Question for the Combat Vets - Page 1

AR-15 » Magazines

AR Sponsor:

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for the Combat Vets

Posted: 9/11/2014 4:00:01 PM EDT

As I am sitting here loading up some mags for the range I became curious as to how you men load your mags.

I know with my old hands and fingers I would be SOL without using a LULA mad loader.

Also, do you guys have personal mags that you like and more importantly know are reliable?

Posted: 9/11/2014 4:09:03 PM EDT

[#1]

Not a combat vet but I can tell you that military ammo comes on stripper clips and you will learn more about magazines and reliability training than you will fighting, assuming the environmental conditions are similar. Just from the greater amount of gunfire.

Posted: 9/11/2014 4:37:43 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
As I am sitting here loading up some mags for the range I became curious as to how you men load your mags.

I know with my old hands and fingers I would be SOL without using a LULA mad loader.

Also, do you guys have personal mags that you like and more importantly know are reliable?

View Quote

most of the time the ammo comes on strippers with a speed loader, but a lot of us bought a plastic 2 piece one that worked better- can't remember who made it. We mostly used the black HK mags when they came out around 2003- people talk bad about them but other than the weight I never had issues with them. Later on (around 2008) the Pmag came out and the command started buying them. I like them better- very reliable and lightweight. The older tin mags we kept in the truck as standby.

Posted: 9/11/2014 4:38:02 PM EDT

[#3]

By hand or from stripper clip.

I use Magpul p-mag M2/3, Lancer AWM, GI Al mags w/ Magpul followers, or steel mags. They all work fine but my go to is M2 Pmags because over insertion is no issue for my weapons.

Posted: 9/11/2014 5:13:47 PM EDT

[#4]

Stripper clip or by hand. Usually stripper clip.

Posted: 9/11/2014 5:26:11 PM EDT

[#5]

Not a combat vet

stripper clip with spoon and thumb

Posted: 9/11/2014 5:30:27 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Stripper clip or by hand. Usually stripper clip.

View Quote

Ammo comes in varying qualities and the worst stuff all comes loose and is loaded into magazines by hand.

Posted: 9/11/2014 6:44:20 PM EDT

[#7]

I use the charger and charger guide when I loaded my mags...

Posted: 9/11/2014 6:50:24 PM EDT

[#8]

Mostly it was one at a time for me. I would strip the rounds off of the stripper clips, then load the mag up.

I was probably doing it wrong.

Actually, seems like everyone did it this way if I remember right. I think a saw one Squad leader with a Lula loader.

Posted: 9/11/2014 7:08:31 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not a combat vet but I can tell you that military ammo comes on stripper clips and you will learn more about magazines and reliability training than you will fighting, assuming the environmental conditions are similar. Just from the greater amount of gunfire.

View Quote

I agree with this. Try every which way, see what works for you. Also make sure if you're loading round 1 at a time that you aren't trying to push the round in from the front like a pistol mag. I just built my buddy Jeff an AR and I looked over at him at the range and he was loading his mags pistol style, just push straight down from the top.I suggest loading your mags to 28 rounds as well. And it may sound stupid but hand strengthening exercizes will help immsensely. Although I think every fighting age male in America should have a full body weight training program to go hand in hand with their weapon training. But that's a whole different story.

Posted: 9/11/2014 7:09:15 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Mostly it was one at a time for me. I would strip the rounds off of the stripper clips, then load the mag up.

I was probably doing it wrong.

Actually, seems like everyone did it this way if I remember right. I think a saw one Squad leader with a Lula loader.

View Quote

After reading these comments I would think the Lula loaders would be a hot commodity.

Posted: 9/11/2014 7:15:24 PM EDT

[#11]

Used spoons and clips, a LULA my last Iraq deployment and a Strip Lula my last AFG deployment

Posted: 9/11/2014 7:22:12 PM EDT

[#12]

Topic Moved

Posted: 9/11/2014 9:14:13 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
After reading these comments I would think the Lula loaders would be a hot commodity.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Mostly it was one at a time for me. I would strip the rounds off of the stripper clips, then load the mag up.

I was probably doing it wrong.

Actually, seems like everyone did it this way if I remember right. I think a saw one Squad leader with a Lula loader.

After reading these comments I would think the Lula loaders would be a hot commodity.

Early into the OEF, I sent a few Mag LULA's over in care packages, they were a hit!

Posted: 9/11/2014 9:20:05 PM EDT

[#14]

I never understood the need for the fancy loaders when the included charger guide worked just fine. But hey...

Posted: 9/11/2014 9:23:56 PM EDT

[#15]

Posted: 9/11/2014 9:24:22 PM EDT

[#16]

Used the PMAGs when they came out. Before that I just used the standard USGI mags, but I kept a close eye on them. I used the LULA mag loader on my second tour. Never could get my hands on the stripper clip guides. Besides I always took the rounds off the stripper clips anyways so I could mix in tracers.

Posted: 9/11/2014 9:27:43 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

Used the PMAGs when they came out. Before that I just used the standard USGI mags, but I kept a close eye on them. I used the LULA mag loader on my second tour. Never could get my hands on the stripper clip guides. Besides I always took the rounds off the stripper clips anyways so I could mix in tracers.

View Quote

One charger guide is in each bandoleer (the end pocket)....how did you get your ammo??

Posted: 9/11/2014 9:41:46 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
One charger guide is in each bandoleer (the end pocket)....how did you get your ammo??

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Used the PMAGs when they came out. Before that I just used the standard USGI mags, but I kept a close eye on them. I used the LULA mag loader on my second tour. Never could get my hands on the stripper clip guides. Besides I always took the rounds off the stripper clips anyways so I could mix in tracers.

One charger guide is in each bandoleer (the end pocket)....how did you get your ammo??

When you get in country you normally get a mix of loose, on stripper clips and both boxed and loose tracers

The Strip LULA is actually significantly easier to load with than the spoons, you never get loose rounds that don't load right with them.

Posted: 9/12/2014 3:57:01 PM EDT

[#19]

Some of you refer to "spoons".

Do you mean an actual eating spoon or is it something else?

If you do mean a regular spoon, how is it used to load a mag?

Posted: 9/12/2014 4:01:45 PM EDT

[#20]

'Spoons' are referring to the stripper-clip guides; the two weird-looking things at the bottom of R-Steel's picture.

Posted: 9/12/2014 6:35:28 PM EDT

[#21]

Spoon slides on the mag, stripper clips go in the spoon

Posted: 9/13/2014 12:43:18 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
'Spoons' are referring to the stripper-clip guides; the two weird-looking things at the bottom of R-Steel's picture.

View Quote

Right...I see why they are called spoons.

Posted: 9/13/2014 5:00:17 AM EDT

[#23]

StripLULA and stripper clip > spoon and stripper clip > thumb

Posted: 9/13/2014 5:21:25 AM EDT

[#24]

When we went ashore for Desert Storm and drew ammo, the M-855 was on stripper clips and the M-856 came in boxes. Mags were U.S. G.I. and some coveted Colt marked ones. Mine were a mix of whatever. There were no other options back then for magazines or loaders...

Never had a problem loading magazines the G.I. way but some guys could not get the hang of it and did it by hand. I kept an extra "Spoon" in my gear just in case...

Still like using stripper clips and spoons and G.I. mags but have grown fond of PMAGS lately...

DD

Posted: 9/13/2014 8:39:36 AM EDT

[#25]

Most guys can get 20 rounds in the mag with the stripper and spoon easily many times the last 10 are hard to load and you will see guys load the last ten in one by one, lol.