How do you prefer to carry extra revolver ammo, a speed strip or a speed loader?

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vito

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I guess it would be worth practicing reloading any revolver that is used for concealed carry, but I wonder what most folks use, a strip or a speed loader? The strip seems much easier to actually carry, but it appears that a speed loader is quicker to use. And I also wonder what percentage of folks who carry a revolver have ANY type of additional load with them routinely, or do they count on the 5 or 6 rounds to be enough?
 
Speed strip. Slim and affordable.

Admittedly a speed loader may be faster but with training both are fast enough.

I rarely carry a revolver anymore. I'm much better with a semi auto.
 
I carry one of each with my GP100. The first reload I would go to is the speedloader. With my LCR, which is pocket carry only, I carry only a strip.
 
It depends on what I'm doing/wearing. If urban, or I'm wearing dress clothes, a strip. If rural, or I'm wearing jeans/khakis, maybe speed loaders. If open carry, then definitely speed loaders.
 
Speed Strip are much easier to carry, but Speedloaders are 3 times as fast...so you get to choose what you value more.

Be aware that you'll more likely need to reload if you carry a revolver than a pistol. You don't want to be asking yourself, "How many rounds have I fired?" after the initial exchange
 
For ccw I carry a speed strip as it conceals easier and I can load less than an entire cylinder full if I need to. Its hard to top off with a speed loader. If I'm carrying a single action of any sort I have a couple of belt slides with cartridge loops that I use, they would even work for ccw purposes.
 
I've been carrying my snubbie 357 more and more lately, and I rely on the 7 rounds to be enough. I just never seem to get around to grabbing extra rounds for it. I don't feel under-gunned.
 
Speed strips.

much slimmer, and I do not plan on doing a speed re-load during some heated gunfight!
I do carry spare ammo, just so that I could top off after a shooting incident, in case of secondary threats.
 
A speedstrip. Or two. Or three. Whenever I'm carrying the snubbie in my pocket, I rarely carry a speedloader, though I have one for it, but I always have at least one reload on me, and frequently more. They're small and light, so why not?

Revolver on the belt? A speed strip in a pocket, and at least a couple of speedloaders, too. Speedstrip for topping off, speedloaders for filling it fast.
 
This sounds sounds positively old fashioned, but I will carry my reload in a Galco 2x2x2.

So, neither of the above.
 
Also, imagining a situation where you fire a few rounds and take cover, with a speed strip it is easier to peel off 3 rounds and open the cylinder and reload just the three spend shells.

And a speed strip lays flat and takes up 1/2 the space. So you could carry 2, maybe 3 speed strips in the same space as a single loaded reloader.
 
My favorite way to carry ammo is in a full moon clip. I have several 45 ACP revolvers that just love to gobble up moon clips.

Also have a couple 7-shot L-frames that are cut for moon clips and that's my preferred reloading method. With the 357s I sometimes back up the moon clips with a seven round speed strip.

Dave
 
Also, imagining a situation where you fire a few rounds and take cover, with a speed strip it is easier to peel off 3 rounds and open the cylinder and reload just the three spend shells.
Have you ever tried that under any pressure/stress?

We did in the academy, when they demonstrated to us why we shouldn't do it...we had guys with combinations of speed strips in dump pouches or leather loops (I regret that we did have the 2x2x2 then).

Before you can reload a partially expended cylinder, you have to pick out just the fired shells...which are going to stick in the chambers as they have expanded...leaving the unfired cartridges in place. With just a bit of pressure, you can partially push on the ejector rod and release it...this rises all the cartridges and allows the unfired ones to fall back down...then you can pluck out the empty cases. Now imagine doing that under stress and not just pushing the ejector rod all the way...allowing a case to fall under the ejector star and jamming the whole revolver. It is like a double feed jam in a pistol and is just as hard to clear

It is actually easier, and faster, to dump the unfired cartridges into your hand, eject the fired cases on the ground and reload the cartridges in your hand...then add new cartridges.

Much like a pistol, it is faster and more reliable to completely unload and reload with fresh ammo
 
I use to practice and carry speedstrips for my Charter Arms Undercover. Even though I was never all that quick to begin with I eventually got better over time with the reloads. Then I started using speedloaders and it made enough of a difference time-wise that when I'm carrying my Model 638 I take a speedloader along with me.
 
Safariland speedloaders when available, HKS if not. No speed strips, thanks.

Speed strips are conveniently sized. That's about the only advantage. I'd rather have the speedloader because if six rounds aren't enough, I probably need the next six real, real quick.

As 9mmepiphany pointed out, if you want a partial reload you can just dump the good cartridges in hand, eject the rest and stuff all the pipes with a speedloader. You still come out ahead on speed. The only advantage I can see to the speed strip partial reload is that you keep all your ammo either in the revolver or in a "reloading device", rather than having it loose. I don't find this to be a compelling advantage, because I think it far more likely I will be faced with an empty revolver and a pressing need for more boom now than to find myself with a half empty revolver and a lull in the "action" with which to make a partial reload.

There's also the idea that you can get two rounds into the revolver quickly with the speed strip but I'd be willing to bet that in the same time you could have reloaded all six chambers with a speedloader.

The speed strip you have with you is better than the speedloader you leave at home... but it's better to have the speedloader.
 
9mmephiphany said:
Before you can reload a partially expended cylinder, you have to pick out just the fired shells...which are going to stick in the chambers as they have expanded...leaving the unfired cartridges in place. With just a bit of pressure, you can partially push on the ejector rod and release it...this rises all the cartridges and allows the unfired ones to fall back down...then you can pluck out the empty cases. Now imagine doing that under stress and not just pushing the ejector rod all the way...allowing a case to fall under the ejector star and jamming the whole revolver. It is like a double feed jam in a pistol and is just as hard to clear

It is actually easier, and faster, to dump the unfired cartridges into your hand, eject the fired cases on the ground and reload the cartridges in your hand...then add new cartridges.

I've never trained like this, and that is very smart training technique. Thank you for sharing.
 
A speed loader and a 2x2x2 pouch. Speed loader for complete reload, pouch for partial.
 
Safariland speedloaders when available, HKS if not. No speed strips, thanks.
Those are my preferences too...I'd even be tempted to get 5-Star speedloaders before HKS, because they rotate, to release, in the correct direction (into the window)


The only advantage I can see to the speed strip partial reload is that you keep all your ammo either in the revolver or in a "reloading device", rather than having it loose.
This is what my experience has shown also

There's also the idea that you can get two rounds into the revolver quickly with the speed strip but I'd be willing to bet that in the same time you could have reloaded all six chambers with a speedloader.
Yup, a speed loader will load 6 just as fast, if not faster (one less motion) as you can load 2 with a speed strip.

If you really wanted to just load 2, a 2x2x2 holder is also faster (also one less motion)
 
An SKS clip conveniently carries 10 rounds of 38 or 357. That said, I carry 2 speedloaders.
 
Usually rely on the 6 in the cylinder in my standard 38 sp.(DS). If I think I will need more, I carry either a second revolver in the same caliber, or switch to .45 APC with full moon clips. The .45 (1917) isn't conducive to deep concealment in warmer weather, but it is easy to reload. The plastic moon clips from Rimz are excellent.
 
My 3" GP-100 with 1 safariland Comp II speedloader. I find it do be comfortable, fast, and it's what works best for me. No speed strips or HKS's for me.
 
"If I think I will need more"

Clairvoyance is a wonderful trait that would be nice to have. Since I don't I'll stick with the It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it principle.

Speed loaders. If I just need to top off I can twist the knob on the speed loader while is is still in my pocket to release the cartridges and remove what I need to complete the Tactical reload.

If I could just manage to find a 5 shot Centennial type in 41 mag for my back up.
 
None of the above.
I carry one revolver.
If I need more, I don't think a reload will help.
I'll just bend over & kiss my behind goodbye.
 
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