Speed Loader ?????

L

Lt102

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I have a newly acquired S&W model 36 that is going to be my CCW, Trying to decide how to carry extra ammo. Don't know if I want to use speed loaders or speed strips, Would like to know what people use , and why they use them. I like the way the strips lay flat but they seem like they would take alot longer to reload. Any and all opinions are welcome and appreciated.
 
Maxfire

Maxfire speedloaders are the only way to go!

They are molded rubber that hold the rounds staggered in in circle, once one is partially in the rest follow, and then you just rip it off to the side.

In my opinion they are faster and much more reliable then standard speedloaders.

www.speedloaders.com

_______________________

An old west lawman once said when asked why he carried a .45, "because they don't make a .46"
 
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I don't like Maxfires. JMHO. Bought 4 for my 686-6+ 7 shot .357 and thought they were cheap, flimsy and did a poor job of keeping the cartridges aligned for proper cylinder position. I bought some HKS loaders which are OK and work gravity assisted, but the best I've found so far are the spring loaded variety. Safariland makes the Comp III and S.L. Variant is another much smaller company. Cartridges lock into place in the loader until they're inserted partially in the cylinder and the springs forcefully "inject" them the rest of the way. Supposed to be the next fastest way to load behind moon clips.

U.F.O.
 
Another opinion. I hated Safariland speedloaders. I haven't tried the S.L. Variant. I have used HKS for years and I trust them. I ordered 4 more the other day.
 
I bought the S.L.V., which I love. I haven't tried the Safarilands yet. What was it you didn't like about them William?

U.F.O.
 
10 degrees, Lordy Mercy! I think that's too cold for me to even think about shooting.....:barf:.....much less speedloaders. The HKS do work well also in their own right. I think I'm gonna become a wheelgun addict!

U.F.O.
 
I must be a gun addict then, Up her in Alaska i go to the range in the negatives -10 or so....Fortunately they have heaters for every bench :D which helps
 
HKS Speedloaders are the way to go. Trouble free and you can carry two in a pocket - great little gun the M36. Used to be one of my favorites.
 
I've used ....

Speed strips and HKS loaders.

The strips are easier to hide, but the loaders are quicker. Make up your own mind. To me, it depends on my clothing on that particular day.

I use the Safariland speed loaders for competition, but I'm happy with HKS for normal use.
 
I've got a couple of those rubber "speed loaders" and the reloading is anything but speedy in my modle 66! They're headed for the trash. Also, the bullets keep falling out before I can get the loader to the cylinder. I gotta find something that works better than this!
 
okay, on the 'rubber' maxfire speedloaders the trick is to use them properly as in pull them straight out to the side, not peel them off. If you do peel them off, yes the lip holding the rounds will wear out.

And as far a 'speed'loaders any way, after 6 shots from my .41 mag, I've got all the time in the world to reload!!!!

_______________________

An old west lawman once said when asked why he carried a .45, "because they don't make a .46"
 
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I have used all of the products mentioned in this thread.

Speed Strips -- chief advantage is the flat profile for summer carry. They are always slower than a speedloader. But I always carry one loaded with snakehsot during the spring and summer months in case we run into snakes in our homestead and hiking.

Safariland Comp I & II -- in my opinion, the best of the bunch. I live in the part of NY that gets gobs of snow and is darned cold, never had breakage issues. The fact that I don't have to try and turn a knob while wearing gloves on the loader is a huge plus for me. Just pull from belt pouch or pocket, and push home into cylinder...DONE.

The smaller knob/portion on the Comp I makes it a more concealable speedloader than a Comp II or HKS.

Maxfire -- just plain junk -- never worked right for me. Felt flimsy and cheap.

HKS -- the chief beenfit to these is the fact that they make them in so many variants and caliber that almost any wheelgun can have one. The turn twist knob feature is slower than the safariland push.

Of course, my observations are just that and others will naturally have different views.
 
Exactly what Bulldozer said, only I know nothing about Maxfire.

Comp I's are clearly the best.

In larger frame sizes where concealment requirements may be a bit different, the Austrian Jet Loaders are also great, perhaps better than Safariland.
 
I currently use and love my S.L. Variant speedloaders for my 7shot 681PC. So I would suggest them. However they are being pulled from the US market (last time I talked to the US distributor) and my next suggestion would be the "jet loader" sold by Buffer Technologies.
 
I use nothing but HKS. HKS was the first type I ever bought and was happy with them so kept on buying them for all my revolvers. They work fine for me but I never tried any of the others. I have used HKS in revolver police combat matches and they served me well. Quantrill
 
Question regarding the HKS vs Safariland speedloaders:
I use HKS for my .357s and they work great, but the ones for my .44s are WAY too loose, like they bunch together so it's difficult to get them to enter the chambers (the rounded Hydra-Shok bullets, they should go in fine), so I was wondering, do the Safariland speedloadrs hold the cartridges a little tighter?
 
do the Safariland speedloadrs hold the cartridges a little tighter?
Click to expand...

Yes, they do; and Bulldozer clearly has used all these products, as I have, and has arrived at the exact same place I have. If you're going to carry a speedloader in a holder, give the Safariland comp II's a try. If you're going to pocket it, unless you have really big pockets, then go with the comp I or a speedstrip.

I have and have used the comp III's, but their bulk works against them for me; the awkwardness of handling them overcomes the advantage the spring-loading gives them over the comp II's, which are more like a real-life device.
 
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