What would you say the best speedloader brand is.

[Warp]

I don't think I would, personally, feel comfortable trying to 'tactically reload' a revolver by removing and replacing only the spent cases. That sounds fairly time consuming, tedious and attention demanding for a situation where you think you may still need a pistol with which to defend yourself. How quickly can you repeatedly perform that task?

 

[Red Cent]

Dean cuts his off also but I have not bugged him about it.

"....but it does lessen the chance of a bobbled reload."

May I ask you to expand on this? I use Comp IIIs with my Dan Wesson. Since both types agressively eject the rounds into the chambers, I am really not seeing this.

 

[David E]

Stamped spring steel is by far my favorite.

Until it bends.

Moonclips are fine on the range where you can use range-only holders for them.

There are not too many practical ways to carry one concealed on the street and they don't carry well in a pocket.

 

[David E]

I prefer the twist-knob type of release because I practice releasing the rounds into my hand, in the event I'm just topping off after firing only 2-3 rounds, and am out of, or wasn't carrying any loose rounds.

That's not a very good way to do that.

A better way is to carry belt mounted loops (Bianchi makes a 6 rd snap on unit) so you can "top off" after firing 2-3 rds. (and you counted correctly)

The best way is to do a speed reload.

 

[RX-178]

Well obviously loops for individual rounds would be BETTER than releasing speedloader rounds into your hand.

But those loops don't magically replenish themselves after being used.

I still practice releasing the speedloader into my palm, dumping the rounds into a pocket, and then using them to top off the cylinder, and because of that I prefer twist-knob style speedloaders over the Safariland style.

 

[David E]

Well obviously loops for individual rounds would be BETTER than releasing speedloader rounds into your hand.

But those loops don't magically replenish themselves after being used.

But a speedloader you just robbed 2 rounds from does?

I still practice releasing the speedloader into my palm, dumping the rounds into a pocket, and then using them to top off the cylinder...

I'm going to hazard a guess and say this is a technique you thought of.....right?

 

[Warp]

I still think it's a less-than-good idea. That is awful lot of fine motor skill, concentration, and attention to detail for a potentially life-or-death situation where you just fired your pistol in defense and think you may have to fire it again...and also a lot of time with the cylinder open and the pistol not immediately ready for action.

I'd rather not open the cylinder at all or simply dump it and replace with 6 fresh. hell, if you really want to go that route why not get to cover, dump the cylinder, replace with the 6 from your speedloader, then pick up the good rounds from the ground and stick them in your pocket. One at a time while being very situationally aware, of course. Or just dump them, leave them, and keep working on getting the hell out of there.

 

[RX-178]

Okay, let's get a few things out of the way first.

I rarely carry revolvers anyway, but when I do, I prefer to carry BOTH loose rounds for topping off the cylinder, as well as speedloaders for reloading when I shoot it empty. (never used speed strips, although I keep telling myself I should try them out sometime)

When the loose rounds are used up, I'll take a speedloader, release the rounds into my hand, and use those to top off the cylinder, because I prefer to do that, rather than potentially dump 3-4 perfectly good rounds onto the ground.

And while it might not be a technique I've ever heard professionally taught, I learned it from a retired former-SFPD cop who carried a Colt Python his entire career. I'm not sure what they're even called, but on his duty belt (which he still has), he kept these little leather pouches that dumped 6 individual rounds into your palm when you opened them.

Releasing the speedloader into my palm does basically the same thing.

 

[MrBorland]

"....but it does lessen the chance of a bobbled reload."

May I ask you to expand on this? I use Comp IIIs with my Dan Wesson. Since both types agressively eject the rounds into the chambers, I am really not seeing this.

For the speediest reloads, the speedloader should freely fall away the instant the rounds release. With an uncut skirt, the speedloader tries to fall away, but catches some rim before all the rounds completely drop in. The speedloader doesn't fall away, and the rounds don't drop in. A bobbled reload.

Another source of hangup can be the center plunger when it contact the inner ejector rod. If the plunger's hollow, filling it in with JB weld prevents this hangup (see pic).

 

[hank327]

I've used both HKS and Safariland speedloaders and MUCH prefer the Safarilands. They hold the rounds better and the "push" release of the rounds seems more intuitive to me than the twist of the HKS. For carrying rounds to "top off" my revolver, I'd carry a spare speed strip to hold the rounds instead of carrying loose rounds or taking them from a speed loader.

 

[Warp]

When the loose rounds are used up, I'll take a speedloader, release the rounds into my hand, and use those to top off the cylinder, because I prefer to do that, rather than potentially dump 3-4 perfectly good rounds onto the ground.

How would you dump 3-4 rounds onto the ground?

Have you used Safariland speedloaders?

And you think you won't potentially dump good rounds on the ground while dumping the speedloader into your hand to load them by hand??

 

[RX-178]

How would you dump 3-4 rounds onto the ground?

In this instance I'm talking specifically about topping off the cylinder after having fired only two or three rounds. I do this because of how few rounds a revolver holds. It might just be me, but I prefer keeping it fully loaded as much as possible.

Since I /do/ like to reload after firing, just simply using a speedloader would mean I'd have to empty the entire cylinder, which could have 3-4 perfectly good rounds still in it at the time.

It doesn't confuse me because topping off the cylinder is always me making a conscious choice that I have an opportunity to top off, and following through.

Reloading from a speedloader (which I also practice) is more of a reaction to the gun going *click* instead of *bang* as opposed to making a decision to reload.

Have you used Safariland speedloaders?

No, I haven't. When I was shopping for speedloaders, the description on how they work made me think that it'd be difficult to release the rounds into my hand using those. They're also more EXPENSIVE than the HKS, which was another reason I didn't buy them. Nobody I know has Safariland speedloaders that I could try out, otherwise I would give them a shot.

And you think you won't potentially dump good rounds on the ground while dumping the speedloader into your hand to load them by hand??

I don't 'think' in this case, this is actually something I practice when running my revolver (yeah, I only have one as of yet). I may not practice it nearly as regularly as my autoloaders, but I'm pretty darned confident of it already. It helps that I don't fumble around with 6 individual rounds in my hand (that sounds insane even to me, even though that former SFPD cop that I learned from made it look easy).

I take the speedloader, and hold it so that the tips of the bullets are pointed back towards my wrist, and pressing lightly into my palm. Then I use my thumb and fingers to go around the sides of the loader, and twist the knob to release the rounds into my hand, and let the loader fall to the ground.

Then I just dump the loose rounds into a pocket and fish out however many I'm trying to load.

 

[Warp]

That sounds slow as hell.

I cannot wrap my head around intentionally using a speedloader to empty into your hand, then dump into a pocket, then take back out to begin loading into the gun.

 

[RX-178]

Well, I'd only ever be doing this if I was not carrying loose rounds, or had already used them up reloading prior.

I really ended up practicing this a lot at the range, where I would use up my loose rounds, and start emptying my speedloaders into my hand and pocketing the rounds, rather than stopping and opening up my ammo can or ammo boxes again.

 

[carbuncle]

I had the HKS loaders for my 85, never had a problem with them.

 

[Buford57]

A second revolver.

Short of that I prefer the HKS, although I tried a Safariland Comp II in a K-frame .38 recently and was impressed by how great an improvement they are over the originals (i.e. they actually work).

I was forced to carry Safarilands during the early 80s, and to buy them out of my personal funds. About one in three would actually release the rounds reliably. In one case I had to use a hammer to get the ammo out. When I found two that (usually) worked I put them in the pouches on my Sam Brown for inspection and put HKS loaders in my jacket or pants pockets and Bianchi Speed Strips in my shirt pockets.

Honestly, the memory of frantically "pushing to release" on the clock, then "beating with fist to release" and finally "stomping with boot to release" all the while imaging doing this under fire is enough to relegate the new Safarilands to range use only. The HKS may be potmetal and plastic, but you know the first time you use it whether it is defective and I have one that has been on the job for over 30 years and never failed. IIRC it cost $3.95 new.

I'll date myself even more by saying that when the Safarilands were mandated they replaced dump boxes holding 6 loose rounds each. Since Stage One of our course of fire was "Load six, fire two, load two, fire six, load six, fire six". You got pretty good at ejecting and loading individual rounds and making sure the pouch was snapped tight after you "loaded two". I get a kick out of the TV commandos swapping magazines in a tactical reload when they get "down" to 8 rounds.

 

[David E]

I rarely carry revolvers anyway,

THATS good!

but when I do, I prefer to carry BOTH loose rounds for topping off the cylinder, as well as speedloaders for reloading when I shoot it empty. (never used speed strips, although I keep telling myself I should try them out sometime)

How do you carry the loose rounds? At the bottom of your pocket? Do you have anything else in those pockets, like loose change, etc? Speed strips have been available for at least 30+ yrs. Might be time to check them out.

When the loose rounds are used up,

Let me get this straight, you just fired your gun for blood, a person or persons is bleeding, dying or dead at your feet, but there might be more badguys around, so you bypass your speedloader and instead use the slowest possible reloading method by fishing for loose rounds at the bottom of your pocket (presuming no loose change is mixed in) drag them out 2-3 rds at a time.....you could almost reload a cap and ball revolver as fast!

I'll take a speedloader, release the rounds into my hand, and use those to top off the cylinder, because I prefer to do that, rather than potentially dump 3-4 perfectly good rounds onto the ground.

Your priority should be getting your defense gun fully loaded as fast as possible!

I learned it from a retired former-SFPD cop who carried a Colt Python his entire career. (he used dump pouches) that dropped 6 individual rounds into your palm when you opened them.

Ok, so a cop that either pre-dated speedloaders or was too lazy to learn how to work them is the impetus for this absurd technique?? It's an outdated technique that has long since been eclipsed by technology.

Releasing the speedloader into my palm does basically the same thing.

No, it's ignoring the technology available to you that could save your life.

If that same cop told you that rotary phones, 8-tracks and black and white tv's were all the technology you really need, would you still follow his sage advice?

 

[RX-178]

THATS good!

I'm attempting to keep this a civil debate. I politely request that we maintain it as such.

How do you carry the loose rounds? At the bottom of your pocket? Do you have anything else in those pockets, like loose change, etc? Speed strips have been available for at least 30+ yrs. Might be time to check them out.

Loose change goes into the front portion of a wallet on my belt. The lower right cargo pocket on my jacket (my most common concealing garment) is always empty, not specifically for loose rounds, but because I don't have anything that I carry in that pocket. Loose rounds that I'd be carrying from the get-go, would be 12 rounds in one of those folding ammo carrier things (Uncle Mike's if I'm not mistaken) that would be on the right side of my belt in front of my holster. Two speedloaders would be behind my holster.

Let me get this straight, you just fired your gun for blood, a person or persons is bleeding, dying or dead at your feet, but there might be more badguys around, so you bypass your speedloader and instead use the slowest possible reloading method by fishing for loose rounds at the bottom of your pocket (presuming no loose change is mixed in) drag them out 2-3 rds at a time.....you could almost reload a cap and ball revolver as fast!

Nope. If I just fired my gun in defense, and there could be more badguys around, I'm scanning for other threats first. I still have ammo in the gun, and I'm still in the fight if it's not over with. If I /had/ shot it empty on the first guy, I'd be reloading with a speedloader the moment I hear it go *click* instead of *bang*, because that's how I practice.

Your priority should be getting your defense gun fully loaded as fast as possible!

I just prefer not to dump usable rounds when I'm quick enough pulling the spent cases and loading from the cartridge holder. I prefer not to assume that I'm not going to need those rounds that would be dumped to the ground.

Ok, so a cop that either pre-dated speedloaders or was too lazy to learn how to work them is the impetus for this absurd technique?? It's an outdated technique that has long since been eclipsed by technology.

Well, I don't happen to live next door to Thunder Ranch and this gentleman was kind enough to teach me how he learned to run a revolver. In my opinion, he was darned good at it too. Also, I've never once said that I don't reload using speedloaders, just that I prefer HKS over Safariland because I can release the rounds from the loader to load individually if the situation calls for it. Since I practice loading rounds individually, I accept that the situation may eventually call for doing so.

No, it's ignoring the technology available to you that could save your life.

Again, I /DO/ use speedloaders to reload. In the manner they were meant for, the entire cylinder at a time. I reload that way whenever I hear the wheelgun go *click* instead of *bang*. When I'm in a situation where I can assess the situation, and decide that I have an opportunity to reload a partially fired cylinder, I will pull the fired casings individually, and reload those chambers individually.

If not? I'm probably in a situation where I should keep shooting, and then reload from the speedloader when the cylinder's fully empty.

 

[David E]

If I fired rounds in self defense and I'm using a revolver, the priority is to get the gun back up to full capacity in the shortest time possible. Doing it your way is the slowest way possible, because your priority is misplaced.

What do you do with the 3-4 loose rounds left over from the speedloader?

At the very least, dump the spent and unspent rounds into your hand, pocket it all, then complete the reload via speedloader.

 

[RX-178]

What do you do with the 3-4 loose rounds left over from the speedloader?

They'd still be in my pocket, unless there was a hole in it or something...

 

[magtf388]

Best Bar-None are the S.L. Variant models found at Bobby Macs.

http://www.bobmacs.com/accessories.html

Used and carried daily and no issue. If you don't know the bobmacs site, worth a look. I have never seen a holster from him but have the S.L. Variant for my Det Spec and my Mod 13

 

[Black Knight]

The best speedloader, that's simple, a second gun. All joking aside, I have used both HKS and Safariland for duty use. Both are good the only real difference is the way they are loaded and released. The HKS uses a knob system that is twisted to lock and unlock. Safariland is springloaded and released by a button that activates when it contact the cylinder. Both are good and fast. It is personal choice as to which is used. I started with the HKS and that is what I choose but I am equally pleased Safariland. Thankfully both are relatively inexpensive so try both. Good luck and stay safe.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I'll go with 5star. Very nicely made.

[/IMG]

 

[Red Cent]

Thanks MrBorland.

 

[David E]

They'd still be in my pocket, unless there was a hole in it or something...

So you release the rounds from the speedloader while it's still in your pocket?