A Revolver Reloading Technique

By Guantes aka Gloves

When I carry a revolver, it is either a three or three and a half inch barrel .357 with magnum
loads. With these particular weapons and loads, the extractor rods are not of sufficient length to
completely push the expended cases from the cylinder. This can and does sometimes result in
one or more cases still remaining partially in the cylinder at the end of the extractor rod stroke.
The cure that I have found is a force against the extractor rod greater than is available using
merely the thumb. My technique is as follows. I will not address such things as visual track of
the threat, cover, or movement, which is dictated by specific circumstances.
1. Bring the weapon to near centerline between the beltline and the sternum.
2. With the weapon in the shooting hand and resting in the off hand, the cylinder release is
activated by the shooting hand thumb
3. Here, several things happen virtually simultaneously.
a. The cylinder is pushed from its resting place by the middle finger of the off hand.
b. The weapon is turned vertical with the barrel up.
c. The off hand wraps around the trigger guard with the thumb in one flute of the
cylinder
d. The index finger against the frame at the front of the cylinder opening.
e. The middle finger is placed through the cylinder opening against the cylinder and the
fourth finger is against the frame at the rear of the cylinder opening.
This sounds much more complicated than it is and is depicted in the first picture.

Picture 1.

These particular actions aid in several ways. The thumb placed in one flute of the cylinder
insures a consistent position of the cylinder in each reload. Knowing what this position will be
allows instinctive positioning of the speed loader on the way to the cylinder for the reload,
thereby reducing fumbling and necessary rotation of the loader into position after its arrival at
the cylinder. The middle finger against the cylinder, through the cylinder opening eliminates any
rotation of the cylinder and the index and fourth finger against the frame stabilizes the weapon.
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4. At this point, the firing hand releases the weapon and the extractor rod is struck with the
meaty part of the palm extracting the expended rounds. This is depicted in picture two.
The forceful application of the palm to the extractor rod normally insures the extraction of even
magnum cases. If not all the cases are extracted; a flick of the shooting hand index finger after
the palm leaving the extractor rod removes them.

Picture 2.

5. Again, a couple things happen simultaneously.

a. As the off hand rotates the weapon to a barrel down vertical position, the strong hand
retrieves the speed loader. These, in my case, are stored in my off side shirt breast
pocket. They are stored there as it is convenient, two speed loaders vertically oriented
fit quite nicely in the pocket. In addition, that location puts them in close proximity to
the reloading process.
b. The speed loader with new rounds is inserted into the cylinder and activated, loading
the weapon.
c. The loader is now dropped and a quick glance provides confirmation of a successful
reload. This is depicted in picture three.

Picture 3.

ote: I use SL Comp III speed loaders. While somewhat larger than standard speed loaders, they
are what I call a "positive action" loader. In other words, they do not rely on gravity to insert the
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cartridges into the cylinder, but inject them into the cylinder via spring pressure and require no
additional action other than pressure to activate them. In addition, this method provides for
operation of the speed loader with the strong hand, which I consider to have greater dexterity.
While I realize that "speed strips" are, at times due to attire or environment, a necessity, I
consider them a step down in both speed and efficiency.
6. Once more, we have simultaneous actions.
a. The off hand thumb pushes the cylinder shut and together with the middle finger
rotates the cylinder to a locking notch.
b. The weapon is immediately returned to a horizontal axis.
c. In the mean time, the strong (shooting) hand is reassuming its grip on the weapon in
preparation to fire.
As always, others may find differently, but for me this method provides the fastest, most efficient
reload for the weapons and load that I carry.