Couch-Commando

I'm hoping I will. Not sure I'll have the speed loader rig built by then, but I should at least have the moon clips ready!

The SL variants have a brass screw running through a plastic disk that forms the "pusher" that is depressed to release the rounds. So running another steel screw won't work, but I'm thinking if I can epoxy a steel washer to it, it will have the same effect. I'm going to buy some plastic rod to experiment with, since if I mess it up I don't want to destroy my 40 dollar speed loaders. If this works, I'll be golden. I sent an email to Midwest Competition Works. The owner is actually experimenting with the exact same idea with the same speed loaders. According to him, the magnets aren't strong enough to securely hold the loader after gluing a washer to the pusher, since it is too top heavy, which is a bummer. I think I'm still going to order it and experiment for myself. If that fails, I found that Bladetech sells a quick detach belt mounting fork that uses the same footprint as tek lok, so if I use that, I should be able to fabricate another pouch that I can swap out in seconds. I just ordered the Midwest Competition moon clip rack. I also just loaded up some dummy rounds with round nose bullets that came in today. You guys aren't kidding about the importance of round nosed bullets. The difference is amazing!

Interesting. If I could secure a steel washer to the bottom of my speed loader, I wonder if a magnetic moon clip holder would work? I just had a cylinder cut for moon clips, and if I could run moon clips and speed loaders on the same device, that would simplify logistics.

I'm mostly dead set on trying to fabricate it. My last one turned out pretty good, and the only reason I need to replace it is that the SL variants don't hold the rounds as firmly straight as the Safariland Comp1. I need one that will simultaneously grip the body of the loader and have a floor for the rounds to sit on so it can't be pushed through. I figure I'll add an L shaped piece of kydex to my current style of setup in the absence of better inspiration. I have rivets, screws, surgical tubing based tension screws and a toaster oven, so I don't exactly have the gear the "real" kydex holster makers use. I am also planning to fabricate it to be quick detatch, since my long term plan is to shoot both classic and limited 6 in the same match, which will require me to swap setups quickly. I have a similar plan to build moon clip holders using posts from revolver supply. The plan is to make both quick detachable using mounts I recently discovered from Double Alpha. I also recently bought a J-frame that I intend to become a backup/lazy carry gun. I intend to also build a speed loader setup for this so I can shoot a match or two a year to see what I can do with it. So I need to build a similar setup for that too.

I recently acquired a boat load of the reproduction SL Variant speed loaders in 44 magnum for competing in ICORE this year in the classic division. Unfortunately, these are not compatible with my previous home made speed loader holder, which I designed to securely clamp the rounds rather than the loader itself. I need to build a new one. I already have the kydex and little bits. I have a few ideas for the design, but I'm wondering what small fraction of shooters who primarily compete in classic division use. I have found a few references online to competition gear that is no longer in production, but can't find anything even for K/L frame guns to draw inspiration from. I can't even find high enough resolution photos to understand the designs. I was wondering if my fellow classic division shooters could post a photo of their speed loader holder setups to give me a better idea of what direction I should go.

Website works for me. I ordered several of the 277 speed loaders in early November and received them in a week. They work great.

Forgot to mention, my wife got me SL variant speed loaders for Christmas. They are awesome. I'm mildly disappointed I went with the 29, since I'm 99% sure these loaders will also work with 45 Auto Rim, which wouldn't really cost any more to reload than 44 Russian, and would let me shoot two divisions. They for sure work with 45 Colt. I also finally found a source for round nose 44 bullets. The key was to add "cowboy action" to my search terms. https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/cb-44-240-gr-rn-per-500.html

Well, my evidence gun showed up. Overall way better than I expected. I suspect is was rarely shot. I've doubled the size of the turn line in a bit of dry fire and speed loader practice. The internals looks brand new. There is mild peening on the cylinder notches, and a bit of wiggle in lock up which completely went away when I test fit my second cylinder. I'm guessing someone flicked the cylinder open a few times. The only real curve ball here is that I am 99% sure that the front sight is integral to the barrel ramp and not pinned. I wasn't expecting that. How difficult/expensive would it be to grind it off and machine it for an interchangeable front sight? I hate the red ramp sight picture, and much prefer a skinny red fiber optic.

Thanks again for the help. Part of the impetus of this thread was finding a smattering of Smith and Wesson 29s with cosmetic flaws on gunbroker this week. I just won an auction for a 29-3 that allegedly came from a police evidence locker in Phoenix for $700 before tax/transfer. Based on the photos, the gun looks dirty, and the grips have a few gouges, but I suspect with a little maintenance it will be a good shooter. I think my new plan is to shoot this for classic next year with the new 29, and then at some point in the future get a 929 for limited. That way I can shoot classic and limited with the same holster. Once I test it and put it through it's paces I'll be contacting Warren to work his magic on it. After seeing that revolver supply site, I think I can feasibly build a moon clip holder using the posts they sell, and if I configure everything with Safariland QLS forks, I can build a setup that will let me quick detach my speed loader holder and the hypothetical moon clip holster in seconds, making shooting two guns practical. Now I can zero my current gun for heavy 44 magnum, and have another zeroed for powder puff loads for ICORE. Plus, I will hopefully be able to actually sit in a chair with it holstered, which proved to be a serious challenge this year with the 8 inch barrel.

Part of me is really attracted to blued and wood vintage revolvers (and guns in general). The big reason I'm overthinking the barrel length question is that it will dictate what I do next since I'd like my guns for multiple divisions to use the same holster setup. I think what I'm now leaning towards is a 6.5" model 29 for classic, to be followed by a 6.5" model 25 in 45 ACP for L6, to potentially be followed by a 6.5" 929 for limited. What I envision is a belt with a single holster, that I can quick swap my speed loader and moon clip hangers with Safariland QLS forks. So, assuming I'm shooting two guns at Mill Creek, I can pick two and hot swap the equipment on the line without causing any delays for other shooters. Thinking to the distant future, if I wanted to swap between an 8 shot 9mm and a 6 shot 45, are there any moon clip hangers that can accommodate both 8 shot 9mm/38 and 45?

I've had a lot of fun shooting my 44 magnum hunting gun in ICORE classic this year. I've learned a lot about both shooting and maintaining revolvers, and the tinkering is half the fun! I am now certain that I want to continue shooting revolver in ICORE. However, I did originally buy this gun for hunting, and my hunting load hits a foot high at 50 yards when zeroed at 25 for my powder puff load, so I definitely want a new gun if for no other reason than I don't want to have to rezero it every time I switch ammo. My wife informed me that she ordered me a batch of the new reporduction SL variant speed loaders for Christmas, and in my view, the speed loaders were my only main equipment hindrance this year, so I'm planning on sticking with 44, at least for next year. I like the heft of the N frames, and also enjoy the frequent Dirty Harry jokes. I had originally intended to end up with both the 8" I got for long range hunting, and to get a 4" for woods carry. For this reason, I'm strongly considering getting a 4" model 29 for the short term for competition use. I shot Dave's 4" model 29 in my first match, and it was quite handy, and I had no issues making my hits. My current 8" seems slower on transitions, but highly accurate with a good "swing through" between targets. I assume a 6" would feel somewhere in the middle. I see a mix of 4" and 5" model 627s, and a lot of 929s with the 6" barrel, so it is obvious there are different opinions on barrel length. I'm curious what makes folks decide on 4" vs 6" barrels. While part of me wants to get a 6" model 29 now, a 6" model 25 in 45 ACP next and shoot in both classic and L6, part of me thinks it would be fun to moon clip a 44 and just have one gun for two divisions. I even have a spare 29-3 cylinder if I didn't want to butcher an old gun. Anyway, I've heard that moon clips for 44s and 38s are more fragile than for 45 ACP and 9mm. I'm wondering how much this should dissuade me from considering moon clipping a 44. Finally, if I did moon clip a 44 magnum, what moonclip hangers would work best? I see them available for the 45 ACP and the 9mm. I'm guessing a 45 ACP version would work, but is that correct?

I had the crazy idea of trying to bastardize an L frame Safariland Comp III to work with 44 magnum. I bought one, took it apart and figured out how it worked. I then took an HKS speed loader, ripped the guts out, and cut it in half. I then cut the bottom (i.e. the part that holds the ammo) off the comp 3, carefully lined everything up bolted together, and carefully drilled holes through the Safariland back plate into the HKS speed loader body, and ran a few screws in to mock it up. It works! Now I need to get some good plastic glue and install three more screws, but I suspect this will be fairly durable when complete so long as no one steps on it.

I use Tippon snap caps religiously for everything. I was also told it was safe to dry fire a Glock, but that didn't prevent me from cracking the breech face of my Glock 17!

Nice meeting you too! I had a great time, and will definitely be back!

I'm strongly considering ordering some, since none of the other competition loaders are made for 44 magnums. I finally shot my first match with my own 44 magnum yesterday, which was both really fun and went sufficiently well that I don't think the gun or the caliber will be a big hindrance. The only thing that was clearly slowing me down (other than dumb mistakes due to lack of experience) was the occasional sticking round in my comp 1 speed loader. I'll probably shoot ICORE for the rest of the year with what I have before making any decisions.