Please give me a little help. Who has experience with revolvers for Idpa? I want to get a 686 but don't know what the optimal length is, thinking 4"? Also I'm good with the holster but what are the recs for speed loaders and holders? Again, I shoot Idpa with a Glock 34 and really want some opinions on revolvers. I don't want to look up some obscure model that hasn't been produced in years!

Please give me a little help. Who has experience with revolvers for Idpa? I want to get a 686 but don't know what the optimal length is, thinking 4"? Also I'm good with the holster but what are the recs for speed loaders and holders? Again, I shoot Idpa with a Glock 34 and really want some opinions on revolvers. I don't want to look up some obscure model that hasn't been produced in years!

 

I shoot IDPA with my 586 four incher, HKS Speed-Loaders, Mitch Rosen Cant-Forward OWB Holster and three Safariland Speed-Loader Holders (two on the strong side). A 4" tube is maximum length for a revolver in IDPA. I also use a 5.11 Tactical Off-Duty Dress Belt (nice and stiff) for a clean draw every time!

 

Pizza Bob and I shot the same match a while back at Somerset. He used moonclips = ESR, and I used my SSR. Scores were pretty close to even by the time everything was totaled-up. Bob will no doubt see this thread and be of further assistance, since he has the Rule Book almost memorized, lol!

 

Good luck and welcome to the Wheelgun World!

 

Dave

Thanks. I love shooting the 686 rentals and can't wait to add this challenge to the Idpa world. I have a great belt Just don't know ANYTHING about speed loaders and gun length.

Dave is (almost) correct - actual maximum barrel length is 4.2" (Who, me? A nitpicker? Noooooo). Since you already shoot IDPA, you know the rules governing holsters.

 

Dave uses HKS speedloaders. He also shoots what he carries and HKS may be a bit more secure for carry. But they are not as fast as Safariland Comp II's or III's. HKS loaders require two motions to charge the cylinder - insertion and a twist of the knob. Safariland will charge the cylinder in one motion - insertion - the cartridges are released when the loader hits the extractor star (actually the rachet) - point is, there is no separate motion.

 

Look in the rule book for legal speedloader carriers - the spring steel type are not legal (strangely enough, essentially the same holder with a centerpost is perfectly legal for holding moonclips - but I digress).

 

Dependent on whether you load strong hand or weak hand will determine where on the belt you carry the three (allowed) loaders. If you load weak hand - all three should be carried on the weak side. If you load strong hand - two loaders can be carried ahead of the holster on your strong side (first loader has to be within an inch of the holster) and the third loader is carried behind the holster (strong side).

 

Some think weak hand loading is quicker because you do not change your grip on the gun. I prefer strong hand because, even though you are switching the gun to the weak hand - you are controlling the cylinder and you tend to be more manually dexterous with your strong hand (better hand/eye coordination). Do what feels comfortable for you. I will insert here that Jerry Miculek uses a strong hand load (at least in the videos I've seen - that is when you can actually follow the reload - again, I digress).

 

One last thing about SSR division - they have a unique power factor of only 105. That means that a 158 grain bullet only has to be moving at 665 fps to make power factor - which means practically no recoil.

 

Hope this all has helped. Any questions, post'em up or PM me.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Dave is (almost) correct - actual maximum barrel length is 4.2" (Who, me? A nitpicker? Noooooo). Since you already shoot IDPA, you know the rules governing holsters.

 

Dave uses HKS speedloaders. He also shoots what he carries and HKS may be a bit more secure for carry. But they are not as fast as Safariland Comp II's or III's. HKS loaders require two motions to charge the cylinder - insertion and a twist of the knob. Safariland will charge the cylinder in one motion - insertion - the cartridges are released when the loader hits the extractor star (actually the rachet) - point is, there is no separate motion.

 

Look in the rule book for legal speedloader carriers - the spring steel type are not legal (strangely enough, essentially the same holder with a centerpost is perfectly legal for holding moonclips - but I digress).

 

Dependent on whether you load strong hand or weak hand will determine where on the belt you carry the three (allowed) loaders. If you load weak hand - all three should be carried on the weak side. If you load strong hand - two loaders can be carried ahead of the holster on your strong side (first loader has to be within an inch of the holster) and the third loader is carried behind the holster (strong side).

 

Some think weak hand loading is quicker because you do not change your grip on the gun. I prefer strong hand because, even though you are switching the gun to the weak hand - you are controlling the cylinder and you tend to be more manually dexterous with your strong hand (better hand/eye coordination). Do what feels comfortable for you. I will insert here that Jerry Miculek uses a strong hand load (at least in the videos I've seen - that is when you can actually follow the reload - again, I digress).

 

One last thing about SSR division - they have a unique power factor of only 105. That means that a 158 grain bullet only has to be moving at 665 fps to make power factor - which means practically no recoil.

 

Hope this all has helped. Any questions, post'em up or PM me.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

Bob,

 

You're a Piece Of Work, lol! And a Gentleman and Scholar, you NITPICKER YOU, LOL!

 

Pleasure shooting with you--will have to do it again some time!

 

Dave

Thanks, great info so I can start my research. I was told my permits will be ready on Thursday (after a six month wait). If they are I'll have a 686 that night and start ordering the accessories. As I have questions I'll post them up. Thanks again.

Do you recommend the longer handled speedloaders vs the shorter ones? What is the practical difference as the comp IIIs look easier to Control and they don't specifically ban them inmthe idpa rules m

 

Thanks.

Personal preference. I shoot a moon-clipped gun soooo, have no experience with Comp II's vs Comp III's. I have used the Comp I's in competition (bowling pins / .44 Spl) and they worked fine by just grabbing the body of the loader. Probably can't go wrong with either. The II's are less expensive, if that's a consideration.

 

Even though Dave uses HKS, I believe that he shoots in a PPC league, so he has probably had exposure to both and may be in a better position to render an opinion.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Thanks.

Thanks.

 

Glad to see someone going the revolver route for IDPA. The 4 inch 686 is as good as it gets for everyday use.

Pizza Bob,

 

The IDPA rule book states the power floor is set at 125,000 for ssr. Where did you get 105,000 for a power floor? Putting a deposit on a 4" 686 tomorrow and looking for inexpensive ammo that makes the minimum power floor.

Stupid me, online search showed the amendment. Looks like I'm going on a spending spree, have to wait another 24 days to pick it up.

Do you recommend the longer handled speedloaders vs the shorter ones? What is the practical difference as the comp IIIs look easier to Control and they don't specifically ban them inmthe idpa rules m

 

Thanks.

 

Any recommendations for speed loader holders? I've found the North Mountain holders but I would like to have a less expensive option if possible. Going with comptac holster, Safariland III loaders and need final component. Picking gun up next weekend.

For PPC I use Safariland 3-across Speed Loader Holsters. NOT legal for IDPA! In the SCFGPA local IDPA Match I reloaded out of my 3-across (using only 2 nearest the gun) with the third in my sport coat pocket and pretty much kept-up with Bob. As I recall, our scores were similar.

 

Dirty Harry reloaded his HKS Speed-Loaders out of his sport coat too........

 

Safariland or HKS makes Speed-Loader holsters that are 2-across. That's what you need for IDPA, along with a single to be placed BEHIND the gun.

 

Keep it REAL!

 

Have FUN and be safe!

 

Dave

Th trigger on my 686 is awful on double action. Anyone have suggestions for a trigger job in south jersey I'd be open to hearing suggestions.

Th trigger on my 686 is awful on double action. Anyone have suggestions for a trigger job in south jersey I'd be open to hearing suggestions.

 

Alec sent his 625 out for a smooth job. Might have been to PA. Look him up and he'll have the answer, but it ain't cheap! Smooooth as a baby's behind!

Thanks. I'll pm him.