Drill tips for bullet button magazine changes?

[dchang0]

Do you guys have any tips or tricks on how to drill/practice for faster magazine changes with a bullet-button installed? What are your corresponding best times for mag changes with a BB? (I'll be installing a B-15 soon and so will not be able to use a bullet button funnel.)

Thanks!

[Bowser]

MMG.

[dchang0]

No MMGs, unfortunately. I can't stand the crappy ergonomics of them. Plus, I have some other weapons with Raddlocks that cannot take MMGs.

[Steve O]

some sort of finger tool tip?

[aplinker]

if you don't like the MMG, buy a U-15.

Nothing is more unergonomic than a bullet button for mag changes.

There are lots of fingertip tools out there. We've done this about 10 times. Finger stylus, rings with nubs, gloves with nubs, etc. You can build your own funnel for the B-15, too.

[DedEye]

No MMGs, unfortunately. I can't stand the crappy ergonomics of them. Plus, I have some other weapons with Raddlocks that cannot take MMGs.

U15.

The advice for speed drills will vary depending on the weapon and mag lock design as well. Radd Locked rifles I would recommend using a piece of string to hang the tool off the trigger guard (it would appear to me, and from what I recall was the general consensus on Calguns in the past, that a string does not change the tool into "part of the rifle" and is therefore still legal) so that you can quickly grab it and drop the magazine.

For Bullet Buttons for ARs, a ring or some other finger device is the fastest manner I can think of.

[aplinker]

U15.

The advice for speed drills will vary depending on the weapon and mag lock design as well. Radd Locked rifles I would recommend using a piece of string to hang the tool off the trigger guard (it would appear to me, and from what I recall was the general consensus on Calguns in the past, that a string does not change the tool into "part of the rifle" and is therefore still legal) so that you can quickly grab it and drop the magazine.

For Bullet Buttons for ARs, a ring or some other finger device is the fastest manner I can think of.

I would disagree with this. The consensus was just the opposite. If it's attached to the gun in any way when used it's part of the gun and therefore would be illegal.

[dchang0]

U15's are a big step up from an MMG, but they're out too. (If I wanted a traditionally-shaped rifle stock, I would've bought a Mini-14 instead of an AR-type.)

So, for those of us who have chosen the BB method, are there any speed drills to run? I'm looking for specific tips like:

"Oh, wear the tool on a lanyard tied to your left hand instead of your right, because...."

or actually, that "finger tip tool" idea is an awesome one, now that I think about it. I wonder if a fingerstyle guitar pick could be cut into a point strong enough to depress the button...

Yeah! That might work!

[dchang0]

There are lots of fingertip tools out there. We've done this about 10 times. Finger stylus, rings with nubs, gloves with nubs, etc.

Apologies for not searching correctly--I didn't know until you guys just mentioned it that all these finger-attached solutions even existed and therefore couldn't search for them...

Thanks, guys, for the super-fast answers!

[DedEye]

I would disagree with this. The consensus was just the opposite. If it's attached to the gun in any way when used it's part of the gun and therefore would be illegal.

Wow, epic fail of a brain fart for me . In that case, wear the tool off a bracelet or something for easy access.

[NSR500]

I use a spent .22 shell or the socket arm from my swiss army knife.

[grammaton76]

I still say someone needs to epoxy or otherwise attach a tool to the baseplate of their mags.

Then, regardless of which of the two (or more) mags you're using, the mag is the changing tool. Very quick, very convenient.

[nobs11]

MMG. Don't understand why people complain about it. I use it to shoot offhand and positions have no trouble.

Being able to detach mags without a tool is a big thing.

Or use the U-15. If your logic for not using the U-15 or MMG is that it is an AR and therefore supposed to have a pistol grip, then the counter to that is that it is an AR and therefore supposed to have a free mag release. The gun is being crippled no matter what you do so why not go for the choice that makes your gun more usable.

[dchang0]

I still say someone needs to epoxy or otherwise attach a tool to the baseplate of their mags.

Then, regardless of which of the two (or more) mags you're using, the mag is the changing tool. Very quick, very convenient.

Actually, that's a good idea. Someone could devise a "tactipul" type loop with a nub just in front of the pull ring for bullet-button operation.

Of course, it would mean that the operator would have to let go of the pistol grip, grab the mag with the right hand, operate the bullet button, allow the empty mag to drop (left hand still holding rifle), then insert new mag, and return to pistol grip.

That's about the same ergonomics as operating a bolt-action rifle offhand...

[dchang0]

If your logic for not using the U-15 or MMG is that it is an AR and therefore supposed to have a pistol grip, then the counter to that is that it is an AR and therefore supposed to have a free mag release. The gun is being crippled no matter what you do so why not go for the choice that makes your gun more usable.

An excellent argument, sir!

There *is* one reason why I strongly prefer the pistol grip. Since I'll be shooting the same lower with a .22LR dedicated upper, which will allow me to have all sorts of evil features and thereby enjoy the AR in its true form, it would be nice to be able to train using the same ergonomics (albeit with the extra steps of having to deal with an activated B-15 when the 5.56 upper is installed).