New 640 Pro/Which Speed Loader

[mgriffin]

I have always carried a S&W 442 with a speed strip for a reload. Today I bought a 640 Pro and was thinking about 5 shot speed loaders. I have read articles about some speed loaders not working with some grips. The 640 Pro I bought is NIB and has factory rubber boot grips. So, just asking for opinions, stick with a speed strip? Switch to a speed loader? If speed loader, which brand works best? Do you guys/gals have a favorite carrier for speed loaders? Leather? Kydex? Thanks!

 

[Luvmine]

Congratulations on the 640.
I have and carry a 640 Pro and also use a speed strip. Not that I load it with 357’s but I can just about get 38’s in there using a HKS speed loader. The loader will only get the rounds about half way into the cylinder and that’s with the factory rubber grips.
So I went back to the Altamont grips and carry an extra strip. I’ll be subscribed to this thread. Maybe I’ll learn something too.
Here’s my current set-up.

 

[white cloud]

I would research this carefully and save yourself some money as many grip/speed loader combinations will not work. The rubber grips that came with my 640 Pro don't work with either Safariland or HKS speed loaders. Who at S&W designed these grips?

I have some old Uncle Mike's boot grips that are a copy of Spegel's J frame grip but in rubber. These are compact, provide a decent control and work with either Safariland or HKS speed loaders if you use .38s. I have put these on my 640 Pro and model 60-9.

I carry my speed loader in a pants pocket along with two speed strips.

 

[hyena]

Did you try the moon clips that come with the gun? You might like them better than a speed loader.

 

[mikerjf]

Dremel the factory grips enough and they will work. (“Thanks” S&W)

I also have a pretty thin pair of rubber grips, like $8.95 from eBay. They are thin enough to work with my speedloaders, also conceal better than thicker name brands, and are big enough to mitigate recoil some. I bought several sets thinking I might try shortening one up.

 

[roo_ster]

I own a couple HKS loaders that work well enough with my Crimson Trace boot-grip-shaped laser grips, but I rarely tote them. I prefer Bianchi brand speed strips. A speed loader is too big for my pockets, usually, as it prints like crazy.

And a speed loader in a carrier on the belt pretty much means I might as well go with a belt holster for my J-frame. But if I am resorting to a belt holster, why not move to my SW64 snubby, which is much easier to shoot?

So, a speed loader for a J-frame falls into that area where I might as well move up.

 

[HOGSTR]

Get a TK Custom moonclip tool from Amazon and you can probably leave the speedloaders behind.

 

[mgriffin]

Did you try the moon clips that come with the gun? You might like them better than a speed loader.

I was actually considering the moon clips especially for my first 5rd. of carry just because I thought that might work for a fast/clean ejection if I ever had to use it. I just thought people always complained how easy the moon clips bend and such. I am diffidently considering them!

 

[mgriffin]

If considering moon clips, what carrier?

 

[ContinentalOp]

Personally, I'm not a fan of moonclips, at least for reloads.

I prefer Safariland Comp I speedloaders for their ease of operation. No need to twist a knob. Just insert the rounds into the chambers and push on the speedloader body. Some people have complained that they're not durable, but I can tell you I've dropped my loaders more times than I'd care to admit, including on concrete floors, and not only did they retain their rounds, they also functioned properly.

I've used Split-Six carriers, but don't like them. Those are the carriers that hold the loader on top of the belt with a snap cover over the top. I carry my reloads on my left side, and oftentimes the bolster of my car's seat would pop the snap when getting in and out of my car, causing my loader to fall off the belt. While I haven't had it happen to me, Split-Six carriers and Comp I speedloaders don't mix well because the loader's release mechanism rides on top of the belt; enough downward pressure can cause the loader to release all of its rounds.

My favorite speedloader pouch is the JOX. It's a kydex pouch that rides above the belt line, improving concealment. It's very secure, but releases the loader easily without having to undo any snaps. It has slots fore and aft for gripping the loader, which allows me to put grip tape on the speedloader body in such a way that it indexes the rounds for a proper reloading grip, as well as improving traction on the loader.

Having said all that, there's nothing wrong with strips. I've actually gone back to them for their lower profile. When I'm carrying my 642 as my only carry gun, I have a strip in a Simply Rugged belt pouch and often a second strip in a Side Guard Holsters pocket pouch. Nowadays I mostly carry my 642 as a BUG in an ankle holster, but I still carry a strip in the pocket pouch.

This is my opinion, based on my experience. YMMV.