Growing up, I was the kid who couldn t hit a baseball or shoot a basketball. I was the last one picked for teams on the playground, because it was common knowledge my hand/eye coordination sucked. In junior high, I realized I could run fast and jump far, and unless I used those talents, would have no athletic career whatsoever.
Over time, I came to realize track was a very technique-driven sport and while natural ability was important, a person with less talent still could be a good track athlete if they worked on the technique and practiced hard. The same principle applies when learning to speed load a semi-automatic pistol.
Step-by-Step Gun Reload
A magazine exchange is easy to do if you take your time, but would that be wise in a gunfight? How fast do you need to be able to reload? I don t know, but I do know an empty handgun is nothing more than a short club.
When I originally tried to load quickly, I missed the magazine well, inserted it crooked or just dropped it on the ground. I had a hard time doing this standing still so I knew I couldn t do it while moving to cover or out of the line of fire. After years of frustration, I finally stopped and reviewed what needed to happen to perform a fast, but efficient, reload. I decided to throw out what I d been taught and come up with a way that would work for me.
First, the magazine and gun must be held still to insert the magazine into the grip. This doesn t mean the shooter must remain motionless, but that the gun and magazine must be stabilized when the two meet. To accomplish this, I don t keep the gun extended in front of me in a shooting position. Instead, I bend my gun elbow so it rests against my rib cage, a location I can find by feel.
I then noted how far I need to turn my shooting hand so the magazine well meets the spare magazine at the correct angle. To recreate this angle, I ve placed an orange dot on the bottom edge of the inside of the well. This allows me to quickly glance down every time to see if the grip-to-magazine angle is correct. Efficiency requires consistency.
When my shooting hand s thumb presses a magazine release button, my forearm muscles will tighten. Once tightened, my gun arm is more stable than any other time during the reloading process.
The best time to insert a magazine is when my elbow braces against my torso and my forearm is stiff. I hold off on ejecting my spent magazine until I have my reload out of the pouch and underneath the pistol. By doing this, I can ensure I have a spare magazine before I eject the one in the gun. This technique also makes use of my locked arm while inserting the spare.
With a bit of practice, I can perform a reload quickly and easily. A word of warning: Make sure the magazine button is released before you insert the new magazine or it will fall out.
At first, I looked for the orange dot on the inside of the magazine well, but over time was able to achieve the correct angle by feel. This allows me to reload while keeping my eyes open to any potential threat, even while moving.
The tried-and-true method of placing your index finger along the front of a magazine is best. The ability to point the magazine into the well can t be understated. I ve found the best way to achieve this grip is to insert the thumb behind the magazine first and allow the other fingers to fall in place. Something that I have found to be a real aid is to place the side of the magazine against the side of the magazine well instead of the back of the magazine against the back of the well. This offers a greater bearing surface to start the magazine into the grip.
The Little Details
A big problem for uniformed personnel is that most duty pouches have a flap over the magazine to enhance security. When worn with the magazines upright, there s little room to fit the thumb behind. For this reason, I find it s easier to wear spare uniform magazines on their sides. This offers some space to insert your thumb once the flap is open.
I also suggest using snaps instead of Velcro on duty pouches. You can release a snap in one motion, but must rip Velcro . I continue indexing the back of the magazine against the back of the well. It offers a longer engagement surface, especially when using single-column magazines.
If you have an efficient reload, don t mess with it. But if you struggle with it as I did (and still do), try the method I ve described here and see if it helps you.
A shot-to-shot reload of two seconds or less is a very good time, especially if you use a duty- style pouch. For a slide-lock reload, add a second or so. When trying to go faster, don t get spastic; try to eliminate unnecessary motion, and you might be surprised how fast you become.
Most importantly, hit the reload on the first try, even if it takes a millisecond longer. A botched reload or dropped magazine will take an eternity during a fight.