Speedloaders for GP100

[Big Stu]

I have both the HKS and the Safariland speedloaders and IMHO the Safariland is far superior. To load the cylinders, you simply push the loader in and close the action. The Hks requires you to put the loader in and then twist the knob. That means two hands on the cylinder to keep it from spinning. I just hope they hold up over time.

 

[Merlinspop]

I use quick strips with both my GP & SP.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

HKS and speed strips sometimes.

...Jimbo

 

[dougader]

I like the Safariland when I'm shooting at the range. But if I'm carrying for SD, I use the HKS. The Safriland are great, until they freeze up and become absolutely useless. I don't want to risk that in a SD situation.

 

[protoolman]

I like the Dade loaders.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I have been using HKS since 1976, and even when thrown, none have ever inadvertantly spilled their cartridges.
I have owned over one hundred.

I admit they are NOT the fastest, but they are the ones used for carry.

I had/have them for Security Sixes and RG38 and M67 and M38 and GP100s and Redhawks in 357, 41, 44, and 45 Colt.

 

[kstoneking]

I've used the HKS loaders since the early 80's with nary a problem. It's the only speedloader I'm comfortable with, and I've tried several others. I do carry Bianchi speed strips on occasion when I carry my j-frame Smith.

Kenny

 

[57Frontier]

I voted HKS, just because that's all I've tried, but I don't have any gripes with them.

 

[Calthrop]

Comp 2's after trying HKS and having it not open fully. Could have been operator error. I have never had a Safariland speedoader fail no matter how it went in.

Otherwise I carry a back up of speed strips. No loose live ammo any more. However I do load two's and singles because you never know when you well need a skill.
When I practice I clear all live ammo out of the room. Load what I'll be traingng with A-Zoom snap caps, an expensive training tool at first, and proceed.

Nice holster Stu. dose the guy make loader carriers and belts too?

 

[Big Stu]

Nice holster Stu. dose the guy make loader carriers and belts too?

I never thought to look but now I'm curious. I'll let you know as soon as I can get back in touch with him. The Holster isn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it works very well and is remarkably comfortable. That counts much more than appearance.

 

[Thel]

Have both HKS and Safariland (given the HKS). Prefer the Safariland. Also, have speed strips for loading one or two at the time when topping off.

 

[Nakagawa]

http://www.5starfirearms.com/

These are what i use for my SP101, they also have some for GPs I believe. They are a aluminum speed loaders.

 

[Bob R]

I have been carrying revolvers for around 40 years. I have HKS, Safariland Comp I, II, and III loaders, as well as Speed Strips. All work just fine for the intended purpose.
For CCW in the Summer I normally throw a Speed Strip in my pants pocket. Not real quick to reload with, but small and concealable, and with a little practice they work much better than loose rounds in a pocket. Tuff Products make a good selection of them for about everything, as well as speed strip holders for them. Check the web site for a complete selection. I even have them for my 480 Ruger.

For Competition shooting using a revolver I like the Safariland Comp III loaders. They are a little taller, which makes them easier to get ahold of. They are spring loaded, and provide a very fast reload for the non-Moon Clip revolver. I have 8 of them so far.

If I were carrying a duty revolver for Police/Security work, I would have a couple Comp III loaders on my duty belt. In my opinion they are a little to large for pocket carry. For belt carry they are great.

For pocket carry the HKS, and Safariland Comp I, and II speedloaders work fine.
The Comp I is the most concealable of the 3. (Smallest Size)
I would rate the Comp II, and HKS about equal for size and function. I have owned HKS loaders forever, and I have never had one quit so far. They have all been of good quality, and functioned perfectly. I have only been using the Safariland loaders for the last 3 years or so. I have bought a few of the Safariland Comp I, and Comp II loaders when Midway has had them on sale. I would rate the Comp I, Comp II, and HKS very close. The HKS is the easiest to load if you do not use a loader much. The Comp I the most concealable in size, and the Comp II the fastest to reload the revolver with of the three by a slight margin.

All have a place in your shooting equipment box.

My 2 Cents

Bob

 

[Timber Wolf]

HKS and speed strips sometimes.

...Jimbo

This, have never tried anything else (except by hand of course). The HKS and Speed Strips work fine, are secure, and I trust them.

 

[Calthrop]

I agree about form and function. What you need is a good gun belt and some thing to carry your reloads in. The reloads will be located just ahead of the holster. No matter the type of equipment the accepted technique is: left hand holding the cylinder right hand operating the loader. Evident your holster you will carry right strong side.

 

[Rexster]

I reckon that if I get into competition, Safariland might be better for winning timed gun games, but HKS won the sturdiness contest, for my peace of mind, during the 1984-1997 period I carried revolvers as duty handguns. Both of the reloading techniques I use, which is dependent on the frame size, secure the cylinder against turning, so the twisting necessary with the HKS loader is not a problem.

It does NOT require "two hands" to keep the cylinder from turning. One finger against the cylinder will secure it just fine.

There is another brand out there now, however, that may be better than either, the SL Variant loader. I may order a few soon, as I am likely to revert to revolvers after I retire from policin', and often carry revolvers on my own time.

My favorite speedloader, for now, however, when carrying an SP101, is those all-stainless steel speed loaders made by Ruger, a second and sometimes a third SP101, backed by Speed Strips.

Bianchi Speed Strips, which are handy for toting spare rounds, are NOT very speedy for a full reload, but are a VERY fast, sure way to get two rounds into the cylinder, and sometimes two quick, sure rounds might save one's life.

 

[Donaldjr1969]

Bianchi Speed Strips, which are handy for toting spare rounds, are NOT very speedy for a full reload, but are a VERY fast, sure way to get two rounds into the cylinder, and sometimes two quick, sure rounds might save one's life.

I've always wondered if the speed strips were pretty much a speedier improvement over a dump pouch?

 

[Rexster]

A dump pouch makes a good place to carry a Speed Strip! To answer the question, a Speed Strip certainly is an improvement over loose rounds in the hand, dumped from a dump pouch. I believe that a 2x2x2 ammo carrier is a big improvement over the dump pouch. With a bit of practice, loading two cartridges at once can be done amazingly fast.

For those of us who carry revolvers for defense, let's remember, during the reload, to keep our eyes on the lookout for threats! I believe that police officers who died while reloading their duty revolvers, during such incidents as the Newhall Massacre, were not so much victims of not having speed loaders, as they were victims of their training, which involved holding the weapon at belt level, and visually tunneling-in on the reload process, rather than holding the weapon higher, the better to pay attention to the enemy. Unfortunately, with the advent of speed loaders on duty belts, the training continued with the practice of holding the weapon at belt level for the reload. So, accounts of officers not seeing their enemies advancing on them continued.

A speed loader, or Speed Strip, facilitates reloading while holding the
revolver higher. While we can practice keeping the eyes on the threat during
the reload, it is a very human thing to look at the weapon while reloading,
especially if a snag occurs. Better to hold the weapon high during the reloads.

OK, I will climb down from the soap box now.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't know about the GP-100, but when I had a Speed-Six and Security-Six, I preferred HKS. Safariland was, like said, too insecure if dropped. I thiught it was sometimes awkward to keep the button in until the cartridges were clear of the loader, too.

No speed strips back then, I don't think. It would seem that any loader would have a speed advantage over them, anyway.