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If this is covered elsewhere I apologize - and willingly admit I am "search challenged". I did search, but my question was not covered.

I have a strong attachment to wheel guns as after the 22 SA pistol, a 38 was what I learned to shoot on. There are "bad" influences on this board who have rekindled my desire to have a wheel gun for carry. While I am trying to find my new friend,(and convincing myself it is an investment) I would like to have some help with some questions I have.

I want a 6 shooter like an old Colt Agent/Detective Special, I don't want a 5 holer. Back in the day, I was pretty handy with a speed loader, as we competed in quickdraw and silhouette. However, I am intrigued by the idea of the speed strips. I saw a video by Masaad Ayoob on just keeping 5 in the strip so you have a larger spot to grip. I had found a thread on either making your own speed strips or extending the ones readymade, but lost it.

Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated? Thanks!

Bianchi is no longer the only manufacturer.

https://www.tuffproducts.com/home.php?cat=265" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was making my own out of vacuum cleaner belts, but you can get them in almost any caliber now and some different capacities as well.

They also sell handy belt pouches that will hold any caliber, 6 rds or less.

I use the traditional Bianchi speed strips. They typically cost $7-8 for a two pack. I suppose you could glue/epoxy on an extension if you thought that would be useful. Tuff makes longer speed strips that hold more rounds, and pink 5-round strips, but I haven't tried those.

When I carry my SP101 in the summer I always carry my reloads in the Tuff strips with the pouch that wraps around the belt. They are much easier to conceal than the speedloads. Winter I will occasionally find I have both reload option because I will have dropped the soeedloads into a jacket pocket and slid the strips on belt or in back pocket like a wallet.

I like speed strips when you don’t want the bulk of carrying a speed loader. A couple of speed strips will lie flat in a pocket.

Masaad Ayoob gives good advice about loading only five cartridges, it does allow for a much better purchase on the strip. My Ruger SP-101 is only a five-shooter anyway.

+1 for https://www.tuffproducts.com/home.php?cat=265" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I use the strips and the handy little pouch to carry them in....

And if it comes down to the last round, the seam in the bottom will hold two lying flat for a total of 14.

Mike1951 wrote:And if it comes down to the last round, the seam in the bottom will hold two lying flat for a total of 14.

I keep a small Swiss Army Knife in mine.
You never know when you'll need a toothpick or a tiny pair of scissors.

5thGenTexan wrote:When I carry my SP101 in the summer I always carry my reloads in the Tuff strips with the pouch that wraps around the belt. They are much easier to conceal than the speedloads. Winter I will occasionally find I have both reload option because I will have dropped the soeedloads into a jacket pocket and slid the strips on belt or in back pocket like a wallet.

I carry either an SP101 or a Spfld. micro-compact 1911 GI. For the SP101 I carry a Bianchi speedstrip in the little leather belt pouch from Midway. I only have 5 rounds in the speedstrip, finding that makes the strip easier to handle and use.

http://www.midwayusa.com/Search/#speeds ... -4_8-16-32" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I initially tried the "round" speedloader for the SP101, but found that, for me, it was awkward to use and uncomfortable to carry. However, I do not see any reason to be concerned about concealing it -- at least not for legal reasons, although I can understand that there may be other reasons depending on the situation.

Elmo

Thanks for the tip on the Tuff Products 8 round speed strips.

When I have to run a quick local errand in hot weather and I'm too lazy to dress around my usual .45 EDC, I often pocket carry a snubby .38. I can just as easily carry the 8 round strips (which I know are made for some of the new larger revolvers with that capacity, but will work with my 5 shot too) and be better prepared with no extra trouble.

I'm always learning something on this Forum!

When carrying my Colt Detective Special, I carry a speedloader and a speed strip in my weak side pocket. I bought one of my speedloaders at the Arms Room and the other from Cabela's. I don't remember where I got the speed strips.

I think that it's a shame that most of the never CC revolvers available are only five shots. That is one of the reasons that I like the old Colts. They are also good quality and good looking handguns.

I experimented with Tuff Products' QuickStrips last year, and found they were much stiffer and release the cartridges much less readily than the softer plastic I find in recently produced Bianchi Speedstrips.

Tuff Products customer service is generally efficient and pleasant to deal with, but I found I preferred Bianchi's product, even if it wears out faster.

Maybe some other people who worked the QuickStrips harder/longer can report whether they have a break-in period, their long-term durability, etc. My guess is the QuickStrips would last longer than Bianchi's Speed Strips, but I do not know for sure.

Not concerned with legality of the speedloader just providing too much info to the riffraff on the TRE and Dart trains in Dallas the pouches are easily recognized by anyone that remembers PD carrying revolvers.

Plus they are just so dadgum bulky and hang up getting in and out of cars or chairs with arms for those of us that have rounded as we've aged.

USA1 wrote:I use the strips and the handy little pouch to carry them in ...

What size gun belt will fit your handy little pouch?

WildBill wrote:

USA1 wrote:I use the strips and the handy little pouch to carry them in ...

What size gun belt will fit your handy little pouch?

My belt is 1.5 inches but there's plenty of room to use a wider belt.
The great thing is that you just slip the flap up under your belt and
then fold it down to close it...no threading onto the belt.