speedloader for s+w 642

I have a s+w 642 and bought a speedloader for it. Its for a j frame, but it doesn't work. Theres not enough clearance, the cylinder release is in the way so the rounds wont go into the cylinder. Whats going on here?

 

What brand of speedloader did you buy? What grips are on your revolver? Often the grip will cause interferance with speedloaders. Requires either swapping or modifying the grip.

 

sks. Its not the grip its the cylinder release

 

It is quite common on J-Frames.

There just is no clearance to spare for a J-Frame speed-loader.

They do work, but you have to learn how to hold your mouth right.
Try turning the cylinder & speed-loader as you jiggle it past the release.

Or, take a Dremel to the cylinder latch thumb-piece.

Or, forget speed-loaders and buy some Bianchi Speed-Strips.
They carry a lot flatter in your pocket anyway.

rc

 

Wait… I know my 637 isn’t a 642 but aren’t the cylinder release latches in the same place? I have a few HKS speed loaders and mine pop right in. I have the older style Uncle Mikes grips and they don’t block it either. I’m not saying it’s perfect but I don’t have to do acrobatics to get it to work either.

 

MIght depend on the type of thumbpiece your gun has on it.

The old flat-latch was never a problem.
The later deep-dish checkered type from the mid 50's through MIM guns was a Royal PITA with speed-loaders.
The new style contured latch they use now isn't nearly as bad.

rc

 

What kind of speed loader is it? My HKS works perfectly with my 642.

 

The OP said sks speedloader but I have a feeling he meant HKS. The HKS Company makes a lot of different speedloaders. Are you sure you bought the right one?

 

Technique

^^^^
What he said, with HKS #36 speed loaders. Works for me in 4 J-frames with the dished release latches. Grips must be properly relieved so I would look closely at the grips if the above technique isn't working.

 

Agreed. I just picked up a nice Model 36, with "the later deep-dish type" of thumb latch, and found my speedloader hits it a bit, preventing the rounds & speedloader from getting perfectly in line with the chambers when reloading.

I just ordered an SDM latch, and will radius the lower edge with a dremel. The SDM latches are very grippy, so I much prefer them to the factory latch anyway. It keeps the original latch unaltered, too.

 

With the new style contour latch, a SafariLand speedloader works very well.

At a right-handed shooter, the way I prefer to reload is:
1. From a 2-handed grip, move the left hand forward and up to cradle the cylinder.
2. While pressing the cylinder release with the right thumb, use the left middle+ring fingers to push the cylinder from the frame.
3. Holding barrel up, use left thumb to forcefully press ejector rod and remove brass.
4. Pointing barrel down, right hand obtains the speedloader and brings it to the cylinder.
5. Bullet/cylinder alignment can be facilitated by rotating the cylinder with the left thumb/middle finger, rather than trying to rotate the speed loader.
6. Release rounds from the speed loader.
7. Drop speed loader from right hand, and right hand re-grips the gun.
8. Close the cylinder using the meaty part of the lower thumb.
9. Re-grip with left hand, resuming a 2-handed grip.

For reloading, if you hold the gun with the right hand and the speed loader with the left hand it gets complicated. Try it and see what works best for you.

 

"The OP said sks speedloader but I have a feeling he meant HKS. The HKS Company makes a lot of different speedloaders. Are you sure you bought the right one? "

"What he said, with HKS #36 speed loaders. Works for me in 4 J-frames with the dished release latches. Grips must be properly relieved so I would look closely at the grips if the above technique isn't working."

Yes I ment HKS and I got the #36

 

Well you certainly got the right speedloader. That is a little strange, sorry I have no other ideas.

 

Just a shot in the dark...are you using wad cutters? I have had few speedlaoders for different revolvers that you couldn't fit all the way "down",you would have to kind of just put the actual bullet part in the cylinder, not the case....