By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Being in the gun writing business presents itself with a lot of challenges, especially if you’re something of an anachronism who tends to prefer revolvers to the latest hot stuff semi-auto to land on the cover of a glossy magazine.
The time I was on the cover of the American Shooting Journal a few years ago—and the subject of a story inside—there I was, my palm wrapped tightly around the grip of a Smith & Wesson Model 57, chambered in .41 Magnum. There wasn’t a semi-auto in sight.
This association with round guns since my youth hunting small game with a .22-caliber revolver led to one swift and inescapable conclusion: You must carry spare ammunition and it needs to be carried in such a way that it won’t be spilling out of your pockets, or stashed so deep in a pocket you can’t get it out in a hurry.
In my humble opinion, the best methods for carrying spare cartridges—let’s face it, revolvers will usually run dry usually quicker than a magazine-fed semi-auto unless someone is “spraying and praying” they will hit something if they empty their magazine in the direction of trouble—are speedloaders, belt slide cartridge holders, cartridge belts and/or speed strips. If you’re using a single-action revolver, speed loaders are out.
Several manufacturers, including Safariland, HKS and Pachmayr, have produced speed loaders over the years. These devices are sized to correspond to the cylinder of whatever double-action revolver you happen to be using. They are all pretty much equally reliable, and over the years my preference has tilted toward the HKS models only because I’m used to the quick twist mechanism. Back in the days I used to compete in local handgun matches, I actually got pretty fast with speedloaders while reloading either a Smith& Wesson Model 19 or Colt Python. All it takes is a quick dump of the empties, quickly insert the tips of the new cartridges into the chambers as they line up, and twist the knob.
If I’m carrying speedloaders, I’ve usually got two or three and never less than a pair. My gear includes HKS models for J- and K-frame S&W .357 Magnums, and N-frame .41 Magnums.
In addition, when carrying a D/A revolver in a shoulder holster, the off-side retention strap invariably is fitted with a six-round cartridge holder, as shown in last week’s installment.
For single-action sixguns, and when I’m packing a double-action revolver in the wilds, the cartridge belt is my choice for having spare ammunition within immediate reach. I’ve built my own cartridge belts over the years—both for personal use and for sample purposes back when I was operating a one-man custom leather business—to have no less than 30 loops for spares. Some of the commercial cartridge belts available either didn’t have the capacity or the loops were not side enough to retain cartridges, and over time, some of those loops got loose enough that the ammunition would fall out.
My loops were sized to be tight and they have been either 7/8- or 1-inch wide for a better bearing/contact surface with the cartridge. So far, after years of use, they haven’t failed.
In addition to leather belts, I’ve seen some made from heavy canvas/web material, others consisting of a combination of materials and I once bought a superb belt for .22-caliber rimfires for my uncle, which used wide elastic loops. I cannot recall the manufacturer, but the belt was a dandy which held 50 rimfire rounds, either .22 Long Rifle or .22 WMR.
I’ve read many times over the years an observation attributed to the late Gen. George Patton, himself a wheelgun man of some distinction. He is reported to have said the semi-auto pistol is a gun of two parts, while all one needs to keep a revolver in action is loose ammunition. Makes sense to me, since his normal sidearm during WWII was an engraved, nickel-plated .45 Colt single-action with which he dispatched a couple of Pancho Villa’s guys during the Pershing expedition when he was a mere lieutenant.
The revolver is an arm which teaches us to be frugal with our shots, which translates to making every shot count. No spray-and-pray allowed!
I know of at least one nationally-known firearms instructor who reportedly once summed up the argument that the only logical choice for a defensive sidearm was a semi-auto capable of holding 10-15 rounds.
“You must plan to miss a lot,” the guy apparently observed. Pretty hard to argue one’s self out of that position.
I know a couple of guys including one retired police lieutenant back in Indiana who carry single-action sixguns for personal defense. My regular armament anytime I’m back in the wilds and away from the pavement—and any cellphone reception—is a revolver. And there are invariably spare cartridges within easy reach.
Whether you carry spares in a speed loader, or belt slide, cartridge belt or speed strip, practice reloading so you’ll be able to remain in action.
