Different kinds of loads/reloads

In another thread we were discussing a Tactical Reload. Because there are different ways to do this, and different kinds of loads, I thought I'd give my methodology here. I'm a lefty so, all these pics will be backward for most of you, but you'll get the idea.

There are three types of loads or reloads:

• Administrative
• Tactical
• Emergency

Each type has a specific purpose and is done for a specific reason. I will attempt to describe all three here and some variations thereof.

Administrative Reload
This is what we do when starting the day. We take a full magazine and insert it in the gun. Rack the slide. Do a chamber check to ensure there is indeed a round in the chamber. Then we either holster the gun or insert a full mag and then holster the gun.

Tactical Reload
This is accomplished when we have used the gun, but there is a lull in the action. We have stopped one threat, moved to cover or concealment, but we're not sure there aren't more bad guys on the way. So, we remove the partially spent magazine and insert a full one. Should another bad guy show up, it's best to face him with a full gun, don't you think?

Emergency Reload
As the name suggests, this is done because we've emptied one magazine and need another immediately. Drop the spend mag out and insert a full one.


"But Rastoff, how do we accomplish these different reloads?" I'm glad you asked. I will try to show how all these are done including a couple variations.

Reloading the gun is simple and we've all done it. You just pop a new mag in there, right? Well, yes, but there is a methodology that will ensure a properly seated mag every time.

Administrative Reload

First we need to talk about indexing the mag. Here is what it looks like:


Grasp the magazine with your index finger along the front of the mag. This does a couple of things for us. First, it allows us to feel for a round a the top without looking. This way we'll know right away if we grabbed an empty mag or if the top round isn't in properly. If the round protrudes a little, push it back in. Secondly, this helps us guide the mag into the magwell. I'm sure you can touch the heel of your hand with your index finger with your eyes closed. With a properly indexed mag, you'll be able to insert it with your eyes closed too.

Now that you've indexed the mag, touch the flat back of the mag to the flat back of the magwell, but at a slight angle. Like this:


Once the mag is located in the magwell, in one motion, firmly seat it in the gun with the heel of your hand:


Make this one motion. You've all seen it, and most of us have done it, when someone uses a two motion method. They put the mag partially in and then wind up and slap that mag in hard. This double motion consumes time and is not as positive as when one, smooth motion is used. Plus, it increases the risk of pinching he heal of your firing hand. Anyone who's done that knows what I mean.

Then do a chamber check:

With your support hand, come underneath the barrel/slide and grasp the slide with your fingers. Drift your trigger finger out of the way. Make sure it goes OUT and not in toward the trigger. Then move the slide back just enough to see the brass.

The chamber check is the only way to know 100% that there is a round in the chamber. We can debate whether you like this part or not later. However, it is important to note that the only time a chamber check is done is during an Administrative Reload. You don't have time for this during the other types of reloads.


Tactical Reload

You've just defended yourself and stopped the bad guy by putting a few rounds dead center mass. You scan the area and move out of the position you were just in, toward cover. You don't see any other bad guys yet. It's at this point you'll want to refresh your mag. Here's how I teach it:

Check to see if you have a full mag.

• This is done by simply touching the extra mag. Do this because in all the excitement, the spare may have fallen out. Or, you may have forgotten one that day. There are a myriad of reasons why there might not be a spare. The point is, you don't want to drop that partial mag until you're sure there is a full one to replace it with. So, check for the full mag.

Remove the partially expended mag and put it in your pocket.

• Don't just drop this mag. If you're like most of us, you only have one spare. You don't want to lose that mag because you may need those extra rounds. Even if you have multiple spares, it's always good to retain live rounds. So, put it in a pocket.

Properly index the full mag and insert it in the gun.

• Again, by properly indexing the mag, it can be inserted while your eyes are searching for bad guys or movement from the one you just stopped.

The gun is now fully loaded and ready should more shooting be required.

At this point move the partially expended mag from your pocket to the mag pouch. You wouldn't normally put a partial mag in the mag pouch, but, should you need it, it's faster to get out of the mag pouch than out of your pocket.

This is what I call a tactical reload. Some call it a reload with retention. Some call it topping up the gun. Whatever you call it, be sure to practice this until it's automatic and you don't have to look to do it. When the adrenalin is pumping, muscle memory will save you from fumbling.

Now, that is not the fastest way to accomplish a tactical reload. Here is another method that affords the least amount of time with an empty magwell.

This time, when you check for the full mag, grab it in a properly indexed fashion. As you bring the mag to the gun, allow your index finger to ride down the side of the mag so the mag is in between your index and middle fingers.

Eject the partially expended mag, grasping it between your thumb and index finger. It looks like this:


Pull the partially expended mag out and insert the full mag:


Remember to use one smooth motion to insert the full mag.

Put the partially expended mag back in your mag pouch. Or you could just put it in your pocket. You will be amped up on adrenalin and might have difficulty getting it in the mag pouch. It's faster to get to from the mag pouch, but the goal is retaining it in case you need it. Better to put it in your pocket and have it than to accidentally drop it on the ground trying to get it in the pouch.

The main problem with this second method is dexterity. Because the full mag is between your fingers, instead of being indexed, it is a little more challenging to line up with the magwell. Under the stress of a defensive shooting, this could be problematic. I'm not saying it can't be done. Neither am I suggesting not to do it. It is the fastest way. I just want to be realistic about the difficulty associated with this method. This is why I teach the first method first. Then, once a student is comfortable with that, we talk about the second way. It's entirely up to you and your comfort level as to how you do it.


Emergency Reload

This is the one we hope we never need. You've just shot at the bad guy, but he either hasn't been stopped or there are more of them and you've run out of rounds. You need to get the gun loaded as fast as you can.

Properly index the full mag.

• No need to check this time. Either you have one or you don't. If you have one, index it and get it out.

Release the spent mag as you move toward the gun with the full one.

• The idea is to get the gun full with minimum of motion. We say to have the mags pass in the air, but just get that new one in there. It doesn't really matter if you drop the old mag early. Eject the empty mag so the new one can go in.

There you have it, three methods of loading your gun. I hope this helps. As always, feel free to rip into it or ask any questions. I always want to get better. Discussing this stuff is how we learn and get better able to use a gun in defense of ourselves and others.

Thanks. A very clear demonstration. On an emergency reload, do you favor using the slide release or racking the slide manually?

I favor racking the slide using an overhand grip. The support hand pulls the slide back as far as it will go and releases it. The sport hand should continue to the firing side shoulder. This ensures you don't "ride" the slide. The best way to think of it is to try to rip the slide off the gun.

I prefer this method because it works the same for all pistols. Nothing wrong with using the slide stop, but they are different on every gun. So, I encourage working to the simplest method.

Another method of racking the slide

Ras,
An LEO friend of mine taught me to grip the slide with 4 fingers of my support hand and keep the hand and slide tight to my right side. Strong hand (with trigger finger out of the trigger guard and along the frame) pushes the grip and frame away until the slide is fully to the rear. Then release the support hand. For me, this method is quick, positive, and ends up with the firearm in a good position to be brought to bear.
Thanks for the tutorial. Great stuff.

Johnmuratore said:

Ras,
An LEO friend of mine taught me to grip the slide with 4 fingers of my support hand and keep the hand and slide tight to my left side.

Click to expand...

You're a lefty too, right?

Johnmuratore said:

Strong hand (with trigger finger out of the trigger guard and along the frame) pushes the grip and frame away until the slide is fully to the rear. Then release the support hand. For me, this method is quick, positive, and ends up with the firearm in a good position to be brought to bear.

Click to expand...

Yes, a good method too.

The goal is positive control of the gun while loading. John's method is the same as what I posted, just a different emphasis on which part to move. Both are effective. The user will have to decide which is best for them.

Good timing! Just got my first semi- auto for self defense. I shoot left handed also. Good info! Thanks for sharing. My Ambi safety should arrive towards the end of the week.

Stay safe, John

What kind of pistol did you get John?

Colt Defender 45acp, actually I made the purchase of a Glock 26Gen4 first with 3 Pearce mag extenders ordered the same day along with 6 boxes of ammo. I decided to not shoot it until the extenders came in, although I moved the mag release to the other side and dry fired and broke it down numerous times. Buyer's remorse set in and asked if it could be traded with an order for the Colt. Got it and a box of ammo. Went to the range with my instructor, the box of 50 I had and he brought a box and his Kimber Ultra. So I shot about 70-80 rounds that day with 60 or so doing drills. Gotta have that ambi safety. I have a third magazine coming also. It fits my hand really well, I don't mind the recoil at all, and it fits in my Kangaroo Carry just fine so my EDC holster won't change. After I change over to the ambi safety it will take at least a hundred or two rounds for me to get comfortable enough to make the changeover from my 640 38spl EDC. It's funny, I had already figured out how to change a mag quickly, 1) by dropping it on the floor for the absolute quickest when empty, and 2) holding one between fore finger and middle finger, catching the ejected one and loading the other much the same as you only with empty mags before spotting this thread. I like the tips about the forefinger making sure the last cartridge is in the mag all the way and learning to do it without looking. Good stuff! The slide stop is difficult for me and I need to "help" it with my right hand anyway. I can release the mag easier on the Colt with my middle finger on my left hand easier than my thumb on the switched over Glock. I had to release my grip more than I cared for with the Glock. The Glock was a whim. I had wanted a compact 1911 for a while, so I just "ponyed" up the extra cash and went for it. I have a lot to learn, but I'm having fun with it.

Stay safe, John

John,
If you look at the 5th pic, you'll see that I use my middle finger as well. Even on guns where I can switch the mag catch, I don't. With the middle finger I can release the mag without changing my firing grip. Most right handed shooters can't do that.

Ras,
I'm right-handed. I corrected my post.
Sorry for the confusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDxyjQrQO78

FWIW Here is the Tac reload as I was trained

Man, if only I had said that.

p.s.
I would not recommend dropping a partially loaded mag. Sometimes it happens, but be sure the area is clear before attempting to pick it up.

FWIW the only time I use the slide LOCK is when I'm LOCKING the slide

This probably belongs in the other thread but I'm going to post it here.

One of the reasons we train and practice what we've trained on is to develop muscle memory. One of our instructors is curently on Active Duty and has been in (to use his words) "a couple of bullet trading contests" .

He says over and over again that when you get into a fight you will default to your muscle memory. You will do what you've practiced not what you've read about on the internet.

As a personal example I used to work nights at a site that was out on the edge of town. There was no one around so I would walk my rounds practicing the 4 point draw by the numbers S-L-O-W-L-Y while I walked along the fence.

One night while I was walking I scared what I believe was an antelope that was bedded down inside the fence. It jumped up, ran past me in the dark, cleared the fence and took off ( main reason I don't think it was a human in I can't imagine a human that could clear a 7 foot fence with a 15 foot run up).

Long story short I didn't realize I had drawn my pistol until I felt it in my hand .

Good post Rastoff. There are always variations on themes but I'm sure that will clarify things for a lot of folks.

Speaking of variations on themes, your "Administrative Reload" or as I call it, "loading an empty gun", is something I only do after cleaning/maintaining my weapon or when leaving a cold range. With very few other exceptions, my carry guns stay hot, though I always do a chamber check before holstering at the start of each day.

When I do a chamber or "press check" I grasp the rear of the slide by the serrations with my left hand (I'm right handed), place my trigger finger on the side of the slide below the ejection port, and pull the slide back with my left hand while controlling it's progress with pressure from my trigger finger. I retract the slide just enough to see that there is or isn't a round there and then release it, making sure it goes fully into battery and then engage the thumb safety if the gun has one (I carry 1911s).

When loading/reloading I always use the "slingshot" method - grasp the rear of the slide by the serrations, pull it back as far as it will go and let it fly. This way there is no chance that I'll impede the progress of the slide with my hand, glove, whatever, or that the slide will get hung up on a sleeve or anything like that. Also, I can see the first round in the mag get stripped off and chambered if I'm looking. I generally only use the slide stop/release if I am controlling the slide, either locking it open manually or closing it on an empty chamber.

You didn't mention unloading but what I do is drop the mag into my left hand then secure it - put it down, in a pocket, a pouch, my gun hand, somewhere - then I take an overhand grip on the slide, tip the gun slightly to the right while pointing it away from me, and retract the slide ejecting the chambered round into my hand and let it close. Then, still holding the live round in my hand, I turn the gun upright and pull the slide back and do a chamber check. It's much fast and easier to do than type out.

That video was pretty good, I was taught to do the same - put the partial mag in the rearmost spot in your mag pouch. The only thing that I will say about it is that with training you should be doing these reloads without looking. The guy in the video mentions taking your eyes off the target to reload, IMO, that's a no-no, I've been taught and have trained to have everything in it's spot on the belt and to do reloads without looking, that's one of the reasons for indexing your mag, you don't to look at the gun, you're going by feel. Same thing with reholstering, putting mags back in pouches, etc, all that stuff should be muscle memory, that's what dry practice is for.

Rastoff said:

Man, if only I had said that.

p.s.
I would not recommend dropping a partially loaded mag. Sometimes it happens, but be sure the area is clear before attempting to pick it up.

Click to expand...

I try to avoid dropping loaded/partially loaded mags because I've had a few come apart on impact due to the weight of the ammo inside them. Always a "don't that suck" moment when cartridges and springs go flying everywhere.

Well said WC145.

I didn't mention unloading because that's a different discussion altogether. In defensive situations you will only unload ballistically. For cleaning or other maintenance, your method is fine along with a couple of other ways. As you mentioned, the goal there, as with all gun handling, is to keep positive muzzle control.