A change…

If you noticed in my post about the JMCK holster, there was also another new gear item in the picture. A Safariland double Split Six speedloader pouch. I have toyed with pouches in the past, but mostly with regard to reloading faster. That is actually not why I have decided to start using a speedloader pouch, but rather easier access with the shooting hand. If you will recall, when I posted about the Shooting-Performance Defensive Handgun Skills Test I mentioned not being able to pass the one handed reload strings of fire, even though the time limits are probably long enough to get it done. Part of that problem was related to the depth of the pockets on the pants I happened to be wearing that day, and not being able to contort my right arm and hand enough to access the speedloader carried in my front  left pocket very well. I am still not quite there on the 8 second PAR, but getting close.

As a bonus, I am increasing my on body ammo payload by just over 30% and regaining the use of a pocket for things other than a speedloader.

There are other speedloader pouch options out there, probably at the top of my list would the the JOX Speedloader Pouch as reviewed by Justin over at revolverguy.com. Whenever I get more spare cash, a couple of those are on the shopping list. The reason I settled for the Split Six is because it conceals really well and fixes the access issue. Those were top of my criteria list. I can carry the pouch with two speedloaders just forward of my left hip and it is essentially unnoticeable. This is due mostly to not really having any hard edges like a kydex pouch typically does, and only half of the speedloader is on the outside of the belt, as opposed to the entire width of the speedloader as with some other options. A speedloader, being the same size as the revolver cylinder itself, can be difficult to hide. By sitting on top of the belt and straddling the belt with half the cartridges, it mitigates the width issue as much as possible.

One issue I had with the double Split Six pouch for a Comp II loader is that I could not find one designed for the 1.5″ belt width, they were all for 2″+ belts. I assume Safariland is manufacturing these mostly for use with duty belts, which explains the crazy width. To fix this problem, I had to make a slight modification. I scrounged a couple screws from an old holster and essentially shrunk the belt loop section of the pouch to fit a 1.5″ belt by closing off the bottom 1/2″ of the belt loop. It worked amazingly well, and the extra bit of belt loop that sits below the belt now helps to leverage the top of the pouch back into the body, improving concealment slightly.

Modification is visible on the lower 1/4 of the belt loop. 

Even though the Split Six is intended to be used with the Comp II loader, since the HKS is so close in size, it also works with the HKS if someone prefers that loader. Just don’t tell Safariland, they probably wouldn’t like that I told that secret.

Comp II on the left, HKS on the right.

I have not been using this setup for very long, but have put in some long 16 hour days of continuous wear, and lots of dryfire trying to relearn my reload just a little, and I have been pleased with how well it has worked. I have a local IDPA match on the horizon, and will run this setup in a class not too far down the road. It isn’t as fast as something like the JOX, but is economical, and conceals really well. The downside, of course, is this pouch setup only works with Safariland Comp II (they also make a pouch for Comp I’s), and HKS loaders. Running a Comp III, SL Variant, or Jet Loader will require another solution. I have basically settled on the Comp II’s, so it works well for me.