Thoughts on speed loaders? About to pull the trigger on the Caldwell Mag Loader. Any feedback?

Caldwell Magazine Charger
Also I know Otis is a big name for cleaning kits and looking at this one. Otis Modern Sporting Rifle and AR Cleaning System
Also saw this Real Avid one and looks pretty good also. Otis Modern Sporting Rifle and AR Cleaning System
Any opinions either way? Thanks in advance


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I have tried a couple speed loaders. Meh, if you want one, they do make it faster. However, the .223 AR mags are so easy to load, I just do it by hand.

You asked for opinions, that's mine.

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Freedom isn't free.

I've got a rifle mag loader from Maglula that I bought after purchasing an Uplula for my pistols. Although the Uplula is almost a requirement for loading the M&P pistol mags, I'm in agreement with Rastoff. I just load my mags by hand. Even my wife finds loading her AR mags easy enough that she doesn't use the mag loader.

Should you ever need to unload a magazine, these things make unloading almost as easy as shooting the rounds out.

I don't use a magazine loader with my AR magazines. When I was able to shoot service rifle matches, I thumb loaded my 2 and 8 for the rapid fire stages. Now, 99% of my matches are single load matches.

When I anticipate rapid reloads, I actually place my ammo in GI style stripper clips, and I palm the ammo in with the GI spoon.

For cleaning kits, I carry an Otis kit for when I am on the range, but I do 99% of my cleaning with a nylon coated Dewey cleaning rod, which I keep in the truck. I prefer one piece rods, since the section joints don't collect debris that can mar the barrel.

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Judge control not gun control!

I thought they were called mag loaders, not mag unloaders. I thought that's what the trigger was for. Besides, who comes home from the range with anything but empty brass?

I have a brand new in box factory sealed Caldwell Mag Loader I'm trying to sell

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Isaiah 43:1-3

I have that cleaning kit. It's not bad. I carry one when I'm at the range or hunting. There are better options out there but for the price and the utility, you can't really beat that kit.

For cleaning:

Complete AR-15 Cleaning Kit – 36 Inch Rod | J Dewey Rods

While each kit is excellent, each has weaknesses that the other addresses.

The Dewey kit is excellent in most all respects and has superior tools to enhance cleaning of the chamber and lugs.

The Otis kit has a variety of tools, (including picks, punches and scrapers), which make maintenance and cleaning of the bolt and carrier (as well as the back of the lugs) much more manageable.

Together they make a very nice, complete kit, imho. Especially if you throw in a boresnake and CAT M4 tool or the similar Kley-Zion Carbon Removal Tool.

Just sayin'.

Edited to add: I very much like the LULA loader. While I have no problem loading magazines, I do have some nagging issues from sports and work related injuries that make it a pleasure to give the thumbs a bit of a break from that particular repetitive exercise.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

I use USGI strippers/guide when time is a factor. Otherwise 1x1. Out and about, I've carried this basic field kit for ages and it goes with me - belt, pack or range bag. The bag and steel rod sections are first rate. The entire rod rarely gets assembled but if you need to scrub out your chamber in the field, you can't do it without a short rod.

Fortunately any AR is not limited to range use. I keep my mags loaded with SD type rounds most of the time. I have it sitting in the corner of my den just waiting for that day I might need it. I want to be able to quickly unload a mag so that I can fill it back up with plinking ammo. That would be my primary purpose for buying one of these "loaders". BTW yes I do have multiple mags so I can grab a couple filled with plinking ammo when I want it. But when company comes and wants to help me shoot up my ammo I'm more than glad to shoot up the cheaper stuff. For example both of my kids and their spouses are here with me this weekend and we'll all be down by the creek shooting up jack tomorrow. I wouldn't want to use my Black Hills ammo for that.

I've gotten by with a small, cheap Outer's cleaning kit for years but I wonder if it wouldn't be better to buy a decent cleaning rod and some brushes and attachments to suit the calibers you shoot. Some patches, oil and solvent and you're in business.

Of course having some sort of case to put all that in would be nice.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

New to AR's? Here are some tools I use to clean.

^ there you go.

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-John

John's thread is excellent. It runs the gamut from OCD to minimalist and most levels in between. Very useful.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Dewey rods are the best for home use but not very friendly for carrying around with you.

The M-16 kit works too but the steel rods are a bit of a turn off. It does have the benefit of clearing a barrel obstruction, which the Otis kit can't do, but I carry a collapsable aluminum rod for such purposes.


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I bought a Maglula loader for AR magazines and after a few minutes is was easy as pie to load AR magazines. Yes AR magazines aren't that hard to load by hand but this loader just makes it so much easier.