HKS speedloaders

[natedog]

I ordered two from CTD. Took them out, and tried them out. First off, they felt and looked liked a quality piece of equipment. Cartridges load easily into the speedloader, and loading my revolver (Colt Officer's Model) is very fast. Open the cylinder, eject shells, insert speedloader, twist knob, close cylinder, rinse, repeat. They are much easier to load than a magazine, and I can reload my revolver almost as fast as an autoloader! Cool! Overall, the HKS speedloaders get *****.

 

[9mmepiphany]

if you think the HKS ones are fast, you should try the safariland speedloaders. same routine except you don't have to "twist" to release the shells.

 

[10-Ring]

So the Safariland speedloaders are faster? Cool, I think I needs me some

 

[Arub]

The SafariLand loaders are 'cammed'. When the center post hits the star wheel on the cylinder, the locking mechanism rotates and releases the cartridges. One of their models (can't remember the model number) is spring loaded and when the center post hits the star wheel, the locking mechanism rotates, releases the cartridges and 'shoots' them into the cylinder (spring loaded). They are terrific!

 

[Bulldozer]

I've Tried Them All

I've used the HKS, Safariland, and Maxfire speedloaders in 5, 6, and 7-shot variations. Here's my two cents.

Maxfire -- cheap price, plastic rings with staggered height bullets that you load and twist into place. I did not like them at all. The twisting motion might stress the crane as well.

HKS -- solid and well-made, twist knob slows down the reload, but makes it very secure so that if you fumble the recharge, at least the loader remains intact.

Safariland -- Comp I (stub push), Comp II (larger rear stub), Comp III (springloaded, big suckers). I liked these the best. They are just push into slots and drop. A central cam presses against the cylinder star and releases the shells. Fast as all get-out!!

Speedstrips -- load 5 or 6 shells in a black rubber-plastic strip that you stick into 2 chambers of the cylinder at a time. Not especially quick, but better than fiddling with dump pouches or loose shells. Biggest upside is that they are FLAT and do not bulge at all, even in tennis shorts.

 

[ACP]

I use HKS at home and Bianchi Speed Strips "on the road."

 

[9x19]

They are much easier to load than a magazine, and I can reload my revolver almost as fast as an autoloader!

Its not just the speed... but also the frequency...

I use HKS speedloaders for my revo's too, but when comparing them against the 17+2 round mag (whihc will acutally hold 20 rounds) in my Glock 34, I'll have to reload the revo' (SP-101) three times.... just to keep up!

 

[Blueduck]

I've always used HKS mainly because of availability. Work great when new, but after they get a bit of use on them the cartridges are not held as firmly and the "wiggle" seems to slow my reloads..

Only tried one Safari and it was good, but do they tend to loosen up after awhile as well

 

[Clemson]

For "Tactical" use, go with the HKS speedloaders. The Safariland will dump the cartridges if you drop them. the HKS will retain theirs even if you throw them. For speed games the Safariland loaders come into their own. That's what they are good at. For life or death, real-world reloads, I'll stick with HKS.

My $.02 only.........

Clemson

 

[Bulldozer]

SL Dumping

I just tried out an experiment with the four Safariland Comp Is I have. I dropped them as follows, from waist level:

1.) carpet == all four retained their cartridges.
2.) linoleum floor == all four retained their cartridges
3.) backyard grass == all four retained their cartridges.
4.) driveway == all four retained their cartridges.

The only way for the Comp I to disengage the cartidges is for the central raised plastic spur-star (which engages the cylinder star) to be depressed. It seems a bit hard to do so given that six cartridges are ringed around this area.

Your mielage may vary. Just reporting my results.

 

[Dave T]

I can't explain this but with N-Frame revolvers the Safarilands sometimes hang up. The center release will not trip until you push and push several times. I used to shoot a Model 24 in competition but the reloads were sometimes so slow I gave up and got a Model 25 (full moon clips are the fastest reload possible).

 

[9mmepiphany]

i've used both the safariland comp I and II as part of my duty rig back when we carried wheel guns and never had a cartridge pop loose.

they also held the shells more rigidly then than the HKS...i was worried they might be too rigid, you need a little "play" to align the rounds.

part of the speed of the safariland speedloaders is that you release the knob (if you even use it to grasp, i grip the body itself) as soon as you align the bullets with the chambers. you shove the bullets home with the palm of your loading hand. there is no tendency to "hold on" too long.

when the shells release, you start reestablishing your shooting grip, the speedloader body is swept away as you close the cylinder.

 

[RussB]

I have those "long" Safariland speedloaders, they work great. The short (Safariland) ones are what I use when I carry a revolver...

The HKS units suck for competition, IMHO

How about those expensive, adjustable ones that Dillon used to sell? ($20+ each) A few of my buddies have them, they are the BEST, but I think they're discontinued

 

[Tamara]

natedog,

Wait'll you try moonclips.

I have four revolvers set up to use moons: two 625's, a 610 and a 627. I think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[9mmepiphany]

moon clips are definately the fastest reload for a wheelgun if you're shooting pistol ammo...they are faster than the old DADE speedloaders that used to rule PPC

 

[Grant C.]

For "Tactical" use, go with the HKS speedloaders. The Safariland will dump the cartridges if you drop them. the HKS will retain theirs even if you throw them. For speed games the Safariland loaders come into their own. That's what they are good at. For life or death, real-world reloads, I'll stick with HKS.

I've heard this many, many times over the years. Each time, I've taken a loaded Safariland and thrown it on the floor or against a wall. Never, in the HUNDREDS of times I've done this, using both new and well-used loaders, has so much as a single round come loose.

I've dropped them countless times on cement and gravel range floors, and never had one that released. I've seen lots and lots of competitors do the same thing - never have a witnessed a failure.

In fact, I've just thrown 2 different models - a Comp I for a Ruger SP-101 and a Comp II for the K-frame - against my filing cabinet and the floor, 5 times each. Neither released a single round.

Not to cast aspersions on the writer's veracity, but I think this one of shooting's many urban legends.

 

[LWCmdr45]

Allow me to get involved in the the HKS vs. Safariland debate. I've owned and used both since they first came out. I've never had a single problem with any of the HKS loaders, but I've had two Safariland Comp I loaders (one J-frame and one N-frame) fail. Both involved internal failures that I don't believe had anything to do with being dropped, but there you go. It doesn't keep me from carrying them still, but the Safarilands are not as rugged as the HKS, IMO.

Steve

 

[Dave T]

LWCmdr45,

Looking at the way the two work, the Safariland is much more complicated (mechanically), which I believe explains the failure you describe and the problems I've had with the N-Frame versions. The HKS is much simpler.

Another point that hasn't been mentioned is that the Safariland works using either right hand or left hand to reload. The HKS requires the cylinder be held still, which works best reloading with the right hand and holding the gun/cylinder in the left. In my experience the HKS is more positive but the Safariland is faster (as long as they release). YMMV.

 

[WonderNine]

For "Tactical" use, go with the HKS speedloaders. The Safariland will dump the cartridges if you drop them.

Um no......

 

[Blueduck]

Can we please not turn this place into Glock Talk II?

 

[WonderNine]

Sorry, it's rubbing off on me.

 

[Blueduck]

Me too Wondernine (and my post may have sounded like it) apologies to you.

Wonder how many flame wars would be stopped by banning that dang little icon.

Back to speedloaders sorry...

 

[Bulldozer]

I'm working on a new idea for speedloaders. It works like a Bianchi speedstrip, but puts the rubber in a round shape like HKS and Safariland types. I've got two prototypes cut out for trial this weekend. Basically it works like a speedstrip but you load all six cartridges at once. Drop it in and peel it off.

 

[Dave T]

Bulldozer,

What you're describing sounds like the "Maxfire Speedloaders" as seen on page 52 of the July "Blue Press". Brownells also sells them. The reports I've heard on these isn't to favorable.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I agree with Tamara (always hard to debate her experience) and Dave T. Moonclips, particularly for competition, are the flat out fastest. There are even CCW carriers that might make them a better candidate for carry than some feel they have been.

I have totally given up on MKS. Invariably they end up hanging on to at least one round and pulling it away from the cylinder. For a quick reload you should be able to drop the rounds, release the speedloader and let the action of the cylinder closing sweep the speedloader away. Can't do that when it is hanging on to the round.

I do use the Safariland Comp III with my M66 as IDPA does not allow moonclips on revolvers unless they come set up like the 625. I carry Safariland speedloaders in the spring portion of moonclip carriers with the center post removed. I have had one or two unload in the carrier, but I am pretty sure that came from careless loading--not going for that final click of the lock.