Since I've been licensed to carry, I've been carrying my spare mags for 18 yrs or so now with bullets facing rearward (on my left side). That is, I insert mags into pouch with the front of the bullets facing in a reaward direction. This seems completely natural....for instance, I'm shooting right handed, empty the mag, slide locks back, release mag and rotate gun slightly rightward so mag well facing left, and with a karate chop motion, swing left hand down so that index finger wraps around front of baseplate of magazine and thumb on back, bring straight up with elbow along body and right up into the mag well. However, I was recently shopping for a new holster and mag pouch combo at Milt Sparks (as well as some other holster manufacturers) and many of their pouches are bullets forward design. I just can't seem to get my head around, how it is beneficial to carry spare mags this way and waste the motion of swinging your palm outward as you come down the left side of your body, causing your elbow to flail outward, away from your body and then in a motion, like you're flipping flapjacks, bring the magazine up for presentation to the mag well. If anyone can explain why this is better than the way I currently carry in bullets backward fashion, please explain. Any videos that folks might have of either method, would be helpful as well. Thanks everyone!
Spare mag...bullets facing forward or rearward?
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KimberPB
New member
I carry an extra mag with me 90% of the time and it's always bullets forward. This makes for a much faster more comfortable mag change (at least for me).
1. Run gun dry
2. Drop empty mag
3. Bring hand down to side in normal orientation (palm to the inside, fingers down, and thumb facing forward) No need for twisting wrist in some strange way.
4. Place index finger along front side of mag pouch
5. Wrap my middle, ring, and pinky finger around mag
6. As I pull mag out of the pouch Index finger ends up on the nose of the bullet
7. Use index finger to guide mag into mag well.
I've actually read about both schools of thought but I think the most commonly excepted is bullet facing forward. But if you've been doing it your way for that long and it works for you why change it?
1. Run gun dry
2. Drop empty mag
3. Bring hand down to side in normal orientation (palm to the inside, fingers down, and thumb facing forward) No need for twisting wrist in some strange way.
4. Place index finger along front side of mag pouch
5. Wrap my middle, ring, and pinky finger around mag
6. As I pull mag out of the pouch Index finger ends up on the nose of the bullet
7. Use index finger to guide mag into mag well.
I've actually read about both schools of thought but I think the most commonly excepted is bullet facing forward. But if you've been doing it your way for that long and it works for you why change it?
It depends on how I'm carrying the spare mags. When I OC in regular street clothes, my primary at approx. 3 o'clock, the mags are carried at approx. 8 o'clock with the bullets pointed back. If I'm wearing a duty rig, the spare mag pouches are at approx. 11 o'clock with the bullets facing up (I prefer the horizontal mag pouches for the duty rig). If I'm CCing, then I usually carry IWB at approx. 11 o'clock with the spare mags either in my left caro pocket with the bullets pointed back or in a spare mag pouch like when I OC.
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THEYARDDOG
New member
100 % AGREE Keep gun close to chest & you don't have to spin or turn mag just insert :yu:
HK4U
New member
I got to thinking and realize I had to clarify something. What I said in my first post is true if I am carrying in a vertical carrier such as a duty rig. When I carry concealed now I carry my magazine in a horizontal carrier because I find it more comfortable. I carry it opening to the back so the ammo is towards the front with the bullet pointing toward the ground. So which ever carrier I have on I grab the magazine pretty much the same way.
utimmer43
New member
I go with the mag pouch at about 9 o'clock with the bullets pointing forward. When I reach for a fresh mag, my thumb goes between the mag and my hip and my first two fingers along the length of the mag, with the floorplate in the softspot between my thumb and forefinger (as pictured). In one motion, the end of the mag is placed inside the well and starts to slide in, my hand opens up and continues to drive the mag home. Once it clicks, my support hand is right where it belongs, I hit the slide lock with my strong-side thumb and it's ready to fire. Link Removed
Ok...so I practiced bullets forward and it seems to work quite well with my Glock and M&P Mags, but not as smooth with my 1911 mags. The wider baseplates on the Glock and M&P mags helped when retirieving from the mag holder. Thanks for your input everyone. It will help, should I buy the bullet forward mag holder from Milt Sparks.
KimberPB
New member
Welcome to the site E6BLASTER and thank you for your service.
Comp_sH00tEr24
New member
It's a personal preference thing. I shoot USPSA and IDPA, and pretty much everyone carries the spare mags bullets facing forwards. Look at how fast the best guys can reload and you may want to switch the way you carry. But Ive seen video's from "SD experts" carrying with bullets facing backwards and explained why he preferred it. Do whatever you feel comfortable with and practice until you can do it without any thought
Bullets forward for me. When I grab my reload mag my index finger rests on the pouch when I pull up my index finger covers the nose of the bullet making sure it hasn't moved out of position and jam up the reload.
To each their own.
You might want to check out this video
YouTube - Fast Pistol Reloading
Member of the AMU
To each their own.
You might want to check out this video
YouTube - Fast Pistol Reloading
Member of the AMU
Bullets facing the front, left side, pistol Glock19. Left hand drops knuckles facing front, a natural movement, your hand just drops.
Your left hand trigger finger, lies along front of magazine, below the bullet, pistol has dropped to center of chest, empty mag well tipped to the left. Your whole hand grips magazine, very solid hold. Back of magazine hits back of the mag well, rocks in, seats, left hand just rolls around the grip into a two handed grip, punch gun forward, press trigger!
Mostly the slide closes on a Glock when you smash magazine home, or my strong hand thumb mashes down on extended slide lock? Happens quick, not sure what I do sometimes!
Your left hand trigger finger, lies along front of magazine, below the bullet, pistol has dropped to center of chest, empty mag well tipped to the left. Your whole hand grips magazine, very solid hold. Back of magazine hits back of the mag well, rocks in, seats, left hand just rolls around the grip into a two handed grip, punch gun forward, press trigger!
Mostly the slide closes on a Glock when you smash magazine home, or my strong hand thumb mashes down on extended slide lock? Happens quick, not sure what I do sometimes!
Bighouse Doc
New member
Index finger on the front of the mag, allows you to guide into the gun without looking.
-Doc
-Doc
In the Pistol classes I have taken the instructor's mantra was "bullets toward the belly-button" -- that is the way we practiced, so it has become natural for me. Whether you carry your extra mags facing forward or back, the most important thing, of course, is to always stage the extra mags the same way so you can reload without hesitation.
Bones
New member
Some pretty good advice for all to consider with one major exception. Never run your weapon dry (slide open). One must assume the reason for speedy reload is for need to get back on target, the worst thing you can do is run the weapon dry. I don't even do it when I practice. Just some food for thought. Gunsite the premier tactical gurus teach this. For me I like horizontal bullets down, vertical, bullets forward, index finger on lead bullet to insure no repositioning before inserting to mag well.
