Pack rds to front or rear of mag

[eagleridge357]

I was at the range saturday and got into a conversation with another shooter after he saw me tapping my rds toward the front of the mag before installing it into my pistol. He said he taps his toward the rear after he fully loads the mag. Out of curiousity he asked why do I tap them toward the front, did I have a specific reason? I said no, just habit. Then I began to wonder if there is a preferred way to pack a fully loaded mag, is it toward the front as much as possible, or the rear? Does it make any difference?

 

[capitalcrew]

I always keep them to the rear. No idea if it makes any difference. In my ar using regular 223/556 mags the 6.8 rounds will touch the front of the mag if I don't, so that's how I got in the habit.

 

[gqllc007]

Always to the rear for better feeding to avoid 3 point jams

 

[MilesTeg]

Always to the rear for better feeding to avoid 3 point jams

This^^

 

[speedkills27]

always packed them to the, rear no idea why though
thanks for the info 007

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Rear. I don't do it just to do it though. On my tokarev magazines sometimes the rounds tend to nose dive and tapping to the rear fixes it up. This also works on the cheap mags that 1911s usually come with.

 

[Podmonkey]

I tap to seat to the rear reflexively, I don't even know I'm doing it. Army habit I guess. Once I even banged an AR mag against my bare head without thinking! It smarted a little

 

[eagleridge357]

Interesting. I'll have to experiment with it and see if my range ammo likes the front or rear better.

 

[Phauxtoe]

rear, if i do it!

 

[Criticalt]

No tapping here.......should I be?
Never had in issue in 35 years with no tapping

 

[dubleuhb]

I tap to seat to the rear reflexively, I don't even know I'm doing it. Army habit I guess.

This is where I got it from, just a habit.

 

[GOPerfect]

I tap mags to the rear cause the Army told me to. I have never changed.

 

[eagleridge357]

Always to the rear for better feeding to avoid 3 point jams

OK, but I don't see why that would effect the feed to ramp. It's just a matter of how far the cartridge travels before it's seated in the chamber. After it contacts the ramp, front or rear mag positioning has nothing to do with it, or am I wrong?

No tapping here.......should I be?
Never had in issue in 35 years with no tapping

I have not either, that's why I am asking. I suppose the extra space in the mag is to accomodate various bullet lengths, longer bullets, no space. If space, not a huge deal. It's just an anal thing with me, I want them all in one line. I think to the rear now makes more sense.

 

[ProgSpear]

Insuring rounds were properly seated in M1 Garand clips was a key part of the loading process, to make sure there were no loading and feed issues. This could be a holdover habit from those days.

 

[MilesTeg]

OK, but I don't see why that would effect the feed to ramp. It's just a matter of how far the cartridge travels before it's seated in the chamber. After it contacts the ramp, front or rear mag positioning has nothing to do with it, or am I wrong?

I have not either, that's why I am asking. I suppose the extra space in the mag is to accomodate various bullet lengths, longer bullets, no space. If space, not a huge deal. It's just an anal thing with me, I want them all in one line. I think to the rear now makes more sense.

It comes from the military. That's where I was first taught to do it. I think it stems from using worn out springs in old magazines. If the spring is weak and the bullets are near the front they tend to nose dive when getting stripped from the feed lips. If they are pushed rearward when they are stripped off they have some more momentum when they hit the feed ramp. I don't know if it really works but it was beaten into me enough I do it without even thinking about it.

 

[eagleridge357]

It comes from the military. That's where I was first taught to do it. I think it stems from using worn out springs in old magazines. If the spring is weak and the bullets are near the front they tend to nose dive when getting stripped from the feed lips. If they are pushed rearward when they are stripped off they have some more momentum when they hit the feed ramp. I don't know if it really works but it was beaten into me enough I do it without even thinking about it.

Yeah that makes sense. I like that kind of physics-based explanation. I can see how they would nose dive and hit the ramp incorrectly. I suppose the army had vast experience with their rifles and pistols, but suppose it makes sense for everyday ammo and guns too.

 

[Podmonkey]

No tapping here.......should I be?
Never had in issue in 35 years with no tapping

Could have been just an issue with GI M16 mags with the GI followers. These would jam regularly if the rounds weren't seated to the rear

 

[togmaster]

I don't know what you Guys are talking about. Never did this and never had a problem.

 

[Greywolf224]

Always tap my loaded magazines on the rear to seat all rounds to their primer side of the case. My reason is because my Kahr K40 has a sharp angled short feed ramp and HP's tended to jam every once in a while. I polished up the ramp and never received any more jams but I still practice the tap on all auto's.

 

[eagleridge357]

I don't know what you Guys are talking about. Never did this and never had a problem.

Yes this applies only to us magtappers

 

[togmaster]

I was going to say rear packers.

 

[Saltwater60]

You guys are all admitting that your taps rears. Hahaha I'm too funny.

 

[Greywolf224]

Better a rear tapper than a muzzle flasher!

 

[dwa12479]

I always tap my mags to seat the rounds to the rear. That's just what I was taught years ago to avoid potential feed problems. Never really gave it much thought.

 

[eagleridge357]

Whether you prefer to tap the front or bump the rear, the little round bullety things will align nicely and produce a BIG BANG!

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

Part two:

Which way do you tap your clips?

*runs away*

 

[Steve H]

Would recoil force the cartridges toward the front of the mag anyway?

 

[MoMan]

I always tap to the rear. That's the way my Son said they were instructed in the Army.
He still does it after retiring a couple of years ago, so I figure; what the hell, I might as well too!

 

[Darth]

Always tap to the rear.

 

[Phazer]

You guys are all admitting that your taps rears. Hahaha I'm too funny.

Better a rear tapper than a muzzle flasher!

Trump doesn't tap rears. He grabs...oh...never mind...

Carry on.