New to revolvers. S&W M65 reloading.

S

StarfuryZeta

New member
My dad recently gave me a S&W M65-3 that he had. He's never used it. It looks to be in excellent condition. I have never owned a revolver before, but used the 'how to check over a revolver' guid posted here to verify it was in sound working condition.
My question is what is good to keep ammo in for reloading. Speedloaders, moon clip thingies, stripper clips, etc are all pretty foreign to me. This will be used for target shooting, not a carry weapon, so I don't need something that is really speedy or concealable. I just want extra rounds available, but not in a box.
Thanks!
 
One of the handiest items is a plastic ammo "wallet". These are flat wallet-like cases that hold 20 rounds or so.

If that's too big, the Bianchi Speed Strip is a stripper clip-like device that holds 6 rounds.
 
Moonclips are probably the ultimate for most competition action pistol shooters (ICORE and where allowed in IPSC and IDPA). I personally prefer them. However, it is comparatively tedious to load and unload brass from the moonclips when you are just doing target shooting or some such where speed is not an issue.

For carry in general target practice the most elaborate I would bother with would be HKS speedloaders. It is easy to load the HKS units and they carry easily.

On the other hand (pun will become clear in a moment) I would not even think of using them for competition as they require a two hand reload. I do a one hand reload with the left hand doing the honors and they are just too unweildy this way.

By the way, moonclips and conversions just became available for K frames such as the 65 through TK Custom (Moonclips.com) and Clark Custom.
 
Starfury....appropriate sized Tupperware or tater salad etc containers work well.

Guy....on the other hand....
Would you please describe efficient one handed revo reloading?
In competition ?
What holds the gun ?

For range work, reloading drills excepted, I just use one gallon pickle jars for large cartridges and ½ gallon Tupperware for the smaller ones. Such as .38/.357 etc.

Sam....I want to go back to Band Camp.
 
99% of the time I shoot reloads so I just load from a plastic divided cartridge box and empty into a canvas range bag

When I practice speed loading I use speed strips but I just got 2 speed loaders tonight for 5 bucks, so I will have to start using them as a home protection loader. Speed strips are always in the front right pocket.
 
C.R.Sam,

Two handed or one handed just notes how many hands actually hold the revover during the reload sequence. For two handed the revolver is switched back and forth while in the one hand the revolver remains in the shooting hand.

With two hand the cylinder is held from rotating, but I haven't figured an acceptable way to hold the cylinder in the one hand reload. The HKS speedloader requires a twist of the knob and therefore a steady cylinder.

The "standard" two hand reload for a right handed shooter involves pushing the cylinder release with the the thumb of the right hand while tilting the revolver to the right and into the left hand. As the gun lays into the left hand the middle and ring fingers of the left hand push the cylinder up and free. The thumb joins in from the other side to hold the cylinder still and the muzzle goes up. The palm of the right hand slaps the ejector rod, the brass ejects and the muzzle is tilted down. During the tilt the right hand picks up a moonclip or speedloader and drops same into the cyliner. The left hand fingers are withdrawn, the thumb pushes the cylinder back and the right hand goes for the grip. The muzzle is raised to acquire target and left hand falls into position.

(*Whew* It all seems so easy when you do it.)

For single hand reloads the right thumb pushes the cylinder release but the revolver remains in the right hand and remains upright. The left middle and ring fingers push the cylinder free as the muzzle is tilted up. The left hand slaps the ejector rod and the muzzle is tilted down. As the muzzle goes down the left hand picks up the moonclip or speedloader and drops it on the back of the cylinder. As the muzzle is raised the left thumb pushes the cylinder back into lock and the left hand drops to the grip.

Jerry Miculek uses two handed, but I have gotten used to the one hand so I'll probably never catch up. The one hand does eliminate one or two moves so it would seem more efficient.
 
Thanks Guy.
Was hopin you had figured out a fast way to do it with one hand. Other hand in your pocket or sumpin.

Works for me...
With right hand gun, run dry, kick cylinder release with left thumb, left hand goes to dump box to get speed loader, right trigger finger wraps through window and tip stabilizes cylinder, muzzle up left had raps ejector rod with heel of hand, muzzle goes down and left hand drops rounds in from speed loader, left hand heel then rolls the cylinder closed as gun is coming up to fire.

Sooo...I guess I am one hand reloading.

If left gun runs dry, switch hands and go through above. Or draw right side gun.

Be nice to have mirrored K, L and N frames, cylinder swing to right on open, for left side work. Only double action guns I have seen that way are all European, old and obscure calibers.

Single actions are more left hand friendly than double action tho.

Sam
 
JEEZ

All MY ammo is in boxes (uh, except some in ammo wallets and speedloaders and magazines and chambers).

What is UP with me?
 
for carry the speed-strips go everywhere because you can carry them without a carrier on the belt. if my pockets a big enough, i'll throw a speed loader in.

for sitting around the house, i usually keep 1 or 2 speedloaders filled.

cr sam - i've also tried both methods and find that the "2-handed" one works better for me. i've found that part of it has to do with arm lenght.

the speed strips "speed up" if you go 2-handed. as the right hand feeds and peels two rounds at a time, the left hand stabilizes and rotates the cylinder
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top