How do You Carry a Revolver Reload?

[oldbear]

I don't always carry a reload, but when I do I use a 2X2X2 pouch from Lobo Leather, these pouches hold a speed strip perfectly. Good looks and utility rolled into one package.

 

[David E]

When I carry a reload, it's a speed strip. But the way I handle them, they're definitely slow strips.

Ayoob shows the best speed strip technique I've seen on YouTube.

The only thing is, once you insert the last cartridge(s), peel the strip off from the front.

First two cartridge insertions, peel off from the rear.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Ayoob....

I like Massad Ayoob's scalpel method.
I'm not fond of only loading the 5 rounds instead of 6 for a revolver but the 5 shot Tuff Products Quick Strip in safety orange makes it a non issue.
Youtuber & tactics trainer James Yeager(who advises not to use DA revolvers as main sidearms) said in one clip, he was trained a police method of reloading 2 rounds at a time in a critical incident, that way you were not left with a empty gun.
It's a smart technique but takes some effort to get down.
A "NY reload" or 2nd gun would be faster.

 

[bannockburn]

I use either HKS speedloaders or Bianchi Speed Strips, usually one each in my right and left pockets.

 

[herkyguy]

Speed strip works for me. I can load two rounds at a time from mine. Not the fastest, but I tried a speed loader and it is too bulky to wear in a pocket of my jeans.

 

[David E]

I like Massad Ayoob's scalpel method.

Exactly the one I was referencing.

I'm not fond of only loading the 5 rounds instead of 6 for a revolver but the 5 shot Tuff Products Quick Strip in safety orange makes it a non issue.

No, what makes it a non-issue is how well you can hold the loader with six in it. If you're having trouble and need a bit more strip to hang on to, get a 7-rd Quickstrip and leave the last cell empty.

Ayoob's whole point is, you need more strip to hang on to. Going to a 5-shot strip that's fully loaded doesn't give you extra length to hold.

You-tuber & tactics trainer James Yeager(who advises not to use DA revolvers as main sidearms) said in one clip, he was trained a police method of reloading 2 rounds at a time in a critical incident, that way you were not left with a empty gun.

It's a smart technique but takes some effort to get down.

That particular video is very poorly done. He uses plastic dummy rounds instead of actual fired cases. When you partially extract the rounds and release the ejector rod, the spent casings stay up and don't go back into the chambers like the loaded rounds do. It's easy to locate and pluck out the empties. His plastic dummies don't stay up either, so he has to explain what happens instead of showing what happens.

While it's a useful thing to know, I don't think there's much real world application of the technique.

A "NY reload" or 2nd gun would be faster.

Yup!

 

[InkEd]

If I carry a reload for a ccw revolver it's a 6rd speed strip for my (5rd) 442.
Carry 6 spares because it feels no different in my pocket than the 5 rd speed strips and never hurts to have one round of ammo.

 

[the Black Spot]

Pouch on the belt, holds five 44 special.

 

[marv]

HKS speedloader in my LF pocket for my 642 or LCR. Along with nitrotabs, nail clippers, and a handful of change. Never lost a round out of the loader yet.

 

[TRX]

I often carry a revolver, but I don't carry extra ammunition. If I needed to, I'd probably wind up with a dump pouch or speed strips instead of speed loaders for ease of concealment.

If I was open carrying, I'd probably put a pair of speed loaders in a belt pouch.

 

[fastbolt]

I carry either speedloaders or strips, depending on dress. I carry them in the same manner as I've done for over 30 years.

I still use both Safariland & HKS speedloaders, and apparently I've spent enough years using them, because my fingers recognize whichever they're holding and operate them accordingly. Must be a time-in-service/use & pattern recognition thing.

I used to carry 6-rds in my speedstrips, but some time ago - (when I stopped commonly carrying my 6-shot revolvers) - I went over to carrying only 5-rds in the ones used with my 5-shot snubs. I decided I'd rather have the increased grasp & manipulation versus dropping 1 live round on the ground after a full (re)load.

If I were to frequently carry one of my 6-shot revolvers again, I'd probably default to pocketing a couple of my 6-rd speedloaders, anyway. Full-size revolvers and speedloaders were heavily ingrained over the years of carrying an issued one on-duty. I only used the issued dump pouches for a while for holding extra speedstrips to back up my speedloaders. Speedstrips were a compromise for the bigger guns, carried off-duty, when I couldn't pocket the loaders.

I've tried various types of 'soft clothes' speedloader, speedstrip and loose ammo carriers over the years, always looking for something that would suit me better, but never really found anything that suited me all the time, for all my different manner of dress. If I couldn't hang it on the front/off-side of my belt buckle (like my uniform pouch was positioned), it was giving up some speed & ease-of-access for off-duty convenience, anyway.

FWIW, when I run my guns through the range drills & quals, I keep my ammo (in whatever loaders are being used, or simply as dumped loose rounds) in the same pockets in which I commonly carry my loaders or strips. Might as well keep the ingrained muscle memory exercised.

 

[tomrkba]

Those of you that carry a revolver for CCW, how many of you carry a reload?

Those that do carry a reload, how, exactly, do you carry it? Loose rounds? Speed Strips or speedloader? One full reload or more?

Where do you carry it? Pocket or belt?

Now, here's a question that requires a bit of reflection....how would you LIKE to carry it?

For example, if there was an easy way to carry a reload discreetly on the belt, would that be of interest?

I carry at least one Safariland Comp I or II speed loader in a Safariland #371 holder on the belt. I place one in front of the gun and at least one in the appendix position on the other side. I can usually manage three full reloads in loaders. A leather pocket carrier holds a single eight round speed strip, but I generally don't bother with it.

I like to carry the first reload on the belt in front of the gun. The other reloads can be any mix of #371's and speed strips. I don't put loaders into pockets since they bounce around. The presentation is not consistent and the bullet tips get damaged.

 

[Onward Allusion]

2X Speedstrips. I prefer my P3AT as a "reload".

 

[tuna]

Speed strip in my pants pocket.
Speed loader in a jacket pocket, if I'm wearing a jacket.
If I'm carrying a single action (.45 ACP) I'll throw a 1911 mag in my rear pocket.

 

[rhinoh]

S&W J frame in one front pocket - 6 round speed strip in the other. I like the 6 in case I drop or fumble one.

 

[Haywood]

I carry speed loaders and strips in my pants pocket. In cooler weather when wearing a jacket I carry in tha jacket pocket also.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I don't now, but I've carried a revolver in the past. I like speed strips better than speedloaders. A speedloader has to be as big around as the gun's cylinder, while five or six rounds in the speed strip are flat. They fit perfectly in a blue jean watch pocket. I also had a Dillon Leather belt pouch. This has been discontinued, but they market something similar from IHL. http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/8/mult/1/catid/22

Unlike an auto reload that is grasped and inserted with your support hand, therefore on the opposite side of your body from the gun, you want your revolver reload on your strong side. You do have to transfer the gun from one hand to the other and back again when you're done, but I found it easier to manipulate the strips and cartridges with my more dexterous right hand.

 

[RustyShackelford]

48 Hours; speedloaders, strips....

I know how many gun forum members & "real shooters" loathe using Hollywood films as examples, but if you want to a great example of why revolver speed strips or training with speed-loaders is critical, watch the hotel lobby gunfight in the cop drama; 48 Hours(1982 www.imdb.com ).
Actor Nick Nolte portrays a tough SFPD Inspector who packs a S&W N frame 4" .44magnum. He shoots the big magnum then ducks behind cover. Nolte's Cates character then picks .44magnum rounds one by one from the pockets of his sportcoat.
If he was better prepared, he could have punched out the fired .44s, pulled out a HKS speedloader & pop, back into the action. Even a speed strip would work faster than going round by round.
If you never saw the film, check it out. It has a few well made action scenes.

 

[ljnowell]

I love to carry my S&W 637 and I almost always take a reload with me. Usually it's two HKS speedloaders. Sometimes I will carry a single HKS and a dump pouch, other times just the dump pouch. The dump pouch is nice for easy concealability but it's a much slower reload.

 

[mdauben]

S&W 386NG OWB, one speed loaders in strong side pants pocket or two in strong side jacket/vest pocket in cooler weather.

Speed strips are a little easier to carry, but are much slower and more fumble prone (IMO) on the reload.

 

[drastic_quench]

Speed Strip in a Most Versatile Ammo pouch from Simply Rugged.

http://shop.simplyrugged.com/ecommerce/Most-Versatile-Ammo-Pouch.cfm?item_id=170&parent=671

 

[camsdaddy]

I carry a speed strip full of hollow point ammo in my coin pocket of my jeans. I carry a speed strip with 4 LSWC and 2 rat shot in another pocket for snakes or a rouge coke can or something that simply needs shooting.

 

[IlikeSA]

I forgot to mention, an SKS clip will hold 10 357 mag rounds. I use that when I carry extra rounds in a bag.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I'm allergic to carrying a gun without a reload! When I carry my Ruger LCR I carry a speedstrip, sometimes and eight round other times a six round. But I realize this isn't ideal at all. I'm not super fast with one since I'm primarily an auto guy. It's faster than loose rounds but I need to practice more and also pick up a proper speed loader.

I kind of doubt that I will ever need to perform a combat reload. The odds of me needing to fire my sidearm are very low to begin with, and if I ever do odds are fair that the ammo in the gun will be enough. When I carry an auto I always have a spare mag but part of this is because magazine issues are one of the more common problems with an auto, something not applicable to a wheelgun. Obviously though more ammo is prudent.

Basically I carry the speed strips because if I ever get into a defensive shooting I may run the gun dry. If more BGs arrive late to the party it would be really awkward to be standing there with just an empty revolver in my hand.

 

[Onward Allusion]

I forgot to mention, an SKS clip will hold 10 357 mag rounds. I use that when I carry extra rounds in a bag.

Very nice to know. I'd never even considered that. Thanks!