Speed strips, what are you favorite?

So I was putting my J-frame away last night and in the bottom of my travel case were I keep some spare ammo, loaded moonclips in cases and a few spare rounds on speed-strips. Well, this is what I poured out of the pouch with loose rounds of ammo.





These particular speed strips are Tuff Products brand. They are only 1.5 years old and the only abusive thing I did to them was storing them under the back seat of my crew cab this whole summer (north Alabama). Not a big deal as I usually use moonclips, but sometimes, depending on what I am wearing, a speed strip does hide slightly easier than a moonclip.

Has anyone seen similar? Is there a better quality speed strip I should consider?

 

Here's the Safariland brand's webpage:
https://safariland.com/products/speed-strips-pair-10851
Safariland took over/merged with Bianchi some years back. I believe Bianchi was the original maker of the speed-strips.

I've had both brands over the years and they'll both degrade/decompose. There may be other brands on the market, too (I don't know). I don't know which ones will last longer under various weather/climate conditions. It's a good thing the product is relatively inexpensive. My alternate means of carry are the various brands of speed-loaders but I realize speed-loaders don't always work well with the various grips/stocks on a specific revolver and, of course, single action types.

 

Not a good product by any means I had a bunch of them and had the same problem as you. Conversely, I have a pair of Bianchi® that are 15+ years old and still function fine. They are the original speed strips and simply the best IMHO.

 

The Bianchi strips will also degrade over time depending on conditions, however I have had the one I carry almost every day for almost ten years at this point. It got into the jaws of a nice girls pitbull way back when and so now it only holds five rounds, but it’s still working just fine aside from that.

I also have a Desantis brand strip that is basically a clone of the Bianchi, and it’s held up for four or five years now.

 

I've used SKS stripper clips as a ramshackle speedstrip. Actually very reliable when you mess with the clip's geometry, rounds won't get loose in your pockets and all.

 

I have a couple of Bianchi speed strips that are about 8 years old. To be honest I only used them for about 3 months out of those 8 years. I did see and handle them recently and they are in good shape. I may be using them again soon.

 

I have a bunch of several brands. The Bianchi did wear out but from daily use, the washing machine, time and abuse. I just replaced them. For the cost they owe me nothing. I have them for all my revolvers in all my calibers. I have never paid attention enough to know if one brand is better than the other I just know some of my Bianchi’s are the oldest.

 

For 38 Spl, I use the DeSantis brand - have worked well for some time.

 

Another vote for Bianchi.

 

Bianchi.

 

Bianchi.

Know no others.

Ones I've had for years, no problems
except one that broke/tore in half.
But must admit I don't use them all
that often.

 

I've had Bianchi's that lasted 15-20 years before they came apart. I just recently bought some tuff strips for .22 LR but have read where they're not as durable. Time will tell.

 

I use the ones by Tuff Products. The ones I had in the garage have fallen apart. Maybe the 100+ heat during the summer. The ones I’ve had in the house seem fine after a couple years of storage and use. Both my daughter and her husband have them and use them and have had no problems. I guess the heat isn’t good for them.

 

It seems like those in the OP were made from too brittle of a rubber or the elastomer was baked out of them from the truck storage.

We used to do thermal aging tests on plastics when I worked at UL. Elevated temperatures for plastics (and rubbers) simulate accelerated aging, so we could estimate how long the plastic would last under differing environments.

Bottom line seems to be that QuickStrips by Tuff Products seem to use an inferior rubber/plastic that doesn't hold up well over time. Since these are one-piece items made from one material, spend a bit extra and get the good ones; your life could depend on it some time.

 

I'm still using Bianchi Speed Strips that I purchased new many years ago. I have to qualify this by saying I don't carry my S&W snubbies all that much any more as I have switched primarily to semi-autos for CCW. But the Speed trips are still working just fine when they are used.

 

I realize why I did the Tuff strips to start with. It appears they are the only ones making a 5-shot speed strip. The Bianchi are all 6-shot.

None the less the next time I order from Amazon I am going to try a pack of Bianchi and Adoreal (real cheap probably get what I pay for).

 

Speaking of speed strips I saw a guy carrying 5 rounds in his 6 round strip. When asked why, he replied that he had a five shot revolver. When asked if perhaps loading six is a better idea, maybe an extra round might come in handy, I got the epiphany look.

 

Hmm, I JUST got a pair of the Tuff 5 shot speed strips, too...wonder how long they will last me.

 

Same thing happened to my Tuff speed strips after a couple of years.

 

It doesn't make them much bigger. The question is spacing, for loading two at a time.

mcb, if you need speed strips, you're going to need them to WORK; your life might depend on them. Spend the extra three bucks already!

 

I would prefer the 5-shot only because they do fit places that the six shots won't but it's not a deal breaker. I honestly carry a spare moonclip more often than a speed-strip.

As for spending extra, right, that is why I am buying both. The Bianchi, that appears to be the generally accepted "good ones" so I will have two good speed strips I can count on out of the package. I am also buying the brand I have not heard of yet to test and see. Sometimes the hungry new company, despite the low cost, is actually making the better product and are priced low to make inroads into a tough market. Sometime its just because they cut corner and make crap. Got to test and see.

 

I've had the same issues with the Tuffproducts strips - even ones that simply sat in a sock drawer for most of their life, split and crumbled the 2nd time I put them into a pocket and went for a walk. Going with Bianchi only from now on!

 

Another vote for the Tuff strips. I haven't left them in a vehicle during summer heat but they're holding up well to my pocket carry.

 

I really like the Zetasix J-Pak. It’s faster than a straight speed strip.
I carry 2 in a small Velcro nylon belt pouch. They have a K size that’s great with my Kimber K6s.
https://zetasix.com/product/j-pak/

 

This issue is becoming generally known, as more folks encounter the problem. Tuff Products Quick Strips do not last very long.

Eventually, Bianchi Speed Strips will start to crack, too, but it takes a very long time.

Safariland bought Bianchi, so, Speed Strips are now marketed under the Safariland brand.