Best speedloader for a s&w 642 no-lock?

[jester88]

thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

HKS makes the most common, least expensive, & easiest to find one.
Model 36-A fits your gun.
http://www.hksspeedloaders.com/SpeedloaderPage.html

Safariland makes the Comp I, model for your gun:
The Comp-I works like the HKS.
http://www.safariland.com/DutyGear/product.aspx?pid=COMP I

rc

 

[jester88]

thanks!!!

getting the bianchi strips/w dillon leather wallet too. want to have both

this is my first revolver. and i cant put it down .... seriously. guess i got bit with the BUG bug, love the design.

 

[rcmodel]

You may find you prefer the speed-strips.

There is very little speed-loader clearance on a S&W J-Frame.
They do work, just not as well as on the bigger model guns with more cylinger/frame/thumbpiece clearance.

rc

 

[jester88]

good to know, thanks again!

 

[MrBorland]

Probably not the best for EDC, but the fastest combo will be a Jetloader, and a Safariland holder.

Judicious trimming of the grip may improve the fit between the speedloader & gun. Also, look if there's interference with the cylinder latch. SDM makes an excellent aftermarket latch (better than the original, IMO), if you want to reduce the interference with a dremel, but don't want to molest the original.

 

[L-Frame]

I'm a big fan of Safariland comp I's for my J's, and Comp II's for my L's.

 

[RetDep310]

Like some of the others said, regardless of what speedloader you get, they may not work well with the stock S&W rubber boot grip. Changed out the grips on mime to a pair of Hogue Bantam grips. Speedloaders work fine now.

 

[Photoman]

Totally depends on what grips you are using as to what speedloader will work best.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use Safariland Comp I speedloaders for my J frames and I also carry a Bianchi speed strip or two at times. HKS speedloaders will also work but I would rather push instead of twisting to release the ammo.

 

[jakk280rem]

When I use speedloaders with my 642, I use Dade Speedloaders. I have had no clearance issues with the factory boot grip.


Picture 121 by barlow.bum, on Flickr

 

[Paladin38-40]

HKS

HKS 36. No problem with Hogue Monogrip, Pachmayr Compac, Crimson Trace. Very secure, reliable, and almost indestructible.

The Dade's are neat but do not hold the cartridges securely under vigorous handling conditions. LEO's got away from them many years ago for that reason.

 

[jon86]

I use NOTHING BUT safariland comp 1. Reason? They won't dump the ammo in your pocket. I could probably throw the speedloader at the wall, and it would break apart before it let go of the ammo.

 

[Stainz]

My stock gripped 642-2 loads quite well and intuitively enough that blindfolded reloads with the HKS #36 speedloader are deemed more than sufficient. Not that it matters one iota, but my 642, like my other IL equipped S&W's, loads fine and has been 100% reliable - with the IL. Other than some 125gr JHP homebrew plinkers, it's diet has been Remington R38S12 158gr LHPSWC +P's - and GA Arms' equivalents.

Stainz

PS I leave a loaded speedloader in the car - and only carry the 642 in a Mika pocket holster.

 

[schultzie]

From my experiance, the fastest way to keep sending rounds downrange is to transition to another firearm. A brace of J-frames has been a popular option for quite some time now.

The Safariland speedloaders are the fastest way to reload a single revolver provided the shooter uses only Safailand speedloaders. If you have revolvers that are used as a primay that only use HKS speedloaders (.327, 7-shot L-frames, etc.) then I srongly recommend using ONLY HKS speedloaders. In the heat of competition (or worse), you will have to "push" pretty hard on a HKS to make it release the cartridges. If you get used to HKS, and train hard, you will be hard pressed to notice any difference in reload times between Safariland and HKS. Just watch an old-timer reload with HKS.

Personally, I prefer Safariland. However, I accept that they are much harder to come by than HKS and have purchased more than my fair share for my Pythons. I still need to get some more for my J-frames.

Speed strips are rather slow, but carry so nicely that I have more than my fair share of speed strips. I have discovered that speed strips do not last long after they go through a washer and dryer cycle.

 

[joe_security]

I had a defective Comp1 for a J- Frame...The internal parts came loose. Sometimes the Comp1 is difficult to lock the rounds in so I switched to the HKS for the J-frame. I use speedloaders to load AND unload the gun. I still use the Comp2 for my K-Frame gun, they are the best for the K-Frame, period. They are very hard to find, I order them from Safarilands website.

 

[rcmodel]

I have had no clearance issues with the factory boot grip.

Nor have I.
But no grip issues with the old Magna S&W wood grips, or Crimson Trace grips either.

But all my J-Frames are older models with the sharply checkered, dished shaped cylinder release.

That is what causes speed-loader clearance issues on mine.

rc