Reloading a revolver.

Millie

Millie

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Yes...it's me, and guess what?? I have questions! Who'd have imagined!

I'm looking ahead to the winter and wanting to do a revolver competition....I need to know about reloading, how and with what? I've seen pics of those speed-loader round things, and also the strips. Any advice for a newbie? What kind of equipment will I need, besides a holster?

(And just for non-match use as well, what do you guys who carry revolvers keep on you, and how do you tote it around?)

Go.....

(And thanks!)

BTW I've never carried a revolver, so please be specific, the good the bad, the ugly.
 
For competition you'll need speed loaders, which are the round things you see. For carry, many use the Speed Strips you mention. (Made by Bianchi) The spped loaders are simple and relatively fast. The speed strips are for ease of carry, but much slower. You strip 2 rounds off at a time. Speed Strips are one size fits all. Speed loader are specific to the model of revolver.

One specific exception would be moon clips on revolvers chambered for rimless cartridges like .45ACP or 9mm. Jerry Miculek does OK with those. :D



If you're still shooting that airweight, you'll be at at disadvantage. Most revolver competitions are usually 4-6" barreled medium to heavyweight guns. At least from my experience. Sometimes, some IDPA groups will do a BUG (Back Up Gun) match.
 
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I took up shooting revolvers two years or so ago and have really enjoyed learning all that I can about shooting them. Not many folks at my club shoot wheelguns, so what I’ve learned has been on here, on my own, and some YouTube. What follows should be taken in that context.

As for carry, I have a S&W j-frame model 442 that I keep in a pocket holster and an HKS speed loader with five more rounds. At the range I shoot K-frames in a Fobus holster and use HKS speed loaders, but I recently bought some Safariland Comp II’s that I’m beginning to like. I also have a Safariland loading block that makes loading the speed loaders much faster than fumbling around loading them by hand.

Reloading certainly requires a lot of practice to become proficient, regardless of which method you choose. Honestly, I’m just starting practicing reloads myself, and I can say that I have a long way to go before I’d feel comfortable shooting a match that required a reload for a stage. The matches I’ve shot in don’t in the divisions in which I’ve shot.
 
georgel said:
For competition you'll need speed loaders, which are the round things you see. For carry, many use the Speed Strips you mention. (Made by Bianchi) The spped loaders are simple and relatively fast. The speed strips are for ease of carry, but much slower. You strip 2 rounds off at a time. Speed Strips are one size fits all. Speed loader are specific to the model of revolver.

One specific exception would be moon clips on revolvers chambered for rimless cartridges like .45ACP or 9mm. Jerry Miculek does OK with those. :D



If you're still shooting that airweight, you'll be at at disadvantage. Most revolver competitions are usually 4-6" barreled medium to heavyweight guns. At least from my experience. Sometimes, some IDPA groups will do a BUG (Back Up Gun) match.
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Lord, I traded the Taurus UltraLight/UltraPainful a while ago, and now have a nice big and heavy Rossi with (I think) a 6" barrel. I should be ok with that.

(I'm going to be at a disadvantage for the foreseeable future in any match, as I'm a total newbie! I don't care though, I'm doing it for the education and experience. One day, quite a few years from now, I might creep up from dead last place!)

I plan to use the p238 in a BUG match once the extractor gets a few tweaks.

Thanks for the info!
 
fieldgrade said:
Dang girl. You are all in.
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No sense leaving a gun out of the fun, right? I hope to use all of my guns, except the Kel Tec, it's just too snappy. Especially looking forward to using the G19 and the newly liberated 1911 .45!

And giving the 1911 9mm a chance to do a match without "issues"....lol.
 
tbafile said:
I took up shooting revolvers two years or so ago and have really enjoyed learning all that I can about shooting them. Not many folks at my club shoot wheelguns, so what I’ve learned has been on here, on my own, and some YouTube. What follows should be taken in that context.

As for carry, I have a S&W j-frame model 442 that I keep in a pocket holster and an HKS speed loader with five more rounds. At the range I shoot K-frames in a Fobus holster and use HKS speed loaders, but I recently bought some Safariland Comp II’s that I’m beginning to like. I also have a Safariland loading block that makes loading the speed loaders much faster than fumbling around loading them by hand.

Reloading certainly requires a lot of practice to become proficient, regardless of which method you choose. Honestly, I’m just starting practicing reloads myself, and I can say that I have a long way to go before I’d feel comfortable shooting a match that required a reload for a stage. The matches I’ve shot in don’t in the divisions in which I’ve shot.
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I was just assuming a match would require reloads, so I figured I'd better get busy so I can do one in the late winter/early fall. I might be semi-ready by then, and even if I'm not, I'll still be able to learn while fumbling about! Lol.

It's nice to know there are matches that don't require reloading!
 
Moon clips are the way to go for serious revolver competition. You can use moon clips on .38 Spl / .357 Mag. as well on the ones mentioned above. However it will take extra funds to modify a rimed case revolver to use moon clips. Second fastest way will be the use of speed loaders but they are still like a mini van to a sports car when compared to the use of moon clips.
 
I know nothing about ICORE or IDPA.
I don't think anyone shoots a revo seriously in USPSA that isn't cut for moonclips. I'd shoot minor with an 8-shot, 32/6=masochism.
 
Average Joe said:
Moon clips are the way to go for serious revolver competition. You can use moon clips on .38 Spl / .357 Mag. as well on the ones mentioned above. However it will take extra funds to modify a rimed case revolver to use moon clips. Second fastest way will be the use of speed loaders but they are still like a mini van to a sports car when compared to the use of moon clips.
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I AM a mini-van....big and slow, and I'm not wanting to spend a ton of $ modifying a gun. LoL. I'm too new to even think about that. I just need basic equipment. If I ever by some miracle get really good at this, I may think about it, but I'm pretty realistic about my abilities, or lack thereof.
 
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Beef15 said:
I know nothing about ICORE or IDPA.
I don't think anyone shoots a revo seriously in USPSA that isn't cut for moonclips. I'd shoot minor with an 8-shot, 32/6=masochism.
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I hope to watch some revolver matches and ask questions and figure some stuff out. I enjoy a challenge. LoL.
 
Millie said:
I AM a mini-van....big and slow, and I'm not wanting to spend a ton of $ modifying a gun. LoL. I'm too new to even think about that. I just need basic equipment. If I ever by some miracle get really good at this, I may think about it, but I'm pretty realistic about my abilities, or lack thereof.
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I'm with you! My fast days are long gone lol! Now I just compete against myself, by trying to do better than I did last match. Sometimes I win and sometimes I loose lol!
 
Millie said:
Lord, I traded the Taurus UltraLight/UltraPainful a while ago, and now have a nice big and heavy Rossi with (I think) a 6" barrel. I should be ok with that.

...
Thanks for the info!
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Lol, there's a joke there but I'm not witty enough to express it properly.

Sent from notthedroidyourelookingfor
 
Average Joe said:
I'm with you! My fast days are long gone lol! Now I just compete against myself, by trying to do better than I did last match. Sometimes I win and sometimes I loose lol!
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I figure I've won each time I get my fat a** out there and make it thru a whole match!

As far as doing better each time, I'm praying a lot of other fat old ladies get a wild hair and decide to shoot a match one day, and bump me up a notch here and there! In a few years I might be third from last or something....wooooooo! Lol.
 
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Millie said:
I hope to watch some revolver matches and ask questions and figure some stuff out. I enjoy a challenge. LoL.
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On months with 5 Saturdays H2o has a bug match on that 5th Saturday. I see revolver shooters there that do quite well.
Already looked it up for ya, so June, August and November. I know you favor the not hot weather so maybe you can make it in November.
 
svtf150 said:
On months with 5 Saturdays H2o has a bug match on that 5th Saturday. I see revolver shooters there that do quite well.
Already looked it up for ya, so June, August and November. I know you favor the not hot weather so maybe you can make it in November.
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You're so sweet to look it up, and I suppose I might be semi-prepared by then! Certainly as semi-prepared as I was for the one match I did a few weeks ago....lol.

I better get to practicing with the revolver pretty soon, I've neglected it a bit while dealing with all the other gun issues I've been having.
 
Millie,

I used to compete with a revolver in ISPC. I would shoot those revolvers that I already had for carrying and hunting. I had numerous different frame Smith and Wessons and Charter Arms in different calibers so I went with HKS speed loaders. The HKS speedloaders work bit slower then the Safariland models but Safariland only make them in .38/.357 at the time. No .22 WMR or .38 J frames, .41 Mag N frame and .44 SPL 5 shot Charter Arms/Taurus 431. HKS speedloaders have the knob that you have to twist. Safariland just push in. Carriers are made for both types. HKS are only about $10 ea and cheaper then Safariland. Those are the two main types but there are other companies speedloaders now. My EDC 442 Pro is factory cut for moon clips and is a 5 shot .38 SPL but I carry a flat speedstrip for compactness. All have their strengths and weakness.

CD
 
@Millie let me know when you plan to come to Billy's next time and I'll bring my old 4" Model 10 for you to try out. The double action pull on it is as smooth as @Butter , and we all know how smooth he is.
 
Geezer said:
@Millie let me know when you plan to come to Billy's next time and I'll bring my old 4" Model 10 for you to try out. The double action pull on it is as smooth as @Butter , and we all know how smooth he is.
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LoL. I'll surely let you know, I hope it's soon, as I know he can't wait to see my new Glock, which is SO unlike anyone else's Glock. And I'm sure y'all can't wait to see my new .45, which is also SO unlike the dozens/hundreds of other 1911 .45s you've seen....lol.
 
I have shot revolver for a few years. I shoot it in USPSA and IDPA. You really need to decide what discipline you want to shoot it in. In IDPA there is SSR and ESR. In SSR you are required to use speed loaders and ESR is with moon clips and only 6 rounds in both. Most shooters use a Ruger GP 100 or a Smith & Wesson of the appropriate caliber. Unfortunately, shooting in any competition costs $.
 
moonclip shooter said:
I have shot revolver for a few years. I shoot it in USPSA and IDPA. You really need to decide what discipline you want to shoot it in. In IDPA there is SSR and ESR. In SSR you are required to use speed loaders and ESR is with moon clips and only 6 rounds in both. Most shooters use a Ruger GP 100 or a Smith & Wesson of the appropriate caliber. Unfortunately, shooting in any competition costs $.
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Shooting costs money, period. As I've been finding out over the last few months of shooting massive amounts every time I go to the range!
 
I recommend these 2 videos:





I keep a speedloader in the gun side pocket of my cover garment. It has the extra advantage of adding a little weight / momentum to the garment when sweeping it back for the draw. Something else I learned from Massad a long time ago.

Terry
 
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When you want to shoot revolvers in comp I will sort you out with a S&W 45acp with full moon clips. You can use it at your leisure. Also there is leather included in the offer. I used this in the 80s to dominate revolver comps in our area. A Big fish in an exceedingly Small pond. This particular gun and I were written up by Masaad Ayoob in Combat Handguns. I had a time getting it back from him. It is your to use.
As to carrying I always carried 2 and always in DeSantis Nemesis. My last try at revolver carry was 2 Taurus Views. They weighed 10 ounces Loaded.
 
Yep, the Almond Custom. An amazing revolver.
 
My Dad’s Model 25 is probably his favorite shooter. I think his has a 6” barrel instead of the 4” they have on the newer 625’s. I need to shoot his some to decide which I’d prefer.
 
Oneofsix said:
Ok, I'll give it a shot....


Obviously someone's been lying to you about what 6 inches looks like...


(Only meant in jest...lol)

Sent from notthedroidyourelookingfor
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LOL.
I have a return remark for that one, but it might be basement material. I'm sure you can get the gist, though!

Am I to assume my gun has only 4"?? (It's been awhile since I looked...lol.)
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
When you want to shoot revolvers in comp I will sort you out with a S&W 45acp with full moon clips. You can use it at your leisure. Also there is leather included in the offer. I used this in the 80s to dominate revolver comps in our area. A Big fish in an exceedingly Small pond. This particular gun and I were written up by Masaad Ayoob in Combat Handguns. I had a time getting it back from him. It is your to use.
As to carrying I always carried 2 and always in DeSantis Nemesis. My last try at revolver carry was 2 Taurus Views. They weighed 10 ounces Loaded.
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Wow!
 
specops56 said:
I recommend these 2 videos:





I keep a speedloader in the gun side pocket of my cover garment. It has the extra advantage of adding a little weight / momentum to the garment when sweeping it back for the draw. Something else I learned from Massad a long time ago.

Terry
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Thanks for letting me see those loaders in action!
 
Millie said:
LOL.
I have a return remark for that one, but it might be basement material. I'm sure you can get the gist, though!

Am I to assume my gun has only 4"?? (It's been awhile since I looked...lol.)
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Would be best to measure it, if only for knowledge's sake.
 
I normally shoot pistols now but I have shot a few matches with my 686. If you aren't going the moonclip route, which is definitely fastest, get some Safariland Comp III loaders. I attempted a match with HKS and they are just plain old slower. Also, if you are going to carry a revolver, Safariland makes the Comp II which is smaller and not as fast as the III but still much faster than HKS. My only other suggestion is practice, practice, practice because the reload separates those who are decent from those who are good in a revolver competition.
 
2afreedom said:
I normally shoot pistols now but I have shot a few matches with my 686. If you aren't going the moonclip route, which is definitely fastest, get some Safariland Comp III loaders. I attempted a match with HKS and they are just plain old slower. Also, if you are going to carry a revolver, Safariland makes the Comp II which is smaller and not as fast as the III but still much faster than HKS. My only other suggestion is practice, practice, practice because the reload separates those who are decent from those who are good in a revolver competition.
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I definitely need lots of practice with my revolver, it's been idle for a while as I've sorted out some things with my other guns. And once I get some loaders, I'll work on them too, a lot!
I only plan to carry the revolver long enough to do a match, though.
 
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