Why are these magazines so tight!!

[dodo502]

Is it just me, or the 2 mags that came with my shield nearly impossible to get the last round shoved in there?!??

[meaneyedcatz]

Yes, it is impossible. Until you run a box or two through your popper. After that it gets a lot easier. Do it by hand to toughen up your fingers but then when you come to your senses buy a Uplula speed loader.

[Smitty357]

Uplula.

I havent had a single problem loading any of mine.

[Don 73]

Originally Posted by dodo502

Is it just me, or the 2 mags that came with my shield nearly impossible to get the last round shoved in there?!??

No it's not just you, many on here, myself included, had a difficult if not impossible time trying to load those last few or that last round into the magazine until they 'break in.' And it's now just the shield, my 9c was the same way.

[agksimon]

Originally Posted by dodo502

Is it just me, or the 2 mags that came with my shield nearly impossible to get the last round shoved in there?!??

As mentioned in other postings on this forum: Trim about an eighth inch, or slightly less, off the legs of the follower. The last round goes right in much easier.

[Jordanjf86]

Leave them loaded for a few weeks and shoot them also. These aren't near as stiff as new subcompact Glock mags..... I personally wouldn't trim anything off just yet. Let them break in a bit before you get to trimming.

[jonesy814]

My shield was tight, but it wasn't impossible by any means to get it loaded. Within a few months they do get easier. I had kind of forgotten how hard they were to load when new, until I got a couple of new ones a few months back.

[MSG Glenn]

A agree wholeheartedly on using an Uplula loader. Best $30 I spent in a long time. My mags (I've got 3 with a LEO/Military deal) have become loose enough now to hand load them but they're still a pain in the hand. Before I even shot any of them I loaded, unloaded, loaded again a couple of dozen times each & it seems that either my fingers got stronger or the springs got looser but even so I won't go to the range without that Uplula. The mags definitely need exercise. At first there was no way that I could load that last round by hand & I finally settled on carrying without that +1 round. Now at least I can get that extra round in the mag.

[agksimon]

Originally Posted by Jordanjf86

Let them break in a bit before you get to trimming.

Why not trim them? I trimmed all six of mine and all the guys I shoot IDPA with did the same and they all work perfectly and load all rounds very easily. As long as you don't trim off too much, you won't have the follower tilt or bind up. Also, break the edges where you trim off the legs, to prevent hang-up on the magazine.

[Jordanjf86]

Originally Posted by agksimon

Why not trim them? I trimmed all six of mine and all the guys I shoot IDPA with did the same and they all work perfectly and load all rounds very easily. As long as you don't trim off too much, you won't have the follower tilt or bind up. Also, break the edges where you trim off the legs, to prevent hang-up on the magazine.

Trimming is probably fine. I'm not trying to bash anybody's methods I just personally like to give the mags a while to break in by themselves before I start cutting.

[kodiakpb]

Originally Posted by agksimon

Why not trim them? I trimmed all six of mine and all the guys I shoot IDPA with did the same and they all work perfectly and load all rounds very easily. As long as you don't trim off too much, you won't have the follower tilt or bind up.

Because springs wear in through repeated compression and decompression. If trimming has worked for you that is great, but I would not recommend it.

I have had zero issues fully loading mine by hand, but then maybe I'm a gorilla. My wife on the other hand has issues.