Maxfire Speedloader for J Frame

[GDW]

I have HKS Speedloaders I use for various J-frames. It does not always work very smoothly. It often gets hung up on the grips. Has anyone tried one of these:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1461/Product/MAXFIRE_SPEEDLOADER#


Maybe I need to go to speed strips. Thanks.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I use the spring loaded ones and the regular hks ones too. It really depends on your grips as to how well they work.

 

[LWYM425]

There is only one negative review for the 7-shot loader. Hardly enough to pay any attention to. could be some jimmoke who struggles with trivial "challenges." I'd give it a go if I find one in store.

 

[MrBorland]

Don't have any myself, and never tried them, but I can say without exaggerating that I don't think I've ever read a single good thing about them.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i tried a set that belonged to a friend.

there is just something "wrong" about a speedloader that requires lateral displacement to release the cartridges. plus the grip required to make them work removes the ability to use them without looking...in darkness.

the best speedloaders i've tried for a J-frame are the Safariland Comp I

 

[340PD]

http://www.5starfirearms.com/

 

[jfh]

googling in this forum for a conversation about two-and-a-half years ago ought to turn up an extended discussion. Or, check in the M&P 340 or the 642 threads, using the same search technique.

I have them--and if you train with them, they work. However, there are two strong disadvantages--one, they are just about 'un-carryable', at least bare--the cartridges easily come out of them, just because of the pliable nature of the material, as in the founds falling off the loader in your pocket.

Perhaps more importantly, at least one top pistolsmith (Grant Cunningham, IIRC) recommends NOT using them, for that later swipe can, he says, bend the yoke / crane, or the extractor rod.

For my personal use, I have NOT replaced them in daily carry for my M&P 340 (j-frame, five rounds). One does sit in a console pocket in the car--but, as my carry habits have evolved, I have just concluded speedloader reloading is NOT a viable tactical move for me. When I worry about that need, I carry a semiauto--for example, a P3AT c/w two magazines.

Jim H.

 

[SwampWolf]

Maxfire speedloaders have three things going for them: they have no moving parts; they are faster than having no speedloader and they are made for some revolvers that no other speedloader is made for.
I have a couple of them that I use for my Taurus Model 415, a five-shot .41 Magnum that nobody else makes speedloaders for (if anybody knows of an alternative speedloader for this revolver, please let me know). The necessary lateral direction needed to deploy the Maxfire, as 9mmepiphany noted, is counter-intuitive but, with some practice, you can get fairly fast with one-however, nowhere near as fast as you can with more "traditional" speedloaders.
Regarding whether the "yoke/crane or extractor rod" of a revolver is at risk of being bent with extended use of the Maxfire, this concern is minimal if the cylinder is cradled by the support hand and held firmly in place (as our agency trained us to do when using any type of speedloader) during the reloading process.

 

[David E]

I have some of these. They are relegated for range use ONLY.

They do not retain the cartridges if carried in the pocket. It's difficult to find a holder that'll accommodate them, due to their shape.

They are not necessarily faster than no speedloader, as you'll have to go back into your pocket to dig them out because the holder didn't hold them.

I wish Safariland would make their Comp II's for the J-frames, but until then, I make do with their almost-as-good Comp I (which is better than the HKS)

If you can find them, the SL Variant is made for the J-frame. They are very good, but they are pricey.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Maxfire speedloaders have three things going for them: they have no moving parts; they are faster than having no speedloader

when i first saw the Maxfire, i was reminded of the Six Second speedloaders from the 80s...these are different from the HKS Second-Six speedloaders...which were made of rubber and looked like a baton grommet. the improvement Maxfire made was that you didn't have to "peel" the loader off the rounds after inserting into the cylinder, downside was that the Maxfire will drop rounds. i do remember seeing pouches for the Maxfire at one time...they were a little bulky

 

[David E]

What was the speedloader that had a spring around the perimeter that lightly held the rounds? The knob was pushed forward, taking all the rounds forward with it, forcing them into the chambers.

I thought THAT one was named the Six Second Reloader.......altho I know the one you're talking about.

 

[L-2]

Dade Machine (or something like that) speedloaders had the coil-spring around the perimeter.
I had a couple a few years ago for a K frame. They were a bit larger than the HKS or Safariland speedloaders.
If dropped, the rounds would tend to pop out. Otherwise, they worked OK.

I also found the Maxfire loaders inconvenient to carry as I couldn't carry these speedloaders in a pocket without the rounds becoming dislodged.

 

[David E]

That's the one! Dade Machine and Tool, I think.

There was another one, very compact, all plastic. Maybe IT was the "Six Second Reloader." It held the rounds in place and a plastic ring that was on the circumference slid forward, taking the rounds with it. It worked best when you palmed it and had your fingers touch the cylinder first.

Anyway, I like the Comp II's the best now.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I thought THAT one was named the Six Second Reloader.......altho I know the one you're talking about.

i think you're right...maybe the Second-Six?

There was another one, very compact, all plastic.

i remember that one too and it was very fast...don't remember the name

the Comp IIs were also my favorites

 

[45crittergitter]

I have used the Maxfires and agree with the previous poster that they do not retain the cartridges when carried in a pocket.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I really dont like Maxfires. I had some for a Colt Trooper that were worse than troublesome.

HKS, Safariland, and the SL Variant are the ones to get and not look back. Those and speed strips. Speed strips are very handy.

 

[FoMoGo]

I have some for my Taurus 445 .44 special 5 shooter.
I carry HKS...


Jim

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like and use Safariland Comp I speedloaders for my J frame revolvers and Safariland Comp II speedloaders for my K and L frame revolvers.