5 Star speedloaders

Status
Not open for further replies.
Lucky Derby

Lucky Derby

Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
2,466
Location
Colorado Rockies
I've been using HKS speedloaders for decades. I recently stumbled into 5 Star's website. www.5starfirearms.com
Does anyone have experience with these? They appear to be a high quality version of of the HKS. Is this accurate? Are they worth the difference in price?

I know some of you are die hard SafariLand speedloader fans. I've looked at those in the past, even bought one for a S&W M27 I had. Too different from what I am used to & not available for many of my revolvers. SafariLand may have a great product, but I already know it's not for me.
 
Last edited:
I've heard good things about the 5 Star loaders.

They offer some options that the other boys don't. They offer 8-shot speedloaders to fit the 8-shot .357 magnums out there, very cool. I also know that you turn the knob on them the opposite direction as to what an HKS does to release the cartridges, but otherwise they load pretty much the same.

All in all I've heard good things about them, but I really don't think they'd do anything better than an HKS loader unless of course HKS doesn't make the right one to fit your gun an 5 Star does.

JMHO.
 
If you are used to the HKS loaders there is a definite learning curve. The knob turns the other way. I have bought a couple. They are OK but IMHO not worth the difference in price.
 
Never heard of them before.

Thanks for the link.

Given the amount of crummy HKS loaders I've gotten over the years and if they all turn away from the frame to release as in the video - I'll check them out.
 
When wife got her Ruger LCR (used), there was one in the box. Seems to work fine for her and in my SW
 
Not sure about nowadays, but you used to be able to call 5 star and get your loaders order set to open like hks if you wanted. Might want to call and see.
 
Have two 7-shot models for my 686+ and one for my 5-shot 442. I think they drop the rounds faster than the plastic HKS speed loaders and I have both. Rounds seem looser in the 5-star loaders I have and don't get caught on the plastic. When reloading and dropping HKS loaders I have cracked a few... so far no bending just scratches on the 5-star loaders.

I like them and plan to buy a few more.

-Jake
 
I have two, and a loading block sitting in the drawer of my end table next to my favorite chair, along with my 686+. They work well.

Two things things should be noted.

The cartridges wiggle more in the 5 Star loaders. This sounds like a bad thing, but the opposite is true. It actually gives you more play to work with and helps you load a little faster. The down side is that if dumped in a pocket or pooch for a reload, you will be jingle jangling all over the place.

Second , if you like fancy wood grips on your gun like me, the 5 star loaders have edges on the circumference that the HKS loaders don't. If you are under stress or not careful, you can scratch the crap out of some expensive grips. For this reason alone, I doubt I'd buy them again. I typically spend $140-$220 dollars on Nill grips for my revolvers, and I don't want them getting scratched up.

Of coarse if my life is in danger, screw the grips. I'll replace them.
 
5-Star loaders are not so much copies of the HKS are they are optimized.

The first thing that caught my eye when I first came across them was that they made models for guns that HKS didn't...much like HKS makes models for guns that Safariland doesn't.

Then I noticed, besides the fact they they are metal rather than plastic, that they are more contoured around the cases. That means they leave more space between the gun/grips and the open cylinder to fit the loader.

When I picked one up, I did notice that the shell jiggled more...almost like my old Dade speed loaders...but did not drop cartridges when shaken. The jiggle does help in faster loading, if you know how to give the loader a little shake to align the bullets with the chambers.

The last thing I noticed, when I went to release the shells into the cylinder, was that the release was more natural (opposite to the HKS) and worked in sync with closing the cylinder.

Due to their pricing structure, they aren't for everyone. But if I was going into harms way with a revolver, I would definitely choose the 5-Star over the HKS
 
When I first started CCW with a 7-shot L-frame, 5-star was the only game in town, and I still use them today. I like them very much.
 
Blueduck said:
Not sure about nowadays, but you used to be able to call 5 star and get your loaders order set to open like hks if you wanted. Might want to call and see.
Click to expand...
I may just do that. Thanks. I hadn't noticed that they turn the other way. That could cause a fumble after all these years of training with the HKS.
 
I've ben getting away from the twist-knob speedloaders, and am liking the Safariland loader. Just push it in and it pops and the round fall into the cylinders. Very handy once you get the hang of charging 'em up in the first place.
 
Moon clips are fragile.

Bend that little metal clip just right, and congratulations: you've got a tied up revolver. Speedloaders are far more rugged, and they sometimes hold the cartridges better so they all fit in the cylinder at the same time. Yes, moon clips can be a bit faster but not much, and if you drop your moon clip in a gunfight or God forbid step on it, you're pretty much up a creek. That is why some choose speedloaders even if there gun is cut for moon clips.

Remember, combat is not competition.
 
I carried everyday all day a smith and wesson 940 (9mm) revolver for quite a few years with two extra moon clips which i kept without a holder, in the watch pocket of dungarees. I never had a moon clip bend to the point it affected function.
 
Same here. I have had 50 since 2012 and still have 50. Stepped on them, kicked them, dropped them. Maybe its the 45 guys that have the thicker ones that are the issue.
 
Maybe LOL I'm not sure.

But yeah I prefer speedloaders over moonclips. I know to other it's the opposite. To each his own, I have my opinion and you have yours. No bad blood, live and let live.
 
The only downside I can see with the 5Star loaders is that in the competitions I'd want them for I'd hate dropping and scuffing them on the sand/gravel surface of the ranges I shoot at. I'd be spending more time polishing out the scuffs than reloading ammo into them.... :D

This thread is a good reminder that I need to order up some for my Super Redhawk.
 
I have two of their 5 shot speed loaders for my Taurus® Mdl 425SS4CP in 41 Remington® Magnum. They are an excellent product and well worth the cost IMHO.
 
I found it difficult to reload my Ruger KLCR.357mag with HKS loaders, found the 5-Star, no problem. 5-Star has Speedloaders made specifically for the LCR. Also, I like the fact they are metal and not plastic, easier to handle for me. I also use them for my Ruger SP101 .357mag with Hogue Pau Ferro Top Finger Groove Wood grips (my daily carry), no problem again. I just feel more comfortable with the 5-Star if a reload was necessary.
 
Second , if you like fancy wood grips on your gun like me, the 5 star loaders have edges on the circumference that the HKS loaders don't. If you are under stress or not careful, you can scratch the crap out of some expensive grips. For this reason alone, I doubt I'd buy them again. I typically spend $140-$220 dollars on Nill grips for my revolvers, and I don't want them getting scratched up.
Click to expand...

Since all I'm doing at the moment is basting a turkey every 30 minutes, I thought I should qualify this. I really do like my 5 Star loaders and they are top notch in quality. However, I tend to favor wood grips with a thumb rest. Any speed loader would be difficult to use with the grips I like. But the edges on the 5 Star loaders can scratch. I wish 5 star offered a round option without edges.

Maybe in the future.
 
As is seen in C&L's picture, the 8 shot loaders are quite loosey goosey. Like a jingle bell in your pocket, and can be pretty slow to load with hollowpoints or wadcutters, in my experience.

Loaders are for shooters with girly finger tips :neener:

TCB
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

H
  • Locked
HKS speedloader question
Replies
3
Views
341
sidheshooter
S
P
  • Locked
Speedloader for S&W 640 same as S&W 36 ?
Replies
2
Views
455
kahr404life
K
F
  • Locked
7 shot speedloaders
Replies
6
Views
587
dnovo
D
G
  • Locked
Speedload exercises?
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
Headless
H
T
  • Locked
My reviews of HKS and Safariland Speedloaders
Replies
16
Views
2K
MK11
M
Back
Top