Carrying Safariland Comp I Speed Loaders

[Nightcrawler]

I'm having a custom triple-speedloader pouch made up for my WAR BELT (inside joke...you kinda had to be there) to replace the generic Uncle Mike's Sidekick pouches. The gun is of course my 629 .44, and HKS is the most common speedloader available.

However, they leave a bit to be desired. If they just didn't wiggle (not all HKS loaders wiggle) I think they'd be fine, but it can be irritating to do a really quick speedload with them.

Anyways, the only other speedloader available is the Safariland Comp I. It's a small loader intended for carry, though. If I get a pouch made that'll fit my HKS loaders, I'm afraid that I'd have to dig around to get the Safarailand loader out, thusly neutralizing the speed advantage.

So, any thoughts on this? It's doubly irritating that Safariland doesn't make Comp II and III loaders in .44, but I guess most competition shooters don't use .44s. It's all .357s or moonclipped guns now, right?

 

[pwrtool45]

You can cut the sides of your carrier to allow you to "pinch" the loader out of the holder. Sort of like how these don't have any material on the side of the carrier. Honestly, the Comp II's knob is deceptively hard to get ahold of compared to the HKS design, so you're not really missing as much as you might think. (At least, to me.) Comp IIIs are a lot easier, but as you've noticed they don't make those for an N-frame either.

To clarify, I'm not really thinking cut the carrier all the way down to the bottom. More like a pair of half-moon cuts on the top of the carrier about as wide as your thumb and about an inch deep. Just enough to "pinch" the loader.

Have you considered a moonclip conversion?

 

[Nightcrawler]

Moonclips

I have considered it, but I've heard that moon clips for rimmed catridges don't work so well, and that since they're thinner they're prone to bending. Any truth in this?

 

[pwrtool45]

No first hand experience. Some discussion on moonclipped .38 super (semi-rimmed cartridge) here.

Even with the issues surrounding moonclips in .357/.44 magnum revolvers, I'd probably consider it a fair trade if my only alternative was Comp Is. If it were me, I'd consider taking a closer look.

 

[John C]

Although I'm a big fan of the Safariland's over the HKSs, the only real advantage of the Comp Is over the HKS is the security of the rounds during pocket carry. If you're going to us a pouch, the HKSs are superior since they're easier to hold. Most old time cops used the HKS, and with a little practice are just as fast. Plus, they're A LOT easier to load.

-John

 

[Malamute]

I know several people with moonclipped 357's and 44's. I haven't heard of any problems with the clips, tho they say that the clips work best with certain brands of brass, because of groove dimensions of the brass.

Have you considered the Rodgers type carriers for the comp 1 speedloadrs? The carriers are split completely down the sides, and half the loader rides on each side of the belt. The loaders are easy to get hold of. I have a couple, and they work very well. The loaders dont stick out as far either. I think Safariland sells them. Mine says "370-2-C Safariland L86" on the back, and is smooth black leather. Fits the 44 Safariland loaders perfectly.

I've used the HKS loaders in the past, but since starting with the Safarilands, I quit the HKS. I've had several HKS loaders develop wear on the aluminum points that hold the cartridge rims, and the loaders locked up. They don't align the rounds as well either.