Speedload(er) Techniques

[FiveG]

From my past experience, the standard method for reloading a revolver with a speedloader is to take the speedloader from a carrier located on the strong side ahead of the holster. It involves changing the revolver to the weak side, and doing all the usual stuff.

Problem is -- that placement of a speedloader is bad for concealment purposes. While you can put the holster behind the hip, a speedloader in the front of your belt is going to stick out like a . . . speedloader and be seen easily if your concealment jacket/vest opens.

So, I've been trying to figure out alternatives. One I'm toying with involves placing the speedloader holder on the weakside, similar to where a semi-auto's mag carrier is placed. If you keep the revolver in the strong side, eject the empties with the weak hand, and then tilt the revolver so it's muzzle down, you should, I would think, be able to load using the weak hand. Only problem I've seen is that with the HKS speedloaders, you ain't got no hands to twist the little knob, although with Safariland Comp speedloaders, pressing down should work.

Anyone have any experience with this kind of technique, and does it work in the real world as well as the traditional one? Do the empties eject smoothly this way?

And does anyone have any other possible techniques that might be used to allow a speedloader carrier to be placed on the belt in a concealment location?

FiveG

 

[Doug.38PR]

Carrying speedloaders on your left side (weak side unless your left handed) is difficult. I don't like doing it. It takes longer and is harder to manage and more of a chance of something going wrong.
When wearing speedloader pouch, I wear the gun at 4 O Clock postion and wear the speedloader at 3 O Clock position. Doesnt' stick out really then unless your coat blows open a little, but even then, people won't notice and even if they do, they won't know what it is...and even then if they do know, it is a speedloader pouch, not a gun (so you are still legally concealing the gun itself)

Often in the winter I carry a shoulder holster with speedloader pouch attached under my right arm pit. Conceals perfectly there.

Or I will just carry the speedloader's in my right pocket.

In any case, I speedload by placing the gun with my gun hand resting in the palm of my weak hand at about a 45 degree angle opening the cylinder with both hands on the gun, pushing it out with my weak hand middle and/or index finger and eject the empty cartridges with the thumb of my weak hand. I then leave the gun situated in my weak hand and pull out a speedloader with my right. Slip it into the cylinder as the gun is slanted downward in my hand at a 45 degree angle, twist it (the whole time my weak hand thumb is curled around the cylinder as both part of securing the gun in hand and securing the cylinder from rotating) the cartridges in and snap the cylinder shut. Drop the speedloader in my pouch, pocket, or if in a hurry the floor, take the gun from the weak hand back into my gun hand and continue the fight. I can do it about as quick and easy as someone drops out a magazine, loads another and slides a round into the chamber on a semi auto.

 

[omegapd]

Just my .02 but the cheap nylon speed loader pouches (Uncle Mikes/Passport) conceal much easier than the leather duty ones. I wear a set on my weak side and just a T-shirt covers it up well.