Bullet loops that are compatible with Bianchi Speed Strips?

[Jim in Tucson]

I carry my 357 SA as my daily CCW piece.  I carry reloads in Bianchi speed strips.  So far my best answer at making bullet loops compatible with strips has involved ugly ol' kydex and some stitching, as seen in:



What I want is something a wee bit more traditional, likely angled in the same way and yet still compatible with speed strips.  So that appears to mean either thin leather or perhaps some sort of thin but strong cotton or webbing?

I've also considered bullet loops done in a very different fashion: ponder strips of leather that stick straight up from the base (or belt) one bullet width apart, and then have a slit at the end where a single piece of leather crosses across the tops of each.  In other words, you'd have bullet loops that separate each round from the next with ONE layer of leather instead of two...thus giving the right spacing for speed strips.

I know.  'Taint 'zackly "cowboy" but that's hardly the point .

[JD Alan]

Jim, I don't think anyone is purposely ignoring you. They're probably like me, and don't have a clue as to how to help. That is quite a rig to carry for sure. JD

[amin ledbetter]

The speed clip is actually holding the bullets together as a set of six right? ( asking cause I do not know? ) If that is the case why do the loops need to go around each individual round? Could they simply be loops holding every other round? Would seem that would avoid the leather being to thick between each round. Would that work maybe? 

[Jim in Tucson]

I fully understand it's a weird question and quite possibly I'm the first to even try and come up with an answer.  The rig pictured is my first attempt.  It's not really clear from this pic but there's small "wedges" of kydex that help hold each strip in place - they're within the shadow of each strip.  Here's a higher-res pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1jimmarch/4257948973/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Look for small rectangular "wedges" (of kydex) sewn onto the main plate above each strip.  Each wedge has an edge ground onto it facing the speed strip.  They can be deliberately pulled out but tend to avoid slipping out, an invention I'll probably recycle even once I've got leather belt loops instead of this weird kydex-and-stitch strip.

Here's a better pic of a Bianchi speed strip on it's own:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/firearms/spdldr/spdldr-1.htm - look for the second pic on that page.

The first obvious problem with "every other" is that I'm using all six for my sixgun - being a Ruger it's safe full-up and that's how I carry it.  So assuming I want to cover the two outer-most bullets, that leaves a mathematically odd situation in the middle.  If there was five rounds to a strip, not so bad (outer two and one middle).  But the second problem is that speed strips aren't 100% secure - they have to be able to release the rounds to allow loading!  If you're not familiar with these critters, this video by Mas shows how they work, although with his swing-out-cylinder gun he's doing two at a time.



(By the way: I disagree with Mas on one point, I find I can use one carried all-six instead of five-up as he does...I load two or three and then spin it in my hand to to the other half when loading my SA wheelgun.)

So...no, I don't want to leave any "un-looped", but I also don't want two thicknesses of leather between any two bullets.  So...hrm...yeah, this is going to take some doing but, I think there's a way.  Maybe.

The other non-period-correct way to get an "SA speedloader" in 357 is to find a magazine for either a Coonan 357 or Desert Eagle 357 autopistol and just thumb rounds into the loading gate.

[Wiley Desperado]

Many years ago on a cold dark night I was a Texas Highway Patrolman back when we carried 357 S$W model 28 wheel guns.  Before speed loaders, now that's in the 60's you understand.  We used 12 round bullet slides on our sam brown belts.  I would humbly suggest forget about the speed strips and go for two six round bullet slides on the belt.  This will give you the option of carrying six or twelve extras. From bullet slides we progressed to bullet dump pouches.  I kept using the bullet slide looked way cooler.  Just a thought. 
WD 

[Jim in Tucson]

Function over form, Wiley.

I own a grand total of ONE centerfire gun.  Period.  And yeah, it's a NewVaq357.  It's my daily carry piece.  It doesn't reload all that fast but I'd still like to reach for my belt only once per reload.

Sidenote: there's now something called "quick strips" for 38/357 and other calibers including 45LC, and your choice 5/6/8rd capacity:

http://www.tuffproducts.com/product.php?productid=16219&cat=265&page=3 - that's the 8rd 357 version.

[JD Alan]

I don't currently own any other handguns than my two New Model Vaqueros in 357 (someone want to take up a collection for me )

I don't carry very often, but I do have a pemit, and when I do it's my Vaquero, so those speed strips look real interesting. Jim, if you are familiar with them how well do they work with a loading gate set up?

Thanks, JD

[Jim in Tucson]

They work great.  In some ways they work better in SAs than in DAs.

For the first round, you push it in and twist the rubber off similar to what Ayoob shows in the video.

For the second and all subsequent, it's even faster.  You just push straight down on the back of the bullet (well, on top of the rubber of course) and the loading gate metal itself separates the rubber from the bullet.  So just shove the next five in, one at a time, all six are held securely in your hand until you drop them in.  There's no reaching back to your belt.  In an emergency, just drop the rubber when done....it'll mark the exact spot you reloaded as it shouldn't bounce far.  If you've used it for a tactical reload, no problem, hold it in your teeth.  In fact, if you're about to go into known trouble, gun drawn, grabbing a strip and putting it in your teeth isn't a bad idea.

Might help scare the hell out of a goblin .

I haven't used the "Quickstrips" by Tuff yet but I would assume they're as good as the Bianchis I have...I've heard nothing but praise for them.  And the Tuffs are available for 45s, some rifles and even 12ga shotguns.

IF I was wearing them on a wide belt, I'd be very tempted to have them mounted at a 45deg. angle overlapped, meeting at a "V" in the rear.  But first I have to design belt loops compatible with the relatively tight spacing needs of the strips.

I'm kinda surprised these aren't a lot more popular in SA circles.

[JD Alan]

Thanks for that info Jim, JD

[White Buffalo Chip]

Howdy Jim & JD,
The TUFF strips are great, I've been using them for about 9 months now. On
that same site are some pouches that are set-up to carry 2ea of the strips. Both
items work great with my d/a revolvers(haven't tried the s/a's yet). The .45 ones
also work with .44s. Y'all will love them. My 2 pesos.

WBC