JimConway
Instructor
A lot has been printed about reloading and there is much discussion about the various techniques. Let us discuss some of the ways that you can keep your gun full (fuller). Before we get to the types and techniques, I want to mention how you should acquire the magazine. It does not matter whether the mag is on the shooting bench, in your pocket or in a mag pouch on your waist. Your support hand should grasp the mag so the tip of you index finger is able to touch the tip of the first bullet. There are two benifits of this suggestion. We are all born with the ability to point, quite accurately with our index fingers. When reloading we simply point our index finger at the gun's mag well and the mag will find the right place, even in the dark. Secondly in the dark, the finger touching the first bullet can check if the mag is really full.
Now back to my subject. The types of reloads can be catagorized as follows:
Administrative - This is a no stress event where the gun is loaded for the day before leaving home. Do it any that you want, but be sure to do two things before you holster the gun. Chamber check the gun to ensure that you really do have a round in the chamber. secondly pull down on the mag to ensure that it properly seated in the gun.
Out of Ammo reload - With the slide is loaded back (hopefully), simply insert a fresh mag and release the slide. There is no agreement on the best way to release the slide. The two ways are to depress the slide stop /slide release lever and the other is to pull back on the slide and release it. I said release it not to ride it forward with your hand on the slide. I normally use the second method except when I am shooting a time test where a fraction of a second is important.
Emergency Reload - This is a high stress variation of the " Out of ammo" reload. In this case, with the gun pointed at the BG, acquire a fresh mag and bring it toward the magwell. As the fresh mag gets near the mag well, depress the mag release (The two mags should pass in the air) and insert the new mag. Then release the slide by either method.
Tactical reload or proactive reload - This is a very high stress situation. This is also where all of the disputes over technique occur. Again, there are two techniques to consider. Before we get to the techniques, let me set the stage. You are in a gun fight and you have shot a number of rounds at the BG, but the gun still has some ammo in it. The trainers all say that you should reload during a lull in the action. I am not sure what a "lull" is exactly. Consider a situation where you have shot and hit the BG. He is out of the fight, for now. You have already checked your six and there does not appear to be any more problems. You also know the the BG may have some friends that could have heard the gun fire. You NEED a full gun.
The simplest and fastest technique is taught by Gabe Suarez. In this technique, you remove the partially empty mag and stow it, grab a fresh mag and insert it. The reason for stowing the partially full mag is that you could need those rounds Most of us only carry one spare mag.
In the second technique, you acquire a fresh mag and with your palm facing up below the mag well, drop the partial mag into your palm and secure it between two of your fingers. At this point you have in your support hand the old and new mags, with the new mag indexed along your index finger. Then simply insert the new mag and stow the old mag for possible future use.
This second technique is somewhat difficult for people with small hands or with large mags.
Now TonyD will offer his tjoughts, I hope.
Edited to fix my typing errors. Thanks Len
Now back to my subject. The types of reloads can be catagorized as follows:
Administrative - This is a no stress event where the gun is loaded for the day before leaving home. Do it any that you want, but be sure to do two things before you holster the gun. Chamber check the gun to ensure that you really do have a round in the chamber. secondly pull down on the mag to ensure that it properly seated in the gun.
Out of Ammo reload - With the slide is loaded back (hopefully), simply insert a fresh mag and release the slide. There is no agreement on the best way to release the slide. The two ways are to depress the slide stop /slide release lever and the other is to pull back on the slide and release it. I said release it not to ride it forward with your hand on the slide. I normally use the second method except when I am shooting a time test where a fraction of a second is important.
Emergency Reload - This is a high stress variation of the " Out of ammo" reload. In this case, with the gun pointed at the BG, acquire a fresh mag and bring it toward the magwell. As the fresh mag gets near the mag well, depress the mag release (The two mags should pass in the air) and insert the new mag. Then release the slide by either method.
Tactical reload or proactive reload - This is a very high stress situation. This is also where all of the disputes over technique occur. Again, there are two techniques to consider. Before we get to the techniques, let me set the stage. You are in a gun fight and you have shot a number of rounds at the BG, but the gun still has some ammo in it. The trainers all say that you should reload during a lull in the action. I am not sure what a "lull" is exactly. Consider a situation where you have shot and hit the BG. He is out of the fight, for now. You have already checked your six and there does not appear to be any more problems. You also know the the BG may have some friends that could have heard the gun fire. You NEED a full gun.
The simplest and fastest technique is taught by Gabe Suarez. In this technique, you remove the partially empty mag and stow it, grab a fresh mag and insert it. The reason for stowing the partially full mag is that you could need those rounds Most of us only carry one spare mag.
In the second technique, you acquire a fresh mag and with your palm facing up below the mag well, drop the partial mag into your palm and secure it between two of your fingers. At this point you have in your support hand the old and new mags, with the new mag indexed along your index finger. Then simply insert the new mag and stow the old mag for possible future use.
This second technique is somewhat difficult for people with small hands or with large mags.
Now TonyD will offer his tjoughts, I hope.
Edited to fix my typing errors. Thanks Len