The Lost Art of the Revolver Speed Loader

Status
Not open for further replies.
MrBorland said:
I'm not familiar with the "pinch" technique - can you elaborate?
Click to expand...

Yes, that would have been helpful. :eek: I thought that after getting the cartridges aligned and partially inserted into the cylinder, instead of pushing against the cylinder (and yoke screw) to release them, I'd place my thumb on the release button and place another finger or two on the other side of the cylinder for support, and make a pinching motion to release the cartridges. This way, I figure there shouldn't be as much forward force on the yoke. I don't currently own a COMP II or similar speedloader, so I haven't actually tried it.
 
I've always hit the release with my strong hand thumb, hand still on the grip, used my trigger finger through the frame to push out the cylinder and keep it from rotating, pointed the barrel up, hit the ejector rod with my weak hand, pointed the revolver down, used the speed loader, closed the cylinder with my weak hand and gotten back on target. All with my strong hand still on the grip. I'm entirely self taught, and am open to suggestions and corrections. I only own HKS.
 
Great stuff!

I find that this makes it really easy to counter-rotate the cylinder and the speedloader to convince those six bullets to funnel down into the chambers when they want to hang up.
Click to expand...

At that point, esp. after a lot of firing when the crud starts building up, I like to dump the loader with a flick of the wrist and the push down with the thumb and palm to make sure there are no rims sticking out proud. Some may need a shove to get into place.
 
I'm entirely self taught, and am open to suggestions and corrections. I only own HKS.
Click to expand...

I'm not visualizing any issues there. May want to look at the video in my post and see if Mas's methods would be faster. Specifically, using the strong hand to run the speedloader (may save you some time.) seems to be the big difference.
 
Manco said:
Pinch method
Click to expand...
That is much like I imagined your description to be...I envisioned your thumb on the back od the loader and your fingers on the front of the cylinder.

I will allow that this might reduce the amount of stress on the yoke, but it would, at the same time, slow your reload down enough to make the use of a speedloader somewhat redundant as you are adding two motions
 
^^^ This. The "pinch method" does work. I have used it with Comp-I loaders, but it is just a bit slower. All in all, I prefer HKS with the twist knob.
 
Comp II's are my favorite loader. They work consistently and are not as bulky as the Comp III's. It's too bad they refuse to make them in other calibers, like .44 or .45

The only reason I'd use the "pinch technique" would be if I was reloading one handed. Otherwise, superior techniques abound.
 
Last edited:
Empty & Reload

In another thread someone mentioned the "proper" way to eject a revolver's cylinder. Their method consisted of. . .

- cyl. held in left hand, barrel up
- Right palm smacking ejector rod to eject spent cases
- . . . and I would imagine, load with right hand???

I've always done the following . . .

- pull or push cylinder release with left hand
- push out cylinder with right hand (while still holding revolver) and holding cylinder open with right hand
- smack ejector rod with left hand while holding barrel up
- reload with left hand (either individually or using speedloader) and close cylinder for firing

IMO, this allows for a quicker reload while tracking target without swapping revolver from one hand to another. What's the "correct" method?

Note - I am somewhat ambidextrous and was a Southpaw up to 4 or so.
 
The first method is a Strong Hand Reload, and the 2nd mostly a Weak Hand Reload. Both are viable, and ideally, one would be proficient with both, since different scenarios sometimes favor one over the other.

The advantage of the SHR is that if the weak thumb is used to eject (rather than smacking the rod with the strong hand), the strong hand can multi-task by simultaneously going for a speedloader. See pic below. The other advantage is that the strong hand is doing the actual insertion of the rounds. Revolver reloads take some manual dexterity, and since most peoples' strong hand is their dominant hand, using their strong hand to do a complex task is a bit easier.

If one is reloading a S&W, the other advantage of the SHR is that the cylinder is supported by the weak hand as the rounds are inserted. The yoke screw is the only thing holding the entire cylinder assembly onto the gun, and WHRs can really strain this screw. I've seen S&W cylinders actually fall off the gun and onto the ground during WHRs.

The disadvantage of the SHR is that one has to re-establish their grip before shooting again.

SHR reloads work best for me when using speedloaders, whereas I prefer a WHR when using moonclips.


Multitasking during a Strong Hand Reload:
686reload2012Nats.jpg
 
O.A., if I understand your method correctly, I think my responses would be those in Post 9.

Except I'm a little unsure how you mean you'd push out the cylinder with your right hand, if you're still gripping the revolver in your right hand?
 
Sam1911
O.A., if I understand your method correctly, I think my responses would be those in Post 9.

Except I'm a little unsure how you mean you'd push out the cylinder with your right hand, if you're still gripping the revolver in your right hand?
Click to expand...

I continue to grip with my right hand and use my right index and sometimes middle fingers to push out the cylinder as my left hand is releasing the cylinder. I use my left hand (palm) on the ejector rod. I then load with my left hand, either with a speed loader or individually. I always keep ammo on my left side. I've been doing it this way since I'd started shooting. I had always wondered why most folks swap hands to load a revolver but not a semi.

I think this method works for me because I was born a lefty but had it beaten out of me by the nuns in kindergarten :D (kidding about the beatings but the nuns did make me write with my right hand).
 
So you do have to break your firing grip anyway. And then cross your body with the ammo.

It works with an auto because you don't lose your firing grip, and because there's no ejection step to worry about.
 
I've always used the SHR, even though they did teach the WHR as a alternate method for us to try in the academy.

The obvious advantages of the SHR is the alignment (straight) as you bring the speedloader to the cylinder and the handedness of 5 of 6 people. However, more important is the ability to reload without looking...like in the dark when you can't see the cylinder...because your fingers rest between the cases and find the support hand thumb, which is placed in a flute, with your index finger.

The WHR is the faster method when using moonclips, as you are coming in laterally anyway and you don't put extra pressure on the cylinder during insertion
 
Ammo is on the left side. As for breaking the grip, usually its just the index finger off the trigger. A long time ago, I used to tilt/flick the cylinder open but learned that it was rough on the gun.
 
I may be old and dense but I fail to see the necessity of switching hands on the gun TWICE in order to use a speedloader. Is it due to lack of dexterity or what?
 
The method I developed pretty much came from being left handed and shooting Rugers. My left hand is my strong hand.

Reload begins by releashing the cylineder by pressing the release with the knuckle of my left hand index finger. At the same time, I am pressing the cylinder out with my right thumb.

Right thumb follows cylinder through the frame and supports the gun (barrel pointing up) while the right fingers wrap around under be barrel and sharply press the ejector rod to eject the cases. Left hand is reaching for speedloaders carried at 11 o'clock.

While right hand holds gun and thumb holds cylinder, left hand inserts speedloader.

With rounds loaded, left hand discards speedloader, regains firing grip while right thumb is withdrawn from the frame and fingers snap the cylinder closed.

Right hand returns to supporting grip as sights come on target.
 
Weak Hand Reload. The gun stays in your shooting (strong) hand; your other (weak) hand hits the ejector and inserts the new rounds.
 
marv said:
That's the way I do it. Didn't know it had an acronym.
Click to expand...
Have you done your WHR in the dark without looking?

How about under time pressure? Say, shoot 6, reload, shoot 6 in 8 seconds. In the dark. (HITTING a 7 yd IPSC target 12x that's dimly lit)

Way back when, that's what we had to do for one string of Qualification. Sadly, I was the only one that got all my shots off in time, on target.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
Anyone carry just a J-Frame, no speed loaders/strips?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
Red_SC
R
M
  • Locked
Speed loader or speed strip which if better?
2
Replies
46
Views
3K
goalkeeper91
G
S
  • Locked
Speed Loaders For Ruger LCR Revolvers
Replies
6
Views
2K
Chompiras
Chompiras
L
  • Locked
Speed Strips vs Speed Loaders
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
BullfrogKen
B
V
  • Locked
How do you prefer to carry extra revolver ammo, a speed strip or a speed loader?
2 3
Replies
57
Views
4K
DeepSouth
DeepSouth
Back
Top