high speed reload -magazine, speed loader

D

Dusty Rivers

New member
Other than law enforcement and military who here has been in a situation either hunting or self defense that has required you to go to your second magazine or speed loader?

Is capacity in "normal" private sector firearm use overrated? sure it's reassuring to have more rounds, but in actual real world usage what is your experience. I'm not looking for arguments or reasons to have extra rounds. That has been discussed everywhere. What has actually occurred with you. ;) thanks.
 
I was hunting once and tried to reload my Super Redhawk with a speed loader and I wasn't all that speedy.

As long as you hit what your aiming at capacity is will probably never be an issue.

As a civilian if you are hitting what you are shooting at and you need more than 6 shots you have stumbled upon a situation that you are probably not prepared to handle it even if you did have the ammo capacity.
 
Reloading with a speedloader requires more dexterity and fine motor skills, and requires you to take your eyes (and your firearm) off your target. Also, if you futz it up, you're REALLY hosed. Reloading with a magazine requires none of this, and is much faster. I don't see how one could possibly prefer a speedloader to a magazine replacement.
 
Good grief cmsss ... did you read the OP'rs post. Your personal opinion on magazines/speed loaders was not wanted. Stop being a boob and read the post.

Per the request, I shoot a S&W 627 in club matches that require reloads during the active shooting scenario. I typically finish last (I'm the only revolver shooter). My experience with this is that in a real world situation if I need more than the 8 in the revolver I'm in deep doo.


While I have no 'Real world experience' concerning an aggressor, from the matches I suspect a 'Real world' assault would unfold so quickly that I doubt I'd get the 8 shots off before it was decided.

In the 'Newhall Incident' the 2nd Caliornia Hiway Patrolman was killed while trying to reload.
 
I hunt deer and elk with a 44 magnum handgun and carry a speed loader for that combo. I have never had to get to the speed loader in the field. If I miss six times I might as well forget it.

Having said that, I do practice the act of ejecting six rounds and using the reloader to reload my revolver. Don't know how I would perform under pressure but I have become quite adept at working with the revolver and the reloader. The more I practice the better/faster I get.

One part of my practice regimen is to unload and reload without looking at my gun - in short just by feel. It really does not take too long to get pretty good. I practice while watching television thus keeping my eye on the "target":eek:

The moral of the story? As with so much involving guns - practice, practice, practice:D
 
Jerry Miculik and I often have speed contests with the speed loader....but wouldn't you know he beats me every time....I think I'll stick to magazines myself;)

As far as mag capacity; I've always been a MORE is bettter type person my whole life, which has gotton me into more trouble than I'm willing to discuss here.......


DS
 
In hunting situations with revolvers I've found speedloaders next to useless. I prefer loose shells or speedstrips in a convenient pocket and they being the only thing in that pocket. First of all you rarely (never?) get off six aimed shots in succession which means partial reload only, a real PITA when your shells are stuck in a speedloader. Second, if you take a shot, then cock the gun and don't shoot, lower the hammer, then recock and shoot, your shells are out of sequence. It is very easy to bring the cylinder completely around like this and after only a couple of actual shots your hammer will fall on a spent shell. After that first lowering of the hammer you need to at least bring your cylinder back around with the empty under the hammer or refill the empty chamber - speedloader useless.
I've found it's best after shooting to relax, evaluate the situation, reload the empty chambers, look around, then get back to hunting. Adrenalin kills your ability to shoot a handgun accuratly.
A coin purse or cigarette purse from the dollar store makes a great shell carrier.
These things were learned while deer hunting, sometimes sitting, sometimes on small drives (2 - 5 guys) with lots of deer, fast action, and the opportunity to take multiple deer.
 
Last edited:
Watching video of Jerry Miculik with moon clips is unreal. He can reload his S&W 625 far faster then seems possible for a human. What's his record, 12 rounds (one moon clip reload) in 3 seconds? An amazing master - I also saw him on history channel recording 600+rpm with a 1911, but he did not reload as he has to use both hands on the trigger to get the peak rounds per minute.
 
As sort of an object lesson, a buddy of mine who used to constantly harp to me how superior his 1911 was to my wheelgun, during a range session he got off 3 shots and the gun stopped working. Tap-Rack-*click*. We found later that the magazine spring broke. It's a rare thing to have happen, but it does.

Carrying a spare magazine is prudent IMO. Not only for the spare ammo but in the event of a magazine failure.

Using a magazine can be fast if you practice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJVoc5uJ2e4
 
I've got a speedloader for my Redhawk, but after reading this thread, I think I may go with ammo in the coinpurse idea this deer season.
 
I don't hunt. I've had to draw my CW twice - never had to pull the trigger once, much less go to spare ammo, and I never hope to get into a situation that bad. If I can't handle it with 10+1, or even a 5 shot snubbie, I shouldn't be there in the first place.
 
It's extremely unlikely that you will ever need a gun to defend yourself. If you do, it is unlikely that you will need more than three or four rounds to solve the problem. With that being the case, why carry a gun at all? There's a nice piece in the latest Dillon Blue Press about the virtues of the revolver, and among other pearls of wisdom, was the line that those who carry a gun for self-defense are more interested in the stakes than the odds. I love that line!
 
Is capacity in "normal" private sector firearm use overrated?
Click to expand...
Yes. The need to reload is very rare, the need to reload quickly rare among the reloads. Even in LE, the reload being important to solving the problem is almost unheard of. Dooesn't mean you shouldn't practice it a bit, or be prepared if you have the need, but in the context of your statement yes, it is overrated.
 
My latest, Taurus PT 24/7 Ds holds 17 +1, I believe if I've fired 10 in a gunfight, the next rounds would be fired over my shoulder as I ran in the opposite direction.:)
 
experience with having to reload under stress

To clarify my original post-- Looking for real world occurrences of people that have had to reload under stress.

My question is not to discuss revolver versus auto. I am interested in ACTUAL experience. so far it appears that there are few if any Firing Line members that have had to reload other than competition, which I feel falls out of the scope of "real world hunting or defense".

Very interesting:)
 
Is capacity in "normal" private sector firearm use overrated? sure it's reassuring to have more rounds, but in actual real world usage what is your experience. I'm not looking for arguments or reasons to have extra rounds.
Click to expand...
A damaged or faulty magazine causing a failure to feed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top