Something I do not own - I didn't think about it until yesterday - are 5-shot speed loaders for my 640-1.

In the universe of speed loaders, which ones:
1. Secure cartridges in loader among the most securely?

2. Are the among most impact resistant - as in dropping in the dirt and being stepped on or fallen upon?
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If there is one or two loaders that is among the best in both categories, please identify them.
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Regarding ammunition carriers, I have specially made carriers for both 45-70 and 45 Colt that ride on my gun belt, capture each cartridge in its own loop, and are completely closed when not dispensing cartridges. I am not interested in a carrier for speed strips, though.

Here is a link to my carriers. http://www.7xleather.com/ammo_carriers. "The Klein Special" is an improved form of McKeever Box. Is something along these lines, albeit less expensive, available? If something is, again please identify it.

Try Quick Strips by Bianchi
For a J-Frame I carry a few of these in a pocket
http://www.amazon.com/Bianchi-...eywords=quick+strips

I have no interest in speed strip-type carriers and carriers for them. You see, I'm not the most graceful gazelle on the planet. My specialties are dropping stuff and having clumsy hands.

My previous experience with Bianchi Speed Strips - I guess the present device's precursor - was poor. I tended to drop the strip, knock one or more cartridges off the carrier while loading, or have cartridges come off in my pocket (when carried loose in front pocket.)

There are a couple of makers out HKS and safariland both make them for the J frame.

I like the Safariland comp twos the best.

I've carried the J Frames for about 25 years, and while I am extremely proficient reloading K and L frames with speed loaders, I was never able to get that way with the J frame. After years of trying on and off with both HKS and Safariland loaders, I stuck to the speed strips, and found them to be the best answer.

I carried 4 Safariland loaders on my belt, those were loaded with .357 Magnum ammunition for my main weapon, I also carried one speed strip loaded with five rounds of .38 Special for the J frame, my backup weapon. I carried the speed strip in a shirt pocket.

I still carry the J frames more often than not, and have found the speed strip with five rounds fits easily into the watch pocket of jeans. If no little pocket is available, just drop it into a pocket. I've done this for a very long time, and have never had a round pop out of the speed strip, I've run quite a few through the wash machine, and still haven't had one pop out of the strip. I'm still using some strips that I bought well over twenty years ago, the only failure I've experienced, is on one occasion, the "tab" on the end disappeared, I still have no clue what happened to it.

I have reloaded a revolver while "under stress" and can say it doesn't go as smooth as it does at the range. One thing to keep in mind, is to just drop the speed loader or strip when you are done, don't fumble with trying to pocket it. Do this every time you shoot, and use the loaders and or strips every time you shoot, and you will get the hang of it in time. One last pointer, try doing this without looking at the weapon, as in the dark. It's not the best of ideas to be completely focused on the weapon when under attack.

I used to import the Dade Reloader into the UK from John Fordham in Miami.

The thing with the Dade is that it works everytime.

My brother won a man-v-man revolver match because his opponent was using a Jet (spring loaded like a Safariland) loader that jammed on the cylinder of his gun.

I'd trade reliability over holding securely every time.

The advantage of the Dade over the HKS is that with a Dade you do a strog hand reload...by that I mean the strong hand does not move from its firing grip on the gun.

No swapping the gun to the weak hand so that you can twist the retainer on the loader as required in an HKS.

The argument about dropping is debatable as:

1) You may have to leave cover to pick it up anyway (speedloaders are round...they roll)

2) The rounds may be mucky and dirty from mud and etc.

But as the old cavalry guys are supposed to have said the quickest reload is a second gun.

And whilst a gun is better than no gun if you really think that you are going to need moer than five shots I'd getter a higher capacity small frame pistol.

Best of the bunch IMHO would be the excellent CZ-82 in, maybe, 9mm Makarov or .380 ACP will give you TWELVE + ONE SHOTS and in .32 ACP will give you FIFTEEN + ONE SHOTS.

That and one spare magazine is a lot of firepower. With two spare magazines and one round chambered it is thirty-seven rounds.

Fancy six speedloaders plus the charged cylinder for your Model 640 to approach that?

I use the Safariland speed loaders without taking my action hand off the revolver. The Safariland loaders I use drop the cartridges once the center touched the extractor.

When it's time to reload, push or pull the cylinder release with action hand thumb, rotate hand so barrel is up, stick finger from action hand through the cylinder opening to hold cylinder from moving, with the reaction hand, slap the extractor rod to forcibly eject, tip down, and with reaction hand, insert speed loader, drop the rounds in, DROP the damn speed loader, close cylinder and you are ready. If you think wasting time pocketing the empty speed loader is worth it, then you place a very low value upon your life.

The J frame is different in that the cylinder due to its smaller diameter, simply does not swing out far enough to make speed loaders work simply, a whole lot of attention must be given to grips and so forth to ensure clearance, and then it is an iffy deal.

I also shot in completion, but did it the same way as I did all my other shooting, and so did all the other cops who were shooting revolvers.

You train as you fight.

With the Dade I would operate the cylinder release with the thumb (the reason why the S & W is superior to the Colt or Ruger) of the hand holding the revolver keeping trigger finger alongside the trigger.

Turn revolver ninety degrees off the vertical to the horizontal at the same time using weak hand middle fingers to push through frame and weak hand index finger or thumb (whichever in trial you find the quickest for you but index finger is usually best) to press ejector rod.

Use weak hand to take speedloader from a left hand side worn pouch or coat pocket. Place on cylinder. Revolver should now have been inclined slightly muzzle down and back to vertical from the horizontal.

Use strong hand thumb to push the button on the Dade and as soon as rounds drop close cylinder allowing the now empty speedloader to fall to the ground.

As CJWINA says train as you intend to fight and do not pick up that loader or replace in pocket until the very end of the firing detail.

In fact best practice is to have someone else pck them up and give to you. So you never develop a habit of doing it as part of the firing sequence.

One has to develop the mind set that Speed loaders like magazines are disposable.

One should own many for each model of firearm.

I use the 5star models. They're very good quality.

5starfirearms.com

Thanks to all of you who replied. I believe I have a handle on what I seek. It is a "2x2x2 cartridge carrier" that affixes to a belt. Without having seen or used one this device appears to be very secure, unobtrusive, and allows me to reload without needing to put "eyes on" to get cartridges. I am nearly certain that bad hands will not cause me to drop or fumble with two cartridges while two cartridges at a time achieves a somewhat faster cylinder reload than one at a time.

1. Does this make sense to you all - who have much more experience with such devices than I do?

2. If it makes sense, please identify leather carriers for 1.5-onch belt that affixes to belt with loops or slots or snaps rather than merely folding over top/cover around the belt.

quote:

I use the 5star models. They're very good quality.

Gosh! Speedloaders in silver! What next!

If NAP you've no confidence in loaders look at the current equivalent of the old Bucheimer belt carrier that carried six rounds in pairs.

It folded under the belt and when closed acted as if the whole thing itself was the "loop".

Worry not. They don't go anywhere when closed on the belt and don't fall off when opened. I used to import them into the UK.

So NOT a six round dump box.

Like this current made item. If it as good as the old Bucheimer equivalent it will 100% satisfy your needs.

My brother was a cop in UK for twenty years. Armed as part of a Special Response Unit. At that time they had the S & W Model 10.

He used Dade Loaders in a Dade Loader Pouch and two Bucheimer six round carriers. They work.



www.galcogunleather.com


It had a flap...so you can't see the cartridges...and the rounds aren't held singly but in three pairs of two.

Looks just like a pager carrier. Split it into wearing it as two separate six round carriers.

Wear one immediately in front of the holster. Wear the other on the opposite front side of your belt.

You used it by loading two at a time and manually indexing the cylinder so that if you had to close it earlier you closed it so that the two loaded rounds you'd just put in came up under the hammer.

But i is a weak hand load. Hold gun in weak hand, against the belly, rotate cylinder and "feel" the two round in with the strong hand whilst keeping eyes on the target.

But, as I said earlier, best is get a CZ-82 pistol as mentioned. The revolver unless that is the only thing your are permitted to carry is obsolete for self defence.

These are precisely what I'm looking to get information about. I refer to them as 2x2x2 carriers because that's what they look like, plus some makers use that nomenclature.

From your reply, you believe this is a sensible solution for someone with severely arthritic hands?

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
If NAP you've no confidence in loaders look at the current equivalent of the old Bucheimer belt carrier that carried six rounds in pairs.

It folded under the belt and when closed acted as if the whole thing itself was the "loop".

Worry not. They don't go anywhere when closed on the belt and don't fall off when opened. I used to import them into the UK.

So NOT a six round dump box.

Like this current made item. If it as good as the old Bucheimer equivalent it will 100% satisfy your needs.

My brother was a cop in UK for twenty years. Armed as part of a Special Response Unit. At that time they had the S & W Model 10.

He used Dade Loaders in a Dade Loader Pouch and two Bucheimer six round carriers. They work.



www.galcogunleather.com


It had a flap...so you can't see the cartridges...and the rounds aren't held singly but in three pairs of two.

Looks just like a pager carrier. Split it into wearing it as two separate six round carriers.

Wear one immediately in front of the holster. Wear the other on the opposite front side of your belt.

You used it by loading two at a time and manually indexing the cylinder so that if you had to close it earlier you closed it so that the two loaded rounds you'd just put in came up under the hammer.

But i is a weak hand load. Hold gun in weak hand, against the belly, rotate cylinder and "feel" the two round in with the strong hand whilst keeping eyes on the target.

But, as I said earlier, best is get a CZ-82 pistol as mentioned. The revolver unless that is the only thing your are permitted to carry is obsolete for self defence.

I know that they work but I do not know how bad your hands are. All I can say is practice with dummy cartridges.

If they 'work' the same as the Bucheimer then the leather will hold the other rounds in place and ready until their turn comes to be pulled out.

I had a S & W Model 40 in .38 Special and I'd again suggest that for your Model 640 .38 Special cartridges are best as the SHORTER case will eject better than a longer .357 Magnum case.

Indeed standard or "hot" but not Plus +P+ .38 Special will eject better too.

But....I'd still recommend the CZ-82 as with the .380 ACP or 9mm Makarov the slide should not be too strong to pull back.

If you can try one.

I suspect you are reading my thoughts. My "FBI Load" Remington +P 38 Special 158-grain LSWC-HP ammunition will be delivered in two days. Although I did not order the case because of its shorter brass, the result is the same. I believe I cannot tolerate the noise or recoil of 357 Magnum ammunition.

With luck the cartridge will be loaded with softer primers than are used for 357 ammunition, allowing me to have a slight reduction in some springs' poundage.

FYI: I bought my "FBI Load" from SGAmmo @ 33¢ per cartridge or just under $170 per case.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
I know that they work but I do not know how bad your hands are. All I can say is practice with dummy cartridges.

If they 'work' the same as the Bucheimer then the leather will hold the other rounds in place and ready until their turn comes to be pulled out.

I had a S & W Model 40 in .38 Special and I'd again suggest that for your Model 640 .38 Special cartridges are best as the SHORTER case will eject better than a longer .357 Magnum case.

Indeed standard or "hot" but not Plus +P+ .38 Special will eject better too.

But....I'd still recommend the CZ-82 as with the .380 ACP or 9mm Makarov the slide should not be too strong to pull back.

If you can try one.

Years ago, thirty plus, evene though Hi-Vel ammunition was coming out and Speer's "Lawman" ammunition gun writers recommended the 158 grain LSWC-HP for snub nose revolvers.

Now hw many of these guy did so on the basis of gun fight experience I don't know. But certainly the 158 grain LSWC-HP had its advocates.

Remington use to sell the bullet itself I for reloading. But again I'd stll say that a CZ-82 is the better option for you.

enfieldspares:

In sixth grade, our final grade of elementary school, I was "still" incorrigible. Punishment for people like me was "seventh hour," one additional hour after normal school hours. Each teacher who proctored had a different form of torture. Mr. Moyle's torture was that no one could leave until he had written - usually 500 times - what became known as TFTDs (pronounced tiff-tidds) - Thoughts for the Day. Only two have remained in memory, one of which pertains to your believing the CZ-82 to be a better choice for me.

An avian in the center of manual dexterity is equivalent to double that amount in a dense arboreal mass.

You are most welcome.

Thank you for acknowledging that I believe the CZ-82 is a better choice for you.

Now please go and write it out five hundred times.

Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.