I’ve taken a couple carbine classes with my AR, and we were taught to do a tactical reload as follows:
-draw new mag, keeping muzzle on target
-grasp base of spent mag along with reload at 90 degrees, roughly parallel to barrel
-eject and retain spent mag, rotate reload into mag well
-place spent mag in dump pouch/pocket/etc.
I’ve never done a class with an AK, so when I tried this method, it seemed awkward due to the release lever and the rocking motion needed to seat the mag. Something is always in the way of something else.
I have been removing the spent mag first, then inserting the reload, but this seems to take longer than it ought to. Is there another technique I’m not aware of that is faster than the one-mag-at-a-time retention method?
If I am every running an AK for speed (rare to never) I keep my muzzle downrange, with my trigger hand while keeping my support hand on the forend, I grab the new magazine and use my thumb to hit the lever and knock free the old magazine. Insert the new mag and use my trigger hand to charge the rifle. I used to use my support hand to knock the magazine loose, but i cracked a hole in a buddys Tapco POS mag, so I tend not to do that anymore. just my 2 cents.
Assuming you’re right handed:
Left hand grabs a new magazine beer can style
Slap it against your magazine in the AK
Use thumb to release that mag and take hold of both mags
Move your hand over and load new mag
Put used mag away somewhere
Continue shooting the American dogs
Also don’t remove your half empty mag first. You might need that while you tac reload. Minimize the amount of time there isn’t a loaded mag in your gun.
Grab low on the new mag (beer can grip, as if it needs to be said) towards the baseplate. Bring that hand up and grab high on the new mag by the locking lug. Use the thumb to hit the mag release. Rock the old mag out, new mag in. Keep onto the old mag.
I always remove the old mag first, stow it, then replace with fresh. I’d rather not juggle those mags and bungle the reload. never bought the 'advantage" of knowing you had one to replace it with, and in all the training and field practice it never became an issue. if it ever did, I’d transition to pistol.
Just more gross motor movement friendly as those big fat sharp heavy AK mags are not like AR mags in the hand, so reloading with them is just not the same.
Never shot an AK but I believe the mag release is in front of the trigger guard so I would do as follows:
Grab new mag with support hand (keep weapon on target)
Bring new mag up to spent mag in L-shape method with beer can grip (that way you can hit the mag release with support thumb, advise against beer can with AR)
Pull spent mag out, twist down and insert new mag
Toss spent mag into dump pouch/pocket or dedicated pouch
A LOT of things are easier about the AK than the AR.
heres the bottom line for me: do what works best for you. if you can reliably hold two mags in your support hand while maintaining muzzle control and not dropping anything then go for it. it’s a TACTICAL reload… you have some time for it to happen so take that time and make it count. with enough practice about anything can be made workable and I’m not gonna be the guy that tells you to un-do years of muscle memory especially if it’s working for you.
On the AK, I just bring the empty to the dump pouch on the way to pick up the fresh mag. I keep is simple. For me, this is faster than monkey-fucking with trying to keep two mags in the same hand and work the mag release.
(Apparently, I just described a reload with retention!)
The only diff between that and an Emergency Reload is in an E-Reload, I affirmatively rip the mag out and let it drop instead of bringing it to the dump pouch.
That way, I am always working the mag release with my support-side thumb too.
I agree, though not from AK experience but through G3 experience. Mag release is similar. The technique we used for all reloads was the reload with retention. That was the biggest hurdle for me when transitioning to the HK416, having my support hand not reach for the Magazine, but grab a fresh one from the pouch instead.
Not sure if that is sarcasism or not but you take the new mag curve upwards (if right handed, mag is in pouch with the curve of the mag pointing to the left and opposite if left handed. or bullets to the right if right handed and left if left handed), bring it to the side of the spent mag (clasp mags together with hand), hit mag release and twist downwards so the new mag is in position to be inserted in the magwell. I was assuming mag was spent and same with why I said charge weapon. I was under the impression ak’s bolt does not lock to the rear on an empty mag. If I am wrong feel free to correct me, like I said I have never shot an ak, just handled Iraqi ones.
For AKs I prefer to remove the magazine first, regardless of reload type. If I have the time/opportunity/inclination I will retain the empty/partial as appropriate.
Different strokes for different folks and all, I found that the size of 7.62 AK mags, the release style, lack of bolt hold-open, charging handle location, and the need to manipulate the CH to ensure that a round is chambered (unless you are really good at counting rounds and tracking partial mags, which I am not when in a gunfight), pushed me toward my approach, based on my hand size and skill.
you touched on the main reason I do it like I do… you cant run the CH with another mag in your hand.
thus
-remove and stow
-insert fresh mag
-run charging handle
if at any point in cycle you need to engage a threat then use the round in the chamber while reloading and procedure remains the same
this one simple drill not only simplifies reloading but also is your malfunction drill for a failure to fire. it does double duty.
the only other reload procedure you might want for the AK is the “hitting the mag release with the new mag” and inserting. A speed reload/emergency reload.
This training school method of two mags in one hand while reloading for a tactical reload serves no benefit in real life and only complicates things. speed is just not so big of an issue in a tac reload that doubling the risk of dropping a mag and slowing it down further makes any sense. least it never has for me, but I have normal hands and adrenaline makes me jittery.
AK is simple to run and many questions get answered thru simple doing. Folks only make it harder trying to “improve” things or overthink it.
But if there’s a round in the chamber, why are you running the charging handle? Or do you reload the same way regardless if it’s a tactical reload or emergency reload?
You do it the exact same way as with an AR. Only difference is the way you hold the mag. Tac reloads are extremely easy with an AK if you train them, easier for me than with a pistol.
AND yes you can and do run charging handle with a magazine in the hand. Israeli method of running the gun over (instead of Russian under) is in this drill superior. Charging handle is operated with the hypothenal muscles instead of fingers, which works just the same in high stress or if holding something in your hand. Hell it works even if you have no fingers.
If you are unsure if you have a round in a chamber or not when doing tac reloads, there are two easy methods to make sure. Whilst putting the mag away feel the top of it with the support hand index finger: if you can feel a round there is one in the chamber too. If there isn’t or if you can’t feel with your fingers, simply rack the slide or do a press check.
I’m teaching people this stuff, and it isn’t the rocket science you make out of it.
