Speed Reload Practice(without getting my mags dirty)

Hey everybody,
I'm new to ARFCom here, and just wanted some opinions/info. I'm a fundamentally competent, intermediate(by general standards) shooter, just making my first foray into the AR world. I am curious about speed reloads. I want this to be the reload that I do when under pressure/in combat(where I may find myself within the next year). My question is: any advice on how to practice speed reloads at the range without getting the mags all dirty/sandy. I'll certainly do dry runs at home, but want to get some training live fire. I was thinking of laying down a big blanket, but what about reloading on the move etc. Any advice/ideas on how to practice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for all relevant posts.

I was ocd for a long time with my tricked out AR, etc. but reality hit me that I train for the worst and so should my gear. You need to know how your gun will act if it's a little dirty. Let your gun get scratches on it. I'm sure you've heard the saying "Train how you fight" and that applies. If you don't want to mess up your PMags get some alum gi mags cheap and toss them around. Honestly using a cloth, etc to catch you mags will have you consciously trying to ensure your magazine drops on it when in reality you don't give a crap where it goes. Aiding a training scar that will catch up with you.

Practicing at home standing over a bed goes a long way.

At the range, I would practice reloads standing behind the bench, but laying a tarp out would work too.

As for movement, your mags are just going to get dirty.

Thanks for the input, couple of points well taken. I think that the blanket/tarp(I've got one large enough to not have to worry about where the mags drop) will work for stationary drills like the 6-6-6, but I definitely agree with what you said about training for the real situation, and that really is my end goal. I can see that for movement etc. I'm just going to have to get some cheap ones and get used to cleaning them, which is practice that wouldn't hurt anyway. This does lead me to another question though. Do you know anywhere to find a good deal on aluminum mags. The cheapest I've found so far are some 20rd ones for around $8 a piece. The Tapco 30rd polymers I found were $11. Are there any better deals out there, or should I just score some of the beater 20rd to abuse a bit?
Thanks again for the feedback guys

Have a set of "training" magazines that you don't give a shit about. Let 'em get dirty/banged-up/stepped on/etc.

Train hard, fight hard.

This is the only way to go, friend. New USGI mags are $10 a piece.

I have taken classes with people that don't want to drop their expensive HK and Sig mags on the deck. Bad idea that reinforces poor habits. Train that way and you will end up fighting that way...he who hesitates is lost. Lose your connection to your "beautiful and perfect" HK mags and drop them in the mud or else start carrying a Glock. Do whatever it takes but change your mindset.

AIM SURPLUS $9 per mag

Roger that. Sounds like the $8 aluminum mags I found are the way to go. I definitely concur that training the right mindset will keep me safer in the field. I'll requisition some of those cheap ones to be my training mags. Thanks again for the input everybody, glad to be on ARFcom.

Stick with 30 rounders as that's what you'll have done the road. Shooting prone with a 30 is different abit due to length.

As others have said, have a set of shitty mags for this purpose.

Good point, I'll try and score some 30rd'ers to practice with.

Don't forget to download them to 28!

Practice with what you are actually going to use. I generally use USGI mags, so that's what I practice with. When I get ahold of a pmag or another type of mag, I always fumble the first few reloads. Don't worry so much about getting your gear dirty or a few dings, unless you plan on putting it in a glass case, but if that's the issue...hell don't practice.

And it sounds to me like you'll be practicing "emergency reloads" or something maybe used in a competition. Because if you drop all your mags in the real world...your gonna end up with USGI mags, or even worse no mags anyway...food for thought

I'm looking to be practicing non-retention reloads. I'm not sure which hair to split to constitute speed-reload vs. emergency-reload. I know one is when the slide is locked back. My purpose is preparation for entrance into the service. Combat is likely to be a reality in my life within the next year. I've got a little bit of time before I go, and want to be as on-point as I can be. I'm definitely going to get some standard issue mags to practice with.

This is my thought. I have 6 oooollllldddddd and worn usgi mags with magpul followers that get beat on.

the point I was trying to get across is I can't think of a reason to drop your mag when you should have already found/identified some kind of cover and you will have other people in the fight covering fire

I know you are talking about a military situation with that but one without such a support group cover isn't always there. Maybe concealment. Either way you gotta reload fast.

He said he was practicing for the military...but I can't argue with the fact that however you reload, it better be fast. All I'm saying is, think about it before you drop all of your mags. When you're training go ahead and emergency reload(no retention) with your total loadout...wait now what do you do? You're gonna bend down and pick them up...well that's not always gonna be a luxury you will be able to have. Maybe focus on your retention reloads a little more...

I practice reloading at home over my bed - sometimes while jogging in place just to get the mechanics down pat.

If I'm at the range, I reload either behind "cover" or while moving - ideally running / jogging to cover or the next place I'll be shooting from. But I belong to a pretty cool range where shooting / moving is possible to some extent.



Depending on how often I end up shooting, I'll detail clean my training mags at least once a year or as needed. I'll take them completely apart, check for cracks in feed lips, popped welds on the seam and on the bottom lips. Any issues, they get tossed in the recycling bin (they ARE aluminum after all ).


ETA: ALL my empty mags go on the ground. Partials go in a cargo pocket or dump pouch IF (and only if) I have time.

I understand your point, and it's a valid one. From here it just boils down to a matter of personal preference, and after reading many other posts on ARFcom, everyone has their own way of doing it. All with very good reasons. There were some compelling experiences some cats had in combat where they, or someone they knew, were wounded or almost wounded as a result of the retention reload being ingrained in their memory. When it came to that "oh shit" moment when you're not thinking and seconds are deciding things, they wished that they had dropped the mag and kept shooting. It is merely my OPINION(not experience) after considering many different points of view, that if I have cover/covering fire, I will have the few seconds of luxury/less imminent pressure, to do a retention reload. Moreover this little bit of security would ease the mental tension enough that I would probably choose to perform a retention mag change. I just want my "oh shit" moment of not thinking to automatically perform the fastest reload possible. I also assume that during patrol etc. that I won't have a bunch of loose rounds to be reloading mags anyway, so once it's empty I can't load it till I get back to a jump off point of some kind, at which time I can probably acquire some more. That is just my opinion though, I don't know for sure, and ALL training is important. I definitely intend to be proficient in everything I can, hence the questions. Certainly appreciate yours and everyone's input on the issue

No offense intended, but if you worried about getting your mags banged up while practicing for combat, then you are tracking in the wrong direction. How much is your life worth? If it's not worth the $30 to replace a couple of mags, then why even bother practicing? In the time that you spent typing your last witty reply, you could have done 20 or 30 reps. Quit typing and go practice.

No offense intended back, but I don't need you to tell me when to go practice and when to type. It took me 40 sec to type my witty reply, the point of which was agreeing with you and LAV, that I understand I will need to just practice and not worry about messing up my mags. When I am finished training for the day, I do some reading/studying, and check onto the computer to check email and see if anyone has posted some relevant advice. My question was very general, and I can see now that I'll just have to invest in some training mags and not worry about it. I've said that many times before on this post, though several people seem to just want to repeat that point. Anyway, I get the message, just train and fuck whether my mags get dirty. I hope people read the rest of the post and don't keep repeating not to worry about the mags.

Hey everyone. Just an addendum here. Thanks to everyone who has posted. I tried to respond to the right people here, but I might have hit the wrong reply bar once or twice. I've checked all the posts and it seems the overwhelming answer to the question is to say the hell with it and train without worrying about the mags. That's definitely the mentality to have and I'll procure myself some training mags for sure. That being said, if anyone has any OTHER advice on this topic, throw it on here. Otherwise, I get the "don't worry about the mags" thing, and I certainly agree. It was just a general question, but I feel it's been answered sufficiently at this point. Thanks much ARFcomers

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