Great post, thank you for making this available. I couldn’t agree more about the importance of consistent reloads and other skills versus really fast carbine reloads. I saw two things that were a little different than what I’ve been taught and am interested in your comments. I have been taught a post-insertion tug (as an alternative to beating the bottom of the mag like a rented mule) — it doesn’t add any motion and probably doesn’t add much time, and failure to seat on a closed bolt is a bummer. Secondly, I’ve been taught not to release the mag in the gun — especially if it might have some rounds in it, so always for consistency — until I have verified that I actually have a replacement. That does mean it’s not as smooth or automatic to help the mag out of the gun, which is a step I really like in the way you do it.
This doesn’t pertain specifically to this video, however-
In a high stress shooting enviroment, IE taking rounds, Did you ever find yourself point shooting or adjusting your shot depending on where the previous shot landed without using the sights?
A technique (as opposed to THE technique): As the stock is tucked under the left armpit, the support hand comes back to the magazine well; support thumb presses the magazine release; support hand grabs then inserts loaded magazine (beer can it, index it, doesn’t matter); support hand returns to forend; Firing hand middle finger stacks on top of trigger finger; stacked fingers and hand extend to press bolt catch while thumb somewhat stays indexed on the tang of the pistol grip. Repeat.
It’s not as fast as what a righty can do, but it works pretty well with a bit of practice.
Andrew,
This is not a disagreement. Just a question.
In the video, you mentioned repeatedly smacking the bottom of a Pmag (to insure its not “soft seated”) could possibly cause the polymer to wear and let the mag be jammed further into the weapon.
Have you seen this happen?
I have fired a few thousand rounds through Pmags. Pmags that are ridden very hard in professional military shooting courses, training and deployment. I have never seen it happen. I have seen a few (loaded to capacity) magazines soft seated.
Again not a disagreement, anything can happen. Iam just wondering if you have actually seen or experienced it.
Also – on that same note, do you disagree with resting the rifle on the bottom of the mag to shoot off as a rest in the prone?
The mag is usually the weak link. Especially old nasty ones w/ disgusting feed lips. But with quality pmags and HK mags they should take the abuse of getting banged around.
I’ve seen this occur on a gen M2 PMag shaved down to accommodate an IAR (M27) receiver.
On another note, I don’t disagree about observing the mag well, but I see no reason to chicken wing the rifle. I can reload it just as fast keeping it out supported, and it reduces the number of steps in the reload.
Hello Andrew and thank you for the great video for the basic technique.
I couldn’t agree more with you about the eye-control in the insertation of the new magazine. Over the years I’ve noticed that people make two (or three) common mistakes when changing the magazine.
First, they try to maintain the “tacticool situation awarness” and keep the rifle shouldered AND pointed to the target while changing the magazine. During the heat of the extended training (or combat) this increases the fatique and exhaustion to the muscles of the upper body and arm contolling the rifle. The stance becames flimsy in matter of seconds and increasing the propability of FAIL. Bringing the buttstock down to the armpit and canting the rifle little bit, eases the muscle tension, saves strenght and brings the magwell to the better eye control.
Second, trying to insert the new magazine without eye-control and keeping the eyes in the target, will lead to FAIL and missing the magwell with magazine. Not necessarily only once… but several times maybe! The propability increases especially if the shooter tries to keep the rifle shouldered AND pointed to the target and keeping eyes to the target (thus neglecting the eye-control of the magazine and magwell) at the same time, when inserting the new magazine.
Third, if people are wearing wrong equipment, no dump pouch or overly tight magazine pouches, collecting the empty magazine might get pathetic with great propability.
Thank you for the great blog. I read it with great interest.
Provides a consistent and less move-y position for me to find the magwell. I used to not tuck it in the shoulder. I think this way might be .0005 seconds slower, but I practically never miss the magwell. Overall ES/SD are reduced.
Ok. Though Im far from the fastest gun in the west for me it seems to be faster to look at the magwell but not unshoulder the rifle. This seemed tk be especially true with plates and a kevlar and all the bulk that comes with it.
You don’t seem to care about retaining the spent magazine – what’s your thinking behind that?
Secondly – At 4:42 in the video, you’re making duckface while reloading. Does that help? I think Rick Taylor does the same thing.
Thanks for a very helpful video.
If I live I might be able to go back and pick up the empty magazines.
Duckface is for aerodynamics while shooting on the move, that’s in the advanced reload video coming soon.
“Duckface is for aerodynamics while shooting on the move, thatâs in the advanced reload video coming soon.”
HA. Your serious, yet unserious sarcasm is quite funny…
Great post, thank you for making this available. I couldn’t agree more about the importance of consistent reloads and other skills versus really fast carbine reloads. I saw two things that were a little different than what I’ve been taught and am interested in your comments. I have been taught a post-insertion tug (as an alternative to beating the bottom of the mag like a rented mule) — it doesn’t add any motion and probably doesn’t add much time, and failure to seat on a closed bolt is a bummer. Secondly, I’ve been taught not to release the mag in the gun — especially if it might have some rounds in it, so always for consistency — until I have verified that I actually have a replacement. That does mean it’s not as smooth or automatic to help the mag out of the gun, which is a step I really like in the way you do it.
This doesn’t pertain specifically to this video, however-
In a high stress shooting enviroment, IE taking rounds, Did you ever find yourself point shooting or adjusting your shot depending on where the previous shot landed without using the sights?
Left-hand operation? Good video for right-handers.
A technique (as opposed to THE technique): As the stock is tucked under the left armpit, the support hand comes back to the magazine well; support thumb presses the magazine release; support hand grabs then inserts loaded magazine (beer can it, index it, doesn’t matter); support hand returns to forend; Firing hand middle finger stacks on top of trigger finger; stacked fingers and hand extend to press bolt catch while thumb somewhat stays indexed on the tang of the pistol grip. Repeat.
It’s not as fast as what a righty can do, but it works pretty well with a bit of practice.
I always reached around with the right hand because my fingers are no where near long enough to reach the bolt release.
I think I may try rotating the rifle to be able to glance at the bolt release.
I have noticed when taking a class instructors tend to give blank stares when you ask about left handed manipulations.
I would love to see Andrew do something in a video for us lefties.
Very helpful. I’m new to using an AR-15 (or any rifle). Do you have other videos I should watch? To help me w my ar-15?
When are you coming back to Utah? I would love to get info on any future classes…
We have a class this weekend. Probably more later in the year.
Where about? I am down in Spanish Fork – former US Army 11B – would love to get together and shoot / train…
Do you post info about your classes here on Vuurwapen, or on another site?
Thanks,
Nevermind – I found it on the Deliberate Dynamics website.
Take care!
Andrew,
This is not a disagreement. Just a question.
In the video, you mentioned repeatedly smacking the bottom of a Pmag (to insure its not “soft seated”) could possibly cause the polymer to wear and let the mag be jammed further into the weapon.
Have you seen this happen?
I have fired a few thousand rounds through Pmags. Pmags that are ridden very hard in professional military shooting courses, training and deployment. I have never seen it happen. I have seen a few (loaded to capacity) magazines soft seated.
Again not a disagreement, anything can happen. Iam just wondering if you have actually seen or experienced it.
Also – on that same note, do you disagree with resting the rifle on the bottom of the mag to shoot off as a rest in the prone?
The mag is usually the weak link. Especially old nasty ones w/ disgusting feed lips. But with quality pmags and HK mags they should take the abuse of getting banged around.
Thank you for your time creating a legit blog.
Yes, I have seen it happen.
I’ve seen this occur on a gen M2 PMag shaved down to accommodate an IAR (M27) receiver.
On another note, I don’t disagree about observing the mag well, but I see no reason to chicken wing the rifle. I can reload it just as fast keeping it out supported, and it reduces the number of steps in the reload.
Mike
“to insure its not âsoft seatedâ” – I have indeed seen this at gun skool and vastly prefer Pat Rogers method of “push/pull”.
Hello Andrew and thank you for the great video for the basic technique.
I couldn’t agree more with you about the eye-control in the insertation of the new magazine. Over the years I’ve noticed that people make two (or three) common mistakes when changing the magazine.
First, they try to maintain the “tacticool situation awarness” and keep the rifle shouldered AND pointed to the target while changing the magazine. During the heat of the extended training (or combat) this increases the fatique and exhaustion to the muscles of the upper body and arm contolling the rifle. The stance becames flimsy in matter of seconds and increasing the propability of FAIL. Bringing the buttstock down to the armpit and canting the rifle little bit, eases the muscle tension, saves strenght and brings the magwell to the better eye control.
Second, trying to insert the new magazine without eye-control and keeping the eyes in the target, will lead to FAIL and missing the magwell with magazine. Not necessarily only once… but several times maybe! The propability increases especially if the shooter tries to keep the rifle shouldered AND pointed to the target and keeping eyes to the target (thus neglecting the eye-control of the magazine and magwell) at the same time, when inserting the new magazine.
Third, if people are wearing wrong equipment, no dump pouch or overly tight magazine pouches, collecting the empty magazine might get pathetic with great propability.
Thank you for the great blog. I read it with great interest.
TW,
Espoo, Finland
I still don’t get the removing it from your shoulder thing. You get your rest when you go back to the low ready.
Sorry espoo, im not buying the increases the fatigue and exhaustion thing.
Mike
Provides a consistent and less move-y position for me to find the magwell. I used to not tuck it in the shoulder. I think this way might be .0005 seconds slower, but I practically never miss the magwell. Overall ES/SD are reduced.
Ok. Though Im far from the fastest gun in the west for me it seems to be faster to look at the magwell but not unshoulder the rifle. This seemed tk be especially true with plates and a kevlar and all the bulk that comes with it.
Mike