Speedloaders: HKS vs. Safariland

[ZDavidoff]

I'd like some recommendations on what speedloaders to use on my 5-shot snubbie. HKS and Safariland seem to be the most widely availible, but I'm willing to look into whatever works best.
Thanks
ZDavidoff

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Safariland are all I use due to their function and quality. Never had much luck with HKS, since they seem to need more wiggling and fine motor skills to use properly.

 

[MedGrl]

Everyone is different. Speedloaders are not all that expensive. You might try getting one HKS and one Safariland to find which works best for you.

 

[MCgunner]

I much prefer the Safariland. Bought one a while back for my little Taurus 85. It's much easier to use and feeds more precisely.

 

[P95Carry]

Another vote for Safariland. The Comp 1 is smallest but I found the Comp 2 better and not much bigger so still good to slip in pocket. Comp 3 is superb but too huge with the large spring to be so easy for carry.

HKS work but - too much slop and jiggle and so it is easy to have a lot of fumble when trying to be fast. The Safariland holds rounds tighter and once started a shove gets the job done, no knobs to twist.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Used to use Safariland, have now switched to HKS.

I do not quite trust the Safariland design for a defensive ammo supply. May be great for competition. The Safarilands make me nervous that the speedloader will release prematurely through bumps or handling.

The HKS design is a bit slower (to a degree that varies by model/caliber) but I trust it to hold the rounds secure until I need them.

Speedloaders are not all that expensive. You might try getting one HKS and one Safariland to find which works best for you.

+1.

 

[Mulliga]

Tried 'em both...

I like Safariland by a wide margin. HKS speedloaders work fine, but, as others have noted, they are slightly harder to get into the cylinder (rounds can move around more) and require an extra step to load. Both work, and others like the HKS for good reasons. The HKS loaders are certainly easier to fill and empty, and they might be a bit more durable (the only spring is on that detent on the knob mechanism, whereas the Safarilands are more complicated).

I've carried Comp 1s, and just in my experience, there is basically zero chance the speedloader will release the rounds without being pushed into the cylinder. In fact, when I need to empty the Safarilands without the revolver, I have to resort to finding a pen or something to depress the center plunger. But, the whole point of the speedloader is speed, so that's why I go Safariland.

 

[g56]

I prefer the Safariland design, it is a much better design overall, much more user friendly. It is possible for the Safariland to release the cartridges when dropped, I've had it happen to me, but that doesn't change my opinions of the advantages/disadvantages between the Safariland and HKS designs. I have used the Safariland speedloaders while on duty and in competition, I never saw a HKS speedloader used in competition, I have occasionally seen someone carrying HKS speedloaders for a duty weapon.

It boils down to this, the only way I would even consider carrying HKS speedloaders is if the Safariland was not available at all.

 

[stevekl]

I had a HKS speedloader once and it was so awkward that it turned me off to the idea of speedloaders. It made me think that all speedloaders are useless.

I'll soon be getting a DA revolver (oh god monday PLEASE come faster!) and this thread has inspired me to try safariland. Do they make a 5 shot .357/.38 that will work with a sp101?

 

[lev83]

I have used and like both designs but I would say I prefer the HKS because release mechanism requires a small twist before releasing shells into chambers.

 

[Bulldozer]

Have tried EVERYTHING...

Safarilands are all I'll carry, either Comp I or Comp II.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The problem is HKS makes speedloaders for guns that Safariland doesn't. Safariland is a LE supply company; their revolver accessories are going by the wayside since LE doesn't use them much anymore. They don't make any of their latest-generation holsters for revolvers, for instance.

Safariland doesn't make speedloaders for .44 Magnum revolvers. Safariland doesn't make speedloaders for 5-shot .44 Specials. Safariland doesn't make speedloaders for seven and eight shot .357s.

If Safariland made speedloaders for the 686+ seven shooter, I'd buy one! As is, though, the only option is HKS.

I can see why you guys don't like HKS though. If you're right handed they're probably a chore to use.

 

[John C]

Nightcrawler;

Safariland at one time made speedloaders for .44 mag revolvers, I found a couple in a local gunshop and bought them.

Technique is very important in speedloading. The one I use I learned in police academy from a crusty old firearms instructor who still carried a revolver. The trick is to hold the revolver in your left hand while you eject the spent casings. Bring the revolver back down so the muzzle is pointing at the ground and use your right hand to speedload the cartridges into the chambers. Regrasp the weapon in the right hand and use the left hand to close the cylinder. Make sure you keep your speed loaders on the same side of your body as the gun.

It's VERY simply and easy, once you see it done. I can't describe it well at all.

Speedloaders can be very fast.

-John

 

[ktd]

I have both, and have decided for myself to use the safarilands on my j frames and hks for my full size revolvers. HKS is considered somewhat old school. If I recall correctly, there were two variations of the K frame model HKS, at least, with one that held rounds with a little play, and one that held them a bit more rigidly.

The HKS are promoted as being more durable. I landed once on my side and busted both my safariland L frame speedloaders. After that I also carried a speed stip wallet and/or a really old school cartridge slide. I have not been able to similarly damage my HKS. I dunno the way I figure it if I am carrying a revolver these days, I am obviously not worried about capacity. I notice I am more likely to hit stuff with a revolver anyway.

k

 

[Eskimo Jim]

I have HKS and Safariland speed loaders as well as a couple of Bianchi Speed strips. I prefer the Safariland Comp IIs best.

Try both or any kind that you can get your hands on.

Jim

 

[LanEvo`]

I can see why you guys don't like HKS though. If you're right handed they're probably a chore to use.

That all depends on how you were trained. I've competed in PPC for close to 10 years. The technique I was taught is to hold the gun in your LEFT hand (with the middle 2 fingers extending though the frame and the thumb on the extractor) and to load with the right hand. This is the technique taught to all the local LEOs and the one used by all my fellow PPC competitors.

The HKS speedloaders were clearly designed to be used in this manner. They work beautifully in your right hand. If you use the "Barney Fife" technique of DA revolver loading (i.e., holding the by the grip in your right hand, letting the cylinder swing free, and loading with the left hand) then HKS speedloaders would certainly be quite awkward. But most wheelgunners don't use this technique.

Emre

 

[JWM]

HKS for duty

With the exception of Safariland Comp III that I use for PPC, I've always used HKS for duty revolvers since the early 1980's. HKS has always had a solid reputation for retaining their rounds in the loader until deliberately released by the shooter. In fact, gun writer/trainer Mas Ayoob did experiments with all major brands of speed loaders then on the market in the late 80's. His testing method was a Red Devil paint mixer. Thousands of vibrations per minute. If you ever seen a can of paint given the "shakes" at your local hardware store, you know what I mean. Only HKS loaders passed the test.

 

[ZDavidoff]

Looks like it's going to be a Safariland. Thanks for all the advise.

Do they make a 5 shot .357/.38 that will work with a sp101?

Yes they do, here's the link: http://safariland.com/products.asp?id=167