Speed Loaders in real life

[L.A. Native]

I own a couple of revolvers and I have speed loaders and speed strips for them.
One revolver is a home defense backup, so using snap caps I practice quick reloads to test myself.
My question is has anyone here (maybe old school LEO) had any real world experience with speed loaders? Does anyone know of incidents where someone was able to reload with a speed loader and defend themselves successfully in a self defense shooting?
Just curious.

[Jaybird]

No experience but it seems to me if you have to load them in speed loader and then drop in cylinder to load up, is it really speeding up the loading process? If you're gonna load up a speed loader, might as well just drop straight into the wheel gun. Unless the speed loaders come pre-loaded, how much time are you actually saving. Just curious. Have some and rarely use them even at range.

[cudakidd]

I use them in Steel Challenge matches, much quicker WITH Practice then one at a time in the chamber.

And yes they are preloaded, that's the whole point!��

[PseudoTsuga]

Ummm...what??

Speed loaders don't "come pre-loaded". YOU load them (and have several, LOADED, on hand...) and when the time comes to reload, you swing open the cylinder, dump the brass with your thumb on the rod our just a quick tilt and shake or combo thereof, drop the speed loader onto(into?) the cylinder, twist and fling, slam that puppy shut and blast away.
I don't think anyone, ever, was dumb enough to load a speed loader, THEN load their wheelgun in time of need.

Please tell me I misunderstood you.

[cannon]

Ummm...what??

Speed loaders don't "come pre-loaded". YOU load them (and have several, LOADED, on hand...) and when the time comes to reload, you swing open the cylinder, dump the brass with your thumb on the rod our just a quick tilt and shake or combo thereof, drop the speed loader onto(into?) the cylinder, twist and fling, slam that puppy shut and blast away.
I don't think anyone, ever, was dumb enough to load a speed loader, THEN load their wheelgun in time of need.

Please tell me I misunderstood you.

You misunderstood.

Used speed loaders for years in pistol compititions. Economy of movement and practice will make you fast on the reloads.

Watch some you tubes of Jerry M. and others.

[CK_32]

Here is a tip.


They will never be as quick/easy as a semi auto.

Many guys hear speed loaders then think semi auto reload times. That's not the case. Speed loaders are TONS faster than pocket or single shell loading. Yes they are much faster/easier to use.

Just don't think because it has speed on the label you'll be a gun toating cowboy in a a few seconds. Still takes practice and is difficult.


About a specific story? Your asking for a great myth or sailor tale. What ever you do hear is probably half truth or a buddy once told me. No 2 situations are the same.

Again don't expect to be quick drawing like hollywood and saving the day and going in the news. Be realistic and understand your limitations with wheel guns. Your HD prep and thinking founds fictional and far stretched. I think you need to sit down and rethink your whole situation.

[Jaybird]

I know they don't come preloaded. Figured that much. Just meant in actual combat scenario. Of course a guy with a belt full of pre loaded loaders will be faster but even speed loaders have to be reloaded and that takes time. So when your loaders are empty, what do you do? Take the time to reload them or just drop straight into cylinder? Thanks to Glock, don't think too many wheel guns would be used in combat these days anyways but there was a time when semi-autos didn't exist.

[L.A. Native]

Here is a tip.


They will never be as quick/easy as a semi auto.

Many guys hear speed loaders then think semi auto reload times. That's not the case. Speed loaders are TONS faster than pocket or single shell loading. Yes they are much faster/easier to use.

Just don't think because it has speed on the label you'll be a gun toating cowboy in a a few seconds. Still takes practice and is difficult.


About a specific story? Your asking for a great myth or sailor tale. What ever you do hear is probably half truth or a buddy once told me. No 2 situations are the same.

Again don't expect to be quick drawing like hollywood and saving the day and going in the news. Be realistic and understand your limitations with wheel guns. Your HD prep and thinking founds fictional and far stretched. I think you need to sit down and rethink your whole situation.

Did I say anything about wanting to be a cowboy? I own revolvers thus I own speed loaders.
I keep 2 semi autos for HD, one upstairs and one downstairs, but in my home office in a combo safe I keep a revolver. I practice loading with speed loaders because it would be dumb not to practice. I have no delusions of being dirty harry or John Wick.
I take firearms training courses on a regular basis just so I'm competent not so I'm magical.
I'm asking about real life experiences out of curiosity.

[Jaybird]

I wanna be a cowboy baby!! John Wick used wheel guns? Just thought he used semi-autos that never run out of ammo.

[L.A. Native]

I wanna be a cowboy baby!! John Wick used wheel guns? Just thought he used semi-autos that never run out of ammo.

Hahaha! Yes he did only use semi autos I believe. He also used infinity magazines.

[Jeepergeo]

No experience but it seems to me if you have to load them in speed loader and then drop in cylinder to load up, is it really speeding up the loading process? If you're gonna load up a speed loader, might as well just drop straight into the wheel gun. Unless the speed loaders come pre-loaded, how much time are you actually saving. Just curious. Have some and rarely use them even at range.

Loading a speed loader is not really any different than loading a magazine for an auto. Neither come "pre loaded", but are loaded up by the user on a pre- need basis.

[CK_32]

Go back and re-read my post as a friendly suggestion, rather than the belittling attack tone you read it in.

Practice is good. But if you are relying on a speed reload in the middle of a gun fight to save your life. Not good.

You sit back and think of what you/your situation calls for/can handle.

And realize when I reply, I reply to not only OP, but others reading OP who have the same question as OP thinking they may be magical because magpul told them they are. Reason I generalize.

Again no attacking, just friendly suggestions as you asked for.

[nephrodoc]

Moon clips allow faster to reloading in my experience. You just need to get your cylinder machined to accept them.

[Jaybird]

@Jeepergeo: I see your point. Makes perfect sense.

[NIKSD]

Best speed loader for a wheel gun is another wheel gun. Especially in a HD scenario.