Speed loader or speed strip which if better?

[9mmepiphany]

ayup, that situation falls under step 3...check your situation...if it is too hot, you gotta leave the rounds and all you'll have left will be a fully loaded gun.

the technique was taught to us as rookie officers. we were issued a smith m-15 and allowed to carry two speedloaders in place of the 12 round belt slide. the theory was you still had the other speedloader and you were better off with the fully loaded gun in your hand...and hopefully backup on the way. many of us carried a colt dick special as a BUG because it took the same speedloaders.

when i carry my 642 i usually carry a speedloader and a speedstrip as well, when the dress code doesn't allow the bulk of the speedloader, i don't feel uncomfortable with just the speedstrip. i didn't use to even carry a reload until we had a local hostage situation with 4 BGs...i'm pretty good,but only one extra round is too slim a margin for error.

 

[christophera]

LOL
Jack...I brought the wrong ammo Jack!
So what are we supposed to do...throw snowballs at each other?

Common! Survivors ...Robin Williams and Walter Matthau! No one remembers that one? Check it out if you haven't seen it.

 

[Moonclips]

I find that with at least one of my guns, the speedloader tends to get hung up on the wood stock

Some wood grips are not speedloader friendly. The finger-grooved Eagle grip I have is a case in point. But the Ahrends that I have on my other revolvers are all recessed for speedloader access. I believe the Nils are also recessed.

 

[MrPink]

I'm faster with a speedloader, but fastest with moonclips.

However I carry a speedstrip with my S&W340PD. Its flat and very convenient, which wins out.

 

[45+]

9mmepiphany - There definitely are situations that you are better off with a fully charged weapon, regardless of what it takes to get to that point. And I hear the comment about five rounds for four BG's. I, too, prefer a larger margin of error.

Best to ya,
45+

 

[fedlaw]

Anybody know where I can get speedstrips for .44?
The Eagle oversize grips on my 629 prevent the use of speedloaders.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[45+]

The original info the Bianchi put out when they introduced the Speed Strips indicated that they would be available in 44, but I have never been able to locate any. I used to have some 5 round stripper clips for 308/30-06. I wonder is those or some other stripper clip would work the same way?

Best to ya,
45+

 

[BluesBear]

Sadly they only make speed strips for .38/.357. They were originally made for police officers to carry in drop boxes. (Yes thay've been around that long=1971)

I have asked Bianchi several times if they would make them in .44.
Each time they say there's not enough demand for them.
It seems since John B. left, the company has been suffering from Jergen's Mynestenia.

A dibilitating condition that causes extreme curvature of the skeleton until the head disappears up the ......

 

[fedlaw]

Thanks guys. I'll keep looking for .44 speedstrips and post the results if I come up with anything.
Steve

 

[mfree]

Anyone know the case diameter for a .44? If you did that, I'd start hunting around for european WWI/II leftovers, there were tons of odd-sized rifle cartridges that used strippers.

You know, I peeked at reloadbench.com and checked dimensions, and a .44 mag case should fit, though a bit loose, in a .303 British clip. Case diam on a .44 is .457, .460 on the .303 brit, and the .44 mag's rim width is a little less. Put a strip of electrical tape inside the stripper clip and they ought to stay put.... 7.62x54R is close too.

 

[Plinkerton]

I've heard of people making their own speed strips out of stiff cut tubing of some sort. They said they turned out just as good as the store bought ones. Maybe that could take care of your .44 woes.

 

[..]

I carry the speedstrips, the loaders are too bulky. In cooler weather I could see dropping a loader in a jacket pocket but I'm used to strips so that's what I use.

 

[Malamute]

I've modified several sets of grips to clear speedloaders. A file or a dremel tool can work wonders. Safariland loaders are MUCH faster than hks loaders. Most Smith & Wessons in .38 and .44 can be modified to use moon clips, and not affect use without the clips.

Speedstrips are OK, but I've had a few rounds come out of them several times.

 

[9mmepiphany]

when i was looking for speedstrips for my 696, i was pointed in the direction of the enfield .303 strippers. i just haven't gotten around to them yet, i keep meaning to thou

 

[BluesBear]

To put it mildly,

.44 Magnum in .303 British stripper clips don't work worth a damn.

Besides the fact that they only hold 5 and are so long that you can only get ½ of the round into the cylinder...
They hold them very tight.
They're carried at an angle to each other that makes it extremely difficult to insert more than one round at a time.
If you manage to get two rounds inserted the rims overlap and bind and make it impossible to pull the clip off.

It's much faster and easier to load loose rounds.

This is one of those things that sounds good on paper but just won't work in practice.

Start pestering Bianchi if you want speed strips in calibers other than .38/.357.
Maybe if enough of us bug them long enough they'll listen.

 

[klover]

so if I made a plastics mold for strip...

I can make a mold and market .44 speed strips.
Could you all suggest the best spacing; is it the same to load two exactly?
Would someone second a poll for total count of rounds for a strip loader?
I'm very serious that I can procede with this if there is nobody making a commercial speed strip for the .44
What other features should a good strip loader have?
Thanks everyone.

 

[Malamute]

Klover, yes, the spacing would be most useful with a spacing for 2 rounds to load in a Smith&Wesson model 29/629. Get a couple of the 38 speed strips and disect them, they have a steel strip down the back I believe to keep the strip straight and that helps when loading.

It's actually pretty quick to load from cartridge loops(like a cartridge belt or belt slide) when practiced. You pull 2 rounds at a time and load 2 at a time. Certainly quicker than trying to manage loose rounds, and less fumbling. Easy to top off your gun If you didn't shoot it empty.

 

[BluesBear]

A speed strip should be six rounds.

I carry Bianchi, speedstrips for my 5-shot backup revolver.
I know that some people only load five into them but i believe there's nothing wrong with having one extra.


I don't know if the patents have expired for Bianchi, you'll need to find out before you start selling or giving them away.

If you do make some in the Bianchi style, I'll buy a dozen or so to test.

I'd also be interested in some for .41 Magnum and .45 Colt

 

[45+]

I think the Bianchi's are well designed and made. They have the features I want, and like the bear, I use six rounders regardless of the capacity. That is three tactical loads of two or one full cylinder (at least).

I would be good for some if you start making them and the price is in the Bianchi range.

Best to ya,
45+

 

[SAWBONES]

And for that 12.5% of us who are left-handed, a speed strip is probably actually a bit faster than a "speed loader", plus it offers better concealability, better comfort in carrying, and the option of loading just 2 rounds at a time instead of an obligatory 5-6.

 

[stanp]

Using speedloaders with some grips, you will have the grip interfere with getting the rounds into the chamber, especially on the smaller frame S&W models.

That's why God invented the Dremel tool. With judicious use, you can trim a path out of the grip to give the speedloader room to function the way it's supposed to, while maintaining the appearance of the grips. (Take care to avoid excessive cutting, as the top edge of the grip might eventually snap off if it's cut too thin. That part of the grip is just cosmetic, anyway.

BTW, moon clips are even faster for reloading, and you can do tactical reloads without leaving brass lying around. (Eject spent clip using left hand cradling open cylinder, catch spent clip in palm of right hand, insert new clip which you are holding with the thumb and first two fingers of right hand).

If there are live rounds left in the ejected clip, they can be inserted back in the gun at a later time, if needed. You just have to make sure you align the cylinder so a live round will come up the next time you pull the trigger.

 

[goalkeeper91]

I'm sorry, but am I the only one out here actually carrying both a speedloader and speedstrips? I always carry one HKS loader for my 649, and have additional ammo in speedstrips. In my "tactial plan" ( ), my first relaod will be with the speedloader. The plan is to use these ten rounds to (1) end the problem, (2) escape, (3) get to cover, or (4) get back to some real weapons. If I'm behind cover, the speed strips will be plenty fast. PLus, let's face it, they are a dream for carrying. Put one in the watch pocket of your jeans and you might forget it's there.