If I had to use one speedloader for the rest of my life it would be these: the Speed Beez loaders. But why? What makes them so great, especially in a market where a lot of more affordable loaders exist, and where no one cares about revolvers anyway? I’m so glad you asked. Welcome to my Speed Beez Speedloader Review.
Reviewing any speedloader seems a bit anachronistic in a world of polymer framed 20 round 9mm pistols, but revolver enthusiasts out there seriously carry and shoot these guns. Those enthusiasts are a small, but dedicated market, and want to spend their dollars wisely, which is why we’re doing a Speed Beez Speedloader Review. Are they good? Are they worth the money?
Answering the questions about the Speed Beez Speedloader first involves understanding the two types of speedloader release mechanisms on the market right now. The first and most common is the twist-knob type, exemplified by the HKS speedloader. These loaders need you to immobilize the cylinder with your support hand, insert the cartridges, then twist a knob to release them. The force dropping the rounds into the cylinder is gravity, which means that twist-knob type loaders don’t work right if your cylinders have a bit of fouling in them. They also limit you to one style of reload, the Miculek hand swap. One positive point for twist-knob loaders is that they’re secure, and will usually keep their rounds if dropped.
The other release mechanism we’re going to cover in the Speed Beez speedloader review is push-type release. These, like the Safariland Comp-III loader, require the user to push the cartridges into the cylinder. They can be spring-assisted, like the Comp-III and Jetloader, or in the Safariland Comp-I and II use gravity. The spring assisted loaders are the best for fast, positive, reloads because they can overcome fouling in the chambers and keep your gun running.
Now let’s actually do the Speed Beez Speedloader review. These loaders are push-type releases with a spring assist. To load the rounds into the loader, push the rim of the cartridge past the retaining spring until it clicks. Loading the gun is just as easy: align the cartridges with the charge holes and press until the loader clicks. It’s simple and easy to use, and most importantly, very very fast. While the odds of needing to reload a revolver in a gunfight are vanishingly small, it’s nice to know that if you need to, the Speed Beez speedloader will get it done in a hurry.
The only knock we discovered during the Speed Beez Speedloader review is that they don’t retain the rounds very well. Because the spring running around the body of the loader is the retention mechanism, dropping the loader will result in rounds falling out. Of course, the easy solution for this is simple: don’t drop the loader. If you use the Speed Beez for concealed carry, we recommend carrying it in a pouch on the belt, or a jacket pocket that has nothing but the loader in it.
Other than that, these are great speedloaders. They’ve been my personal go to for a while now, and I’m happy to recommend them to other revolver degenerates.
