Speed strips?

[45Smashemflat]

I’ve carried 1-2 older Bianchi speed strips for years. Just recently, the tab end on one broke off. Time to get a few more I guess.

Just curious, for others that use this form of spare ammo carry, what are your thoughts? Stick with the old 6 round Bianchis? I’ve been looking at the kind that have the rounds spaced in pairs. (Need to recheck the manufacturer.). Do they work better? Tad faster?

I carry a J frame most times, or a Colt Agent.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have some of most all, speed loaders, strip loaders, rubber J Frame speed loaders, etc.
When pocket carrying a J Frame, ammo in a card case is handy.
I should add - there’s a definite trade off - on how easy it is to use vs how easy it is to carry.

 

[BB57]

I’ve carried 1-2 older Bianchi speed strips for years. Just recently, the tab end on one broke off. Time to get a few more I guess.

Just curious, for others that use this form of spare ammo carry, what are your thoughts? Stick with the old 6 round Bianchis? I’ve been looking at the kind that have the rounds spaced in pairs. (Need to recheck the manufacturer.). Do they work better? Tad faster?

I carry a J frame most times, or a Colt Agent.

I’ve become a fan of the Zeta 6 K-Pak speed strips.

They are compact and let you load three, or three and three for a full six rounds.

The K-Pak will fit the Colt D frame revolvers. They also make a 5 round J-Pak for J frames.

When I use a regular speed strip, I prefer to use one with space for an extra round, for example a 7 round strip for a 6 round revolver. Leaving the space empty on the tab end gives you a little bit more to hang on to.

https://zetasix.com

https://zetasix.com/product/k-pak/

 

[chief38]

When I started pocket carrying almost 50 years ago I tried carrying speed loaders - it didn't work out for me as they were too bulky and too weird in my pocket. Even when carrying OWB I did not like the bulk of the speed loader pouches on the belt. I then tried the Speed Strips and while they were much more comfortable and convenient in a pocket, they were still not my cup of tea.

I had purchased a few thin but strong nylon dump pouches that were meant for carrying a small pocket knife horizontally on a thin belt. I then had a local Seamstress cut and sew the pouches to exactly fit 6 38 special cartridges to make them as compact as possible. The pouch flap closed with a thin piece of velcro and was not overly difficult to open up. They could be carried either in my pocket or around a belt - and still used as dump pouches.

I practiced loading 2, 2, & 1 from the pouches (had 1 extra round) many many times, both from in my pocket and on my belt. I got pretty good at it and got almost as fast as with a speed loader. The system worked like a charm for me and because it was such a comfortable system, I never went anywhere without spare ammo. BTW, when I carried a revolver that held 6, the pouch also held 6.

I still have one of those pouches left however I now carry a Sig P365. If I am pocket carrying, one of the old style soft cheap eyeglass cases cut down works well to carry a spare magazine in the other pocket. It protects my pocket, keeps the sweat off the ammo and is extremely comfortable - much more so than just a lose magazine in a pocket. It weighs almost nothing. When carrying OWB in a gun-belt, I use a Horsehide magazine belt pouch.

IMHO, speed loaders work best for uniformed LEO's or Security who do not need to conceal. The speed strips are OK, but what I came up with worked better for me.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I did some testing recently of the "traditional" in-line strip-loaders in comparison to the Zeta 6-Pak staggered style strip-loaders. A few conclusions:

1. If you only carry one, the in-lines are more compact in a pants pocket. The Zeta-6 is fairly bulky, and the staggered design is not so pocket-friendly, getting easily tangled up and potentially losing a round on drawing it.

2. If carrying TWO loaders, the Zeta-6 is designed to nestle into each other, creating a compact and secure unit - albeit somewhat bulky. The advantage though is that the Zeta-6 presents itself in the same way every time. Two in-line loaders in a pocket tend to tangle up with each other, and not necessarily present themselves at the same orientation every time.

3. Speed. The single in-line loaders are predictable: so long as you find set the tab into your pinky or palm, they work the same way every time, and for every gun too - 5-shot, 6-shot, 7-shot, etc.

The Zeta-6 in the 5-shot version is just plain odd, and due to the small cylinder diameter, trying to load 2+3 or 3+2 is difficult. Aligning three rounds at a time requires a lot of looking at the cylinder. If you load 2+2+1 with it, it is actually slower than the in-line type. For a 5-shot gun I would recommend the in-line type (Tuff Products makes a 5-round Quick-Strip which is more compact).

For a 6-round cylinder, the Zeta-6 6-shot version is more predictable - it doesn't matter which end you present first, it's always 3+3 loading. The larger 6-round cylinder makes aligning three rounds easier. With practice, it can be about 1 second faster than the in-line type, as it is only two moves to reload, instead of three. Practice is essential because aligning three rounds at a time is not as easy or positive as only two, and also requires a full 180 turn of the cylinder after the first three are loaded.

For what it's worth, I use a 5-round in-line Quick-Strip for 5-round .38/.357 guns, and the Zeta-6 staggered style for the S&W K-frame or Colt 38/357 (carried as a deuce).

Your only choice in other calibres (.32, .41, .44, .45) are the in-line styles.

 

[CH4]

I carry them in the mag pouches on my shoulder rigs and sometimes in my pockets. They are better than loose rounds, but very slow. I am glad the odds of ever having to use them are very low.

 

[biku324]

I like simplicity, and the original Speed Strips have always served me well.

 

[stansdds]

I have been using QuickStrip speed strips for my Model 640-1. I did buy the 6-round versions as the empty spot provides additional gripping area when using them with my J-frame, plus I can also use them with any of my 6-shot 357 Magnum revolvers.

 

[Goldstar225]

I've considered other styles but I'll stick with the Bianchi speed strips.

 

[gwpercle]

I end up carrying them in my pocket...
I prefer the Bianchi Speed Strip's light and compact design ...
anything else is just bulkier .
Bianchi also makes a quality product ... They last !
Gary

 

[mckenney99]

I have used the Bianchi brand Speed Strips since 1980. Over that period I had sets that were easily 10+ years old and still pliable. Eventually those older sets hardened and cracked and I replaced them again with new Bianchi brand Speed Strips. Those newer Speed Strips however only lasted about 5 years before they hardened and cracked.

I ordered a couple sets of the TUFF brand Quickstrips and they are manufactured using a polymer that is already stiffer/harder than the Bianchi brand. Reportedly the Quickstrips have a much shorter life span than the Bianchi brand.

Tuff does offer a condura nylon Quickstrip/Speed Strip pouch that will hold 2x6 Speed Strips that wraps around your belt horizontally and is very low profile.
7907 QuickStrips Tactical Pouch - TUFF Products

 

[Brian Parrish]

Ayoob

I follow Ayoob on this. He says to load five rounds into a 6-round strip. He does this even for a six-round revolver. The idea is that there is more to grab onto than just that little tab.
I really have no idea whether this is right or wrong, better or worse. Sometimes you just go with what the teacher says because you cannot know otherwise.
I do like the idea of loading only two rounds when in an emergency.
BrianD

 

[smoothshooter]

Why limit yourself to speed strips that holds or 6 rounds.
There are examples that hold 8 or 10.
Just because your gun only holds 6 rounds doesn’t mean you have to carry 6 round strips and nothing more.

 

[geeollie]

The last active shooter training I attended included a fella with Model 65 snub. He was fast.....FAST with a speedloader. A Speed Strip of any brand is way better than fishing a round out of your pocket.....but still slow.

If you are empty and behind cover or even running, then a speed strip (I like Zeta) can be a very helpful tool......IF you have a little practice with it.

PS: as mentioned above....I have 2 decade old Bianchi that are still pliable.

 

[WardenRoss]

I'm fond of the Bianchi Speeds Strips when it's not practical to carry a speed loader. I load six rounds in the strip and it fits perfectly in the watch pocket of my Wranglers.

I can retrieve them quickly without having to look down. Works for me!

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Another one here for Bianchi. They don't last forever, but they last a long time, MUCH longer than TUFF. Just took my .44 revolvers out for a little range time a few days ago, and saw pieces of TUFF in one of the boxes. Checked them all out, and chucked them all out.

Zeta is still too new to know about longevity. I have not yet checked them out for function.

I do not find it an advantage to remove a cartridge from six-shot strips. I don't even care whether the tab is still around.

 

[chief38]

NO MATTER which reload method one uses, it is so important to practice regularly - otherwise fumbles, slow reloads and dropped bullets will be the result!

 

[Baxter6551]

I concur on carrying speedloaders off duty. Bulky. But I carry some in center console. I like the Tuff brand 5 shot in Orange so I can easily spot the reloads for my 36. I’ve had the Bianchi 6 shot for years and they have held up very well. Nothing wrong with carrying a 6 shot for a 5 shot gun - gives you an extra round in case of a fumble. I had some older black 6 shot Tuff Products strips degrade and totally fall apart. They had been been bouncing around in car console and glove compartment for some years. I called and they said they had a new formula. They asked for the old ones back. I sent back the pieces. They sent me new ones and some extra ones in several calibers at no charge. The new ones seem more flexible and are holding up well. Thumbs up to their customer service.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Been using speed strips since '73. 6 in a strip with K frame, 5 loaded 2-3 for J frame qualification. Even when on the club range (no holsters) I do my reloads with the strips to keep in practice. My old, arthritic hands and fingers can still reload in the dark.
Partial reloads with proper indexing is a skill set drilled into me way back when and I haven't forgotten to practice that either.

Use it, or lose it.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Bianchi Speed Strips are made of a neoprene type rubber that will degrade somewhat over time and use. Loss of the tab or tearing around the cartridge head recesses is normal wear and tear.

I think I first started using Speed Strips about 1976, carried them in leather pouches on my duty belt and also carried them working plain clothes (belt pouch or jacket pocket). Probably had to replace them every few years as they started to exhibit wear.

Still using Speed Strips now, nearly 50 years later. Four of them in my little fanny pack bag I stash under the truck seat for road trips along with other handy items.

Nothing is perfect, but Speed Strips are reliable and much better than trying to fumble loose rounds while reloading a revolver under stressful conditions.