My observations:
You need to have the rds staggered.
You also need to have the rim of each rd IN FRONT of the rim of the rd below it.
Look closely at the pic in post #1. In it neither is done.
You can gets rds not staggered even with the McFadden loader. I have one and have unloaded mags and started over because I didn't pay attention while loading and didn't get them staggered.
When you don't get the rds staggered you can't get 25 rds in your 25 rd mag.
The only mags I can load nearly as fast by hand are the short ten rd mags.
With 25 rd mags it's no contest.