Empire just dropped the new Halo Pro, and honestly, it’s kind of cool to see this thing make a comeback. Teams like Tampa Bay Damage and AC Diesel have been running them for a while now, and the first batches are finally hitting stores. Right now you can only find full loaders (internals + shell) floating around for about $110, but down the road they’ll also sell just the shell kits—probably around $60.
The idea here is pretty simple: it’s basically the same Halo internals we’ve known forever, but with a brand-new shell design. The shells come in three pieces—bottom tray, shelf, and top—so you can swap your old Halo or Reloader B guts right into this thing. Not the old Magna stuff, but anything “modern Halo” should fit fine. The plastic feels sturdier than the old brittle shells, and they’re pairing it with JT’s new Triad Pro speed feed, which looks a lot like the old Virtue SF design.
Now, is it worth grabbing? At $110, you’re sitting in the same price range as some really solid loaders—the Dye LTR, the Spire IR²—both of which I still like better. They’re lighter, smaller, and way easier to clean. The Halo Pro will probably feed fast, sure, but the Spire especially small size and simplicity can’t be beat. That said, it’s nice to see something new (well… new-ish). Fresh competition is always good for the gear world.
