Magazine orientation in mag carriers question

[jkc]

I've purchased two new holsters and magazine carriers from two different well-known and respected makers in the last year or so. Both makers' order instructions advise specifying right or left strong-side carry, and that they'll make the appropriate weak-side mag holder. The mag carrier that came with the first order holds the magazine only with the cartridges "bullet forward" in the mag pouch. I favor carrying the mags with bullets to the rear, so that when the mag is pulled out, my index finger is on the front of the mag, ready to guide it into the mag well. I chalked this up to miscommunication, and let it go, and used another carrier. When the second order came with the kydex mag "pouch" molded so that it only accepts the mag turned bullet-forward, I raised the issue with a friend who says that some LEO training favors what I consider to be "backwards" orientation of the mags, and so holster makers design accordingly. I can't think of any good reason why you should have to rotate the magazine after drawing it to insert it into the mag well --- doesn't make sense to me. Explanations, comments, rationales, etc.???

 

[mgjohn]

Guess it is all in how you turn your wrist. I carry bullets forward and do not have to rotate the magazine to insert it.

I draw the mag out, turn my wrist so the bullets face up and then straight into the gun.

 

[P&R Fan]

I carry mine bullet forward because it works best for me. When withdrawn it goes naturally into mag well. My Glock mag carrier that is made by Glock orients it that way too. For my draw stroke it works best. Some carriers allow it to work either way.

 

[Jellybean]

I can't think of any good reason why you should have to rotate the magazine after drawing it to insert it into the mag well --- doesn't make sense to me. Explanations, comments, rationales, etc.???

If you carry your magazines with the bullets facing the rear, aren't you rotating them to make the bullets face foreward in the gun?

Different people do it different ways, depending on how they reload, where they carry the spare mags and where and how they hold the firearm during reloading. There is no right or wrong way.

 

[jkc]

"If you carry your magazines with the bullets facing the rear, aren't you rotating them to make the bullets face foreward in the gun?"

No. With bullets facing rearward, I grasp the magazine (with my weak, left, hand) with thumb on the backside of the mag, and my index finger on the frontside of the mag.

This allows a smooth transition of mag to mag well, without changing position of the magazine in my hand.

I should add that as a civilian, carrying generally concealed, i.e., with mags pressed close to body, rather than in a duty belt, which may permit more open access to mags, my angle of attack for grasping may be different...???

 

[ContinentalOp]

Check out this video and pay particular attention to how he grasps the magazine around 0:41. This is how I've always been trained to grasp the magazine for a reload. I'm actually having a hard time visualizing how you're able to grasp your magazine the way you describe. See if this video clears anything up.

YouTube - Army Pro Shooting Tips: Speed Reloading a Gun

 

[Dan Cash]

Cartridges carried with projectile pointed to the rear may snag on the carrier and be stripped from the magazine. When the magazine is introduced into the magazine well you are doing a juggling act to turn your hand over.

Carry your ammo with projectiles toward your belly button .

 

[jkc]

"Check out this video and pay particular attention to how he grasps the magazine around 0:41. This is how I've always been trained to grasp the magazine for a reload. I'm actually having a hard time visualizing how you're able to grasp your magazine the way you describe. See if this video clears anything up."

Thanks, continentalop! That helps a bit. The operator in the video is so quick that it's hard to discern his motions, but, I see that he ends up with his index finger at the forward, upper end of the mag, as I do with my preferred technique. However, his thumb is on the starboard side of the magazine, rather that at the rear, as is my preference. I think that this "issue" owes more to method of carry than anything else --- the demonstrator in the video, using a sporting style competition rig, has more ergonomically optimal options than I do carrying concealed under light clothing, the most one wants to wear here, most of the time...

 

[reyno2ac]

I originally thought I wanted mine to have the bullets facing rearward until I watched a couple videos and found this string of pictures showing how ot reload.

How to reload

With the bullets facing forward you only have to rotate the mag 180 degrees. When they are facing backwards you have to rotate the mag 180 degrees twice.

 

[tpd223]

I use the same reload shown on the video, from both my duty gear and my concealed mag pouches carried at the 7 o'clock under my shirt.
Works great.

 

[Jaxinc]

Video was really good.

I keep my bullets facing forward if the mag is heads up, and bullets backwards if the mag is upside down(on belt). So that if I drop out a mag from my shoulder rig it's ready and when I pull one from my belt it rotates into place.

 

[Goldstar225]

I carry the spare mag with the bullets forward on the weak side. When withdrawn this positions my index finger on the front of the magazine and makes feeding the magazine feel more natural and smooth.