Update/FWIW
The Speed Strip really is a pleasant surprise. I've been carrying it daily, and virtually forget that I've more than doubled my ammo for the M37 Chief's Special Airweight in the opposite pocket.
I shall be ordering more.
See? I can admit when I had a hole in my experiences.
Labels: handguns, public service message, self defense
posted by Matt G @ 3:24 PM
10 Comments:
tank you... tank you :-) I had to practice quite a bit to get proficient, and I still do drills with snap caps to make sure I remember how to load from one.
How is a speed strip better than a speed loader? I can drop a speed loader in a pocket and it hardly bulges.
Heck, even carrying several loose cartridges is better than going around with NO spares. I like the Speed Strips because they're less bulky than even the little thin leather pouch. For sheer speed, I'm fastest with the HKS speed loader, but that's just too thick in my pocket.
"How is a speed strip better than a speed loader? I can drop a speed loader in a pocket and it hardly bulges."
A fair question, Crucis. :)
I've been a carrier of speed loaders for years. They can be carried, and I do carry them... occasionally. That slight bulge kinda starts to irritate one, after awhile. It clunks against chair arms, door frames, etc. Hey-- I already have to put up with that on the other side, from my pistol. They also are inherently fragile. I've seen many a broken speedloader, and have broken one or two in my time.
Speedstrips have no moving parts. They lie flatter. The weight is much more distributed. They can easily be worn in smaller pockets, in tighter clothing, without ANY telltale bulge. And, truth be told, they don't roll around when I transfer my pocket plunder from pants to dresser-top.
The difference is admittedly small, but it's the little things that are the differnces between carrying a reload, and flying commando, when you're an everyday carrier.
Human nature is lazy. Can you carry a M29 on your belt with a Desert Eagle backup, with magazine carriers and competition speedloaders on your belt, in a concealed manner? Sure you can.
But you won't. Not every day. Not when you run to the store for a diet coke and a DVD.
When I carry the snubby, I carry two speed strips. Six rounds each.
The snubby is a five holer, but I have found the speed strip more stable with all six slots filled, and easier to use as well.
Reloading from it takes practice and has never been smooth for me, but still way better than loose rounds, and WAY better than no reload at all.
I have speed loaders as well, which are faster, but also likely to get left behind since they bulge.
???
You still go to the store for DVDs????
Heh. Rarely. But occasionally, one of the sprouts will have a surprise sleepover, and I've got to run out to the KwikEMart to see what stock of My Little Pony they've got. Or the wife gets sick, and I've got to stock her up with something to keep her from going stir crazy while home during the day. Or you know.
Matt, I usually have a S&W 442 in my right front jeans pocket with a Bianchi pocket holster and a Buch lockblade, loose change, keys and speedloader in the left front pocket. I load up in the morning and carry everything until I'm ready to go to bed.
My wife added a pocket liner to my jean to keep wear down. She hates replacing pockets.
I'm still a little disbelieving. Of course I'm the guy who's been nagging Bianchi to make the strips in other sizes. .22, .32, .44, and .45LC for openers.
I just found a box of speed loaders I didn't know I had. Auctionarms.com and Gunbroker.net are gonna see an auction or three soon. Love the speed loaders, but when you have more than 5 per revolver, it's time to deal.....
As one of the folks who recommended the speed strip (*g*), I've found it to be virtually indistinguishable from a traditional speedloader in terms of reloading time.
In fact, I shot a series of videos of me reloading using three different types of loaders, and darned if there isn't more than a second or so's worth between all three.
Not shown in that post is my feeble attempt at reloading loose rounds. Ugly. Just ugly...
Post a Comment
<< Home