what to use for fast reload...

[m657]

....on such as the snubbie N frames one might see around the back woods?

Non-moon clip style cylinders; do those 'speed strips' work very well?

Haven't been able to get very comfortable using the old speed loads of any persuasion either.

somethings gotta be better than a loose handful of cartridges...

 

[P&R Fan]

Yes, Speed Strips work very well. It's not a blazing fast reload, but all the cartridges are there in one place and they can be loaded fairly quickly with practice. A 2x2x2 pouch is good too.

 

[borntoraisehogs]

I like my HKS Speedloaders . The best part is if you can use them with any degree of proficiency , it stops semi-auto know nothings cold .

When in doubt , I like to think "What would Bill Jordan Do" .

 

[Brian894x4]

Man, that's a beautiful rig!

I've found that once I learned the proper technique and practiced I can easily out reload an auto with plain 'ol normal speed loaders like HKS or Safaris. Of course an auto usually comes with more rounds to start with, but if I was firing a 12 round course against an auto that had less than 12 rounds in the mag, I can reload my revolvers faster than I can reload my autos and get 12 rounds off much faster and I've been trained and drilled on reloading autos for almost 20 years, whereas I've only trained and drilled reloading revolvers over the last year.

I think the problem with speed loaders is that a lot of people tend to use them wrong. The natural tendency is to hold the gun with your strong hand and try to fish the speed loaders in with your weak hand. And as law enforcement has all but stopped using or training with revolvers, the techniques are getting lost and forgotten.

If you haven't tried this already, with a speedloader, from a firing position, bring the left hand up from the grip to the underside of the frame, holding the gun with the left hand and use the left hand fingers to push out the cylinder as you use the right hand thumb to unlatch the cylinder. Then, still holding on to the gun with your left hand, turn it with the barrel pointing up, smack the ejector rod with the right palm, then go for a speedloader with the right hand and insert the speedloader..then simotaniously drop the speed loader, close and cylinder with the left hand, while the right hand comes back up on the grip and go. With the strong right hand doing the speed loading, it will be much easier and more positive.

The one drawback to speedloading is that you can sometimes lose or drop rounds. Holding the gun barrel end down at an angle so gravity helps insert the rounds and keeps them in the cylinder as you pull the speed loader away, helps with this.

 

[bubbajoe45]

It's not that hard to master speedloaders - just takes some pratice. I consider Speed Strips only for an 'after-action' reload; they will never be anywhere near as fast as a speedloader. Don't get me wrong - I have them and carry them, but only for a full or partial reload if I was to shoot something (or to carry some shotshell loads). It sounds like you tried both the HKSs and the Safarilands? I find the Safarilands to be faster, and they conceal great in Safariland's split-six pouch (on top of the belt). At the end of the day, you've just got to practice to be confident with them - when you go to the range, use 'em like your life may depend on it (cause it may). They definitely are ALOT BETTER than a handful of loose cartridges!

 

[leas327]

The fastest speed load for me is a Safariland comp-2 with trunicated cone or round nose bullets. Semi-wad cutters can have a habit of hanging up on the lip and falling out on the ground. The comp-2's give you a little more to grab and hang onto plus you just push them down to release the bullets. Watch some videos of guys that shoot ssr in IDPA they are quick. I try to copy what they do. I am not as fast they are but I am definatly faster then using single loading,speed strips, or hks speedloaders.
Also those round rubber speed loaders only work if your idea of a speed load is dumping most of the bullets on the ground and using profanity to scare stuff away.

 

[photoman]

S.L. Variant speed loaders work great. A bit expensive but I like them. It's not as easy to find a good N frame speed loader as it is for the J's and K's.

Products

 

[Indycar]

SKS speedloaders and cast round nose flat points (RNFP) are what I use for reloads in bowling pin matches. The RNFP's are faster in reloading than round nose cast lead bullets.

 

[hogblue]

The fastest reload is a second gun. Not having that, the next best reload for your N frame is a Safariland comp 2 for 38/357 or a comp 1 for 44 spec/mag. Safariland does not mfg a comp 2 for 44 spec/mag.

 

[Nightowl]

The fastest reload is a second gun. Not having that, the next best reload for your N frame is a Safariland comp 2 for 38/357 or a comp 1 for 44 spec/mag. Safariland does not mfg a comp 2 for 44 spec/mag.

I did not know they made a comp ll for an N frame 27. I have never seen one and have only found the comp l. Safariland has not catalogued a 6 shot speedloader for a model 27 for awhile. I have bought several over the last couple of years whenever I find them.

 

[thebreaze]

I've used Safariland for 25 years and never lost a round, can't say that about the HKS.

 

[Grog]

When I carried my 66-4 on duty in the last 90s, I used the HKS speedloaders as well as a few Speed Strips in a Uncle Mikes pager case. I know have those plus some Comp I & IIs in a box ready to go.


Sadly, I find 17/33rd Glock mags as more practical for home defense (and the boss sorta insists on the Glock 22 at work).

 

[wlewisiii]

I like my HKS Speedloaders . The best part is if you can use them with any degree of proficiency , it stops semi-auto know nothings cold .

When in doubt , I like to think "What would Bill Jordan Do" .

THAT is one insanely beautiful rig. I'd love to be able to afford leather like that for my 64-5.

Thank you for that photo.

William

 

[Stainz]

When my range friends gave me grief over converting to all revolvers, I took this photo:

Their rationale was concerning the capacity of their bottom feeders being greater than my 625JM. None of them could keep up with the 105 loaded 'clips in each of two .223 metal ammo cans - and then there are the two Gladware containers with 15 moonclips each. That's 240 loaded moonclips - all 230gr FMJ 'ball' ammo - 1,440 rounds before reloading amoonclip. Even the 105 clips in the picture, 630 rounds, would need ninety 7 rd 1911 magazines to equal. .45 ACP ball ammo in moonclips loads into my 625JM as if it were on a tractor beam!

Not all moonclips are the same. To wit, my 8-shot .357 Magnums moonclipped for my 627s are handy, and anything but fast. An HKS #587 is fast to reload my 686+ with, by comparison, as is the #10 with 10s, 64s, and 66s and anything but full wadcutters. They are a great marriage, as is a #25-5 with .45 Colts and a 625MG, and a #29 with a 29/629. Bullets line up before being dropped into their chambers. That #29 and a load of .44 Russians won't line up manually - it takes visual assistance, as do .45 Auto Rims from a #25 loading that 625JM. Not all of them are a perfect match for speed - but they offer a reasonable 'backup' during duress. When someone was beating on my side door in the basement late one night, I had a 64 in my right hand and a Surefire E2DL and HKS #10 reload in my left when I got out of bed to respond. You bet I can reload it in the dark.

Stainz

 

[H Richard]

A lot of the reloading speed is the bullet used. A round nose bullet with smooth sides will slip into the chambers much easier than anything else. SWC's will hang up on the square edge, and WC's are nearly impossible. Practice is the way, and personal preference after using different kinds will dictate which is faster for you. Since speed-loaders aren't too expensive, buy one of each, and practice with each kind. Select which one works best for you and sell the others.

 

[blueknight7]

When I started in law enforcement, in 1973, for uniform, all we were allowed to carry was revolvers. I started with loops, then dump pouches, and was one of the first to carry speedloaders. They were the old Hunt Manufacturing, rubber ones. They worked, and were amazingly faster than the pouches or loops. But, they were nothing more than a speedstrip, made into a circle.
HKS N frame speedloaders work quite well. I carry one HKS when I am packing my 329PD, for predator control. The HKS doesn't fit the 329PD real well, but, it is faster than individually loading each hole. Then I carry an extra 6 or 12 in an MTM case gard, ammo wallet.

 

[Black Knight]

I have used Bianchi Speedstrips, HKS and Safariland speedloaders. All three are top notch. If you are concerned with concealment go with the speedstrips. If you are concerned with speed, use either of the speedloaders. I prefer the HKS speedloaders but have used the Safariland ones with equal effect. Both speedloaders are high quality.

 

[tvchance]

Carrying a couple of speed strips in your pocket is certainly easier than carrying a couple of HKS speed loaders in your pocket. Hope this helps.

 

[tazcollins]

Thank you!

Man, that's a beautiful rig!

I've found that once I learned the proper technique and practiced I can easily out reload an auto with plain 'ol normal speed loaders like HKS or Safaris. Of course an auto usually comes with more rounds to start with, but if I was firing a 12 round course against an auto that had less than 12 rounds in the mag, I can reload my revolvers faster than I can reload my autos and get 12 rounds off much faster and I've been trained and drilled on reloading autos for almost 20 years, whereas I've only trained and drilled reloading revolvers over the last year.

I think the problem with speed loaders is that a lot of people tend to use them wrong. The natural tendency is to hold the gun with your strong hand and try to fish the speed loaders in with your weak hand. And as law enforcement has all but stopped using or training with revolvers, the techniques are getting lost and forgotten.

If you haven't tried this already, with a speedloader, from a firing position, bring the left hand up from the grip to the underside of the frame, holding the gun with the left hand and use the left hand fingers to push out the cylinder as you use the right hand thumb to unlatch the cylinder. Then, still holding on to the gun with your left hand, turn it with the barrel pointing up, smack the ejector rod with the right palm, then go for a speedloader with the right hand and insert the speedloader..then simotaniously drop the speed loader, close and cylinder with the left hand, while the right hand comes back up on the grip and go. With the strong right hand doing the speed loading, it will be much easier and more positive.

The one drawback to speedloading is that you can sometimes lose or drop rounds. Holding the gun barrel end down at an angle so gravity helps insert the rounds and keeps them in the cylinder as you pull the speed loader away, helps with this.

Someone finally reloads like me. I reload exactly like this way since 1973 with loose rounds, speed strips, speedlaoders, etc. It is much eaiser and you have more control of the revolver. I also use my left thumb to punch the ejector rod with if I'm not in a hurry. Holding the revolver in the right hand an reloading with the left is just too difficult. Tc

 

[32sgteot]

I concur w/GROG fastest reload GLOCK any flavor, I do love the feel of a wheelgun though, just more of a relic to me.