AR Magazines Not Seating

[R_Shackleford]

Remove BCG and charging handle, assemble upper and lower.
Does mag seat?

Slides in like butter

 

[rick benjamin]

Slides in like butter

was wondering if the mag locks into mag well? Assuming so, stuff 3 or more rounds into a mag and discover if it slides in like butter and locks into the mag well.

 

[rick benjamin]

If yes, install the bolt carrier and charging handle.
Close and latch upper and lower.
Rack the BCG and lock it to the rear.
Does the mag still insert flawlessly and lock?

 

[808hondacrguy]

I bet it does. The BCG will be locked back in the charged position when you tactically reload. If the bolt is forward, you will have to give it a little nudge to lock the mag in place. Every AR I have ever owned was like that.

 

[rick benjamin]

If yes, remove mag, ensure chamber and well are empty of rounds.
Close BCG. Insert loaded mag. Does it lock into the well?
If yes,
go to range, see if it will cycle and fire.

 

[R_Shackleford]

Yes. It has always worked fine with the BCG in the rear position it is just a bubblegum to get seat the mag when the bolt is forward.

Also, a tactical reload is removing a partially depleted magazine and putting in a full magazine with a round still in the chamber and retaining the partially spent mag during a pause in the gunfight to prevent running dry.

Demonstration with a rifle:

This guy kind of verbally explains the concept but with a pistol:

An emergency reload/speed reload is when you dump your mag at the target and quickly transition to a new mag (thus the bolt would be in the rear position). That wouldn't be a problem and most of the time, this is what is going to happen but our firearms instructors taught both so I want to train both ways.

In the case of the bolt being forward and under duress, I am not sure I would be able to do a tactical reload effectively. This is especially true because with a tactical reload, there is a higher probability of fumbling the mag than an emergency reload. Every time I did shooting drills with our agency's ARs, I never had this problem, especially with a mag that didn't have a full 30 rounds.

For the purposes of an actual gunfight, the possibility of having to do a tactical reload is low... but you never know.

 

[808hondacrguy]

OK, my bad, I meant when you change mags after yours is empty.

 

[R_Shackleford]

Ah. That shouldn't be a problem with this rifle. The mag seats fine with the bolt locked back. I guess it isn't a huge deal if I can't train this way... it's just one less tool in the toolbox.

 

[Koda]

There have been issues with some pmags that had an overtravel tab out of spec, needs filed down.

I had same problem and asked here and found that solution where it was shown to be those specific pmag fault. (Not all pmags had the issue). Cant find the thread at the moment. Also a spikes lower...

Took those few pmags and filed the tab a tiny bit and problem solved.

 

[Ralgha]

You'll never HAVE to do a tactical reload (less confusingly, albeit less coolly, called a magazine exchange), it's something you choose to do if there's a break in the gunfire.