User Panel
Posted: 2/26/2006 3:27:41 PM EDT
You've probably seen it in various movies... a grunt pulls a fresh mag out and taps the back of it on his helmet before inserting it into his weapon. My question is WHY? What does this accomplish? Do any of you do it? Should I do it?
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it's an attempt to get them<cartridges> all lined up at the rear of the magazine for more reliable feeding.
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join the military, serve your country, learn why you whack the mag.
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And it works. |
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I alawys tap my mags, it's not even something I think about, I just automatically do it
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+1 |
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Sometimes forget i'm not always wearing cranium protection.... remember real quick... use bench from then on....
-Roth |
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I've done that myself. |
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I not even ever been .mil and am building up a callous on my skull from doing the same thing. |
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+1 I alway tap my mags too. both pistol and rifle' mags |
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works like a champ. |
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I was never in the .mil but I always tap my mags. I guess I learned to do it the first time I tried to seat a mag and a bullet tip was sticking out.
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Yes, cause that's the way the Corps taught me back in 1986. Get those rounds back to the rear of the magazine.
Do I still need to do it with "anti-tilt" followers, no......does it hurt...no. No Expert |
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I always do it to make sure that each round is fully to the rear and that the first one or two isn't sticking out the front of the mag.
BUT I've stopped doing it on my kevlar, and started using my palm. Some people have tapped them a bit too hard over the years, and have dented mags which can cause the folloer to stick. It doesn't take anymore effort to smack your palm or thigh than your head. |
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+1. 'Cept it was the Army in '82. |
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I just tap it on the front of the mag well since I almost never have a helmet on.
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That's some solid engineering. |
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Ya , My first experience with magazine fed weapons was in the Army- 30 years later I'm still Tappin mags. |
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Couldn't get into the Army, but I still tap the mags. Getting the rounds to the rear of the mag makes sense to me.
WIZZO |
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You've done that too, huh? Damn that stupid rib! It can even hurt if you whack the mag in your palm too hard |
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Been There, Done That |
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Right on Devil Dog, and Semper Fi!....since it would most likely be a bit painful to whack the magazine on my bare head with no Kevlar helmet on, I opt to smack it against the butt of my palm before inserting in my weapon. |
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The heel of your boot works well for this as well. I do it without thinking...
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Guess I'll be the first to voice a "NO" vote.
Think about what's happening to the rounds inside the mag after firing a few off. They're bouncing all over the place including forward/back as the stack moves up. Starting with them all to the rear sounds beautiful, but they certainly don't stay there during firing. On the other hand, I've seen a number of mags damaged to the point of non-function / malfunction city due to tapping/smacking them before inserting in the gun. Hotgun |
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Perhaps is needed when out on the frontline in mud, rain, etc. Corrosion, debris can cause issues?
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It probably doesn't make much difference in the well maintained magazines that we use.
In the military, with magazines that have who knows how much use, privates using them as door stops, stuff being stacked on them, and the general abuse military people give them, you do whatever you can to help them work. Me, I tap them. I got in the habit in the military and never got out of it. I usually tap them on my thigh, though - it's a lot quieter. Cheers, kk7sm |
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I do it sometimes mostly the 30 rounders!
Colt 20rounders w/ metal followers never seem to need it? |
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After reading this thread a few days ago, I did a check at the range last weekend. Every once and a while I loaded a round or two "not seated" to the rear of the mag. After tapping, I verified that those rounds "Always" correctly readjusted to the proper location at the rear of the mag..
I am now a "Tapper".. |
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I tap on my thigh. Some of the other guys tapped on the Steel Pot. One of the cooks saw us doing it and he slammed it in his helmet. It broke and blanks flew all over the place. We all laughed our asses off.
You must tap blanks IMHO or the will not feed in full auto. I tap My Garand clips as well. I bring a block of wod to the firing line just for that purpose. |
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I don't. I make sure that the mag is loaded properly before it goes into it's pouch. I have never had any trouble with a round riding forward and preventing insertion. I don't want to be fucking with my mags when I am reloading. In keeping with my non-diagnostic training, if I ever come across a mag that won't insert I will either drop it and get another or get my pistol into action, depending on the range to the target.
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Of course I do. While the lower 29 rounds will indeed bounce all over while you fire, They're going to stay back far enough to feed because they can't go to far forward. But that first round MUST be in the right (that is rear) position before you slam it into the rifle or it won't feed. Why risk that it's "probably" ok? I do not whack myself in the head, though-not enough time in a helmet for that , but I do whack the rear of the mag on my thigh or the butt of my hand before I stick it in the pouch, and almost always before I insert it in the well.
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I'm not sure what tactical advantage tapping on you're thigh would give you or being quiet by not tapping your magazine before insertion... If we're talking about being stealthy, I'd assume one would already have his weapon loaded/charged before sneaking around. Mainly I tap the mag before insertion to ensure the first round hasn't ridden forward thus preventing the magazine from being inserted. Not sure how to be stealthy/quiet when the fact of the matter is I only reload after making a rather loud rukus consisting of 20-30 rounds of expended 5.56 ammo. Sly |
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