I am looking to pick up a speed loader for my 44 Mag 44 Special 6 shot revolver, mainly for range practice and I would like to hear from people who have real hands on experience. I have been reading reviews, but they seem to be all over the place. Some people say certain models have excellent retention and smooth releases, while others mention issues after extended use. It is hard to tell what is actually worth buying.
I found one on Amazon that caught my attention. If anyone has used this particular one, I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
For those of you who regularly shoot 44 Mag or 44 Special revolvers, which speed loader has worked best for you? I am mainly looking for something that is reliable, durable and operates smoothly over time.
If you have tried different brands or models, I would really appreciate hearing what you liked, what you did not like, and what you would recommend. Thanks in advance!
I have a Ruger Redhawk. That is interesting to know about the grip clearance issue, I had not considered that. Glad to hear the Pachmayr grips solved the problem for you.
My speedloader experience is with a K-frame 357 using Pachmayr grips. I’ve been happy with both the Safariland Comp II speedloaders and the HKS speedloaders for different reasons.
For me, the Safariland Comp II is a simpler manual of arms. You just push the speedloader into the cylinder and it releases the bullets. However it is mostly plastic. They have a longer version (Comp III) if you are used to a certain technique (easier to grab because of the longer grip).
However, I usually use the HKS because of my belt pouch setup. The HKS is part plastic and part metal. Instead of a push, you have to twist the knob to release the bullets. I use these because my preferred carry method uses a Desantis Second Six Speedloader Pouch, which places half of the bullets on the inside of the belt and half on the outside. This cuts in half the size of the speedloader sticking out from your belt.
This pouch doesn’t work with the Safariland Comp II or III because placing the belt through the middle of the speedloader releases the bullets on that design of speedloader.
It is always helpful hearing from someone who has spent time with more than one option. This definitely gives me a better idea of what to look for before I buy one.
Thanks for sharing that, it is good to hear another positive experience with the HKS. The fact that you have had no issues with it definitely gives me a little more confidence in that option.
True in so many ways. Both cylinder round drop models would not easily clear the factory or Pachmayr grips on my Redhawk. When I got them seated after the struggle, the drop knob was tricky for my old hands.
Keep in mind that not all S&W n-frame stocks are identical. Some have a scallop cut some don’t.
Off hand I don’t recall which one my 29 came with as I’ve changed over to Pachmayr over a decade ago.
I’m getting old and the Pachmayr takes some of the sting out
That makes sense. It seems like ease of use can be just as important as speed, especially if a particular design is difficult to operate consistently. I appreciate you sharing your experience.
That is helpful to know. I had not realized there could be differences between the various N-frame stocks when it comes to clearance and I can definitely understand wanting a little extra comfort when shooting a 44 Mag.
