[DDGator]

I though about this because of a picture I saw on another thread.

When I first started carrying Bianchi speed strips with my Taurus 85 (and now with my S&W 442), I used to load 5 rounds even though the strip would carry six -- because the gun only takes 5 rounds.

Then I one day I realized that seemed like a waste -- why not carry 6? Then I saw other people carry 5 too...

Why? Does anyone have a reason to do that? Educate me -- it makes me think I am missing something.

[WebHobbit]

I use 5 for my 5 shooters for two reasons:

1) The gun holds 5 rounds - DUH!

;)

2) The strip is faster to load from with only five rounds. Try it & you'll agree.

[Erich]

That always struck me as odd. I always carried 6 on a speed strip, even when packing a 5-shot revo. I'd sure feel dumb if I needed that last round and didn't bother to bring it . . . not that I've ever needed the rounds out of a speed strip.

Hey, it's a free country, though. :)

[Okiecruffler]

I cut the end off of my strips so they only hold five. After some practicing I found I can load faster if I only have five, that 6th shell has no place to go and gets in the way. Still I carry the strip more as a shell organizer, so their all in one place. Never have gotten very quick at using one to reload.

[Dave Markowitz]

I carry mine loaded with 5, because doing so gives me a little more room to grab onto the thing under stress.

[Mike Irwin]

I normally put 6 in my speed strips because I'll pack them along when I'm carrying either a 5 shot OR a 6 shot.

[Bulldozer]

When toting a 5-shot J-frame, I load five. When toting a six-shot K-frame, I load six. Have not noticed an appreciable difference between reloading five in a fiver and six in a sixer.

As an aside, my wife absolutely HATES them and asked me why I bothered to even buy such a P.O.S. A practical demo of speedloader versus speedstrip in summer weight shorts pointed out exactly why.

[Erich]

"Is that a speedloader in your pocket, or . . ." :D

Yeah, no reload is quite as easy to handle as a single-column semiauto magazine.

[Vern]

It only happened once on the range, but I dumped one of the rounds during a reload. Since then I just figured if it happened again, I would still have that 5th round.

[9mmepiphany]

i carry with just 5 on the strip for my 642...it just gives me more of the strip to hang onto when pulling it out of my pocket

[JCM298]

I always carry them with 6. If I mess up and drop a round, I have the extra as a spare. In addition, my Colt Magnum Carry has 6 chambers so I can use them for it,
John

[ktd]

I say personal pref. My little racoon paws are pretty dextrous, and an extra round may come in handy. But then if you are carrying a snub one is probably not overly concerned about capacity.

I used to use the speed strips to carry an extra two reloads on duty. Back than I had so much crap on my belt that my radio went into my back pocket. I had a bi-fold wallet lying around, and the speed strips went into the credit card pouches perfectly. That way I had four reloads for my 19. Also I think there was some rule about only having two reloads so this allowed me to conceal the extras.