Quickest way to reload wheelgun with loose rds.

tokguy

tokguy

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I'm pondering throwing my hat in a novice class (vintage revolver) at a local IPSC match.
There are no speed loaders for my New Service. I can run a semiautomatic with a pocket full in clips, but I shoot my New Service far better.
What is the most effective way to reload with loose rounds? Dominant hand for loose rds ? Lots of speedloader videos online; which are of little use when dealing with loose rds.
Thanks
Tokguy
 
Make up a wooden loading block from which you can grab at least two or three rounds at a time with your thumb and first two fingers. It is amazing how fast you can reload 6 rounds using this method once you master the technique. Otherwise, store your `loose rounds`in the same orientation (bases up, for example) in whatever container you choose, so you can grab them in bunches of two or three for reloading. Hope this is some help in finding a solution.
 
Th speed strips might work if they make them for a 45 LC ( mine's a 455 ). Stubby lil cartridges too, that's going to add to the tasks difficulty.
I'll have to fill a half dozen with a brightly colored silicon and seat a round down onto it, sort of an ad-hoc snap cap.
I muck about with it, thanks for the suggestions folks
 
Short pieces of dowel to prevent the bullet setting back also work. And that way you can also drill a few small holes in the sides of the casing so they are instantly recognizable as inert.

You say that 45Colt loaders would work? Any chance that you can use something from 5 Star?

http://www.5starfirearms.com/Speed-Loaders/departments/1/

Loose rounds are going to be a bugger any way you look at it. Even if it's just from the standpoint of carrying enough of them in a way that you're not just grabbing them from a pocket with some this way and others that way.
 
Cut down & thinned rim 45 Schofield is the cases for the 455 Webley that my S & W second model uses. And unless I'm mistaken 45LC is the parent case for a Schofield, no?
The rims are thinned of course, but a rubber speed strip would likely hold them.
Already have the snap caps built, used a few 45 cal JHP that I have an abundance of and are too small for a 455. Generous painting of bright red nail polish on the exposed lead tip ( lead poisoning, naw...look, another nose bleed!), and a fill the primer pocket with silicon, gtg.
And...thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that 5star for speed strips
 
The strips are great for storage/carrying, but they are not fast when reloading. Probably quicker with loose rounds providing that you are holding them right. Just dont expect lightning fast reloads. They are a good alternative to loose rounds in any case. I actually prefer the old dump pouches which work well until you accidentally snap open the bottom flap and out go the rounds..Probably why they are named dump pouches..:)
dB
 
tokguy said:
Th speed strips might work if they make them for a 45 LC ( mine's a 455 ). Stubby lil cartridges too, that's going to add to the tasks difficulty.
I'll have to fill a half dozen with a brightly colored silicon and seat a round down onto it, sort of an ad-hoc snap cap.
I muck about with it, thanks for the suggestions folks
Click to expand...

I use speed Quick Strips with my S&W .455, get the .44/45 strips (you load 2 at a time ... and its way quicker then loose rounds!). When I first joined the cops, we used loose rounds in a double dump box (6 in each), then we went to speed strips, then speed loaders, then transitioned to Glock 22's ...).

 
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Update; on the whole deal. If I go with a revolver, it'll be one just like 9.3's ( Bluing is more worn and custom grips on mine). Colt's are a bit hampered ergonomically and unless I load them way down; they are pretty abusive to shoot any amount.
Da Bear; I concur. My daughter timed me with a strip ( Snappy Hooker with holes punched for cartridges...tarp strap, lol) vs loose rounds; pretty much exactly the same time, 10-15 seconds.
And at a risk of P.O.ing Colt fans; they are really a solid second place compared to a S & W of the same vintage.
Even if I go with the Steyr-hahn; I'll still likely drag the S & W along. Pouches for loose rd's on a belt will be the order of the day. Those cheesy FSU clip pounches for a Mosin Nagant would work OK for bunches of 6 rds per 'Dip'
My S & W runs longer rds too; cut down 45 Schofield instead of proper 455 Webley MK2's, they seem to be a tad easier to orient and get slipped into the cylinder than the stubbier MK 2's
I tried loading down the rds and it just felt wrong. They don't have to be fullhouse rds; but at least some snap to them. Someone was saying their 455 was like an Air rifle with a .45 caliber hole, that must the be Fiocchi fodder. If you load 'em like they ought to be...no comparison to an air rifle.
A 255 grain bullet at about 680 fps...you can see how they bested the 45 Colt in the Thompson-LaGarde tests in 1904. They are lively.
Thanks all
 
Let's face it. If you're shooting something like this and won't be using any sort of speed loaders then you're doing it for grins n' giggles and not out of any expectation of winning. And there's nothing at all wrong with that. Sometimes it's just about having a day out with the guys and getting to run a gun that we like to use. So be it speed strips, cartridge pouches or even an old western style cartridge belt with loops on it get out there and have a good time.

Something that occurs to me to try out. Can you find a source for the speed loader pouches used by police and other armed uniform style gun belts? I'm thinking that if you were to load all six in the cylinder, then degrease the case heads with a good solvent then put a patch of duct tape across the heads that it might just hold well enough to sit in one of those pouches and stay together long enough to gingerly lift the cluster and seat it into the cylinder. Then a folded over tab of the tape is peeled back over itself and discarded. Worth a try? If it works out you can make up the clusters ahead of time and store them in the plastic trays that have the insertable separators so they don't get torn apart. It would call for tender handling to avoid shaking them up or tipping and tearing them apart but it might provide you with much faster loading under the timer.
 
If speed is important to you I think with some practice the speed strips will be quicker and have the advantage of keeping all the cartridges together and oriented in a consistent fashion.
I'm guessing you are more practiced with traditional methods vs speed strips (not homemade) so if the times were similar it stands to reason there is more room for improvement with the strips.

Otherwise cartridge loops spaced apart in pairs so you can try and grab 2 at a time might be an option.
 
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