Using the LEFT hand for speedloaders, or RIGHT?

[GRIZ22]

I've always used my right as you need to worry more about losing the cylinder than readjusting my grip.

Try using your left hand for the speedloader in the dark and you'll see what I mean.

And, there are mixed-up folks like me, who use both.

We're not mixed up rexster, we have the best of both worlds.

 

[Rexster]

Who said mixed-up is bad; I thought it made us better!

 

[Rexster]

People have noticed me eating left-handed, with my duty pistol on my hip, and asked me why I do that. I have said it is so I can keep on eating while I am shooting; why interrupt a meal?

 

[Feanaro]

Try using your left hand for the speedloader in the dark

Done. I turned all the lights out and did my normal drill. Perfectly. A second repeat went fine, except that I pulled one round away with the speedloader. But I do that with the lights on. I did this experiment four times. I did not have trouble finding the cylinder. If anyone cannot find the cylinder, I would say they have not practiced enough.

 

[GRIZ22]

Done. I turned all the lights out and did my normal drill.

Now try it after running around the block several times while you're trying to duck bullets someone is shooting at you. Using you right hand for the speed loader creates an easier hand finds hand situation as in reloading an auto pistol.

 

[jad0110]

Jerry Miculek's technique fo switching his gun from his right (strong) to left (weak) hands so he can reload with his right (strong) hand is not at all complex or awkward. After only a little practice it becomes very natural and much easier than any other method I've tried. I actually find the method of leaving the gun in the strong hand to be unnatural and time consuming.

Though I'm not near as fast as Jerry, I can at least reload my 686 about as quickly as a 1911.

Grant Cunningham's website explains what is basically Jerry's method in very simple, step-by-step terms with pictures included. The only thing I do significantly different is that I don't use my palm to strike the ejector rod - I give several sharp, rapid flicks of it with my left thumb while grabbing a speedloader at the same time with my right hand

http://www.grantcunningham.com/revolver-reload.html

 

[Feanaro]

"Hand to hand" or not, I'll bet your average pistolero has trouble getting a mag seated in pitch black. This is because they do not practice reloading until it becomes second nature. A good reason not to be average.

Using the left hand leaves your right hand free to hold the revolver securely. Better retention. You don't have to train yourself to properly grip the revolver again. Using the right is easier, initially. It's easier to wiggle the rounds into the chamber with an HKS and easier to turn the knob. If I were stuck with HKS, I would use the right hand exclusively.

Mike Carmoney uses the lefthand method and he has placed third at the USPSA Revolver nationals two years in a row, so it's not some outmoded way of reloading. You can be fast and reliable with either method, given enough practice. Do what works for you, not what Jerry or anyone else is doing.

 

[ZeSpectre]

My technique is here in Sixgun Speedloading for Southpaws.

 

[20nickels]

I use both, but prefer Right hand Miculek style. It is faster for me because you have positive control of the cylinder. If I have to smack out a sticky extraction I also find this method more natural.

 

[sm]

First off not only am I a bit out of practice, I am a bit older and , never did use the timer for some stuff. Mentors were yelling and tossing fire crackers, or shooting guns to distract me instead of using "time".

My "street" technique is -
I keep the revolver in strong hand, right hand, and open latch with strong hand thumb.

Right hand moves thrust out cylinder and while I whack ejector hard with weak/left palm, right hand is positioned onto cylinder.

Speed strips have 4 rounds. I can get 4 rounds into a 5 or 6 round cylinder faster.
If the hammer falls on a empty charge hole, pull trigger again.

Street method, I am not worried about gun games, and times and all, I am concerned with motor skills being diminished, low light, no light and getting the gun back up and running and back into the fight.

Oh, another reason why I only carry .38spls, and those I associate with.
I can toss a speed strip to someone with a .357, and my loads run in their gun, but .357s will not work in a .357 gun.


We alleviate some factors and keep it real simple...

 

[Citroen]

What Bill Larry said

I'm right handed; eject the spent rounds with my left thumb; grip the cylinder with my hand using the fingers to hold the cylinder still while I drop the muzzle towards the ground (from pointing up to use gravity for the empties) and reach for and reload with my right hand.

I prefer HKS speedloaders because I like to grip them by the twist knob; I use SWC loads for PPC and use the moon clips for the .45.

Once the fresh load is in place I wrap my right hand around the gun and transfer it back to my right hand. I keep the left hand on it for a two handed grip and, unlike a lot of other shooters, I advance the index finger of my left hand to the front of the trigger guard to help keep the weapon on target for faster follow-up shots.

Works for me and has for over 20 years.

John
Charlotte, NC

 

[medmo]

I am a primary right handed shooter. The fastest and least awkward reload is using my right hand to load the speed loader. My aim of bringing loader to cylinder is much faster with my right hand because it is a natural motion of closing my hands. I'm basically pointing the speed loader with my right hand towards the circle of my thumb and palm of my left hand which is holding the cylinder steady. I don't see how keeping my grip on the gun with my right hand and loading with my left is going to be more smooth and speed things up. I don't seem to have the accuracy aligning the loader and it seems awkward as hell doing it that way. Smooth is fast.

I also can dump six rounds of a Bianchi speed strip two at a time faster using my right hand to chamber the rounds into the cylinder and peeling the strip upwards to dump the rounds. When I try if left handed I can't seem to line the rounds up with the cylinder so well and it feels awkward stripping the rounds.

 

[Feanaro]

I don't see how keeping my grip on the gun with my right hand and loading with my left is going to be more smooth and speed things up.

I didn't either. But reading Brian Enos' book, he played around with a lot of things just to see what would happen. I tried it just because. I found it to be faster. But I use my left hand more often than some people.

 

[medmo]

Brian shoots God-like. Jerry shoots God-like. A low mortal me does what works best for me. Nothing I do with a wheel gun reload resembles either of these guys.