Spare pistol mag: Bullets to the front? Or to the rear?

[Rob377]

What if your spares were on your strong side?

In that case, backward would work, I guess. But, I don't carry them strong side, and the OP's question assumed weak side.

 

[esrice]

Esrice, you need another option in the poll, depends on what side you carry spare mag.

No it doesn't.

EDIT: I see what you are asking further down. Why would you carry your reload on your strong side? (assuming its your only one)

 

[Coach]

Bullets facing forward on the belt adds ease to the reload. With the bullets facing forward my index finger is along the front of the magazine while it is in the pouch. When I draw the magazine the finger lays along the front of the magazine, and I rotate the magazine while taking it to the gun. That finger points the way to the magazine well.

Bullets facing rearward is actually less movement and rotation of the magazine but I lose the finger pointing the way and I have to hit the magazine well with a beer can hold on the magazine and this is a little more tricky and takes more time to develop the same speed.

One requires less movement and one is more positive and consistent. The finger does a lot of good. When I am EDC I carry with the bullets forward. I teach it this way on the range and in classes. When competing bullets forward. Every serious competitor I know or know of goes with the bullets facing forward for the reasons stated above.

 

[Rob377]

Bullets facing forward on the belt adds ease to the reload. With the bullets facing forward my index finger is along the front of the magazine while it is in the pouch. When I draw the magazine the finger lays along the front of the magazine, and I rotate the magazine while taking it to the gun. That finger points the way to the magazine well.

Bullets facing rearward is actually less movement and rotation of the magazine but I lose the finger pointing the way and I have to hit the magazine well with a beer can hold on the magazine and this is a little more tricky and takes more time to develop the same speed.

One requires less movement and one is more positive and consistent. The finger does a lot of good. When I am EDC I carry with the bullets forward. I teach it this way on the range and in classes. When competing bullets forward. Every serious competitor I know or know of goes with the bullets facing forward for the reasons stated above.

I've seen a few using bullets neither forward nor back, but out (in a competition setting), most notably Ben Stoeger. best of both worlds, maybe?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_r1KGuhgbdQ

 

[9mmfan]

Another vote here for rearward carry. I have practiced both ways and find it easier to load that way. I don't see one being better or worse than the other. Just practice with which ever you prefer.

 

[Coach]

I've seen a few using bullets neither forward nor back, but out (in a competition setting), most notably Ben Stoeger. best of both worlds, maybe?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_r1KGuhgbdQ

Facing outward from the belt is another option. It allows the finger to be indexed. Did Ben just go to this? I seem to have read he just recently changed his mag pouches, but I am not sure from what to what.

His shooting is excellent and that is the only positive thing I have to say about him.

 

[David Rose]

What Coach said. Bullets forward.

I am sometimes a competitor and rarely serious, but this is one debate I never understood. Technique matters. If you are new to shooting don't ask your cousin's, brother in law's, dog's, friend. Look at what the best shooters on planet earth are doing and COPY it. Then modify as needed. Don't try to reinvent the wheel until you understand the wheel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPfK...DvjVQa1PpcFOoA0nge3Dy2ThEMirXzawe57-K_uLy3pg=

 

[Coach]

Amen! Technique does matter.

 

[WebSnyper]

Amen! Technique does matter.

Coach, not to threadjack, but recommendation for spare mag pouch? I need something that can accommodate Glock double stack mags and conceals fairly well.

Holster I use is a Galco King Tuk IWB, carrying either a Glock 27 or 23.

I am not really interested in a double pouch.

I'm going to be taking the IP101 class at MCF&G and need to pick up a new mag pouch, as my current one is not really suitable.

I'd like one that clips on the belt rather than one you have to slide a belt through.

Thoughts?

 

[WebSnyper]

My spares face forward.

What mag holder is that?

 

[churchmouse]

I carry 2 spare mags rounds facing to the front on my weak or left side. I have done it both ways and the mechanics of the front facing works better for me.

 

[esrice]

What mag holder is that?

Looks like two single-mag pouches from Comp-Tac.

 

[ATM]

Forward.

AR mag the same.

Tried it both ways with various grips and this seemed most reliable for me.

 

[Double T]

Forward. Slide the index finger down to index the first round, and lift and rotate the hand up and its in the magwell. To the rear means I have to have another motion to orient the mag. Front seems natural to me. Doesn't matter though, you can reload fast as hell. What matters is painting the target :-)

 

[Rob377]

What Coach said. Bullets forward.

I am sometimes a competitor and rarely serious, but this is one debate I never understood. Technique matters. If you are new to shooting don't ask your cousin's, brother in law's, dog's, friend. Look at what the best shooters on planet earth are doing and COPY it. Then modify as needed. Don't try to reinvent the wheel until you understand the wheel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPfK...DvjVQa1PpcFOoA0nge3Dy2ThEMirXzawe57-K_uLy3pg=

You're using the wrong hand.

I'd be interested to see some videos of the backward technique in action.
None of the competitors I know use it.

 

[GBuck]

Forward. Slide the index finger down to index the first round, and lift and rotate the hand up and its in the magwell. To the rear means I have to have another motion to orient the mag. Front seems natural to me. Doesn't matter though, you can reload fast as hell. What matters is painting the target :-)

Ummm... Facing rear, as some instructors here previously mentioned, makes it so you DON'T have to rotate your hand.

 

[SSGSAD]

Maybe I've been WRONG, since 1979, but when I carry, I am RIGHT HANDED, I carry my Mags, on my LEFT side, and I grab them with my LEFT hand, I just bring them up to the gun, and insert them ... MY bullets, face to the rear ... ( I think )...

 

[bwframe]

I do what the Pro's do :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xG8aOIB5x0&feature=related

 

[Gabriel]

I guess I am a little surprised at this question, forward of course. Now if you carry your mag horizontally, I can see, bullets up or down?

btw, rifle mag bullets to the rear.

I do either mag with bullets facing rear if the magazine pouches are at the 9 o clock " position or farther back, otherwise they face front.

 

[SmileDocHill]

My spares face forward.

It looks like you have decided to ignore the bullet in the pocket technique that was made popular by your mentor. The "mentor" assumption being based on the shrine looking setup happening in the background.