Speedloaders

[Claymore33]

I owned a 38spl/357 speedloader 30 years ago. It worked well.
I started shooting Model 29s again and researched speedloaders for .44. Every site said Safariland was best. I order 2 of them. They are more trouble than they are worth. 2 minutes to get bullets locked in and will not release. Anyone out there have better experience or recommendation. I called safariland and they readily agreed to send replacements.

Claymore

 

[NY-1]

I've had nothing but good experiences with Safarilands's Comp II speedloaders in 38/357. The only three things I can think of are that your set happened to be defective, you might be trying to load/unload them improperly, or there's some difference between the 38/357 models and the 44 models aside from dimensions. I don't believe the third point is the case.

When loading, place the rounds in the speedloader and hold the loader so that they're facing upwards. Hold the body of the loader and the rounds cupped from the side in one hand, and use the other hand to push up on the knob and turn it until it clicks while still pushing upward on it.

To unload it into a cylinder, just push the speedloader body downward toward the cylinder until the rounds release. If you're trying to unload the speedloader without putting the rounds into a gun, use a pen or rigid rod to push the center section until it clicks and the rounds release.

This video demonstrates the procedures. See 0:44 for unloading rounds into a cylinder, and 1:35 for loading the speedloader. Granted, the method he uses of placing it facedown on the table to load it is different than what I described above, but it seems to work fine.



[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aUG7-UUjnw&t=0m44s[/ame]

 

[Rushing1]

I was looking for 44 mag speedloader for my new 29 a couple of weeks ago. I must have read the same article you did.

I decided to cover all bases so I ordered the Safariland Comp 1 ( fits in pocket Best and is smallest; I really like it.

HKS that has a turn to release. Easy in and out.
speed Beez: really cool looking. Largest of all. But had to have cut out grips to fit fast( which I have)

The Safari are hardest to load : I push them up against a WALL and then turn till hear them click.

I bought a vintage Tex Shoemaker and the Safari comp 1 fit flush.
I am favoring the comp 1 as it slips right in, then a downward push and it drops bullets in and drops free on its own.

I can throw 3 of them in my pocket and they take up little room.

 

[Oracle]

I bought HKS speed loaders for my model 29 and 629 they work great, no complaints. I got talked into buying a Safariland, not my cup of tea, I gave it to a friend and he passed it along as well. The Speed Beez work great but their size is an issue. I tried some Five Star speed loaders, they are great, I bought more and a range block as well. I use the Five Star speed loaders and blocks for competition and the HKS speed loaders are for my in the mountains gun.

A link for Five Star: Speed Loading Accessories

 

[biku324]

Add me to the HKS fan list. Simple, durable, reliable, fast.

 

[Claymore33]

NY-1 answer

My safariland Comp 1 loaders do not look like the ones in the video at all

Claymore

 

[NY-1]

My safariland Comp 1 loaders do not look like the ones in the video at all

Claymore

The Comp I loaders are a little different than the Comp II's (in the previous video), but they fundamentally operate in the same fashion.

Start at 2:10 in the video below for a demonstration on how to release and load Safariland's Comp I loaders.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQitV9CvvEg&t=2m10s[/ame]

 

[Claymore33]

SPEEDLOADERS

That film is big help. I think HKS is best for me. I am using pouch on belt.
Thank You

Claymore33

 

[Liftrat]

I started shooting Steel Challenge this summer with a 686, and tried both the HKS & Safariland Comp IIs. For me the Safariland, with a bit of practice, was the fastest and easiest. A little more trouble to load, but no twisting to unload, just push in and drop it. I'm not sure how that translates to the .44, but can only imagine that it's not too different. Once I got the hang of it, loading them is fairly easy, too. For competition or self defense, the speed makes a difference.

 

[robertrwalsh]

One more vote for HKS. Use them for years. Like them. Simple, reliable, acceptably fast.

 

[Old cop]

Another vote for HKS here. They’re readily available, reasonably priced and pretty effective. I own several for my J & K frames and like to practice @ the range w/them.

 

[kozmic]

Yep, I concur. All of my speed loaders are HKS and work great. That said, I do not have one for my M29.

 

[SRG]

I have multiple Safariland Comp I's for J-Frame and Model 29 and Comp II and III for K-Frames. Safariland speed loaders are absolutely the best as far as speed of use goes.

HKS speed loaders are solid and reliable but are not as easy or as fast to use.

 

[Borderboss]

Another vote here for HKS. I use them for my 38/357 and 44 revolvers.

 

[xfarfuldog]

I started my police career using dump pouches. I purchased HKS speedloaders when I first saw them. They worked OK. I took an officer survival class which introduced the Safariland comp loaders to me. I have used Safariland ever since.

 

[Kid44]

Another vote here for HKS. I use them for my 38/357 and 44 revolvers.

Same here, all of mine are HKS.

 

[andy52]

I had never used the Safariland until recently it was always HKS.
I was shooting a 9 bowling pin match earlier this year and watched a young police officer using a 627, he took down all 9 with one reload as fast if not faster then the auto competitors without missing a single shot.
When we were done shooting I asked to see the rig he was using they were the comp II type. I bought some and they are harder to load up but much faster when loading the revolver.

 

[pharman]

HKS for me ...

HKS work great for me and at a very reasonable price...why spend more $ for the more expensive ones?

 

[Zak316]

HKS for my .44,.357's and .38's No complaints here

 

[jimmyj]

Wimp Way (Jimmy):
Hold loader upward
place cartridges in
with off hand place over the bullets and turn hands over where bullets are facing down
carefully place bullets on a hard surface (table/desk top. car fender)
push loader middle button down and turn to lock cartridges in.

P.S. now that my pants have sunk smaller hanging in the closet, I normally carry speed strips

 

[Old cop]

I started my police career using dump pouches. I purchased HKS speedloaders when I first saw them. They worked OK. I took an officer survival class which introduced the Safariland comp loaders to me. I have used Safariland ever since.

I used an early model of the speedloader in a 1974 gunfight w/armed robbery suspects and it got me back in the fight in an instant. Another cop was shot trying to reload from his dump pouch. Speedloaders were not issued equipment until later, I’d purchased these on my own.

 

[delcrossv]

For speed- Safariland.
HKS are somewhat slower. For twist knob, 5- Star is much better made than HKS

 

[66snub]

I never liked the HKS. Too wobbly, and they take a bit of fidgeting to make line up. Plus, a knob to turn just adds more steps. Safariland is the only way to fly. I have them for all my revolvers, including my model 629. 38, 357, 44 spl/mag. J, K, L, and N frames. They work flawlessly, and are easy to load. For my money, they are THE best. I practice with them often, and can peel very respectable reload times with them.

 

[IAhunter]

Safariland for me. Once you put the rounds in, press the bullets against the palm of your hand while pushing down and turning the knob with your other hand. You'll hear a click and they are locked in. Should take less than 10 seconds.

 

[Buzzzer]

I still have two HKS 44 speedloaders which work. The cartridges were never loose while in them but they are quite a bit older. I also have the double holder to put them in (boy is that a big block of hard leather!).

For CC, to me, they're too big/bulky to lug around, unless I plan on wearing my old duty belt, not! I went to speed strips. A hunting firearm would be a different story...

 

[Muss Muggins]

I use the HKS. I've seen the Safariland do one of two things more than once on the range.

a: Fail to release because of debris under the star . . .

2: Fly apart like an Indy car, sometimes as the reload is completed, sometimes while it's in progress . . .

 

[elpac3]

I started my police career using dump pouches. I purchased HKS speedloaders when I first saw them. They worked OK. I took an officer survival class which introduced the Safariland comp loaders to me. I have used Safariland ever since.

Ditto that. The issue we had with the HKS loaders were officers would grab the speedloader by the knob when removing them from the pouch and often times wound up twisting the knob as they were removed, dumping the rounds onto the ground. Never had that issue with the Safariland's. Safariland also held the rounds tighter with less wiggle which facilitated loading.

Still using Safariland loaders in competition.

If you are doing casual reloading - as in hunting, then HKS might be your ticket. Critical reloads - I would go with Safariland.

 

[BAM-BAM]

When I was shooting PPC in the 80s I started with HKS..... but carried in a Bianchi double leather open top "pouch" that retained the speedloaders with friction. When you grabbed the knob on the HKS speedloader it "wasn't hard" to twist the knob; leaving you holding a empty speedloader and leaving the reload loose in the pouch.

I switched to Safariland Comp IIs (and Comp I's for J-frames)

 

[Buford57]

I was mandated to carry what are now called "Comp 1" N-Frame Safarilands in the 80s. After buying several I found 2 that would work...mostly...in the right phase of the moon. In one case while qualifying the thing seized up and would not until release the rounds until thrown to the ground and smashed with a boot heel (remember - I'm staking my life on this junk). I did qualify - that's a revolver malfunction drill. Once I found the ones that usually worked I kept them in my pouches and used them for qualification. I carried HKS in my pocket in case I actually needed a reload. Maybe I was just unlucky and kept getting Friday production, but I never trusted them after that. I had 2 K-frame models for my wife's 67 that worked fine.

 

[Goldstar225]

I started using speedloaders in the mid 80's when I started as a resrve officer in civilian law enforcement. Tried both HKS and Safariland and preferred the Safariland. One of the more senior officers criticized the Safariland as being too fragile. I really hadn't considered that so I popped one out of my pouch and chunked it down the 40' hallway hitting the floor then bouncing off the metal door at the end. No rounds came out and the speedloader was undamaged. He had nothing more to say and my question was answered. Never had a failure with them. HKS are good too, Safariland is just my preference.