Spare mag...bullets facing forward or rearward?

[surfcc]

Since I've been licensed to carry, I've been carrying my spare mags for 18 yrs or so now with bullets facing rearward (on my left side). That is, I insert mags into pouch with the front of the bullets facing in a reaward direction. This seems completely natural....for instance, I'm shooting right handed, empty the mag, slide locks back, release mag and rotate gun slightly rightward so mag well facing left, and with a karate chop motion, swing left hand down so that index finger wraps around front of baseplate of magazine and thumb on back, bring straight up with elbow along body and right up into the mag well. However, I was recently shopping for a new holster and mag pouch combo at Milt Sparks (as well as some other holster manufacturers) and many of their pouches are bullets forward design. I just can't seem to get my head around, how it is beneficial to carry spare mags this way and waste the motion of swinging your palm outward as you come down the left side of your body, causing your elbow to flail outward, away from your body and then in a motion, like you're flipping flapjacks, bring the magazine up for presentation to the mag well. If anyone can explain why this is better than the way I currently carry in bullets backward fashion, please explain. Any videos that folks might have of either method, would be helpful as well. Thanks everyone!

[JRD]

I'd recommend watch competition matches and observe how nearly all competitors carry and load mags.

[KimberPB]

I carry an extra mag with me 90% of the time and it's always bullets forward. This makes for a much faster more comfortable mag change (at least for me).

1. Run gun dry
2. Drop empty mag
3. Bring hand down to side in normal orientation (palm to the inside, fingers down, and thumb facing forward) No need for twisting wrist in some strange way.
4. Place index finger along front side of mag pouch
5. Wrap my middle, ring, and pinky finger around mag
6. As I pull mag out of the pouch Index finger ends up on the nose of the bullet
7. Use index finger to guide mag into mag well.

I've actually read about both schools of thought but I think the most commonly excepted is bullet facing forward. But if you've been doing it your way for that long and it works for you why change it?

[HK4U]

For me bullets face to the rear. More natural for me.

[Glock Fan]

It depends on how I'm carrying the spare mags. When I OC in regular street clothes, my primary at approx. 3 o'clock, the mags are carried at approx. 8 o'clock with the bullets pointed back. If I'm wearing a duty rig, the spare mag pouches are at approx. 11 o'clock with the bullets facing up (I prefer the horizontal mag pouches for the duty rig). If I'm CCing, then I usually carry IWB at approx. 11 o'clock with the spare mags either in my left caro pocket with the bullets pointed back or in a spare mag pouch like when I OC.



gf

[THEYARDDOG]

Originally Posted by KimberPB

I carry an extra mag with me 90% of the time and it's always bullets forward. This makes for a much faster more comfortable mag change (at least for me).

1. Run gun dry
2. Drop empty mag
3. Bring hand down to side in normal orientation (palm to the inside, fingers down, and thumb facing forward) No need for twisting wrist in some strange way.
4. Place index finger along front side of mag pouch
5. Wrap my middle, ring, and pinky finger around mag
6. As I pull mag out of the pouch Index finger ends up on the nose of the bullet
7. Use index finger to guide mag into mag well.

I've actually read about both schools of thought but I think the most commonly excepted is bullet facing forward. But if you've been doing it your way for that long and it works for you why change it?

100 % AGREE Keep gun close to chest & you don't have to spin or turn mag just insert

[E6BLASTER]

KIMBERPB, your methode is the one taught to me when I was working in Iraq. I was army working with the SEALS. I was doing just tho opposite as you. They showed me how they do it. It was much faster and easier to hit the mag well. The only way I carry the mags now!

[HK4U]

I got to thinking and realize I had to clarify something. What I said in my first post is true if I am carrying in a vertical carrier such as a duty rig. When I carry concealed now I carry my magazine in a horizontal carrier because I find it more comfortable. I carry it opening to the back so the ammo is towards the front with the bullet pointing toward the ground. So which ever carrier I have on I grab the magazine pretty much the same way.

[utimmer43]

I go with the mag pouch at about 9 o'clock with the bullets pointing forward. When I reach for a fresh mag, my thumb goes between the mag and my hip and my first two fingers along the length of the mag, with the floorplate in the softspot between my thumb and forefinger (as pictured). In one motion, the end of the mag is placed inside the well and starts to slide in, my hand opens up and continues to drive the mag home. Once it clicks, my support hand is right where it belongs, I hit the slide lock with my strong-side thumb and it's ready to fire.

[surfcc]

Originally Posted by utimmer43

I go with the mag pouch at about 9 o'clock with the bullets pointing forward. When I reach for a fresh mag, my thumb goes between the mag and my hip and my first two fingers along the length of the mag, with the floorplate in the softspot between my thumb and forefinger (as pictured). In one motion, the end of the mag is placed inside the well and starts to slide in, my hand opens up and continues to drive the mag home. Once it clicks, my support hand is right where it belongs, I hit the slide lock with my strong-side thumb and it's ready to fire.

Ok...so I practiced bullets forward and it seems to work quite well with my Glock and M&P Mags, but not as smooth with my 1911 mags. The wider baseplates on the Glock and M&P mags helped when retirieving from the mag holder. Thanks for your input everyone. It will help, should I buy the bullet forward mag holder from Milt Sparks.