Speedloader and revolver

[Red Cent]

Curious. Other than opening cylinder, turn barrel up, eject rounds while going for the Safariland Comp III, point barrel down, inject rounds, drop speedloader, close cylinder, acquire target, is there any "neat" things or just try to do it efficently and imbed the movements in the subconscious?

I use a Dan Wesson so the left thumb does the opening of the cylinder and ejects the rounds just before I am reaching for the speedloader.

I have chamfered, polished, oiled, and everything I can think of.

My routine is left hand goes forward, grasps the revolver so that the left thumb releases the cylinder. Middle and ring finger pushes the cylinder open. Thumb hits the ejetion rod. Right hand is going for the sl and acquires it with the thumb and forefinger on the cylinder with the cap in the palm of the hand.

I have sanded the tabs off and filled in the center hole. Ejection is always good and complete.

Any tricks from the experienced crowd?

 

[MrBorland]

Other than opening cylinder, turn barrel up, eject rounds while going for the Safariland Comp III, point barrel down, inject rounds, drop speedloader, close cylinder, acquire target, is there any "neat" things or just try to do it efficently and imbed the movements in the subconscious?

You got the basics, but the Devil's in the details. Getting your hands to multitask, mostly. I and some others offered a few tips on this recent thread:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=465227

Some 1-on-1 goes a long way, and helps prevent cementing bad habits into your subconscious, too. Next time you're at Caswell, a few minutes with Dean would be time very well spent, IMO.

I started practicing my reload at home by not worrying about time; just the movements. Then, I started using a par timer. Then, as crazy as it sounds, I went to using a metronome, and that helped more than the par timer. Seems I was rushing (with poor technique) to be sure I made the time cut, but a metronome paces me, so I can speed up my movements without getting focused on whether I'd make some time cut.

Speaking of reload times, I care about them when I practice, but not at matches. They are what they are. I trust my practice pays off, and it's one less thing I have to occupy my conscious thoughts with.

 

[beatledog7]

Be happy you don't shoot revolvers lefthanded--not there's a fast reload challenge!

 

[UranusDestiny]

I beg to disagree, lefties can reload a revolver just as fast, if not faster than a righty. I'm a lefty and I can reload a revolver faster than most right handers that I know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTT8qZkuWjI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

For a righty, I think transferring the weapon to your support hand and using the thumb to actuate the ejector rod is probably the most efficient way to reload. While this forces you to reacquire a firing grip when the reload is finished, it allows your dominant hand to reach for the speedloader, while the support hand is still in the process of ejecting the rounds, instead of doing one act after another, doing them at the same time and making the most use of both hands in the reloading process. Having said that, the ejector rod can be hard to actuate with high pressure rounds like .357 because the brass tends to get a bit sticky in the cylinder, so I primarily use this reload with my .38 revolvers.

 

[beatledog7]

Thanks. I do it more like Ayoob (stress reload) just not as smooth. Takes practice, I think more so than if I were naturally right handed.

 

[Red Cent]

UranusDestiny,

In PCCA, we use "target" loads or less. By the nature of the game, 22s are allowed.

I use 38 Specials and they are definitely not hot. Easy to eject. Mirror chambers.

I practice very slowly at home making the movements very deliberate. I agree with the match reload. I have not let myself rush as I continue to load the subconscious.

As I did in cowboy, I am shooting relaxed at first. The adrenalin still shows up but I'll quit when I don't become a little excited when I am called to the line.

The metronome is an interesting application.

I firmly believe in auto-pilot. This revolver thing will take some repetition. The draw, grip, and and target acquisition is somewhat basic for all handguns. Stroking that trigger is new but that is fun to practice.

Thanks fellas.

 

[beatledog7]

Slow is smooth--smooth is fast!

 

[MrBorland]

Slow is smooth--smooth is fast!

Slow is slow. It may not be smooth. Smooth is a pre-requisite for fast, but itself isn't fast. That's up to you. Once you've got the basic movements down smoothly (which requires continual practice, btw), a timer &/or metronome tells the tale, and helps you to speed things up a bit & keep track of your progress.

One other tip: Your reload is only as good as the shot before and the shot after (especially true in PCCA, where the scoring can best be described as...um...punitive ). Use a target while practicing your reloads, and make your reload practice (like dry fire practice in general) as much about seeing what you need to see to get good hits.

 

[Red Cent]

The revolver is a little new to me, especially the speed load. With the red hi-viz front sight and the great trigger on the DW, "A"s are somewhat a snap. Slowing down a little on the long ones works. The heavy DW makes for very fast singles or doubles, uh controlled pair.
PCCA suffers no sloppy shooting. You can be down 20 points in a heart beat. In the PCCA "game", you need to be fast and very accurate. Sometimes your shooting alley is less than 6"s and the target is on top of you. False confidence sucks.
I have seen a number of shooters screw up the last shot by not following through. And wild shots after the reload.

Another thing. I notice that I hold onto the revolver grip much better than I do with a SA revolver or an semi-auto. Sometimes they tend to get loose, but not the revolver. I guess its that trigger thing.

Practice.

 

[MrBorland]

With the red hi-viz front sight and the great trigger on the DW, "A"s are somewhat a snap.

Whoa, then - I need to get one of them DW thingies, then. (looks like they're being re-introduced, and a CZ rep promised me it wouldn't be long).

Since it's PCCA, I assume the ejector rod is on the short end. If so, I'd strongly recommend practicing your reloads with empty cases initially in the cylinder. It's tough to appreciate how one can perfect an anemic ejection stroke without empties in there to keep you challenged.

Also, with the cylinder opened and speedloader in place, check for interference between the speedloader and anything modifiable. The grip is the usual culprit, but the cylinder latch can also sometimes stand to be judiciously shaped.

 

[Red Cent]

Aha. You forgot where the cylinder latch is on a DW.



Grip modded more than factory.

One thing I find in reloading. My left hand, specifically my ring and middle finger does not keep the cylinder open. Invariably, when I eject the rounds and inject the rounds, I do something, possibly relax that hand since my present mind is going for the speedloader. The edge of the cylinder is slightly behind the recoil shield holding a round from seating. I randomly think "round not seated" and phyiscally punch it in with a finger. After the stage, when the adrenalin gets finished, it occurs to me. The round was in a bind.
Those chambers are mirrors and my cases are meticously clean and smooth.
Just gotta keep at it so my auto pilot performs the task.

Remember I am shooting soft recoiling rounds. Muzzle rise is almost non-existent with the weight of the revolver.

Red (staying within the rules) Cent

 

[MrBorland]

My left hand, specifically my ring and middle finger does not keep the cylinder open. Invariably, when I eject the rounds and inject the rounds, I do something, possibly relax that hand since my present mind is going for the speedloader. The edge of the cylinder is slightly behind the recoil shield holding a round from seating.

Once the cylinder's open, envision yourself holding just the cylinder, not the gun. The gun, for all intents and purposes, is just hanging there; and holding close to vertical, but with a slight inward cant, the gun's free to hang completely open from its own weight. Tightening your grip between your thumb and support fingers will impede the gun from completely hanging open. Hold just the cylinder.

Remember I am shooting soft recoiling rounds. Muzzle rise is almost non-existent with the weight of the revolver.

Red (staying within the rules) Cent

Trimmed down .38spl or .38 Short/Long Colt brass, and/or 124gr LRN 9mm bullets sized to .358" and/or a pinch of Clays is within the rules, too. Just sayin'

 

[Red Cent]

With those loads, you coulda been a cowboy. And I thought we were gamers.

Good point. I need to start watching what the pinky is doing. Thanks.