First up, here's the 5-STAR six-shot speedloader against a couple competitors:
Here's the HKS:
And here's the Safariland:
Also, in keeping with my previous speedloader videos, here's the 5-Star Firearms five-shot J-frame speedloader:
The 5-STAR Firearms line of speedloaders are at least as easy to use as the HKS model. The Safariland speedloader is the fastest model I've tried, however loading it takes patience and getting the loader ready takes more skill than is worth the second or so of extra speed. Plus the first two times I tried for the video it only ejected some of the rounds. In the interest of fairness, the Safariland speedloader had been inherited from a friend of a friend and had been sitting in the bottom of a trunk for a while...
Once again, the 5-STAR Firearms speedloaders are well-built, easy to use, and stylish - a hearty thumbs up!
That is all.
Obligatory FTC disclaimer: 5-STAR Firearms provided three speedoaders and a billet aluminum bullet tray for review to the writer of this review.
4 comments:
Couple of tactical notes about your speedloader technique.
I was taught (right hand firing) to bring the weapon down, thumb the cylinder latch with the right thumb, push the cylinder open with the right forefinger and middle finger, then transfer the open revolver to the left hand, use the left thumb to operate the ejector rod, then hold the revolver palm up in the left hand, with the fingers curled around the cylinder, bring up the speedloader with the right hand, align and dump the rounds in with the muzzle depressed about 30 degrees so gravity helps, then close the cylinder and transfer the weapon back to the right hand.
The use of the speedloader the way you demonstrated it in all three videos has you operating the speedloader with a level firearm, so you have to push the rounds in if the speedloader releases early (or they spill to the ground), and using the left hand causes you to cross your front side with your left arm, which is an un-natural movement.
The advantage from your method, of maintaining a sight line to the target does not, IMHO, outweigh the importance of getting all the rounds into the revolver. The switch-hands method is more easily done while behind cover, or when switching cover. It's easier to scan for threats with the weapon down and depressed, and way easier to change hands if the tactical situation calls for it.
Back when I packed a revolver on duty, and carried another as a backup, I had to do a lot of range time with revolvers (min 4 tactical courses each qual day, with each weapon, so 400 rounds total per range day), and I saw a few dropped speedloaders when your method was attempted. Even worse were the premature releases of the catch mechanisms in the speedloaders (both HKS and Safariland types).
Both of those FUBARS were why we were told the change-hands method was mandatory.
I was wondering if they might do custom ones say 6 shot .22 for an S&W model 17?
Thanks, Jay!
In other obscure speedloader news, the S.L. Variant speedloaders are available again (at least for now) in the U.S., though they are really expensive. I ordered a few 7-shot ones for my .357. When they come in, I'll let you know how they work.
http://www.bobmacs.com/Products.htm
Drew
Just moseyed here from the 5-star website...
All your vids go to a "media does not exist" error page...
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