What is the properway?

[dlcra]

What is the proper way to activate/operate the magazine release? I am right-handed and have smallish hands. I want to get some training involving dropping an empty magazine and reloading "on the move" but have this nagging question! What is the proper way?

 

[P&R Fan]

I always use my right thumb.

Can't really see any other way to do it.
I have pretty small hands too, and it works with my Glocks or a 1911.
Jim

 

[Jakpro]

I have to use my trigger finger. My thumb is on the other side of the grip!

 

[Don 73]

Typically I just turn the pistol slightly in my grip, so that my right thumb fully contacts the magazine release. I do have larger hands, but I still can[t get my thumb to reach without adjusting my grip (I have the small grip on my 9c).

 

[Danno_man]

Here's part of a photo sequence I took of Rob Leatham doing a reload

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk

 

[Danno_man]

 

[gkitch]

shift the shooting hand slightly to gain a thumb pressure advantage on hte mag release button. Your weak hand is already moving to where your spare magazine is placed on your belt with the rounds pointing toward the belt buckle.
Slowly at first (no ammo, of course). You will get the hang of it quickly and your speed will increase quite naturally.

 

[gnystrom]

You will probably have to turn the gun slightly in your hand to allow enough pressure to get the mag to drop. How the pros do it may not matter as many have huge hands or have the grip or mag button modified to allow shooting in competition. I wear XL gloves and many guns I own require the same manipulation to get the mag to drop.

 

[Bkreutz]

Another option I've heard is to move the mag release to the opposite side and use one of your fingers to release the mag. I haven't tried this (been using my thumb for well over 40 years so I don't think I'm going to be changing anytime soon) but I can see where this would work.

 

[RobzGuns]

I've never been able to activate the mag release with my 'shooting' thumb.
I've simply gotten into the habit of using my 'support' (left) thumb to activate the mag release, then grab the empty (or partial) mag as it slides out, stow the empty and come back up with the 'fresh' mag.
It may not be pretty, the quickest, or the official way to do it, but it definitely works for me... and a couple of my instructors have shown my method to others as an alternative method.

 

[Woodman90]

I have average sized hands and when operating my full sized M&P I was unable to operate the mag release without breaking grip. I removed the mag release fence and now can operate the mag release without breaking grip. It was a free and easy modification to make.

 

[Wolfman-Iraq]

Here's a link for an Extended Magazine Release for the Smith & Wesson M&P:

M&P Catalyst - M&P Catalyst

 

[Rastoff]

There is no "proper" way to do this. There are several good suggestions here.

For right hand shooters, turn the gun slightly in your hand:

Normal----------------------------------------------------------------------Turned for mag release...

Left handers can activate the mag release with their middle finger without altering their grip:

Right handers can do this too by switching their mag catch to the other side. However, I don't recommend this unless the M&P is your only gun.

 

[dlcra]

In anticipation of different makes of guns in the future, both ownership and rental, I think I'll leave release "as-is" and learn to operate with my thumb. Me thinks I am making a bigger deal of this than it deserves!