The speedloader was a game-changing step up from loading loose rounds, and it’s the fastest way to fill a revolver’s cylinder. (Photo courtesy of Richard Nance)
February 20, 2025
By Richard Nance
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As a cadet in the reserve police academy during the mid-’90s, I was taught to shoot using a Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver, which some California police departments were still issuing to their reserve officers. I learned right away that the toughest part about shooting a revolver wasn’t shooting at all. It was loading.
I never carried a revolver as a duty sidearm, but I’ve carried one concealed plenty in an off-duty capacity and now as a retired officer. Although largely replaced by semiautomatic pistols, double-action or double-action/single-action revolvers remain viable defensive options—provided you know how to load them properly.
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Most defensive revolvers hold five or six rounds in their cylinder, which is about half the capacity of even most subcompact pistols. As such, it’s a good idea to carry a speedloader, which is a cylindrical device designed to hold enough cartridges to fully load your revolver.
Before speedloaders, plenty of cops and revolver aficionados carried a belt-mounted dump pouch that, when unbuttoned, released cartridges into their hand. This was an improvement over a cartridge carrier where you had to draw cartridges one at a time, but you still had to load them into the cylinder individually—without dropping them.
Speedloader Efficiency Speed strips are great for topping off the cylinder—like a tactical reload for a semiauto. (Photo courtesy of Richard Nance) The speedloader was a game changer, enabling you to load each of the cylinder’s chambers simultaneously. The most popular type uses a rotating latch. With these, rotate the latch counterclockwise to lock the cartridges in place and clockwise to release them.
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The other type is spring loaded, with a push-button release. These tend to be larger and are more popular for competition than concealed carry.
A speedloader can be carried in a belt pouch or in a pocket. If you opt for the convenience of pocket carry, make sure the speedloader is the only thing in your pocket. You don’t want keys, loose change or anything else impeding access to the speedloader.
While some people load their revolvers with their support hand so they can maintain a shooting grip, I was taught to transfer the revolver to my support hand so I could load with my more dexterous dominant hand. As a right-handed shooter, I carry a speedloader on the right side of my belt or in my right front pant pocket.
How To Load Here’s how to load a revolver from the perspective of a right-handed shooter. After actuating the cylinder release, force the cylinder open with your left middle and ring fingers, allowing them to slide through the cylinder housing.
Place your left pinky between the hammer and the topstrap—or high along the backstrap of a hammerless revolver—and point the muzzle skyward. Using the palm of your right hand, strike the ejector rod to eject the spent casings.
Point the muzzle downward to load the cylinder. With your left thumb, middle and ring fingers cradling the cylinder, grab the speedloader with your right hand and align the bullet tips with the chambers. Turn the latch clockwise to release the cartridges into the cylinder.
With the cylinder loaded, allow the speedloader to fall to the ground and close the cylinder with your left thumb. Now your revolver is fully loaded and ready to fire.
Topping It Off There may come a time when you’ve fired only some of the cartridges and you want to top it off, similar to a tactical reload with a semiautomatic. This is where a speed strip comes in handy.
A speed strip is a rubberized strip designed to hold cartridges at their bases. Using a speed strip is simple. After swinging open the cylinder, keep the muzzle pointed down to prevent unfired cartridges from falling out. Use your left index finger to push upward on the ejector rod—but without completely ejecting the cartridges.
Then, pluck the spent casings from the cylinder and let them fall to the ground. Release the ejector rod.
Access your speed strip with your index finger along the back of the strip and your thumb and middle finger supporting either side of the strip. Once the tips of the cartridges are aligned with the empty cylinder chambers, rotate the strip forward and down to peel the cartridges from the strip and load them into their respective chambers. Close the cylinder and replace the partially depleted strip in your pocket so you can access it again if needed.
Positioning Your Hands If you’re running a standard revolver left-handed, you can reach over the grip to actuate the cylinder release with your right thumb. Then, use your right index finger to swing the cylinder open. Cradle the cylinder with your index finger atop and your middle finger below. With your thumb between the hammer and the topstrap—or high along the backstrap if there is no hammer—you’ll be able to easily support the revolver.
If you’re using a speedloader, point the muzzle upward and strike the ejector rod with the palm of your left hand to eject the spent casings. Flip the muzzle down and load. Remember that when using a speed strip to top off your revolver, keep the muzzle pointed downward so you don’t lose live rounds. Close the cylinder with your right index and middle fingers as your left hand wraps around the grip.
Whether you’re right- or left-handed, reloading your revolver should be done close to your body, at approximately chest level. This affords you better control over the revolver and your spare cartridges so you can maximize efficiency. Like threading a needle, loading a revolver is more difficult the farther it is from your body. Loading at chest height helps you keep an eye on your adversary, whereas if the revolver were held lower, the tendency is to look down.
Revolvers are beloved for their ease of operation and reliability, but ammunition capacity is their Achilles heel. To compensate for their relatively low capacity, it behooves you to carry a speedloader and/or a speed strip and be proficient in their use. With a little practice and the right gear, the revolver remains a solid choice for the defensive handgunner.
