Speedloaders

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Wasz

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I recieved a GP100 for my birthday and I want to aquire a couple/few speedloaders for it. After looking it seems that there are 3 main types the cheapest ones with no mechanical parts that appear to be made of a rubber or something, the kind you load and then twist to release the rounds and the kind that are spring loaded and you just push once the rounds are in the chambers. Which of these is best and what brand is best over-all?
 
I decided to go with the Safariland Comp 2 model for the GP100 I have. I'm still waiting on them to arrive, so I can't get you personal experience with those yet. I like the ability to just insert and press to load the cylinder rather than insert and twist. YMMV.

jmm
 
I like the HKS speedloaders (have 4 now). I simply bought one of each type:HKS, Safariland II and III and picked a Buffertech up from their HQ (their base of ops was in the same town as me back in MO). I found the HKS works best for me though at times the rounds "slouch" and make it hard to load it.
Semper Fi!
-L7
 
I'm really starting to like the DADE speedloaders I got from fleabay. The guy has the only remaining stock of them out there from what I hear. I picked up the DADE speedloader pouch too and have found that if turned upside down, when you pop the snap, they fall right into your hand. I usually use HKS though till I can pickup a few more DADEs. With practice, the HKSs are pretty speedy.....
 
Wasz, I don't think you will be satisfied with the plastic/rubberized speedloaders. I have a few in a drawer, learned the hard way, whether to sell or give-it-away to some unsuspecting soul. They just don't function well. Broke one of the plastic ones in frustration. To be specific, they are the Safariland brand.
HKS: yes, you have a slight twist: but they are totally reliable, durable, and you can slap it good into your cylinders with no hestitation.
 
I love the HKS speedloaders.

I have 2 for each of my revolvers, and 2 mag loaders for my semi-autos.

The key is to practice practice practice reloading the revolvers quickly.

They are so nice for the range as well, more shootin' less loadin'.:D
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I use the Safarilands. HKS are good, too. Just a matter of preference. I'd avoid the plastic ones (though speed strips are good).

EDIT: Specifically I use Comp-Is. They are fast, but you must practice with them to get good (at first it felt a little foreign to just "push" the speedloader into the cylinder, and sometimes if I inserted the speedloader improperly the grip would get in the way).

Speed strips have always been pretty fast for me, at least relative to loading from loose rounds. I'd think that they would help a lot with partial reloads.
 
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Got a SafariLand Comp-3 for the 686 and just ordered a Comp-1 for the 642. Tried the HKS on a Redhawk and didnt like the twist.

Was gonna try speed strips too, but $7 for 2 pieces of rubber seemed steep to me.

Randy
 
You can make home made speed strips from fuel or heater hose available at auto parts stores. You may have to experiment to see what size works best for you.

I have both hks and comp IIs and I prefer the hks.

I have maybe a dozen speed loaders or so and I like to just put them all in a bag with a shoulder strap and go plinking on my property.

The hks handles being jostled around just fine. The comp IIs don't handle being jostled around as they get used. I got mine slightly used and have used them a lot since then.

For carry in the belt pouches I would have no problem choosing comp IIs.

However I like having a lot of speedloaders loaded up so I can go plinking on my land and I am not interested in worrying about the comp IIs dumping their rounds now and then.

I also consider the hks to be a simpler design however I have never taken each one apart to compare.

On the fuel line for speed strips I mostly wanted to avoid a pocket full of loose rounds and I wanted it to carry flat so I have not compared that to a real speed strip.
 
$7.00 does seem expensive for 2 pieces of plastic until you use them. I thought the same thing, but they are my most carried reload device. Try a set and see what you think.
 
The Speed Strips aren't QUITE as fast as a traditional speedloader, but they're WORLDS better than a bunch of loose rounds in a pocket. And they (strips) work in my Taurus 850, whereas the speedloader doesn't really (the grip of the pistol gets in the way)...

I'd like to try the Safariland for my 19 (currently have 4 HKS, and they DO work). Whatever you choose, practice!
 
I've always used HKS and I liked them fine. I just bought some Safariland Comp I's and Comp II's. I really like the Comp II's and may switch from the HKS. I didn't care much from the Comp I's.
 
It depends on how you're using the speedloaders. If you just carry reloads in the woods, then the HKS or the Safariland Comp II will both be great. If you are going to use in competitions then the best choice is the Safariland Comp III (with the speedloader holders from Ready Tactical - www.pistolpacking.com )

If you use this as a carry pistol then I'd suggest using one of the strips. The speedloaders are pretty bulky.
 
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The smaller loader is the Safariland Comp I. It vanishes into pockets.

The larger knob on the Safariland Comp II is roughly the same as a HKS turn/twist knob.

The flat strip in front is a Bianchi Speedstrip. Despite many years of practice, I can still never get the strip to be close to as quick as the Comps.

I want speed of reload in a wheelgun. For me, the HKS twist is slower. That fraction of a second and slight bulk may just save my life. The speedstrips are used/carried by me to carry snakeshot -- in the event I need to dispatch a reptile or rodent in the woods.

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This is my summer carry rig and typical outfit. I'm 6'1" and 240 pounds. That's a pair of shorts, sandals, a t-shirt, and a Wal-Mart flower shirt covering a 3" 65LS in a Hume IWB with 2 Hume Pack-Sixes on a Tucker 1 1/2" gunbelt.

ROBINSUMMERDRESS.gif

The drape of the fabric on the shirt is key. Also the thickness of fabric and pattern to fool the eye. I find that the "clingy" rayon mixes don't do as well as the cotton/poly blends. I want the shirt to hang loosely and not cling to my middle.
 
I like the Safariland Comp IIIs for competition if they fit your gun. Very fast. I have a bunch of the HKSs. They're available for just about every make, but they seem to be a little on the loose side, and I've accidentally released the rounds early from one as I was getting it off the belt. (My fault, but the locking mechanism was pretty loose.) I think I still prefer the Comp IIs to the HKSs. Not really big on the Comp Is, but they are compact.
 
the major advantage of HKS is that they make them for just about every wheelgun out there...and they are VERY secure because it requires a movement in a different plane to release the rounds.

the fastest speedloaders i have ever used were the Dade (mentioned above...and which i thought were out of existence) which were designed for competition, but which will lose rounds if you drop them on the ground

when i carried a wheelgun for a living, i placed my trust in the Safariland speedloaders (firts the comp I and later the comp II) they hold the rounds securely and rigidly aligned. they are very fast once you get used to just pushing the rounds home and letting the loader drop away. the comp II's make loading in the dark easier due to the body contours
 
I have both Safariland Comp II and HKS for my 686. I like the Safariland much better. With the HKS, it's often difficult to insert the cartridges as the rounds wobble and it takes some time to align them with the holes. They call this speedloader? In contrast, Comp II holds the round tight, and it is perfectly aligned and it drops free after insertion.
 
I have all 3 types. The Maxfire's are okay, I have not had any rounds come loose after carrying one in a pocket for 6 months, and the other is in my Jeep's console, been there about a year now. You do have to put them in a particular way, and some grips interfer with them. Some people don't like the yank to release either.

HKS are great, but I'm slow with the twist for some reason. Very durable though

The safarilands seem to be the fastest, just insert and push. They look lighter weight than the HKS, hope they hold up as well.
 
Can somebody post a link to the seller on eBay who has the DADE loaders? I'd like to get a few.
 
so far i think im going to try both, but the safariland sounds more like what i would want, just jam it home and no twisting.
 
Been using speed-loaders for some yrs & especially in PPC. From DADE to some other makes to HKS to Safairland Comp 1 & Comp II. Liking the latter the most. If I was still keen in PPC I might have tried out a number of Comp III
 
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