Loading a magazine

[mmagoo]

Okay, I bought a magazine and some ammo so I could practice loading it for if/when I get a call to go to FLETC. I took firearms course a few years ago and I remember having trouble getting all the bullets into the magazine, so I thought it would be good to get my hands used to it.

Well, it's even harder than I remember. I finally worked up to getting 8 bullets into the mag, but I cannot get more than that. Even 8 is difficult. I feel like not only do I not have the hand strength, but also pushing on them is painful.

Am I the biggest wimp in the world? I know to qualify on firearms there are usually timed events. Do you have to reload the mags during any of those times. Is this really going to mess me up?

mmagoo aka "sore thumbs"

[krellum]

Here's a technique;

Once you get one in there, press down on the back of the bullet with the thumb of the hand that's holding the magazine (try using your "off" hand for that, i.e. left if you're right-handed and vice versa). Simultaneously take the next bullet you want to load and, holding it perpendicular to the one that's already in there, use the "new" bullet to press down the one that's already there. When you get it down far enough, rotate the "new" bullet so it's parallel and slide it backwards and in. Helps a lot.

Also, new magazines are harder to load because the springs can be stiff. They'll loosen up in time (doesn't take very long). I don't think they'll let you use those little plastic magazine loaders at FLETC, but you probably wouldn't want to get into the habit of using them anyway, lest you end up fumbling with one in the field.

Lots of shooters have problems loading magazines at first - especially those with small hands. You'll get better at it.

k

[DelC]

Originally posted by mmagoo
. . . I finally worked up to getting 8 bullets into the mag, but I cannot get more than that. Even 8 is difficult. . . . . Do you have to reload the mags during any of those times. . . . I don't have any experience with FLETC, but all the courses of fire I've seen, you only load a max of 6 in any magazine, and this is at your own pace, you're not timed. However, they don't let you have all day to do it.

[Wick]

For the CITP qual course I think I remeber having mags loaded with 12 rounds. There are times that we loaded full mags when we wern;t running the qual course.

Just keep practicing. Its mostly techniqe, once you get comfortable with it your speed will increase.

[universible]

Molly...I'm confused...all you do is get a magazine...a lead pipe and some tape...wrap the magazine over the pipe so it...wait...bullets? Oooooh!...nevermind...:p

[mmagoo]

Originally posted by krellum
Here's a technique;

Once you get one in there, press down on the back of the bullet with the thumb of the hand that's holding the magazine (try using your "off" hand for that, i.e. left if you're right-handed and vice versa). Simultaneously take the next bullet you want to load and, holding it perpendicular to the one that's already in there, use the "new" bullet to press down the one that's already there. When you get it down far enough, rotate the "new" bullet so it's parallel and slide it backwards and in. Helps a lot.
k

Thanks a lot krellum, I'm going to try that. This is silly but being quite new to firearms I was afraid to put pressure on the bottom of the bullet for fear of it exploding in my hand. I guess it takes a bit more force than that huh? Okay, everyone can enjoy a good laugh at me :D

[krellum]

No such thing as a silly question - that's how we learn (by asking questions).


k

[LA Express]

Originally posted by mmagoo
Okay, everyone can enjoy a good laugh at me...

No...no laughing here. I just wanted to...ha...say that...ha ha...ummm, that...ha ha ha ha...that...ha ha ha ha ha...ummm...HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Just kidding. Actually, back in the police academy, we were assigned brand new magazines for our Glock 17s (I'll assume you're talking about Glock as that's the only mag I've ever had difficulty loading). It was nearly impossible to get the last few rounds in there, so we would slam them against the counter or the back of our hand or whatever to get those springs loose, then we'd stick the round in as best we could and slam the thing in on the counter (NOT recommended!). Forgive us--we were young! If you're trying to get the last few rounds into a brand new Glock mag, it will definitely be tight, but don't be afraid to follow Krellum's sound advice. Rest assured, however, that if this is your situation, you likely won't have to deal with brand new mags at FLETC and I don't remember ever being officially timed when reloading.

[mmagoo]

Thank you LAX, I will try to find a happy medium between no pressure at all and slamming. And you are correct, it is a glock 19 mag. I was hoping that springs would loosen up once they got broken in a little. Good to hear that they will.

Thanks everyone, I'm glad I can ask these questions here.

[concord160]

At FLETC you will have your mags fully loaded so you wont have to load them during the course. The G-19 mags are hard to load when you are getting full.

It will just take practice to get them all in without fighting the mag. I think the Glock you will get in the academy will come with a magazine loader which is just a plastic piece which helps push the bulltes down to load the next one. I dont recommend using this as it will spoil you.

The acedemy firearms instructor's are great. They start from the very basics, which some "experienced" folks had problems with, but it's a good idea to start everyone off on the same page.

A guy in my class never shot a gun in his life and he bacame one of our best shooters! Also, if the instructor's feel you need more practice, they will schedule it for you.

Also the G-19 you get at the academy is issued to you there and will be waiting for you at your office when you get back after graduation.

[paul810]

Usually with new mags I will load it as much as I can and leave it like that for a few days, then I will put another round or two in and do the same until it is full. Once I can force it full I will leave the mag loaded for around a week or two. This usually loosens it up enough to be comfortable.

[rmoore]

Also when you are loading the magazine keep it close to your chest, it alows you more leverarge when you are pushing down, when you run the qual course at fletc, your mags will be pre-loaded.
I can not speak for other agency's but for CBP, you will load two 17 round mags, charge your weapon(chamber your first round) and the top off that mag, That is for the front half of course 3 and 7 yard line.
You will then score that target and hang a new one and move to the 15 yard line and load two 6 round mags, you will fire 6 rounds standing week side barricade and 6 kneeling strongside.

You will then move back to the 25 yard line and load one 6 round mag and one 8 round mag. You will use the 8 round mag first fire 6 rounds and fire rounds and then do a tactical reload ( simulate there is a problem with your mag and use your second mag) and fire 6 more rounds,,, end of course.
Min to qualify 240
Perfect score 300.

If you have never fired a gun, do not start now, it will only cause confussion for you , the instructors down here are all top notch,

Good luck:ufo: :huh?:

[NomadicFed]

In all my years as a firearms instructor, I've seen alot of problems, but no one has ever had a problem loading mags...so, chances are, once someone there (FLETC) shows you the company way, neither will you. I'd lay off practicing the "wrong" way lest you have too many techniques to unlearn.

It'll come.

[Time Traveller]

Originally posted by NomadicFed
In all my years as a firearms instructor, I've seen alot of problems, but no one has ever had a problem loading mags...so, chances are, once someone there (FLETC) shows you the company way, neither will you. I'd lay off practicing the "wrong" way lest you have too many techniques to unlearn.

It'll come.

About 12 years ago, I went through Firearms Instructor School at Quantico. As part of that, during recertifications, we got to work with a lot of classes going through Quantico, I saw more people who COULDN'T get there magazines loaded in a timely manner. If 15 minutes to load one was timely, then I guess they all did great....But they were new guns and magazines....It is a technique that is not generally taught in class, it is shown a couple of times, but it will only come with practice. I however have not gone through recently and cannot attest to what is happening now, but I would guess that probably about 20-30% or so of a class has the problem. Just practice and practice it will come. I did see alot of torn up thumbs though....get some callouses going now, they will pay dividends in the future.

Good luck