Magazine loader comparison

gunismyfriend · Dec 26, 2017

I'm looking for a good magazine loader. Some loaders are specific to the gun/magazine, some are specific to the caliber, while others are general purpose. Following are what I've considered.

1. Loader from gun manufacturer, such as Glock. These are in the most basic form, but they do help.

2. Maglula, babylula. Manual, round by round. Aside from need to use the model for the size of your magazine, it's universal in terms of make and caliber.

3. ETS CAM Pistol Magazine Loader, upto 10 rounds at a time. Fits most 9mm and .40 mags.

4. ETS CAM Rifle Magazine Loader. Upto 10 rounds. Fits 556, 7.62, 9mm.

5. Lightnin' Grip Loader, www.mcfaden.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=LIGHTNIN-GRIP. Needs specific magazine adapter, but very efficient.

6. Cammenga Easyloader, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o7uyreMESqg. Specific model is needed for each gun/magazine.

7. .22 loaders

erwos · Dec 26, 2017

The LULAs do what I need them to do, and I highly recommend them. I've used the Uzi/Colt MagLULA, the pistol UpLULA, and the strip loader StripLULA. They are definitely a step up from the simplistic per-gun loaders I've used.

Bob A · Dec 26, 2017

My thumbs give a thumbs-up to the various Lulas. I admit I've not had experience with the others, but they're well-made tools that do the job well.

jimbobborg · Dec 26, 2017

I have several LULAs. I'd rather load them with these versus the superfast loaders as some of my ammunition is long for caliber and I don't want cartridge noses rubbing inside the magazines.

knastera · Dec 26, 2017

Another vote for the UpLula. It loads everything from 9mm to 45 ACP in single and double stack.

AlanInSilverSpring · Dec 26, 2017

+1 for the Lulas

I have one for 22's, one for 9mm-45, one for ak's (7.62x39), and one for the ar's (223/556). Can't imagine loading several 100 rounds without them

Only limitation on speed is how many rounds I can hold in my hand and how quickly I can pick them up and get em facing the right direction.

Catch-10-22 · Dec 26, 2017

I also have several LULAs and love them. Relatively inexpensive, mine have been absolutely reliable, and they work very quickly. I have had a couple other mag loaders (stripper clip pushers, loaders that come with guns, etc.) and the LULAs are the only things I use now.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

photoracer · Dec 26, 2017

The McFaden loaders are only for .22 although they are the best there is for that. One, the Ultimate Cliploader, is only for Ruger and Browning.22 pistol mags while the other, the Ultimate Griploader, has different adapters for different types and brands of .22 magazines, both pistol and rifle.

Flametamer · Dec 26, 2017

I've been happy with the LULAs. When buying a third upLULA for pistol a year or so back at a gun show, I wound up with a counterfeit that lasted all of three magazines before the metal 'finger' that depresses the rounds bent and became useless. Turns out these counterfeits are all over the place. Learn from my mistake - don't grab a slightly less expensive one at a gun show... (The packaging was nearly identical, and you have to look very, very closely to tell the difference between the real and the fake.)

That ETS CAM loader looks interesting; have not seen it before. May give it a try... Still using stripper clips for the ARs; simple and reliable...

md_rick_o · Dec 26, 2017

Bought LULA's for my guns, they are consistent. Use for loading and the rare unloading of the mags. My M&P 45 mags are really tight for the 10th round and the LULA handles it very nicely.

gunismyfriend · Dec 27, 2017

Flametamer said:
I've been happy with the LULAs. When buying a third upLULA for pistol a year or so back at a gun show, I wound up with a counterfeit that lasted all of three magazines before the metal 'finger' that depresses the rounds bent and became useless. Turns out these counterfeits are all over the place. Learn from my mistake - don't grab a slightly less expensive one at a gun show... (The packaging was nearly identical, and you have to look very, very closely to tell the difference between the real and the fake.)

That ETS CAM loader looks interesting; have not seen it before. May give it a try... Still using stripper clips for the ARs; simple and reliable...

Thanks for the info.
I am very interested in the ETS loaders, especially the "rifle" version. In theory, it should load any caliber that can fit in either of the two "holding openings". In one YouTube video, they actually showed loading 9mm magazine.
[YT]rQo2H6WU7v0[/YT]
I wonder if anybody here have tried it.

Rack&Roll · Dec 27, 2017

gunismyfriend said:
Thanks for the info.
I am very interested in the ETS loaders, especially the "rifle" version. In theory, it should load any caliber that can fit in either of the two "holding openings". In one YouTube video, they actually showed loading 9mm magazine.
[YT]rQo2H6WU7v0[/YT]
I wonder if anybody here have tried it.

Fixed your embed

gunismyfriend · Dec 27, 2017

Rack&Roll said:
Fixed your embed

What's the trick?

Rack&Roll · Dec 27, 2017

For 5.56/.223 loading of AR mags, there is only one device I rely on: the Beta C-Mag Loader.

It’s effective, less expensive, and does not require a tabletop setup the way so many loaders do—making it excellent for use in the field. Working from a dump pouch of ammo you can load up a mag fast—even in total darkness just by feel.

It works with cold hands or shaky hands, and it does not require fine motor skills or precise staging the way the loader in the YouTube video above does.

The first pic is the C-Mag Loader with the plunger dropped. The second pic is the C-Mag Loader mounted and with the plunger elevated for loading.

Drop 5 rounds in and hit the plunger, repeat. With the plunger dropped down it fits in your back pocket and only costs about $20. The model shown below is the 5-round unit but they also make a 10-round model.

Why pay for an expensive contraption that can bend or break, needs a table top, and needs precise staging that requires light for you to see what you are doing?

Case closed.

Rack&Roll · Dec 27, 2017

gunismyfriend said:
What's the trick?

Inside the second “yt” bracket you had “\” instead of “/“.

gwchem · Dec 27, 2017

Is it really that hard to load ar-15 mags? I just push the bullet down in. Way easier than any of my pistol magazines.

mtbiker · Dec 27, 2017

The maglula has been working great for me. For 22lr, I've seen the champion load easily.

Rack&Roll · Dec 27, 2017

gwchem said:
Is it really that hard to load ar-15 mags? I just push the bullet down in. Way easier than any of my pistol magazines.

There’s no comparison to using the C-Loader to load up 4-5 mags quickly vs. the slower load-by-hand regimen that leaves your thumb beat up.

Leaves you with more Range time too if the clock is ticking because the range is crowded.

mcbruzdzinski · Dec 27, 2017

UpLULA is my recommendation.

alucard0822 · Dec 27, 2017

The uplula is the best for loading 1 at a time, works on just about everything, and can be relatively quick once you get a rhythm down, you have plenty of leverage to squeeze rounds into tight mags. The included loaders with GLOCK or other pistol brands suck, you can barely get the round past the feed lips and I always get rounds popping out, can load faster without a device. The ETS pistol loader is extremely fast and effective when it works, grabbing rounds directly from a box or tray is really awesome, I use one for my 32rd GLOCK mags for my PCC, and it can stuff the mags full in a couple seconds. Problem is the "ramp" that pushes rounds to the rear once they are past the lips puts you at a mechanical disadvantage, so it will bind easily. They suggest oil, but can be a bad idea around ammo, so I used a little chapstick on the ramp when it was new, and when it starts to bind up, and it does help.

For rifle ammo, the maglula, like the uplula works well 1 at a time, plenty of leverage, easy to use, but a bit slow, not much faster than pushing rounds by hand. The striplula is awesome, provided you load onto stripper clips, and use it for AR mags only, no benefit loading single rounds into it, doesn't work with anything else. This is where the ETS rifle loader is awesome. It works with just about any full doublestack mag in 9mm, 5.56, 7.62/5.45x39, or 308, takes a little finiesse to line the loader up, but then it works wonderfully. It's a bit of a pain to drop single rounds into the slot that holds onto the extractor groove, but put the rounds base-up in a tray or reloading box, and it snatches up rows of ammo, and slams it into the mag in a couple seconds.

Magazine loader comparison

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