The Problem With D Frame Speedloaders

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doc540

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in one word: "clearance"

shown with factory stocks, some aftermarket stocks are even thicker and provide less clearance

HKS
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Safariland
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Can they fit?
Yes

Is it quick and easy?
Not unless you practice a lot.

One must very accurately and carefully insert the cartridge tips and try to line them up in the cylinder holes.

While it may appear from the (slightly out of focus) pics that they're inserted crooked, there lies the rub, so to speak. They more easily line up "crooked" than they do "straight" due to the lack of clearance with the frame and stocks.
 
I agree. With all of that.

I've found that if you slightly press up on the ejector, it helps to line it up a little more and sort of catches the falling rounds.
 
Michael de Bethancourt advises buying some aftermarket grips you can modify with a sander or chisel to clear speedloaders. It is not much of an issue for him though since he advocates the use of loading strips.
 
I modifed some pachmayer rubbers to allow the speedloader thru, but they got even uglier. A set of Badgers provide more clearance on the Diamondback.

-Daizee
 
Just talked to Jim Badger this morning, and I'm returning my custom grips for a little more work on them. He's going to narrow the left, upper finger-groove a bit more.
 
A luthier friend of mine offered to recess the Badgers on my SP101 for easier loading/eject. I'm still up in the air about it as my thumbs do rest on that part. .38 Short Colt with moonclips looks awfully fast though as is.
 
Jim Badger was kind enough to re-cut my custom grips.

Kinda hard to see, but he took thickness off the left, upper thumb groove.

Much more narrow on the left side and helps line up the speedloaders.

Jim's just the best!


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