The Pros & Cons Of Speed Strips

[Talyn]

The term “Speed Strip” is brand specific to the original design from Bianchi in the 1960s, but has become synonymous when talking broadly about a flexible strip of plastic or rubber (or a substance in between) that holds extra cartridges to reload your cylinder from. Since the speed strip holds the rims of the cartridges, two cartridges can be loaded bullet first into two chambers of the cylinder and peeled off from the Speed Strip at a time.

The Pros & Cons Of Speed Strips

 

[Old_Me]

i never tried them.

i have speed loaders however.

and i cannot recall when i used them last...lol

i ain't in no rush to reload when i am at the range.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

I didn't use any strips, but did have the cylinder shaped speed loaders.

 

[Sld1959]

I have and use both speed strip and speed loaders.

 

[Wirenut]

I still use mine..

 

[Annihilator]

I could never use those, I still go old school and use HKS speedloaders, good article.

 

[Recusant]

I've posted this before. I bought this Leatherman case at Cabela's. I found that 2 strips could fit inside plus there was space for 3 additional rounds. I have several HKS speed loaders, but when you wear them in a holder on a belt it's obvious what's inside. The Leatherman case doesn't telescope its contents and allows me to carry an additional 13 rounds more discretely in warmer weather.

 

[Talyn]

I've posted this before. I bought this Leatherman case at Cabela's. I found that 2 strips could fit inside plus there was space for 3 additional rounds. I have several HKS speed loaders, but when you wear them in a holder on a belt it's obvious what's inside. The Leatherman case doesn't telescope its contents and allows me to carry an additional 13 rounds more discretely in warmer weather.
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Good tip!

 

[HansGruber]

I’ve always gone with having 4 rounds on a strip for a 5-shot Jframe…load 2, load 2, and get back to work…lining up that single last round always takes longer than it takes to load 2, I’ve found (and confirmed with a timer).

 

[HayesGreener]

When training officers with revolvers and we were using speed loaders for reloads, I always taught them to carry a full speed strip in their shirt pocket. If you need to do a tactical reload, you don't want to dump live rounds to reload with a speedloader. If you just fired two, use the speed strip to replace the two spent rounds if you get a chance and you are fully loaded again. With practice it can be done very quickly. Live rounds can be precious, and you want a full gun.