carrying spare ammo for CCW revolver: options?

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I know there are speedloaders (seem round and bulky) and those inline stick things... and I remember seeing a leather pouch you wear on your belt that holds 5 or 6 rounds and you unsnap it and it dumps the rounds into your hand... recommendations? I have enough crap in my pockets already so I'm leaning toward one of those stick things. What are they called anyway?:D
 
You can get a dump pouch that the speed strip fits in or a DeSantis 2x2 pouch for your belt. Keeps more stuff out of pockets.
 
Galco makes a belt pouch that is compatible with the speed strips. I have had the flap come lose a few times when carrying it, so now I just carry it in a pocket, or use an M & M ammo wallet, which is more water resistant and opaque, so I can take it out of my pocket without scaring anyone.
 
Yeah, I guess I can't read the name on the little box very well. I use one that just holds six. I have two of them plus the Galco, so I usually carry one and put the others in the glove box.
 
Speed strips suck. :p

No, really. Carrying speed strips indicates you acknowledge the possibility of needing to reload quickly. I've never, ever seen anyone do this with speed strips. Ever. If you use them as a security blanket, that's one thing. If you actually intend on performing a reload under stress with them, then try shooting an IPSC or IDPA match using them as your primary reloading mechanism.
 
You RULE. I insist on reimbursing you for shipping. :cool:

Carrying speed strips indicates you acknowledge the possibility of needing to reload quickly.
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I was thinking primarily of keeping the loose rounds from rattling around in my pocket, etc. I have no doubt that if I need to reload my 5-shot snubbie, I'm in a world of hurt and the speed strip likely isn't going to make it any faster. :D
 
Loading from speedstrips is faster than from loose rounds but still very slow.

Don Hume, Bianci and several boutique shops make nice leather speedloader poaches. I have Don Hume's; it's great:
packsix.jpg


Link

You can have your J frame converted to moonclips and carry spare clip in a speedloader poach. It is probably fastest way to reload a revolver (JM does it under 1 sec from a comp holder). But keep in mind that bent moonclip will jam your revolver.

Mike
 
I'm just a bit old fashioned. I carry 12 rounds in 12 loops that slide on my belt for my .357 revolver. I think it was part of an old gun belt (Western) cut and fitted to my belt...Might be slow reloading, but they don't leave a lump under my shirt...
 
1. Speed Strips will always beat loose rounds in the pocket. You need to practice.

2. I found the rounds will fall off the Speed Strips if carried loose in your pocket.

3. A 2X2 pouch can be as fast as Speed Strips. Practice.

4. Ammo wallets are good for carrying ammo but pretty worthless in a combat reload.

5. Speed loaders are the best option for most.
 
My CCW revolver is a Ruger SP-101 in 9mm with lasergrips. I carry a spare moon clip.. with 5 shots clipped and ready to go in my pocket. I use the Federal Hydra Shok 124 grain +P hollow points. If it takes more than 10 rds to end the fight, I guess I should have brought the AK. :rolleyes:
 
As for Me...

...my first reload, if I've emptied the gun, will be a second revolver. If I need to do a tactical reload (replace only the rounds I have fired and can do so behind cover), I will go to the DeSantis 2+2+2 pouch, just to the right of my belt buckle, where it it accessible to either hand. While I do carry a couple of Speed Strips, in pockets of my vest, I regard them as ammo for "administrative" reloads. With revolvers with two-inch barrels, if I only have one hand in working order, I will need to stuff the barrel into my waistband to execute a reload and the use of a Speed Strip will surely dislodge it..
 
I carry a HKS speedloader in a Desantis belt holster. Works very well for me. I hardly know it's there but it's quick and easy when I need it.

Todd
 
i am no master tactician, i have no law enforcement or military training, i have never been in a gunfight (hopefully that can be a true statement for the remainder of my life)...i haven't even been in a fist fight in over 2 decades (high school :eek:). my point is i don't have an opinion based on experience so take it any way you like without hurting my feelings :p

the only time i carry a reload with the consideration that it is 'necessary gear' is when i am carrying my 1911. not because i think i will need more than 8 rounds to pacify a threat to myself or my loved ones but because i want a second magazine to put in the gun to get it running again in the case of a malfunction. my 1911 has never failed in any way that could not be attributed to user error (2 failures) or cheap practice ammo (3 failures) in 11 years and many many thousands of rounds yet i still have in the back of my mind that a failure is a real possibility because of the comparative complexity of the semi auto pistol 'system'.

when i am carrying my revolver i do not feel a reload is needed because i have in the back of my mind that the type of failure that requires a reload to resolve cannot occur. with that in mind i do carry a speed strip so i have a reload with me. i carry a speed strip because it has no bulk and is extremely convenient.

now, i feel the chance of ever needing to use my gun is extremely small and the chance of needing a reload is exponentially smaller...if i cannot resolve the situation in a couple of shots then i am in a no win situation. however, if i am in that no win situation i will try to reload from my speed strip before trying to use my gun as a club.

steve
 
Speedloaders

I carry a couple of speed loaders in a double S/L pouch on my left side. Under an untucked t-shirt I can't say its all that more bulky than a PDA/cell phone or any of the myriad of gadgets people now adays carry around.

Any extra bulk is easily mitigated by speed of recharging the revolver, be it the 686+/SP 101/M85 I carry. Enough range time with revolvers + speed loaders has enabled me to get awaful quick.

Way faster than a speedstrip, which outweights any advantages of their slimmer profiles.
 
Speedstrips are my choice for extra ammo to feed my 642. Yes, the naysayers are correct, and a speed loader is generally faster than speedstrips. But reloading an autoloader is generally faster than reloading a revolver with a speedloader. But having a 33-round magazine beats out reloading that autoloader.

My point is that all things related to carrying a concealed firearm are compromises. If you didn't have to compromise, you might just carry around an AR or FAL.

One advantage the speedstrip has, is the ability to 'top off' a revolver. The speedloader requires you drop all cartridges/cases from the cylinder prior to loading.

I personally follow TallPine's suggestion and carry two guns (plus an extra magazine and a speedstrip).
 
Speedloaders are a pain, but Speed Strips are worse. The Bianchi Speed Strips I bought are so stiff it took an hour to get them loaded, and I have no confidence I could get those rounds into a revolver cylinder is less than five minutes. Some would say that if I needed them the adrenaline would give me the strength of ten men, to which I say, "Good, I'll need it to wrestle those suckers out of that thing." And since my fine motor skills will jump out the window when the adrenaline dump hits, I'm sure I'll be dropping them at record speed.

I wonder if I have any of those old, antiquated, outdated dump pouches my PD used to issue? As was mentioned, with all the crap everyone seems to have hanging from their belts these days, who'd notice that?

The funniest part is that when I was a kid watching Batman oin TV, I always wanted what he had, a cool utility belt! Now I have one.

The Cape is next! :)

Papajohn
 
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