speed loader

See also: speedloader

English

A speed loader of the type for a revolver. It co-locates all the cartridges into position so as to be slid into the cylinder rapidly and all at once. They are released when the knob is turned.

Alternative forms

• speedloader

Noun

speed loader (plural speed loaders)

1. (firearms) A pressed metal (or plastic) clip, holding a set number of cartridges for a firearm, and used for rapid reloading of the weapon or its magazine.

   Synonym: charger (sometimes hyponymous)

   Hyponym: stripper clip

   With a speed loader, a practiced user can dump and reload their revolver's cylinder surprisingly fast — even, in some cases, no slower than someone can swap magazines in a semiauto.

2. (computing, dated) A software technique for loading programs (e.g. from cassette tape) more quickly than normally possible.

   Synonyms: turboload, turboloader

Related terms

• autoloader
• handloader
• reloader