Speed Loaders vs Speed Strips

[skb12172]

For a .38 snubbie. Pros and Cons of each. Which is your personal preference and why? FIRE AWAY!

[g-man]

Autoloader guy here... so I vote magical brownies.

[blackeagle603]

Snub? Strips for me. Though I have/use/tote both. Have come to prefer strips. Speedloader can be a tight fit and hangup between the grip and small frame/cylinder geometries.

[Netpackrat]

Moon clips.

[308Mike]

Speed loaders by a LONG SHOT! We used to call the old Border Patrol belt loops "speed strips" as "Suicide Strips". I can reload my 586 in less than 2 seconds with my speed loaders, and have done so on a timed fire range for qualification.

First: Use QUALITY speed loaders designed and sized for your firearm. DO NOT TRUST "generic" speed loaders 'cause they will only cause you problems when you need placement accuracy and fit.

Second: PRACTICE with your speed loaders!! Find a method that works for YOU when indexing the cylinder vs how you handle your full speed loader. ALWAYS make SURE your barrel is pointing STRAIGHT DOWN when inserting your replacement rounds so gravity works FOR you and NOT AGAINST you.

Once you become familiar with your revolver and cylinder line-up and indexing your reloads, you'll be AMAZED at just how quickly you can reload your revolver (even if you have less rounds)!!

And don't forget to practice in a regular basis. Muscle memory works and and you need to make it work FOR you, and not get in the way!!!

The guys on the range will be AMAZED when they see you reloading and firing (if you have access to a rapid-fire and reload range) almost as quickly as they can using autos. Except you will frequently be more accurate and suffer ZERO stoppages compared to those with autos. That's the reason I never switched to an auto when the department switched to 9mm, 'cause I was shooting MUCH better, quicker, more accurately with my 586 than the VAST majority of the guys on the range using autos. AND I was shooting much more reliable and consistent than they were. So I didn't go to auto training, and continued to carry my 586 until I left the department.

PRACTICE, gain muscle memory, use good equipment to MATCH your cylinders so the rounds drop right in WITHOUT fussing with them - and you should be DAMNED GOOD.

YMMV

[blackeagle603]

Speed loaders and snubs can be really problematic. Quickest reload for a snub is and forever will be another snub.

[308Mike]

Speed loaders and snubs can be really problematic. Quickest reload for a snub is and forever will be another snub.

How would a snub be any different than a revolver with a 4" barrel? The actions are the same although you don't have the longer barrel to work with - it should still be almost as fast as a 4" barrel. But since I've never tried to speed-load a snubbie, I'll have to defer to anyone who has done so on a semi-regular basis.

Even so, I have a hard time believing a speed strip would be quicker than a speed-loader. AFAIK, just the physical actions of handling each bullet would take longer than handling a speed-loader. But I could be wrong, and would LOVE to see someone reload quicker using a speed strip than a speed-loader.

[Yogimus]

Speed loaders by a LONG SHOT! We used to call the old Border Patrol belt loops "speed strips" as "Suicide Strips". I can reload my 586 in less than 2 seconds with my speed loaders, and have done so on a timed fire range for qualification.

First: Use QUALITY speed loaders designed and sized for your firearm. DO NOT TRUST "generic" speed loaders 'cause they will only cause you problems when you need placement accuracy and fit.

Second: PRACTICE with your speed loaders!! Find a method that works for YOU when indexing the cylinder vs how you handle your full speed loader. ALWAYS make SURE your barrel is pointing STRAIGHT DOWN when inserting your replacement rounds so gravity works FOR you and NOT AGAINST you.

Once you become familiar with your revolver and cylinder line-up and indexing your reloads, you'll be AMAZED at just how quickly you can reload your revolver (even if you have less rounds)!!

And don't forget to practice in a regular basis. Muscle memory works and and you need to make it work FOR you, and not get in the way!!!

The guys on the range will be AMAZED when they see you reloading and firing (if you have access to a rapid-fire and reload range) almost as quickly as they can using autos. Except you will frequently be more accurate and suffer ZERO stoppages compared to those with autos. That's the reason I never switched to an auto when the department switched to 9mm, 'cause I was shooting MUCH better, quicker, more accurately with my 586 than the VAST majority of the guys on the range using autos. AND I was shooting much more reliable and consistent than they were. So I didn't go to auto training, and continued to carry my 586 until I left the department.

PRACTICE, gain muscle memory, use good equipment to MATCH your cylinders so the rounds drop right in WITHOUT fussing with them - and you should be DAMNED GOOD.

YMMV

HEAR HEAR!

At the range, reload from speed loader, THEN RELOAD SPEED LOADER. Always always ALWAYS reload your gun from the speed loader.

A snub nose is there to either kill a target at short range, or to distract assailant while seeking cover/tactical advantage.

[randy]

I'm a fan of speed loaders. As Mike described, while using my Model 19 in combat pistol program I got to where I could reload as smoothly and as fast from a speed loader as changing magazines on an autoloader.

It didn't hurt that this was around the time agencies were switching from revolvers and I was able to dig out a bunch of HKS speed loaders out of a barrel very cheaply.

I do have some speed strips I use as deep carry last resort reloads. I used to tuck them behind my pistol belt held in place with belt keepers in case I used up all of my available speed loaders (which never happened in any of the practice/competitions I shot in). Useable but not my preferred method.

[randy]

Moon clips.

Agreed for weapons that can utilize them.