Who makes Good Speedloaders anymore?

[krs]

i've gotten interested in using some of my revolvers as carry guns. In line with that I bought a speedloader that as best I recall it was by Uncle Mike's or some one of the other longtime generic names of misc. shooting equipment. It came from Cheaper than Dirt (so what did I expect, right?).

The thing is junk. Made of aluminum and a twist mechanism that does not hold cartridges tightly and makes using it slower than loading the cylinders by hand.

So, is there a brand of speedloader that works and isn't some look-a-like copy that only pretends to work like it should?

If there's good ones still made could someone link me to a place to buy them?

 

[coach22]

Safariland speed loaders are superior to HKS,
because you only need one hand to release the bullets.
Just push the bullets in the cylinder and they drop in.
No need to turn any knobs.

http://www.safariland.com/product.aspx?pid=COMP I
http://www.safariland.com/product.aspx?pid=COMP II

 

[Deer Hunter]

I only need one hand to use the HKS speedloaders.

How are you doing it, coach?

 

[SGW42]

The problem I have with HKS loaders is that you turn the knob left to secure the cartridges and right to drop them in the cylinder, which is counter intuitive to me.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I always had good luck with HKS - using just one hand to drop the shells into the cylinder.
I never tried Safariland.

I researched both when I was ready to purchase three for my .38 and they both seemed to have their pros and cons. I went with HKS and all three work flawlessly (single-handed operation).
I ordered them through MidwayUSA -- like I do most of my shooting supplies.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Wow--someone besides HKS makes speedloaders?

The bit of "shake" in the cartridges while locked in the speedloader is intentional, to allow room for error (in angle of approach, etc) as you line speedloader up with cylinder.

Hint: once you've gotten used to moonclips efffortlessly falling into .45 ACP revolvers, trying to line up longer cartridges in speedloaders with the cyl charge holes just seems unnecessarily difficult.

 

[Black Knight]

I have used both HKS and Safariland and while I like the HKS better I am comfortable with the Safariland version. I would not use or recommend any other round style speedloader. The only other loader I would use or recommend is the Bianchi Speed Strip. It holds 6 rounds in a straight line strip. You load two at a time. It is a bit easier to conceal but is slightly slower than the speedloaders.

 

[easyrider604]

Safariland speed loaders are superior to HKS,
because you only need one hand to release the bullets.
Just push the bullets in the cylinder and they drop in.
No need to turn any knobs.

Totally agree with coach. Have used personally used HKS, Safariland Comp 2 and Comp 3 speedloaders. With lots of practice, a good man may be able to use the HKS as fast as the average man using a Comp 2 or 3.

If you can afford the space, Comp 3's spit out the bullets with vigor, not relying simply on gravity, for even more positively reliable reloading.

You have to see, use and feel the HKS and Safariland for yourself. Then you will probably agree that the Safariland is easier and faster.

 

[Schmidlin]

i agree with sgw42 on that. I have to switch hands just to get it done right.

 

[krs]

Good - I wasn't sure there'd be any response, and I'd never known Safariland made them although I guess I should have considering their full lines of other duty type gear.

How about any left handed shooters? I've pretty much accepted that for any kind of use of a speedloader switching hands would be necessary and I'm OK with that. But if there's something I don't know..?

I've looked all over for the one I spoke of above and don't find it. That probably means that I chucked it out.

 

[Catherine]

My husband has 3 kinds (?) and one of them is German made.

When he comes home from his friend's ranch 'moving cows' - I will ask him.

I don't own any but I did try them a couple of times before.

Catherine

 

[Feanaro]

If they make them for your revolver, I suggest you buy Safariland Comp speedloaders. Why?

You just push the Safariland in and the rounds release. Quick and simple. You have to turn the knob on HKS speedloaders. Slower and it created a problem for me. If I twisted the knob hard, which is easy to do under stress, some rounds wouldn't drop free. They would bind under the pressure, so I'd have to jiggle everything a bit. I've never heard of this problem before, so it might just be me.

The Safariland holds the rounds straight and rigid. Makes everything easier to line up.

I've never accidentally dumped rounds out of a Safariland. I've done this twice with HKS. Both times I reached for the speedloader, pulled it out and the rounds went flying. I had twisted the knob mid-air or in the pouch. This can't happen with Safarilands.

 

[coach22]

Deer Hunter

I meant that with the HKS, I have to hold the cylinder
with one hand, so it doesn't rotate.
Otherwise, when I turn the HKS knob,
the cylinder turns in the same direction
and the bullets don't release.
With the Safariland, I just have to line up
the bullets in the holes and push.

 

[krs]

Feanaro,

You've pretty well described the experience I had with the one I'd tried. It did have a knob so must have been of the HKS type but I suspect it was only a cheap copy of an HKS. Best I recall it was less than $5.00.

so I'll give the Safariland version a try, and if they are reasonable I might pick up one of each.

No more "generics".

 

[L-Frame]

Most people who use HKS's hold the cylinder with their non-shooting hand and reload with their shooting hand. Some who have much practice can hold the cylinder and reload with their non-shooting hand. With Safariland, it is much simpler and quicker to just push and close the cylinder. Comp II's are compact and just hard to beat. (Comp I's if you have a J-frame)

 

[col_tapiocca]

It works fine with my Ruger SP101:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=303&title=REVOLVER%20JETLOADER

HKS Speed loaders are not "superior"

 

[evan price]

I prefer the HKS speedloaders; the turn of the knob actually is the same move as the swing of the cylinder. I use the thumb of my right hand to push the cylinder latch and let the cylinder swing out, then use my right thumb to provide a bit of drag as I use the HKS speedloader and then release to let the cylinder swing back in. It's hard to explain, quick to do. I don't like the Safariland speedloaders but it's just me.

You might also try speedstrips by bianchi. Great for carrying flat in your pocket, and I can load two chamebrs at a time easily.

 

[Master Blaster]

I like the HKS better too.

I have had 2 Safariland speed loaders (comp I with the short knob) in .44 that seized up and wouldn't release the round no matter how hard I pushed. This was on their 3rd practice trip to the range, they were fine the first couple times I used them. They are sitting in my unused grip and holster box now and I simply don't trust them and would never buy another.

 

[Steve C]

There are advantages of both speed loader designes.

The HKS holds the ammo more securely in a pocket and is pretty fast if you develop the procedure.

This method works well for HKS loaders: After the cylinder is released with the right thumb with muzzle up, wrap the left hand around the frame and use the fingers of the left hand to push out the cylinder, eject the spent rounds with the thumb, and hold the revolver. The speedloader is then retrieved by the shooting (right) hand, point muzzle down and the rounds inserted in the cylinder, the knob twisted to release the loaded rounds and the loader is then released and allowed to drop for maximum speed. The right hand then re-grips the revolver while left hand closes the cylinder. You can reload in about 3 to 4 seconds with little practice and probably faster with lots of practice.

The Safariland loaders are a bit quicker, very good in a match when time is an important factor but while they hold the ammo well if carried in a stiff speed loading pouch on the belt, its easier for them to loose their cartridges if carried in a jacket pocket where they get bumped or jounced around which results is a pocketful of loose ammo.

Its not a one or none situation, you can have both types and carry the one that works for the conditions of the day.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I have had 2 Safariland speed loaders (comp I with the short knob) in .44 that seized up and wouldn't release the round no matter how hard I pushed.

You needed a BIGGER hammer.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Catherine

My husband has 3 kinds (?) and one of them is German made.
When he comes home from his friend's ranch 'moving cows' - I will ask him.

Your friend must have an awfully large herd of cows!

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I had a problem with one of my safariland speed loaders. It had been loaded for some time. I tried to insert it into the cylinder and the ctgs. would not go in. Somehow 2 of the ctgs. were bent so much that they would not chamber. The only plausable explanition that I have is I must have dropped the loader and somehow bent the 2 offending ctgs. Had I been more prudent in rotating my ammo I would have discovered this a long time ago. You just never know.

 

[Daizee]

I haven't used the Safarilands because they're more expensive and bulky, but that's not a functional reason.

I solve the knob-turning problem on the HKS's by thinking about it this way:

1) grasp the knob while the speedloader is on the belt (I know, this is not the Ayoob technique)
2) unscrew the package from the belt/holder (counter-clockwise)
3) screw the rounds into the gun (clockwise)

ta-da.

Of course this works best with my homemade speedloader carriers, which you don't have to deal with. If you're pulling them out of a pouch maybe this technique doesn't make sense.

-Daizee

 

[Sam1911]

Safariland "Comp III" speedloaders are very highly regarded by all the competative revolver shooters I know. The fastest non-moon-clipped reload you're likely to see.

I've heard that their "Comp II" version is pretty decent as well.

Avoid the "Comp I" model like the plague. I've owned a number of them for my 629 because that's the only version Safariland makes for .44s for some ignorant reason.

They are hard to load.

They are hard to release. As in: you feel pretty dumb straining and pounding on the back of your loader and cylinder repeatedly while trying to get the catch to release. As you dance around grunting and cursing the thought dawns on you that you could have reloaded faster with six loose rounds. ...
[pound, grunt] ...
Six loose rounds in a pants pocket. ...
[strain, swear] ...
Someone ELSE's pants pocket! ...
[veins popping out, sweat starting to run] ...
Someone else -- in another STATE! :banghead: ...
[ammo flung into tree line]

Imagine how utterly FLABBERGASTED you then feel when they automatically dump one to two rounds out -- completely spontaneously -- in your pocket! Oh, and when they've dropped a round or two into your vest pocket they're even closer to IMPOSSIBLE to get to release the other rounds.

Actually, only one of mine was all that bad from the start. But they all get worse with use. And that's like a few months of use, not decades. I have one left that I was using just for holding my "make ready" rounds, but as of last week's practice it is in the trash.

I guess you could say THEY SUCK.

But, YMMV.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Daizee

This is off-topic, and I hope I do not offend you in any way - but I LOVE your speedloader holders!

You should go into the speedloader carrier business.

I absolutely LOVE them!
Even the COLOR is perfect!