Too Tricky + Too Fast = Fail
“Tactical Speed Reloading” and “reloading on the move” come up frequently. I don’t do either one. I do stable, sure and certain reloads, done as speedily as I can keep them assuredly stable and certain. I’ve seen highly trained well-disciplined men fumble reloads under firefight conditions even when they were behind cover and not trying to break any speed records. That’s just a product of “combat adrenaline.” I actually try to slow myself down and get it right, not rapidly wrong.
Two illustrations:
A while back I saw some footage shot but not used for a commercial “tactical” video. The Ranger-Ricky-Guy, one of these fashionable Global Ninja Operator types, was demonstrating his speed tactical pistol reloading technique. Emptying his pistol two-handed, he suddenly drops his support hand while continuing to fire, plucks a fresh mag from his worthless-for-anything-besides-competition mag pouch, between either his pinky and ring finger, or ring and middle finger, and comes up with it just as his pistol runs dry.
He pops the mag release, catches the empty mag between thumb and pointy-digit, and is supposed to insert that fresh mag and drop the slide, all at blazing speed. He fumbled it miserably and hilariously four times, then succeeded on the fifth, but somebody on the crew yelled out “Yay! Thank God!” too soon, so the whole thing had to be re-shot. Lots of yuks and high-fives, but this was intended as training! The clip I saw was supposed to be erased. People pay good money for this crap. Go figger, huh?
Back in my callow youth, I was reclining in a ditch, poppin’ the mostly-expended mag from my rifle, peepin’ it to see about how many rounds remained, checking my other mags, then carefully inserting a fresh one. I wasn’t lollygaggin’ but had no urgent appointments, hadn’t left the bath water running back home, and my opposition was busy fruitlessly expending their ammo.
A guy we already called “Hollywood,” because he acted like he was starring in a war movie, crashed down Hollywood-hard next to me, and in a blur of movement, popped out a presumably-empty mag, sorta threw a reload into his mag well, released his bolt, exploded to his feet and charged. The magazine he had just inserted fell at my feet. He was gone. I swear, he shot me a glance as he rose, as if checking to see if I was impressed with his coolness. I survived. Lesson learned.
Whether with rifle or pistol, I grab and manipulate magazines in a solid full-fisted grip, with my thumb pointing up close to the feed lips, guiding mags into place and assuring they’re locked in. Just practice after running a 100-yard dash, while balancing on an exercise ball, reciting the Gettysburg Address, holding a live rattler in your teeth. Or, while standing athwart the prow of the Leakin’ Lena in a Force 9 Gale. That oughtta do it!
This leads nicely into reloading-on-the-move, shooting-on-the-move and other silliness, so…