Speed loaders for S&W 617 and 17

[John Hill]

I want good reliable speed loaders for two of my revolvers, a model 617 10 shot .22, and a model 17 6 shot .22. I have seen only one brand for the 617. It is made by Speed Beez and is a little pricy. I have seen HKS speedloaders for half the price but only for the model 17. What are you opinions on these and hopefully suggestions for others?
Thanks
John

 

[andyo5]

I am thinking about the Speed Beez system for my 10 shot. Looks pretty cool!

 

[dentkimterry]

I use Speed Beez with my 10 shot 617's. They work great and have never given me any trouble. Be sure to get a loading block with yours.

 

[Matt Hooper]

I use the DS-10 Speed with a Pelican block. Works great. DS-10-SPEED | Custom speed loaders for the 10 shot S&W 617, 8 shot Ruger SP101 & others, made in the USA .

Here's my set up with my 617

 

[avigar]

I asked for the same info a few weeks ago when I acquired my new 617. I found it unnecessary during my first range outing with it. It also helped to slow me down a bit and ration my 22LR ammo.

 

[10mmillie]

I have 10 DS10 speed loaders for my 617 along with a couple loading blocks. They work great. I do wish HKS would make loaders for the 617 10 shot and 63 8 shot. I can't understand why they don't unless they own DS10 or Speedbeez. If I had an old 6 shot then HKS would be what I used.

 

[brokenprism]

If I had an old 6 shot then HKS would be what I used.

: ) "An old 6 shot..." You mean design era, not manufacture date, don't you?

It was bound to happen. I feel like Murtaugh meeting Riggs for the first time.

 

[buckspen]

I recently got some 10 round speed loaders from a local man who makes them for his friends at the local shooting matches. It's the best speed loader I have ever used. I used to have the DS-10 units but this one beats them hands down. This thing is built like a bank vault and is all aluminum with a couple of steel parts.
- - Buckspen

 

[Green Frog]

I recently got some 10 round speed loaders from a local man who makes them for his friends at the local shooting matches. It's the best speed loader I have ever used. I used to have the DS-10 units but this one beats them hands down. This thing is built like a bank vault and is all aluminum with a couple of steel parts.
- - Buckspen

OOH, OOH! ME WANT!

I don't suppose he makes one for an I/J-frame 32 as well? I could get really excited about a pair of those for my 32 HE that I use for CCW and the HFT 22 I use for fun shooting. Then too, I wouldn't mind having a pair or two for my K-frame 32. Please drop me a PM with his name and address if any or all of these is a possibility. I think I'm in love!

Froggie

 

[buckspen]

Froggie - As far as I know he only makes the ones for the 10 shot 617. And he's really not in the business of building these things. He makes a few for his friends and shooting buddies that particpate in our local steel matches. I asked him if wanted to increase his business by advertising here, but he said he was busy enough with his job and shooting and didn't want to expand.
Sorry.
- - Buckspen

 

[Green Frog]

Curses, foiled again!!

I figured ahead of time that your response would be negative, but it was still worth asking. Please be sure to post here if he does decide to expand... I'm sure he could find a ready market here!

Froggie

 

[S&W1006]

I use the Speed Beez speedloaders and loading block. They are excellent. Yes they area little pricey but you won't be sorry you bought them.

 

[buckspen]

My friend is now marketing his speed loaders through Shooters Connection (Home Page) They are the BEST. But they are not cheap. Check out the Ansac Speedloader here
Ansac Speedloader S&W 617/10 Shot Silver
The thing about these units is that they have an individual plunger for each cartridge that drives the cartridge into the chamber. So you don't get the usual problem of a cartridge or two not being pressed into the chamber (which is a real problem with .22 revolvers). I use them for speed steel and bowling pin matches and like them MUCH better than the SpeedBeezs or DS-10 loaders.
(Disclaimer - I have no connection to either Shooters Connection or the maker of these speed loaders. I don't get a penny from either. I just think they are the best speedloaders around for the 617 revolver.)
- Buckspen

 

[Macinaw]

buckspen, you couldn't be more correct!


I have one of the new speed loaders from Ansac (Shooters Connection)

It holds the rounds much tighter than the California Comp. or DS-10 loaders.

With the other loaders you must hold the loader vertically so the rounds will not become crocked.

The new loader will hold round straight so they don't move. It makes loading so much easier.

 

[Macinaw]

ANSAC loader $60 worth it. Quality isn't cheap.

DS-10 and California Comp. $25 to $35

 

[Stainz]

I guess I learned from loading X8 moonclips of long/spindly .357 Magnums in a 627 that gravity is your friend. Muzzle down vertical reloading is second nature, despite many more prior and ongoing years of speedloading X6 moonclips of .45 ACP ball ammo - whose ease spoils you. Not into ultimate reloading speed, I have been more than satisfied with my DS-10 goodies, loaders and baseplates alike, for both my X10 617 and X8 63's. I had to go with SpeedBeez for their #351-7 to fit my new 351PD (.22 WMR). I don't know if it's me, the speedloader, or the stock rosewood grip clearance, but I feel very uncoordinated using it. I still carry a just right sized screwcap poly bottle of seven rounds as a reload - I can reload them in the dark. My HKS #51-J speedloaders work great with my 4" 651 (.22 WMR).

I do have some nicely milled Al speedloaders and loading plates - for my X8 627's. 5starfirearms.com makes a fine product, too - and they are less than the referenced Al rimfire speedloaders.

BTW, Macinaw... keep those rounds away from the adult beverages would be the best way to keep them from getting "crocked"! It works for me... I can't have anything stronger than Pepsi Max now - and, hmmm, I'm out of that - bye!

Stainz

PS I have no interests in DS-10, 5starfirearms.com, or HKS - other than as a happy consumer of their products.

 

[JudgeColt]

In trying to buy a loader and loading block from the linked website, I keep getting a message that the "Input string was not in correct format" when trying to checkout, so I cannot order this obviously terrific product. What is the reason for that? (I have played with removing and reentering, etc. to no avail.)

 

[ridgewalker]

I recently got a S&W model 63 in 22 caliber and will be getting a 617 in about a month so I am very interested in this speedloader discussion. Currently I use 5 star brand speedloaders in various sizes for my 357 mag/38 special S&W revolvers and am very satisfied. They offer an 8 round 22 LR speed loader which they state on there website fits Ruger LCR, SP101 and Rossi P98 in 22LR. I will call them and ask if it fits the S&W 63 but I would think not since they don't mention it on their website.

My question for you is what is the releasing motion of the various speedloaders mentioned, the Speedbeez, DS, and Anspac? I looked on their various websites and it was not apparent. The 5 star speedloader action is righty tighty, lefty loosy. That is the releasing action into the cylinders is a slight left turn of the knob. For training purposes, I would prefer to stay with the same action so that would be a big deciding factor in which brand speedloader I would get for my 22LR revolvers.

 

[Macinaw]

Thank you Stainz!

I've learned that "crocked" means drunk.

I guess I should have said "crooked".

 

[S&WIowegan]

I recently got some 10 round speed loaders from a local man who makes them for his friends at the local shooting matches. It's the best speed loader I have ever used. I used to have the DS-10 units but this one beats them hands down. This thing is built like a bank vault and is all aluminum with a couple of steel parts.
- - Buckspen

Gosh...I love that bank vault talk. It's so trite when referring to revolvers that we all ignore it as BS. Now you've introduced us to a whole new 'bank vault'! Bravo.

PS the releasing mechanism on DS-10s is a push on the upper disc after the ammo is inserted.