Loading magazines is a necessary evil. How do we shoot without loading? Loading a magazine or two isn’t a problem. Loading ten mags is a problem if you are supposed to be doing it quickly and efficiently. That’s why we turn to magazine loaders to make life easy. There are lots and lots of options out there, and the Maglula Benchloader might be one of the best.
Maglula has long been a name in the magazine loader business. When you say Maglula, what I picture is their patented magazine loaders that mount on the top of a magazine and load the gun a round at a time. They are efficient, and I wouldn’t shoot my Colt SMG pattern PCC without them. The Maglula Benchloader is a bit bigger and a fair bit different than the standard magazine loader.
As the name implies, it’s designed to be mounted to a bench, and it’s designed to load a magazine in a flash. The Maglula Benchloader comes in three variations. The standard M4/AR-15 design. A Steyr Aug and AR-15 model, and a G-36 model. We are reviewing the stock standard Maglula Benchloader.
The Maglula Benchloader in Living Color
The Maglula Benchloader is a big piece of gear compared to the standard Maglula loaders. It’s more than a foot long and features a gentle curve. At one end, we have a device that locks the magazine into the loader. At the other end, we have a slider. Between the two, we drop 30 rounds into place and use the slider to push them into the magazine.
It’s simple but effective. It’s designed and made from a high-impact, glass-filled polymer. The magazine catch has a steel tooth that locks the magazine into place and makes it easy to load the magazines without having to hold the magazine in place. Insert the magazines, drop the rounds in, and then push the slider inward, and bam, you’re all loaded and ready to go.
While it might be 16.5 inches overall, the Benchloader weighs only 12.7 ounces overall. It can be tossed into a range bag and brought from range to range or used as a stationary mount. Depending on who you are and how you’re using it, the Benchloader can be quite versatile.
Using the Benchloader
I’ve described the typical design so far, but I should elaborate a bit more. You have to set the rounds in at an angle projectile first. This design might slow down your loading, but it ensures the rounds don’t pop upward as you apply pressure. Things tend to follow the path of least resistance, and this prevents that.
The magazines lock in place easily, and if you are nervous about the steel tooth harming your polymer magazines, you can just press it upward and release it when the magazine is in place. Once the magazine is locked in, insert your rounds. The Benchlaoder can hold 30 rounds. The slider has this big fat grip you pinch between your thumb and forefinger and then push with a little force. The rounds will slide in without much issue.
Some real force is needed near the end, but anyone can do it. The Benchloader has two slots for retention. One allows you to use a chain. Another is a securing hole. This allows you to screw the Benchloader to the table with a screw. When the device is fully mounted to a table, it’s easier to load. A set of nonslip feet help keep it from moving, but the screw really works wonders.
There is a hole in the middle that aligns with the 30th round. This allows you to tell if the magazine is fully loaded when dealing with low-light situations. The overall layout is smart and easy to use. It’s also easy to use with minimal moving parts that won’t rust or break during use.
All the Magazines
Type in AR 15 magazine and tell me what happens. You get dozens, if not hundreds, of results. AR magazines are made by dozens of companies and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Compatibility is important. I used the Benchloader with Magpul P-Mags in gen 2 and 3 varieties. I also tried mags from Lancer, ETS, ProMag, Hexmag, Okay Industries, and D&H Tactical magazines. They all fit easily and functioned fine.
I also ran myself against the clock. I loaded a Lancer with 30 rounds by hand and another Lancer with 30 rounds through the Benchloader. All 30 rounds were in boxes, and I loaded them fairly casually, just as I would at the range. It took me one minute and 48 seconds by hand and one minute and ten seconds with the Benchloader.
If you just drop the ammo from the box, it’s even faster, and magazines could be loaded in less than a minute. When pulling loose ammo from a box of American Eagle 5.56, I was loading mags in a flash.
In fact, I loaded 450 rounds of ammunition into 15 different mags on day one without issue. It took no time at all to get these mags loaded and stored away. Doing this with thumbs and willpower would have been a total drain on both my thumbs and soul. After using the Benchloader, 450 rounds feel like chump change when compared to what it’s designed for.
Do you Need a Benchloader?
The Maglula Behcloader might not be the best thing for everyone. Casual shooters likely won’t need it. If you shoot less than 100 rounds at the range per session, then it might be a bit extravagant. A standard Maglula might be for you. If you train, shoot a lot, and need to get your magazines loaded, then the Benchloader is for you.
If you are a range owner or firearms instructor, then the Benchloader might be a value add to your range or classes. These allow students or customers to pop their mags into place and get their stuff loaded quickly. For trainers, this can be valuable to keep a class moving and shooter shooting.
It’s not a cheap item, but you can secure the Benchloader to a bench via a chain. There is a specific slot designed to allow just that. It’s simple but robust, capable, highly useful, and designed for last. This isn’t a casual shooter’s tool but a professional-grade magazine loader. It’s super easy to use and can be used in a flash.
