Safariland Speedloader

It is a very good speed loader if you take the trouble to use it the right way. You do NOT use the ejector to push up on the loader, just ridiculous. Just line up the rounds with the cylinder, like any other loader, and push it down, or to the cylinder firmly until it clicks releasing the rounds into the cylinder. Push the entire outer loader down, NOT THE BUTTON IN THE MIDDLE. When you push it down to the cylinder ALL THE WAY, the center of the speed loader contacts the cylinder pin, which pushes up on the speed loader release, releasing the rounds.The button in the middle is only for locking the ammo in the loader. I hold mine upside down with one hand and put the rounds in, with the other hand I push up on the button and rotate it clockwise which locks the rounds in. What is hard about that?It does say you can load it with the ammo tips down on a flat surface and do it upside down, this works just as well.As far as clearing the grips, this is as thin or thinner than any other speed loader. It is not the loaders fault, but the grips. It seems that the factory S&W grips weren’t really made to clear speed loaders. It can work, but is tight and makes you have to load the ammo at a slight angle to start.I put a set of the VZ black and grey grips on and the speed loader clears easily. Even the Crimson Trace green laser grips allows the speed loader to clear.Also, on the good side, the Safariland speed loaders hold the rounds much more tight than others making lining up the ammo in the cylinders very easy, and as others have said, no rattling around like some others.For me, I like these and the HKS loaders both, but the Safariland is easier FOR ME to use, I like the way you just push it in firmly without having to twist the knob and hold the cylinder from rotating.

These work great, very fast reload reasonably priced.

About 40 years ago, I was part of a pistol team that used revolvers and speedloaders. At that time, I used HKS brand. This time before deciding which brand to buy, I watched a YouTube comparison of Safariland vs HKS. I got (2) Safariland speedloaders for my Charter Arms Undercover Double Action Only (DOA) 38. The Undercover has grips made of black hard rubber . When I attempted speedloading, the cartridges would not line-up with the bullet chambers because the speedloader came in contact with the left side grip. This is not the fault of Safariland nor of Charter Arms. It's just the way it is.So to make speedloaders (of any brand) work I used my Swiss Army knife to shave away tiny amounts of rubber where the speedloader touched the grip nearest the cylinder. Shave. insert bullets, repeat, etc. Eventually the speedloaders did line up and speedloading works! The left side grip look fine even after I whittled on it and touched up with a fingernail file. At first, the speedloaders seemed a little stiff, but after I used each one about three times, they worked easily both in loading the speedloader, and speedloading the revolver. Other reviewers have said they are cheap plastic. I say who cares? I don't care what they look like as long as they work, and the two I received work GREAT!!!Also, I received these in three days after placing the order. How did they do that??? Fantastic Service!The best way I have found to load the speed loader goes like this:#1 With the empty speedloader chambers up, insert the cartridges and keep the loader and cartridges pointing UP. Throughout loading operation, keep loader pointing UP so cartridges don't fall out.#2 Now using your weak hand, wrap 1st finger and thumb around loader frame without touching the bullets. You hand should look like your signaling OK to someone, 1st finger and thumb wrapped around the loader. Use 1st finger and thumb of to reach under the loader. Press up on the actuating knob and turn it to the right. If you've done it right, the cartridges are locked into the loader.#3 Turn the loader so the cartridges point DOWN and shake the loader. If any cartridges fall out, use a pen or similar to push on the center button located on the FRONT of the loader until you hear a snap. This opens the lock and released the cartridges so you can start over.>> Hang in there because it takes 20 times longer to read about than it takes to do, and it's really easy after you do it a few times. <<#4 Practice speed-loading your revolver until you can do it without taking your eyes off the target, and remember not to shoot yourself in the foot!#5 Practice speed-loading your revolver until you can do it in total darkness, and remember not to shoot yourself in the foot!These are great speedloaders, but 4 stars because of no instructions.

I am sure you have read reviews of these Safailand speedloaders complaining of difficulty in operation and clumsiness.Disregard these reviews -- this is a good product.WITHOUT having read the directions for use, I experimented with this item (for a period no longer than two minutes) and figured out how to quickly load and lock it -- and also how to smoothly release the rounds in the cylinder of my revolver.To load the device: place six rounds in their openings, with the bullets facing up and the device at the bottom; gather them together with your non-dominant hand, then face the entire assembly pointing downwards on a tabletop; press down firmly on the device; and twist the knob until it snaps into place, locking-in the rounds -- done!To load your revolver, swing open the cylinder to its farthest extent; eject spent rounds, if any; start all six new rounds in their respective chambers --there's just enough "wiggle" in the loaded assembly that you can do this; then press it home in the cylinder, automatically depressing the release catch at the center -- again, DONE!What was the "big deal?" I don't get it.As far as price goes, it might be a bit high, considering the materials and engineering involved in producing this device -- but in a "life or death situation," that's really a trivial consideration, I'd say.