Speed strips or Speed loader

OK, I'll fess up, I carry a speed strip or two as my reload for my J-frame. I have practiced with them, but not nearly as much as I should.

On the plus side, the J-frame is strictly a backup for me, both on and off-duty. So far I have not made it to the range to qualify with my SP101. Once I do, I'll be carrying it as a primary off-duty from time to time. When that happens, I expect I'll be carrying a speed loader on my belt with the SP and speed strips as backup reloads for either the SP or J-frame.

I will say this however, I've been toying with the idea of shooting the SP101 at an IDPA match (not a BUG match) and seeing how I do with a 5-shooter. Pwrtool45 has inspired me though, when I do it, I'm going to reload with speed strips or a combination of one speed loader and one or two speed strips.

Moon Clips.
Fastest revolver reloading I have ever done.


Jim

For me, it's pretty simple: Open carry=speedloaders. Concealed carry=speed strips. Practice with both hard. They're inexpensive and expendable, unlike pistol mags for everything but a 1911A1.

With my J-Frame: a Speedstrip
With my N-Frame: a Moonclip
(And with my 1911: a spare Mag)

Why? Because what I'm carrying depends on what I'm wearing. I try to dress for concealed carry but sometimes clothing choices are dictated by where we work. When a J-Frame is my ONLY carry choice (not a backup), a lumpy speedloader isn't an option. However, when I can carry a larger weapon, it's either my Kimber Tactical Ultra II with a spare mag, or my S&W 325 TRD with a spare moonclip.

Just wish I could find a couple more drop pouches.

Nobody has mentioned it, but in the dire straits of this scenario as laid out (empty gun and adversary closing on you)......most people without a speedloader would dump the empties and try to load one or two rounds and close the cylinder fast and shoot immediately into the face of the guy who is sticking his gun in YOUR face.

That or run like hell if there's a chance of putting something between you and the shooter within a few yards.

Really.....if you insist on carrying a J frame.....why not drop a second J frame in another pocket?

They carry like packs of gum.

Logos said:

Really.....if you insist on carrying a J frame.....why not drop a second J frame in another pocket?

They carry like packs of gum.

Click to expand...

Just how much gum do you go through in a day?....

Really.....if you insist on carrying a J frame.....why not drop a second J frame in another pocket?

Click to expand...

Because we all don't have the $$$ to have a second one, much less the first one!

LOL

Rather than speed strips, I like those MTM Case Guards to carry ammo, it's like an Ammo Wallet. I don't know how fast it is, but I have one that holds six cartridges and one that holds twelve. Sure, they may take some time to load this way, but they sure beat a bulge in my pocket from the three speedloaders.

Assuming you need four....maybe you need one.

Maybe you only have time to load one to save your life?

In the scenario being discussed here, that appears to be the necessity.

I carry 4 speedloaders for my S&W 642. They're faster and when I belt carry them, no one seems to notice. (Maybe it's because I've got DUNLOP disease - my belly dun lopped over my belt.)

I carry BOTH!!!!

Speedloaders= "speed" or "combat" reload (fired 5 or 6 rounds and need to top-off in a HURRY)

Speed Strips= "tactical" reloads. (fired only 1 or 2 rounds, there is a lull in the action, you are behind cover, and you want to top-off prior to leaving cover or being re-engaged you pull out your empties leaving the rest in the cylinder and top-off with the speed strip...no need to loose good rounds by using a speedloader)

I carry speedloaders in my front pants pocket (strong side), loose in a jacket pocket (strong side), or in a speed loader pouch (also strong side). I carry my speed strip (just one) in my back pants pocket (it rides nice and flat) also on my strong side. On my weak-side belt i carry a flashlight and my cuffs.

"wheel guns are REAL guns"

Speed strips or Speed loader?

Click to expand...

Sure.

Both have their use and application.

I was issued a double dump pouch (6 rounds each pouch) for my issued revolver when I entered LE. I saw a number of older fellows wearing gun belts which still had belt loops.

I went out and bought a double speedloader carrier & speedloaders and used the dump pouches to hold speed-strips. When I finally got rid of the extra dump pouches for other things I wanted on my belt I usually dropped a couple of speed-strips in a pants pocket to complement my speed-loaders.

I practiced with speedloaders and speed-strips back then ... and still do.

I carry either depending on my J-frame carry method of the moment.

Yes, it's arguably easier to be faster with the speedloader than the speed-strip ... but how fast is going to be 'fast enough' is open for consideration, depending on the situation in which any user may find themselves.

I make sure the grip stock on the left side allows clearance for me to effectively use a speedloader.

FWIW, I've watched a lot of folks experience problems trying to clear empty cases from a J-frame cylinder when running through a qualification course of fire or simply during practice. That can eat up a lot time before someone can even try to load the fresh rounds.

In some respects I miss the LE revolver users of previous times who actually trained and practiced to effectively use their revolvers ...

Speedloaders are bulky in a pocket. Speed strips in my experience don't hold on to the ammo all day in a pocket.

I read a article recently talking about loading your 5rnd stubs, using speed strips to just load the two "two-at-a-time" loads, leave off the slower last round, just to get rounds down range. Yes, you'll only have 4 rounds to work with, but if you can get the four rounds down range faster, seems like a viable alternative to taking more time when loading 5rds.

In light of what Doc_Jude just said ...

I remember when we carried revolvers and had a qualification requirement/drill where the 6 rounds in the revolver were fired and then 4 more rounds were loaded and then fired within a time limit. The 4 rounds could be either 'loose' rounds (such as from belt loops or a dump pouch) ... or from a speed-strip.

Not exactly a 'new' concept, is it?

The problem with a less-then-full reload is:

You have to remember (under stress) which way the cylinder turns and set it on the last empty chamber when you close it. If you don't, you will be clicking on empty chambers and wondering if you are already out of ammo again.

That cylinder fiddling alignment under pressure takes as long as just doing a full fill-up in the first place.

rc

rcmodel makes a good point (as usual).

This used to be evident when doing the old 'shoot 6 and reload with 4 loose rounds and shoot again' drill under a time limit. When you have folks carrying S&W and Colt revolvers the users, and the instructors, had to pay attention to who was carrying and using which revolver make.

I carry only one wheelgun, and can show spare ammo setup for both carry methods I use, and why.

Duty use, my official alternative to my CZ P01, since they won't authorize any more CZs right now.



And as a backup, in shoulder holster, with six round in offside dump pounch, in a speed strip.



So, I use both.

When I carry my S&W 642 snubby, I incude a speedstrip. My experience is that the speedstrip is a) much easier to carry in a pocket than a speedloader and b) I struggle to get a speedloader to reload speedily on a j-frame snub. They work great on my k-frames, but the clearances seem to be tight on the snub.

Even so, the speedloader IS faster than the "slowstrip", but not by much. That's in my hands, though. YMMV.