Honestly, I don’t know how Maglula does it, or how they figured it out. But somehow, they did. They make over 30 different kinds of magazine loaders/unloaders and other loading devices. Today we’re going to examine the Maglula AR-15 Magazine Loader/Unloader. Is it worth your time and money?
How do magazine loaders work?
Maglula’s loaders are somewhat of a mystery. They’re so simple, it’s stupid. To be honest, when you look at one, it seems like it shouldn’t be able to do what it does. There is exactly one moving part, and it manages to push the top bullet down in the magazine while allowing the next bullet to be inserted. And then that one is pushed down. This process is repeated until the magazine is filled.
The first time I saw a magazine loader, I just knew there was no way it was going to work effectively. There just weren’t enough moving parts to do the job. As usual, I was wrong. These things work far better than their simple nature suggests that they should.
Maglula’s loaders are constructed of polymer. The walls and body are thick enough that they will last longer than we will. At the same time, they are very lightweight, so they won’t bog our range bag down.
Using the Maglula AR-15 Loader/Unloader
To use the Maglula AR-15 loader, simply slip it on over the top of the magazine. It clips on via a “Lock Tongue” that clips into the recess in the side of the magazine that locks the magazine into the magazine well of the AR-15 rifle. To remove the loader, move the lock tongue outward via a tab on the loader. It’s rather like hitting the mag release on the rifle. Simply lift the loader off the magazine when you’re done loading.
The loading process is helped if you tilt the magazine slightly to the rear so that gravity can help the rounds fall toward the rear of the magazine.
When the loader is clipped onto the mag, use the lever to load. Move the lever rearward after the first round is inserted, which pushes that round down. Insert another round into the mouth, and push the lever again. Every time the lever is moved either forward or to the rear, it pushes the top round down, allowing another round to be inserted.
In this manner, the magazine can be filled very quickly. Not only does it save time, but it saves pressure on the feed lips of the magazine, which adds to the magazine’s life.
Unloading Magazines
Why would we want to unload a magazine? Perhaps we decided to rotate our magazines and give them a rest. So we unload one batch, and load up another one. Whatever the reason, the Maglula is here to help.
Unloading happens just like loading, except opposite. Tilt the magazine toward the front and preferably, there’s a soft area for the rounds to land. Each time the lever is moved forward or rear, it pops a round out. In no time flat, the magazine is empty. I mean literally, the entire magazine is unloaded in a few seconds.
Comfort Level
AR-15 magazines aren’t terrible to load. However, the Maglula unit really speeds it up. It does save the fingers some irritation.
Unloading magazines is often more difficult because the rounds are under all that spring tension. Sliding them out often causes our fingers to slide along the feed lips, which is decidedly uncomfortable. It’s not a fun process and can leave fingers gouged and even cut. Maglula completely eliminates that and speeds up the process tenfold.
Maglula includes directions that are simple and easy to follow with the loader/unloader. There are photos and everything is easy to understand.
A Final Word
I now have several Maglula loaders/unloaders for different weapons systems. To date, each one has worked perfectly and held up very well. Their sturdy construction inspires confidence that these things will last. And they weigh just a few ounces.
One other positive aspect is that the lever in the loader telescopes down into the unit, making the whole affair even smaller. It literally fits into the palm of the hand. All in all, the loader will fit into a very small space inside the range bag, not taking up much room or weighing things down.
To make the loader operational, simply pull the lever up to where it protrudes out of the unit. This process takes about one second.
Despite the simplistic nature of the mechanics involved, these loaders work like magic. When you look inside and see how simple the internals are, you’ll likely shake your head and smile, saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Well, Maglula did think of it, and they made it happen. And I’m glad they did because these things save a lot of time and aggravation when it’s time to load or unload magazines.
So how much will the Maglula AR-15 Loader/Unloader set us back? At the time of this writing, it costs $24.95. I believe this is a bargain for what you get. If you own an AR-15, I highly recommend this piece of gear, you’ll love it!
