[natedog]

I ordered two from CTD. Took them out, and tried them out. First off, they felt and looked liked a quality piece of equipment. Cartridges load easily into the speedloader, and loading my revolver (Colt Officer's Model) is very fast. Open the cylinder, eject shells, insert speedloader, twist knob, close cylinder, rinse, repeat. They are much easier to load than a magazine, and I can reload my revolver almost as fast as an autoloader! Cool! Overall, the HKS speedloaders get *****.

[9mmepiphany]

if you think the HKS ones are fast, you should try the safariland speedloaders. same routine except you don't have to "twist" to release the shells.

[10-Ring]

So the Safariland speedloaders are faster? Cool, I think I needs me some :D

[Arub]

The SafariLand loaders are 'cammed'. When the center post hits the star wheel on the cylinder, the locking mechanism rotates and releases the cartridges. One of their models (can't remember the model number) is spring loaded and when the center post hits the star wheel, the locking mechanism rotates, releases the cartridges and 'shoots' them into the cylinder (spring loaded). They are terrific!

[Bulldozer]

I've used the HKS, Safariland, and Maxfire speedloaders in 5, 6, and 7-shot variations. Here's my two cents.

Maxfire -- cheap price, plastic rings with staggered height bullets that you load and twist into place. I did not like them at all. The twisting motion might stress the crane as well.

HKS -- solid and well-made, twist knob slows down the reload, but makes it very secure so that if you fumble the recharge, at least the loader remains intact.

Safariland -- Comp I (stub push), Comp II (larger rear stub), Comp III (springloaded, big suckers). I liked these the best. They are just push into slots and drop. A central cam presses against the cylinder star and releases the shells. Fast as all get-out!!

Speedstrips -- load 5 or 6 shells in a black rubber-plastic strip that you stick into 2 chambers of the cylinder at a time. Not especially quick, but better than fiddling with dump pouches or loose shells. Biggest upside is that they are FLAT and do not bulge at all, even in tennis shorts.

[ACP]

I use HKS at home and Bianchi Speed Strips "on the road." :)

[9x19]

They are much easier to load than a magazine, and I can reload my revolver almost as fast as an autoloader!

Its not just the speed... but also the frequency...

I use HKS speedloaders for my revo's too, but when comparing them against the 17+2 round mag (whihc will acutally hold 20 rounds) in my Glock 34, I'll have to reload the revo' (SP-101) three times.... just to keep up! :D

[Blueduck]

I've always used HKS mainly because of availability. Work great when new, but after they get a bit of use on them the cartridges are not held as firmly and the "wiggle" seems to slow my reloads..

Only tried one Safari and it was good, but do they tend to loosen up after awhile as well:confused:

[Clemson]

For "Tactical" use, go with the HKS speedloaders. The Safariland will dump the cartridges if you drop them. the HKS will retain theirs even if you throw them. For speed games the Safariland loaders come into their own. That's what they are good at. For life or death, real-world reloads, I'll stick with HKS.

My $.02 only.........

Clemson

[Bulldozer]

I just tried out an experiment with the four Safariland Comp Is I have. I dropped them as follows, from waist level:

1.) carpet == all four retained their cartridges.
2.) linoleum floor == all four retained their cartridges
3.) backyard grass == all four retained their cartridges.
4.) driveway == all four retained their cartridges.

The only way for the Comp I to disengage the cartidges is for the central raised plastic spur-star (which engages the cylinder star) to be depressed. It seems a bit hard to do so given that six cartridges are ringed around this area.

Your mielage may vary. Just reporting my results.

[Dave T]

I can't explain this but with N-Frame revolvers the Safarilands sometimes hang up. The center release will not trip until you push and push several times. I used to shoot a Model 24 in competition but the reloads were sometimes so slow I gave up and got a Model 25 (full moon clips are the fastest reload possible).

[9mmepiphany]

i've used both the safariland comp I and II as part of my duty rig back when we carried wheel guns and never had a cartridge pop loose.

they also held the shells more rigidly then than the HKS...i was worried they might be too rigid, you need a little "play" to align the rounds.

part of the speed of the safariland speedloaders is that you release the knob (if you even use it to grasp, i grip the body itself) as soon as you align the bullets with the chambers. you shove the bullets home with the palm of your loading hand. there is no tendency to "hold on" too long.

when the shells release, you start reestablishing your shooting grip, the speedloader body is swept away as you close the cylinder.

[RussB]

I have those "long" Safariland speedloaders, they work great. The short (Safariland) ones are what I use when I carry a revolver...

The HKS units suck for competition, IMHO

How about those expensive, adjustable ones that Dillon used to sell? ($20+ each) A few of my buddies have them, they are the BEST, but I think they're discontinued

[Tamara]

Wait'll you try moonclips. ;)

I have four revolvers set up to use moons: two 625's, a 610 and a 627. I think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[9mmepiphany]

moon clips are definately the fastest reload for a wheelgun if you're shooting pistol ammo...they are faster than the old DADE speedloaders that used to rule PPC

[Grant C.]

For "Tactical" use, go with the HKS speedloaders. The Safariland will dump the cartridges if you drop them. the HKS will retain theirs even if you throw them. For speed games the Safariland loaders come into their own. That's what they are good at. For life or death, real-world reloads, I'll stick with HKS.
I've heard this many, many times over the years. Each time, I've taken a loaded Safariland and thrown it on the floor or against a wall. Never, in the HUNDREDS of times I've done this, using both new and well-used loaders, has so much as a single round come loose.

I've dropped them countless times on cement and gravel range floors, and never had one that released. I've seen lots and lots of competitors do the same thing - never have a witnessed a failure.

In fact, I've just thrown 2 different models - a Comp I for a Ruger SP-101 and a Comp II for the K-frame - against my filing cabinet and the floor, 5 times each. Neither released a single round.

Not to cast aspersions on the writer's veracity, but I think this one of shooting's many urban legends.

[LWCmdr45]

Allow me to get involved in the the HKS vs. Safariland debate. I've owned and used both since they first came out. I've never had a single problem with any of the HKS loaders, but I've had two Safariland Comp I loaders (one J-frame and one N-frame) fail. Both involved internal failures that I don't believe had anything to do with being dropped, but there you go. It doesn't keep me from carrying them still, but the Safarilands are not as rugged as the HKS, IMO.

Steve

[Dave T]

LWCmdr45,

Looking at the way the two work, the Safariland is much more complicated (mechanically), which I believe explains the failure you describe and the problems I've had with the N-Frame versions. The HKS is much simpler.

Another point that hasn't been mentioned is that the Safariland works using either right hand or left hand to reload. The HKS requires the cylinder be held still, which works best reloading with the right hand and holding the gun/cylinder in the left. In my experience the HKS is more positive but the Safariland is faster (as long as they release). YMMV.

[WonderNine]

For "Tactical" use, go with the HKS speedloaders. The Safariland will dump the cartridges if you drop them.

Um no......:rolleyes:

[Blueduck]

Can we please not turn this place into Glock Talk II?

[WonderNine]

Sorry, it's rubbing off on me. :uhoh:

:)

[Blueduck]

Me too Wondernine (and my post may have sounded like it) apologies to you.

Wonder how many flame wars would be stopped by banning that dang little :rolleyes: icon.

Back to speedloaders sorry...:o

[Bulldozer]

I'm working on a new idea for speedloaders. It works like a Bianchi speedstrip, but puts the rubber in a round shape like HKS and Safariland types. I've got two prototypes cut out for trial this weekend. Basically it works like a speedstrip but you load all six cartridges at once. Drop it in and peel it off.

[Dave T]

Bulldozer,

What you're describing sounds like the "Maxfire Speedloaders" as seen on page 52 of the July "Blue Press". Brownells also sells them. The reports I've heard on these isn't to favorable.

[Guy B. Meredith]

I agree with Tamara (always hard to debate her experience) and Dave T. Moonclips, particularly for competition, are the flat out fastest. There are even CCW carriers that might make them a better candidate for carry than some feel they have been.

I have totally given up on MKS. Invariably they end up hanging on to at least one round and pulling it away from the cylinder. For a quick reload you should be able to drop the rounds, release the speedloader and let the action of the cylinder closing sweep the speedloader away. Can't do that when it is hanging on to the round.

I do use the Safariland Comp III with my M66 as IDPA does not allow moonclips on revolvers unless they come set up like the 625. I carry Safariland speedloaders in the spring portion of moonclip carriers with the center post removed. I have had one or two unload in the carrier, but I am pretty sure that came from careless loading--not going for that final click of the lock.

[Vern]

I like the barely mentioned step child - the SL Variant. At least for my 7 shots and my 5 shot, they work well. I've had the 7 shot HKS speedloaders hold on to rounds due to the thin wall between rounds cracking and putting pressure on the casing so it won't release.

Does Safariland make any for a 7 shot? I haven't looked in a bit.

[VaughnT]

Who makes that moonclip that's about .125"+ thick and requires the cylinder face to be bored out? I saw them somewhere and was thinking about having that done to a revolver should I ever get one that I really want to tinker with.

I use the SL comp II (?) at work and haven't had any problems with them failing. I'll have to give them the drop/throw test to see how they do.

The HKS is the better speedloader simply because it is more readily available. I've never seen the SL loaders in a store, but HKS is in everything from hardware stores to wallyworld. The few that I have have never failed, though I don't like the twist-knob feature.

[Blueduck]

Might be thinking of this one from Clarks Custom guns:http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/moonclip.htm

[4v50 Gary]

Moonclips are the fastest. Generally though I have HKS & Safariiland speedloaders. HKS is easier to load but Safarii-land is faster to deploy. Heck, we're not even talking seconds in time and the important thing to practice is loading while keeping your eyes on the target (aggressor).

[EJ]

Bulldozer

The round "speed strip" type were the first Safariland loaders --made in the mid seventies--
I'm sure a lot of the older PPC shooters remember them--

[Crimper-D]

I don't care who makes the thing, _any_ speedloader is better than doing the job barehanded.:banghead:
OBTW: Got a S&W 2nd Model Mark II - originally a .455 with Canadian proofs, rechamberd sometime later for the .45 Long Colt.
Pre WWI finish and action and chcked walnut grips. Accurate and as smooth as only the old S&W's can be, but _Way_ slow to load:(

[Tamara]

I could swear that HKS makes (made?) an N-frame .45 Colt speedloader. I'm pretty sure my former roomie had a couple for his Mountain Gun.

[Blueduck]

Very foggy on this so don't quote me till you try it...

I seem to recal reading something long ago about HKS 44 Magnum speedloaders also working with 45 colt rounds.

[Tamara]

Hang on, I'll check...




Well, I'll be... Danged if they don't! The The HKS #29 speedloaders I have work just fine with .45 Colt. Huh. Learn somethin' new every day.

[Mal H]

Wellahbedurned!

I tried it also and it worked like a champ. Only problem is I had to pick up the rounds that fell on the ground and reload the speedloader 5 additional times, but I finally got my Vaquero loaded with it.

:D

[9mmepiphany]

blueduck - your rubber speedloader idea has already been done and has run it's course...it is out of production.

i believe they were still around when i bought my first speedloaders in the early 80's and a seem to remeber them being called the "second-six". the body tapper away from the rims so they had a "cone" shape. they didn't drop many rounds...more than the HKS, less than the DADE. but they would not always release all the rounds in a reload, you'd end up "peeling" a couple of rounds off

[Blueduck]

blueduck - your rubber speedloader idea....

Think that was Bulldozer. I don't have ideas anymore, they just cost money and make things more confusing ;)

[9mmepiphany]

sorry duck, you're right it was dozer

[Bulldozer]

Well, after some testing they came out no better than either HKS or Safariland. Fell between a Speedstrip and a Speedloader. Got the bulk of the loader and not all of the speed associated with it. FEGH!!!
Only upside was that none of the rounds dropped free unintentionally. Teach me to get what I thought was a decent idea.

[VaughnT]

Anyone know of a way to strengthen the ball-bearing detent on the HKS loaders? It seems like there's a 2.5lb spring under there and I always thought it would be a better unit if they needed something along the lines of 5-7lb to break retention. Stiffer resistance would, I think, be better for retention, overall, and especially in combat situations. Thoughts?

[WonderNine]

I just plain don't like having to hold the cylinder to keep it from turning when I reload like you do with the HKS's. Call me nutty. I haven't tried out the Safarilands yet, but I have a feeling I'll like them real well. I like the Dade speedloaders I have right now.

I sold all of my HKS.

[Bulldozer]

WonderNine, if you like Dade loaders, you are gonna love the Safrailands! I sold each and every HKS I owned and switched. The only time I use anything other than Safariland is Bianchi Speed Strips for very skimpy summer clothing.

[Guy B. Meredith]

The SL Variants are very similar to the SafariLand, but the price when I looked them after getting frustrated with the HKS was about $28 each. That made the $80 moonclip conversion and $2.00 to $3.00 cost of moonclips very attractive.

The cylinder from my M66 will be making its way to Clark Custom for moonclip conversion in the very near future.

By the way, moonclips have been around for quite a while in different formats and are not the choice of all top revolver competitors. Just ask Jerry, Vic, Jason or Rudi.