Magazine insertion...what's your method?

[Muleskinner]

In the Navy we were taught to press in the mag release and insert the mag all the way and release the button. I've carried on with that method on all of my mag fed firearms to this day.

Yesterday A friend was showing me a couple of pocket pistols that he recently acquired and was slamming his mags in with his palm. I tried to explain that was bad for the gun and the reason we were given ....to prevent unneeded wear on the mag release..He didn't buy it...

NOW the sidearms we had in the Navy were mostly vintage 1911s from WW2...the military had just started transitioning to the M9 but the Navy always seems to be the last to get new toys (we were still using the M60 for our landing force MG and M14s for battle rifles...we even still had an M79) I'm wondering if they just told us that because the pistols were old (and rattled when shaken)

So, what do you consider the correct method...I'm not talking about in combat or a self defensive reloading situation. I mean at the range or at home unloading or swapping carry mags...

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

I was never taught to depress the mag release when inserting the magazine. I was taught when loading to lock the slide back…insert the magazine smartly…release the slide to strip off the top round…then remove the magazine to replace the top round.

 

[RFBfromDE]

It depends on the gun.

I have a 1911 with mags that I have to push in the “release” for and some that don’t.

Some Rugers like to be slapped in as they go into battery right away.

YMMV

 

[Michigander08]

hmmm. They are making it too complicated. Why does pistol behave anything differently than rifle? You just slam the magazine in. I mostly used rifle in my Army training.

 

[Art3]

You know the intro to Magnum PI, when he slams the mag into his 1911? That's always made me kinda cringe. I don't do it like that.

 

[Boondock Saint]

Roll it up, lube generously, exhale deeply, and hope for the best.

 

[rbird7282]

Slam it home, not with undue force but you need to make sure it’s seated.
Pressing the mag release while inserting the mag is ridiculous and a bad idea IMO. Parts wear out. Replacing a mag catch is not a big deal and one will probably never have to do it in the first place.


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[Muleskinner]

hmmm. They are making it too complicated. Why does pistol behave anything differently than rifle? You just slam the magazine in. I mostly used rifle in my Army training.

I don't slam my mags in on my long guns either. I use the same method. Have since 1981. The only rifle that have to slam is an old Remington 788. For some reason that mag needs to be slapped in.

 

[Bob A]

With some of my compact/micro 9s the mags are so highly sprung you have to slap the good to make sure they've been seated against the spring tension.

Edit: This is only an issue if you're loading a new mag with a round already chambered.

Really embarrassing to have the mag drop out after the first shot.

 

[BradMacc82]

Drive them with the heel of my palm/thumb base - do it in a fluid motion with sufficient force - it’ll release the slide and chamber for you. So that’s what I do.

M&P45 is close to 28k documented rounds using that method - still on factory mag release and mag bodies with no issues.

If it wears parts, they can be replaced. Not too worried about it.

 

[smokey]

Drive them with the heel of my palm/thumb base - do it in a fluid motion with sufficient force - it’ll release the slide and chamber for you. So that’s what I do.

M&P45 is close to 28k documented rounds using that method - still on factory mag release and mag bodies with no issues.

If it wears parts, they can be replaced. Not too worried about it.

Ditto. Ive got a lot of ammo through these two and enjoy dropping the slide by seating the mag hard and slightly forward.

I'd think depressing the mag release wouldn't really decrease wear, since most of the force on it would be under recoil. I would think it would increase the likelihood of inducing a mag related malfunction though.

As long as you don't have a gun that allows for overinsertion with hard seating of mags, just throw the mag up there and get back to shooting.

 

[BradMacc82]

*Should note, that method may not always work for every semi-auto, and getting it wrong on HK USP mags does result in broken floorplates (as an example, thanks uncle Russ…) and replacement mag parts. Soo, ymmv and all that.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Ditto. Ive got a lot of ammo through these two and enjoy dropping the slide by seating the mag hard and slightly forward. View attachment 414358

I'd think depressing the mag release wouldn't really decrease wear, since most of the force on it would be under recoil. I would think it would increase the likelihood of inducing a mag related malfunction though.

As long as you don't have a gun that allows for overinsertion with hard seating of mags, just throw the mag up there and get back to shooting.

I like that F Frosh one. Lemme Guess, 2AAF is 2A Always and Forever?

 

[jrumann59]

Actually depends, the slamming a mag home on a pistol may damage the slide release on some pistols depending on the material used. I now put the mag in and if it releases the slide fine but if not I will slingshot it.

 

[Magnumite]

It depends on the gun.

I have a 1911 with mags that I have to push in the “release” for and some that don’t.

Some Rugers like to be slapped in as they go into battery right away.

YMMV

The mag catch needs to be properly fitted along the bottom of the retaining shelf area.

 

[joppaj]

My Gen 3 G22 will release the slide if I slam the mag in hard enough. My Gen 4 won't even seat the mag unless I really slam it. I dislike ambidextrous mag releases...

 

[John from MD]

Adding something like holding the mag release when inserting a mag is not a good idea. It is a fine motor skill and, in a real life scenario, may cause to lose time getting the gun back in operation.

Magazines should be inserted forcefully to insure they latch properly. As for the slide going forward, that usually comes from a worn part either mag follower, slide stop or slide itself. For me, it saves some time when my slide goes into battery so I don't have an issue with it.

 

[wilcam47]

I dont baby them...ive seen more issues with hang ups when people baby them.

 

[outrider58]

I was having rare problems yesterday with my g19 and I think it was a combination of using topped off mags and not seating them forcefully enough. I don't normally top mags off at my range and I think I will start, if for no other reason but to work through this problem.

Pressing the mag release while inserting a mag seems like asking for trouble to me.

 

[Boats]

I index the mag (index finger along front) and slam it home. Better seated than not. Have yet to have a mag release wear out, even on old 1911s