SA revolver speedloader?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone ever seen, or heard of these? I ran across an article by John Taffin and he mentions someone using one made from a tube, but he doesn't decribe it any further.

I suppose a plastic or metal tube with the right I.D. would work, and long enough for a reload worth of rounds. Would take some thought as to how to plug it, being sure you'd always unplug the bullet end.

Sounds like it might be useful. I may have found a new toy to go with my Bearcats and Single-Six.....

 

[Anonymous]

Oops! I just found this through Google

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5945&sid=19c7f5b95c50dc6a8f2c6fed2f41f966

Maybe someone has something new to add?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Not really applicable to all single-actions, but the magazine from a 1911 autoloader makes a pretty good speedloader for a Blackhawk wearing a .45 ACP cylinder. You simply thumb them thru the open loading gate with a little practice. I have not done this personally, but have seen it referred to in a couple of gun magazines.

I'd suppose a similar arrangement could be worked up for a Blackhawk wearing a 9mm cylinder.

Perhaps the magazine from a Ruger .22 pistol could work with a Single-Six?

 

[5of7]

I have a feeling that speed loading a single action revolver would be an exercise in futility. 8)

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Surely wouldn't help much with the UNloading situation, would it?

 

[FergusonTO35]

I don't know if you could ever create an equivalent to a hand ejector speedloader, but I think a spring loaded stripper clip might work well.

 

[luvmyruger]

About the only thing I see with this is Pale Rider movie... Clint Eastwood carrying multiple cylinders. Good movie.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

"I think a spring loaded stripper clip might work"

Yep, that's basically the concept behind the use of an auto pistol magazine.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Not really applicable to all single-actions, but the magazine from a 1911 autoloader makes a pretty good speedloader for a Blackhawk wearing a .45 ACP cylinder. You simply thumb them thru the open loading gate with a little practice. I have not done this personally, but have seen it referred to in a couple of gun magazines.

I'd suppose a similar arrangement could be worked up for a Blackhawk wearing a 9mm cylinder.

Perhaps the magazine from a Ruger .22 pistol could work with a Single-Six?

Yes the use of a 1911 mag works quite well useing my Blackhawk convertible in 45 ACP. I get a few quizzical looks with a holstered single action with two 1911 mags in a pouch!

 

[coyote]

i use Tuff Quick Strips for all my SA and DA revolvers, in 22LR, 38, 44 and 45LC (and they make many more too).

https://www.tuffproducts.com/product.php?productid=16340&cat=265&page=1

and just click on "caliber" to see all that are available

 

[J Miller]

Just for record with sufficient practice a person can unload and reload a SA quite quickly.

About the only place the difference matters is in an IPSC or other speed match.

Joe

 

[MMichaelAK]

Best SA reload is in The Outlaw Josey Wales. Clint carries enough Colt cap and ball revolvers to reload as many times as necessary. Heavy but effective.

 

[cwegga]

Not really applicable to all single-actions, but the magazine from a 1911 autoloader makes a pretty good speedloader for a Blackhawk wearing a .45 ACP cylinder. You simply thumb them thru the open loading gate with a little practice. I have not done this personally, but have seen it referred to in a couple of gun magazines.

I'd suppose a similar arrangement could be worked up for a Blackhawk wearing a 9mm cylinder.

Perhaps the magazine from a Ruger .22 pistol could work with a Single-Six?

If you wanted to spend enough money you could get magazines for magnum calibers too. Buy a Coonan mag for .357/.38s and an Automag or Desert Eagle mag for .44s.

 

[CraigC]

The best speedloader for a single action sixgun is the shooter. If you can't reload one in a matter of seconds, you ain't doin' it enough.

 

[Boge]

It's called the Schofield. :lol: :wink:

 

[Bucks Owin]

The best speedloader for a single action sixgun is the shooter. If you can't reload one in a matter of seconds, you ain't doin' it enough.

I agree. (Again! :shock: ) Seems to me that there are a lot of SA shooters that don't spend enough time with their sixguns to be totally familiar with them. I expect I could recharge a SA (any model) in pitch blackness faster than those who feel they must install free spin pawls and such could in broad daylight with someone handing them each round! Not because I'm some "Wyatt Earp" but simply because for one thing, I keep precise control of cyl rotation with my left thumb, but mainly because I have done it many thousands of times and the process is ingrained. Maybe a reload would be a worthwhile requirement in CAS instead of two sixguns... :wink:

Inline speedloader? Who needs it....JMO

 

[Pal Val]

Pracice makes perfect!

Now, if I only could find out how those B-movie cowboys could fire a couple dozen shots without reloading! :lol: :lol:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Actually, Val, there were some studio revolvers made up that held considerably more than six rounds. You never got to see any long-duration close-ups of them, of course. I picked up this little bit of trivia from IOWEGAN several years ago, as he knew some folks who had been involved with the movie industry long ago.

But we also understand that "cuts" in a film can greatly add to a gun's magazine capacity.

 

[bamboogtp]

wouldn't the best speed loader for a SA revolver be a second SA revolver?

 

[JimMarch1]

OK...I'm playing with all this right now, as the other half of the equation. (The first half being unloading, for that I've gone to a gas-eject setup.)

Chamfering the backs of the chambers would help. Switching to a rimless caliber like 9x19Para or 9x23Winchester if your gun is a 357, or the 45ACP, or even the .40/10mm series (barrel swap!) would help more.

Enough of a "funnel effect" and a tube-loader should work well. With rimless shells as opposed to rimmed like the 357, the shells will stay straighter in the tube which should also help.

The tubes I'm working with right now for the 357Mag are brass. I've drilled a hole sideways straight through at one end, ran a heavy leather-sewing-grade thread through that hole and then wrapped it around that end to form a "mouthpiece". Yup. I intend to blow rounds in as I spin the cylinder.

I've got my cylinder fully free-spun.

The 9x19Para is looking very tempting, for several reasons:

* Ammo costs (and parts cost for reloading);

* Factory ammo has become pretty damned effective of late. Winchester's 127gr+P+ load with the Black Talon-based slug is a scary beast. Federal's "police-sales-only" HST 147 is also racking up some impressive test data, and from a 4.68" barrel should get up a good head of steam.

* The speedload tube can be fairly short in 9mmPara - short enough for daily carry with the right leather.

 

[Anonymous]

I've tried it with a piece of 5/16ths I.D. brass tubing and six .22LR rounds. The first round drops in, and the others drop as the chambers go by. Worked on a Bobcat and a Single-Six just fine. Make one two inches longer to hold six rounds of .22WMR.

A screw thread protector works to cap the "bottom" of the tube, or a screw through it would work. I can't find rubber stoppers small enough, and cork wouldn't last, for the top. I may just drill two holes and use a clevis pin clip to block it. I would prefer keeping the outside snag-less for pockets.

Granted, more a toy than practical, but it seems faster than an average person can do it with loose rounds. My old habit is just using plastic 35mm film cans to pocket .22LR in.

 

[5of7]

If I thought fast reloading was important when shooting a single action revolver, I would have a spare cylinder fitted and carry it in a pouch designed for it.

I think you could swap out the cylinders faster than anything else.

 

[Pal Val]

Get a couple spare cylinders for quick reloading. Then, start practicing he line: -Well, are you pulling those pistols, or are you whistling "Dixie"?

 

[CraigC]

I agree. (Again! :shock: )

I see a pattern forming here!

Now I'm not real sure how representative this is but I see a lot of references to shooters treating their range sessions with the single action as a "relaxing" experience. Which there is nothing wrong with but I take it to mean that they get in "no itchin' hurry" to accomplish their reloads. Personally, I do a lot of shooting with single actions, particularly with rimfires and do my best to manipulate them as quickly as possible. In my opinion, you can do a hell of a lot more to improve your reloading speed with $20 worth of .22LR's than $20 worth of any centerfire cartridge. My advice to shooters would be to take reloading as seriously as your shooting if you want to get good at it. Treat every reload like you're "on the clock" and you'll be impressing yourself in no time.

I really don't think swapping cylinders is gonna be any faster but could potentially pose its own problems. For the record, Clint was swapping cylinders because he was using an 1858 Remington cartridge conversion without an ejector.

 

[JWhitmore44]

I had a gentleman here send me a couple of those brass tubes that 44 mag would fit in. One end was plugged with the expandable foam insulation and the other uses a rubber cork. It works great as a speed loader (you need to empty the gun before reloading), but it's a bit long to carry. I also use a 1911 magazine when I carry my short Vaquero with a 45 acp cylinder. The Magazine works better than the tube as I can load in any order or even one or two at a time. Lastly, I made a strip loader/carrier out of a piece of leather for 32 mag to use in my single six 32.

The strips and mags are nice as the extra rounds can go in pockets instead of belt loops. I like belt loops but they can get in the way. They don't conceal worth a darn either

 

[Anonymous]

Geez, I really started something here. I brought it up out of curiosity over a mention in print. I'm about to give up on it as impractical, and then some posts think it's not.

I do enjoy the slow pace of a SA revolver at the range. Just seems good that there is a way to do it faster should a need arise. I have given some thought to CCW on all my handguns. My Bobcats were chosen for CCW, and the Bearcats might be a fair substitute. My Mark III and Single-Six are definitely too heavy.

I don't think I'll make a SA speedloader after all. There is one by Taurus for their 10 round model 62 .22 rifle that could be cut down to six rounds, I think, since it's plastic with rubber caps. $15 for two. It may not last long, since the rifle it's for is history.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=799246

Marble's "Catch 22" ammo carrier would be better for revolvers if each hole held six, not five, rounds.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=249928

 

[RaisinRiverRon]

Never tried an auto clip, I normally use loops or speed-strips/quick-strips. Loops are faster, strips are more compact (less on the belt) and more easy to conceal.