless I'm being paid to teach someone a specific technique or use of specific gear.



I tend to think back to the older revolver days, when it wasn't uncommon to hear experienced revolver shooters and firearms instructors say that they carried a 5-shot snub on their own time against the possible need of defending themselves against only 1 or 2 attackers.



Considering the time it takes a lot of average folks to empty and load their revolvers "on the clock" on a practice range - meaning when nobody is shooting at them, and they aren't injured - it would seem to make you wonder if they'd ever manage such a thing if caught up in the chaos and stress of being involved in an actual incident.



I like to tell the folks whom I've helped practice running small and lower capacity guns (whether snubs or itty bitty single stacks) that while safely loading is always a good skill to practice - whether initially or for reloading - that being better able to effective utilize the first ammo load is arguably the best thing upon which to focus.



Especially if your life may be at stake and relying upon those critical first several rounds fired.



Just my thoughts.

That's why we have to practice "not to think" but "do".


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Donn]

Typically two speed strips when carrying my Model 49. Sometimes I include two speed loaders in my hoodie pockets if, as J.B. Books said, "My insides tell me to."

 

[delcrossv]

My 940 takes moon clips so 1 in the gun, 2 in the pocket.