Wheelgun Wednesday: Speed Beez Speed Loader for the S&W 617 10-Shot
If you have been following along over on AllOutdoor, you know I reviewed the S&W 617 Mountain Gun not too long ago and then bought one because I liked it that much. Since last October I have shot it more than any of my other .22 revolvers. Ten shots of .22LR is genuinely fun until you have to reload, and then you are standing there loading ten individual cartridges one by one like it's the 1880s. I had been eyeing the Speed Beez speed loader for the 617 ten-shot for a while and finally grabbed one to see if it was worth it.
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Specifications: Speed Beez S&W 617 10-Shot Speed Loader
The Speed Beez loader is CNC machined in the USA and built specifically for the S&W Model 617 ten-shot. It only fits the 617 ten-shot. Not the Ruger GP100 ten-shot, not the Colt Cobra ten-shot, not the Henry Golden Boy (they do make one for each of those though!) Just the 617, so make sure you have the right gun before ordering.
- Compatible With: S&W Model 617 10-Shot .22LR
- Capacity: 10 rounds
- Material: CNC machined polymer
- Country of Origin: Made in the USA
- Release Mechanism: Push-to-release, spring-retained
- Not Compatible With: Ruger GP100 10-shot, Colt Cobra 10-shot, Henry Golden Boy
The standalone loader runs about $45. Speed Beez also sells a value kit for around $90 that includes the loader, a 100-round loading block, and a carrying case. The loading block is sold on its own too if you buy the loader first and want to add it later. For context, TK Custom makes a machined aluminum and stainless version for the same platform that runs closer to $60. The Speed Beez is not the cheapest thing on the market but it is made domestically and undercuts the fancier metal alternatives. Speed Beez does not make any big claims to justify the price beyond the USA manufacturing and CNC machining, which is fair enough.
First Impressions: Speed Beez S&W 617 10-Shot Speed Loader
It shows up on its own with no case or pouch, just the loader. No complaints about that given what it costs. Out of the box it is clean and simple with tidy machining and no sharp spots.
My first thought was that loading ten .22LR rimfire cartridges into a speed loader was going to be a nightmare. The rounds are small and the rims are thin. I figured I would be fumbling them in one at a time anyway and the whole thing would be pointless. It is not like that at all though.
You push each round past a spring-loaded retainer and it clicks right in. The rim slides past the spring with very little effort and gives you a satisfying little snap when it seats. Ten rounds go in quickly and without any fuss.
I also expected it to not fit my existing speed loader pouches because it looks pretty long compared to a typical revolver speed loader. It fit just fine in my standard HKS-style pouches, which I was not expecting. Another thing I was skeptical about was whether the rounds would stay put. I pictured bumping the loader in my range bag and sending ten .22LR rounds everywhere. It takes a real deliberate push to release them. You are probably not going to do it by accident.
In the Field: Speed Beez S&W 617 10-Shot Speed Loader
I took it out running Remington Standard Velocity through the 617 Mountain Gun on a day where it was in the single digits outside. That kind of cold is as good a stress test as anything because your fingers are not cooperating and small cartridges become even more annoying to work with. Loading the speed loader in those conditions was not bad at all though. You are pushing the cartridge down and past the spring rather than pressing against it, so it does not take much finger strength. My frozen hands were not fighting it.
At the cylinder it worked every single time. Line it up, push, ten rounds drop free. No alignment issues, nothing stuck, zero misfeeds. That kind of consistency from a rimfire speed loader is not a given so I appreciated it. Reloading went from something I was actively dreading to something I stopped thinking about entirely, which is exactly what you want.
My only real gripe is that I only bought the one loader. With just one you are back to loading it by hand between strings and that eats into the speed advantage pretty fast. The loading block changes things considerably since you pre-stage 100 rounds and then just press the loader in and ten transfer instantly. The loader alone is a real improvement. The loader with the block is a whole system and the system is what actually makes sense.
Final Thoughts: Speed Beez S&W 617 10-Shot Speed Loader
The Speed Beez S&W 617 10-Shot Speed Loader works exactly as advertised. If you own a 617 you will not regret having one of these in your range bag. Finger loading a ten-shot .22 cylinder is tedious and this fixes that completely.
On price I will be honest. The $45 feels about $10 more than it probably should be. It does not feel fragile or cheap but you are mostly paying for the fit and the domestic manufacturing. I am not unhappy with it, I am just being cheap about it.
As for the loading block, I own a 3D printer and there are files out there for it. Speed Beez is not getting another $40 from me for something my printer can knock out overnight. The loader itself is worth buying the right way though. Highly recommend picking one up and giving it a shot!
Would you pick one up for your 617? Have you bought other Speed Beez products? Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
Managing Editor: AllOutdoor.com | Staff Writer: TheFirearmBlog | Certified Gunsmith | Published Author | Firearm History Enthusiast
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