For the start of my second year of Friday Gun Pr0n, I figured I'd try something different. In two previous posts, where I'd shown some of my wheelguns and the speedloaders that go with them, I've had comments about the Bianchi Speed Strips.
So, naturally, I did what any conscientious gunnie would do, I grabbed my camera, tripod, trusty Smith & Wesson, and some snap caps, and took some videos. Plus y'all get to hear the melodious tones of Jay G. Aren't you lucky?
Video #1:
As the narrative says, that's a Maxfire speedloader. It's a rubber compound similar to the Hogue Monogrips that holds the rounds in a staggered configuration that (theoretically) allows one to slide the loader off the positioned rounds. If you notice, I had to slide the loader off carefully, as three previous attempts at video resulted in the snap caps being flung around my kitchen...
Video #2:
Here's the traditional speedloader, an HKS #10. This is a standard revolver speedloader, where a clockwise twist of the silver knob one way locks the rounds, a counterwise twist releases them into the cylinder.
Video #3:
Last up is the Bianchi Speed Strip. It takes a little more practice than either of the traditional (circular) speedloaders, but the tradeoff is a package that sits flat in the pocket as opposed to a rather obvious bulge.
(Side note: I had to re-shoot this video, as after I got it all uploaded and everything, I noticed that in my first take, my booger hook was alllll over the bang switch. Even though the gun is empty, with cylinder out, I felt it more important to show myself obeying the rules.)
From the times of the video, there's practically no difference between the three speedloaders. I prefer the Speed Strips simply because they're easier to slip into a pocket - in some jeans, the watch pocket alone is large enough to accomodate a strip...
That is all.
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18 comments:
All videos feature The Snubbie From Hell (tm) !!!!! That is truly a punishing little revolver to fire, especially with "full house" .357mag cartridges.
Nice video's Jay!First of it's kind I've seen. I just bought my first speed strips last week and I am in agreement with you; easier to carry as well as not being specific to a particular revolver cylinder/frame size
Videos! That was very cool. Thank you, Jay! I should get a speedloader and practice.
(& it's nice to put a voice to the blog - but you sound different than I imagined)
Sunday's still open for me. If global warming gets here sometime between now and then, I'd be up for some range time.
brad,
Yep. The Snubbie from Hell™ was a natural choice. It was a toss-up between that and the new Colt, and the SfH™ got the nod when I couldn't find any of the 6-shot speedloaders... :)
angus,
Thanks! It took multiple takes on all vids before I got the timing/wording/etc. right. I hadn't seen any sort of videos on using speedloaders, and had gotten multiple requests on using the speed strips, so it fell into place.
breda,
Thanks! Just out of curiosity, how did you expect me to sound?
bruce,
I'm still working on getting my kitchen pass for Sunday afternoon. It looks like it may be a go - the boy has a birthday party @ 12:30, I am thinking about dropping him off and heading up your way. Should have most of the afternoon, too... Will give a call tomorrow.
I'm itching to shoot the new Colt and Sig...
Okay, now I have to go try to dig it up...
...I saw somewhere (and I'm thinking it was John Farnham?) some pretty solid criticism of the Maxfire speed loaders. The complaints were bad enough that I took the little post-it tab out of my Blue Press book where I was making note of some things I wanted to get.
jay - I expected your voice to be a bit more gravelly and a bit more Massachusetts-y. ("Pahk the cah on Hahvahd Yahd." - but is that strictly a Boston thing?)
But still, very nice. =)
Just what I was hoping for, Jay!
What was really neat was what I gained from the video was not what I expected. You don't feed your wheelie from a speed strip any different or faster than I do, but even watching the video it LOOKED like the speed strip took longer than the two speed loaders.
It was looking at the time counter when I was suprised how fast the speed strips are. Its because its so much more involved than speed loaders.
I prefer the speed strips because they're small and flat, and also you can carry 6 pills, and still use the strip on your 5-holer gun.
Not that I can really see me ever USING that 6th round in a combat-shoot, as I'll likely drop the strip as soom as the the last chamber is loaded and be back on target.
GunGeek,
Yeah, I was less-than-impressed with Maxfire speedloaders. They're in the same category, IMHO, as Pro-Mag magazines - fine for the range, not acceptable for personal protection.
Breda,
I can *do* the Masshole accent, trust me on this one. I can also do a good Guido the killer pimp, too... ;) But that's me alright...
Weer'd,
I did the same thing, actually - after I recorded the video segments, I uploaded them to my computer and watched all three (that's when I noticed my booger hook on the bang switch in the first Bianchi speed strip demo).
It wasn't until I paid attention to the time counter that I realized that all videos were approximately the same length, and therefore the load times were approximately the same duration.
Jose at NES recommended the Safariland speedloader. I may pick one up and give it a try; however because of the large size I just don't see it becoming a daily carry item - which is what the Speed Strips *ARE*...
I haven't seen one of those strip loaders used before. They work pretty slick I may have to pick one of those up myself. Nice videos.
Very instructive, thanks.
Informed! Thanks.
For next time, you might want to take out those anemic lightbulbs Al Gore forced on you and get a bit more light in there.
I have read that manual dexterity is the first thing to disappear when the adrenalin kicks in.
May I suggest you try the speed loaders and the speed strip while under some sort of stress - to simulate an adrenalin dump as would occur in an actual firearm use situation?
Maybe run a wind sprint around the house, and then try each loading method.
At least you'd know what to expect if you ever have to reload for real.
Thanks Matt, Dr. mac, and Bolt!
As for the lighting, hey, it was a thrown-together deal. Next time I'll try to improve the lighting...
mike,
You are, of course, 100% correct in that in a "real world" scenario the reload times go out the window.
I was leaving as a qualitative approach, though - comparing the three speedloader methods to each other only rather than against a stopwatch. There's no practical difference in time needed between the three loaders.
I was gonna ask if you had tried the Safarilands. They're my faves. They come in three sizes (Comp I, II and III). The littlest ones are even smaller than the HKS. If you've got a S&W K frame I'll send you one to shoot a video with.
BTW, that was a pretty smooth reload on the Bianchi speed strip. I need to practice with mine
Old post, but I'm using it for a training aid anyway.
One of my students asked about speed loaders. I don't have to do anything, you prepared a great visual presentation already.
James
I'm a bit late to the party. Followed a link from Tam's VFTP to get here. At least the timing is right.
Although I've used the HKS speedloaders since the early 80's, I just bought my first set of speed strips today. Now I have a visual example to practice to.
I see that you hold your revolver in your right hand while you reload also. I leaned to do that a long time ago and have never seen anyone else do that.
have you since tried the safari land comp speed loaders? I use comp II's and they are faster than my hks ones which are very fast. Might wanna check some out................
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