Tricky Magazine

[modraker]

The M&P Pro 9mm that I recently purchased is a beautiful pistol but I have a question about the 17-round magazine. Is there some kind of trick I can use to facilitate putting in the first round? The shape of the follower is simply not conducive to inserting that first round. It's taking me several attempts to get the job done.

 

[Houdini1953]

Either go to your local gun store or shop Midway for the UpLULA Pistol Mag Loader Unloader Polymer Black

The UpLULA in the link above will aid in inserting pistol rounds in most pistols, they are well worth the money and a must if you shoot like I do over 200 rounds per visit to the range!

I believe you can get them or at least order them from Academy Sports for about $30.00 plus tax.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/s...151_10051_33653_-1?Ntt=pistol+loaders&Ntk=All

 

[Pokerstar]

+ 1 on the UpLULA. Awesome.

 

[leftnose]

Here's another vote for the Uplula. However! For magazines with plastic followers, I like to load the first round by hand to prevent the metal feed ramp in the uplula from damaging the follower.

I agree that the first round can be a bit tricky to get into the magazine. The best trick I've found is to hold the magazine in my left hand pointing to the right across my body. Then, I point a round toward my belly and push down on the forward edge of the follower with the back of the brass. Then, push down, rotate, and insert the round in one motion.

 

[EvilBetty]

+1 on manually loading the first round, and for the uplula.

I usually depress the follower a little bit with my thumb when loading the first round.

A cheaper option that I seem to use even more than my uplula is the $10 HKS 940. I think I use it more because it's easier to use when I don't have something to rest the magazine on.

SEMI-AUTO PISTOL MAGAZINE SPEEDLOADER - Brownells

 

[modraker]

Thank you all for your input. I'm definitely looking into the Uplula. Leftnose, your first round loading method works every time. It's just the thing I was looking for.

 

[bluzman]

+1 on manually loading the first round, and for the uplula.

I usually depress the follower a little bit with my thumb when loading the first round.

A cheaper option that I seem to use even more than my uplula is the $10 HKS 940. I think I use it more because it's easier to use when I don't have something to rest the magazine on.

SEMI-AUTO PISTOL MAGAZINE SPEEDLOADER - Brownells

+1 on the HKS 940. I got one when I first got my M&P 9 FS and loved it because, as you pointed out, it doesn't require you to have something on which to rest the magazine. I liked it so much, I got a second 940 that works great with my XD .40.

 

[modraker]

Uplula

I love the Uplula! It's the envy of all who watch me load 17 rounds into my S&W M&P 9mm magazine faster than someone who's loading a 10-round clip without one.

 

[youseemym&p]

i place the round straight down on the follower. press straight down, then angle and it pops right in

i've had many S&W's but the M&P mags are quite possibly the most difficult to load i've ever seen

 

[Twoboxer]

Here's another vote for the Uplula. However! For magazines with plastic followers, I like to load the first round by hand to prevent the metal feed ramp in the uplula from damaging the follower.

100% agree on the Uplula . . . great tool saves time and fingers.

But frankly I don't see how pressing down on the follower with the Uplula is likely to cause any more damage than pressing down on it with a cartridge rim, and then scraping the round along the follower until its seated.

 

[kent11202]

Uplula is GREAT! Amazon has them for $25.02 and free shipping.

When not using the Uplula, I don't have much trouble with the first round, it's the last one that's a real pain*

* When using the Uplula, I am forced into loading the 10th round by hand becasue it won't compress the internal spring enough. Right now I have four clips loaded to the max in hopes they will lose some spring tension over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Houdini1953]

Uplula is GREAT! Amazon has them for $25.02 and free shipping.

When not using the Uplula, I don't have much trouble with the first round, it's the last one that's a real pain*

* When using the Uplula, I am forced into loading the 10th round by hand becasue it won't compress the internal spring enough. Right now I have four clips loaded to the max in hopes they will lose some spring tension over the next couple of weeks.

You are in one of those weird states that limits magazine capacity, and yes the tenth round is almost impossible to get into your magazine
and there is a good reason for this: namely lawsuits from the state or federal government for you to posses a magazine that allows more than 10 rounds!

So what do manufacturers do they make mags with springs that make this almost impossible so you end up with several 9 rounders instead of several ten rounders (and in the case of a 9 mm it should be 17 rounds), it is bad law so either vote for politicians that will repeal or modify this law or move somewhere else where it is not a problem.

 

[kent11202]

You are in one of those weird states that limits magazine capacity, and yes the tenth round is almost impossible to get into your magazine
and there is a good reason for this: namely lawsuits from the state or federal government for you to posses a magazine that allows more than 10 rounds!

So what do manufacturers do they make mags with springs that make this almost impossible so you end up with several 9 rounders instead of several ten rounders (and in the case of a 9 mm it should be 17 rounds), it is bad law so either vote for politicians that will repeal or modify this law or move somewhere else where it is not a problem.

Houdini, California is more than weird! So the deal is that they make the last round loading SO hard most people will settle for 9 - wow. So if I move to another state (which we are considering) I can pick up a 17 round clip and all will be well, right?

ETA Can the existing mag be modified so it's easier to get the tenth round in or is that some sort of "illegal" modification even if it doesn't result in an increased mag capacity?

I would think somebody willing to break the law in CA would just go to another state and buy a 17round mag.

 

[DustyDawg48]

I can't add much more to this aside from another +1 for the UpLula. I did a 2 8-hour day pistol class and shot over 1100 rounds and if it weren't for that little gem I'd not have a thumb left. I didn't have an UpLula before since I shot IDPA and was limited to 10 rounds per mag so I never had to stuff them full except when loading a mag for carry. After loading a dozen mags my hand my thumb was shot...thankfully 2 of the other shooters there had one and it saved me a lot of pain and misery. An UpLula loader is a must for any shooter's gear bag.

And another +1 to the M&P mags being the most difficult to load...I will say one thing about Glock, they got their magazine designs correct...I've lost way more flesh to the M&P than my Glocks! LOL