AR reload

[randy]

How do you guys and gals drop the bolt when doing a bolt back reload on your AR? Use the button or grab the handle?

As I complete inserting the mag I use my support thumb to hit the catch button. I'm not saying thats the way to do it but it is what I do.

[corrupt]

That is how most people do it, and that is what it is for. I've never seen anyone prefer to use the charging handle. It's not a 1911.

Some people slap the side with their palm. Some people use the BAD lever. Hell, slapping the buttstock to release the bolt would probably be quicker than using the charging handle.

Not to mention if you have the rifle shouldered, you'd hit yourself in the nose with the charging handle

[Jim_KT]

I've gone full circle and use the palm of my support hand to release the bolt catch. This way just works best for me and is fairly portable between AR-platforms, unlike the BAD that I fell in love with.

1992 - 2005: Used my support side palm to release the bolt catch.
2006 - 2009: Used a combination of either my support side thumb or the charging handle (advised to do so in a class).
01/2010 - 03/2010: Used a Magpul BAD.
04/2010 - now: Using my support side palm to release the bolt catch.

[bohoki]

i slap the button that's why it is there

theoretically i only need to use the handle once per trip unless i use a beta mag

[esskay]

I use a BAD or equivalent.

Without a BAD lever, I use my support thumb to hit the button.

[MustangGreg66]

I thought I'd put in my two cents and share my story. I'm fairly new to the AR platform, just bought and assembled one post obama. I watched the Magpul Carbine videos and thought, ok, not to hard, I can do that. I thought oh, slapping the side of the gun looks funny, I'll be more refined and hit the slide release with my thumb...

Well, I was fortunate enough to get to go to a FrontSight Tactical rifle 4-day class, prettymuch for free. Anyway, it was the first time I'd used my AR for anything other than sighting it in off the bench. When I got up to shoot I told myself I was going to move with a sense of purpose, eliminate waste movement, and try to follow what I'd learned in the Magpul video and in the class, but with my own twist on what I thought worked. So I didn't tac-reload so that I could experience a speed reload totally unexpected. When I ran dry, I got my mag in, grabbed the front of the magwell, keeping my eyes on the target and punched my thumb where I thought the paddle was... nothing, push again a little to the side, nothing, I look down and my thumb is next to the paddle but not on it. reaquire it, push it, bolt goes home and I'm back up running...

What I took from this is:
1. I'm pretty green and don't know where the paddle is.
2. Finding that little thing under just the slightest bit of stress isn't easy.
3. Slap the side of the gun stupid, it works (talking to myself)

So, I'm now a slapper. I figure it'd take a bit of training to learn the gun more to be able to manipulate it blindfolded and gross motor skills always work. So to answer the question, I don't rack with the charging handle, I don't even press with my thumb from the side, I'm a slapper.

I've gone full circle and use the palm of my support hand to release the bolt catch. This way just works best for me and is fairly portable between AR-platforms, unlike the BAD that I fell in love with.

1992 - 2005: Used my support side palm to release the bolt catch.
2006 - 2009: Used a combination of either my support side thumb or the charging handle (advised to do so in a class).
01/2010 - 03/2010: Used a Magpul BAD.
04/2010 - now: Using my support side palm to release the bolt catch.

I recently bought a BAD type lever at the gunshow and thought it's about the best thing for the AR since CLP. Again I havn't had much practice with it yet, but I was wondering Jim_KT, why you're now using support side palm in place of the BAD?

[Jim_KT]

I recently bought a BAD type lever at the gunshow and thought it's about the best thing for the AR since CLP. Again I havn't had much practice with it yet, but I was wondering Jim_KT, why you're now using support side palm in place of the BAD?

The BAD lever in my opinion is one of the greatest things I have ever spent money on aside from my XBOX360, Halo3, XBOX Live, a headset and a case of beer. The reason why I am not using the BAD anymore is so that I won't have to train myself on AR platforms equipped with and without the BAD. I figure that becoming proficient without the BAD will cover the gamut of AR-platforms.

That, and I cringed at the thought of purchasing eight more of them...

Good reason? Yes. No. Maybe.

For a while, I thought the BAD truly shined during malfunction clearances. A good friend of mine timed me during double feed clearances using his iPhone and the Surefire shot timer application.

Clearance 1: 6.46s with BAD
Clearance 2: 6.46s with BAD
Clearance 3: 6.74s no BAD
Clearance 4: 6.18s no BAD
Clearance 5: 6.09s no BAD (third try was executed because we didn't believe the second no-BAD run)

The above is not a good enough sample size, but it showed that once acclimated to either one I was about as fast in clearing double feeds with and without the BAD.

Your experience from Front Sight is a good one. You found what works for you.

[MustangGreg66]

Wow, faster without the BAD, I guess it really doesn't take long to move your hand from the grip top the CH and back. Really good point about equiping all your rifles with them, they're another magical part that add cost to any build thats for sure. I've bought one so far and have 4-5 rifles in various stages, they're not all getting BADs thats for sure (carbine VS SPR VS heavy barrel varmint rifle)

I guess the addage of practice practice practice hasn't set in with me either, just love adding gadgets and looking for that magical piece that's going to instantly make me better..... maybe I should just spend the $$$ on ammo and range fees.

I thinik I'm going to play more with and without the BAD. I really like the theory behind using it and the simplicity of having all your controls at your finger tips.

[3GunFunShooter]

I reload before the rifle goes to slide lock. I competition you always want to reload before you run dry. Some handguns are set up not to lock back on the last shot. But when I do, I hit the latch.

[cal3gunner]

///

[3GunFunShooter]

I guess I have been lucky, 4 USPSA 3 Gun Nationals and a SMM3G and I have never had to do a mandatory reload at a slide lock. But it is a good excerise to practice.

[Sgt5811]

i slap the button that's why it is there

theoretically i only need to use the handle once per trip unless i use a beta mag

^^^This^^^ So Damn true!!! Those of us that are so blessed (read cursed) to have to use these POS's know how unreliable they are.

[GeoffLinder]

Slappin' the bolt release with the palm of your weak hand after it finishes seating the new mag is fastest and most foolproof way IMHO (provided you slap the right area that is). Just think of it as a slight detour on the way back to the shooting grip for the weakhand

[winxp_man]

forgot what movie i was watching and during reload the guy pulled back the charge handle made me LOL hahahahehe

[GeoffLinder]

In movies they always seem to shoot till empty and then kinda' stand around lookin' dumb for a bit, then they drop the gun, claw the old one out, look down and away from the action to grab another mag. Then it's inserted with the weapon held in some ridiculous position, tapped a couple times then the bolt worked with the strong hand and then finally, back into action. Best shot to shot reload I have ever seen in movies/tv could be properly timed with an hourglass

Never dismount the weapon, never look at the mag holder, never, ever take your eyes off the action and make it your goal to get your shot to shot time around a mag change down to the 1.5-2 second range.