Tapping Magazines after Loading

B

BarryLee

New member
I was taught to tap the bottom of a magazine on a hard surface after loading and/or before inserting into the gun as a way of assisting proper seating of the cartridges. I was doing this at the range last weekend and a friend said doing this makes no sense. I’ll freely admit that I’m no expert on the matter, but my Father who was in the US Army Military Police for ten years taught me to do this. I realize he may have simply picked it up from some dude that heard it from some other guy, etc.

So, has anyone ever heard of tapping magazines before inserting them into a gun? Is there any benefit to doing this or is it simply an old myth that my Dad picked up somewhere?
 
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I certainly don't think it does any harm.
I've seen lots of Vietnam-era clips of G.I.s tapping their mags against their helmet before seating the mag, to think that there must be some benefit, in some instances, of ensuring that the rounds are stacked flat against the rear of the mag for best function.
I do occasionally tap my .45 mags against my palm, to ensure that the top round is fully seated in the tube.
There can also be issues with case rims overlapping each other, and I've read a detailed mag-loading procedure, for hi-cap "1911" mags, that included tapping the mags on the bench every five rounds, or something, to ensure that the rounds are aligned and seated properly.
 
I've seen it done, but was not taught to do so and never done it before. I do tap the bottom of the mag when I insert it into a pistol to make sure it is seated. Maybe that accomplishes the same thing?
 
Yeah, I've seen folks tap their magazines on the bottoms, on the fronts, all kinds of ways.
Also have seen rounds pop right out of them doing so, too.
Maybe it's as much for good luck as anything else. :)
 
I've never noticed.. But I tap the back of my magazines after I'm finished loading them too. Where the peepholes / numbers are.

Heh.... Wonder where I picked that up from.
 
I do it to AK/AR mags. It visibly set the rounds back against the spine of the mag, seems to keep the bullet tips from binding.
 
Tapping the magazine against a hard surface is part of the loading process for the PMR30 according to the owners manual. I think depending on the cartridge, magazine design, and how stiff the spring is it has merit.
 
In Army Basic training they taught to bang the back side of the magazine against your helmet to make sure the rounds were stacked evenly against the back of the magazine.


For a pistol IDK. Make sure it is loaded properly to begin with I think is best. I tend to push back on the top round to make sure it is seated properly before insertion.

Some magazines in some guns may have the top round come loose or get cocked if you rough handle the magazine. You don't want to create a FTF on a new magazine and get the bolt stuck on the top round. This could be really bad depending upon the circumstances.
 
I was never taught that either...( but in the 50's I was taught that semi-autos were not to be trusted in Defense--- so my dad and uncle carried S&W revolvers on duty as small town cop and deputy sheriff ). :D

But we had 1911's around in those days...and shot them a lot / but they never carried them on duty.

I don't tap the mag before I insert it / I was taught a finger position on the bullet as mag comes up and out of pouch on belt..so I can feel if there is an issue. My primary carry today ..is a 1911 ...in 9mm.
 
ttarp Tapping the magazine against a hard surface is part of the loading process for the PMR30 according to the owners manual.
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Yes sir, the CMR & PMR require that you tap the mag on a hard surface as you load it.

I do this will all mags as I load them, and sometimes before I insert them in a gun.


.
 
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Good practice !!!

Yes,
There is definitely a benefit and it is taught but obviously not by all instructors. Whether you are loading a mag of feeding out of a mag it helps to loosen rounds that have gotten stuck, in the mag. If you have never encountered a stuck round, in a mag while shooting, it will be a new experience.

Be Safe !!!
 
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I don't understand what tapping the bottom of a magazine is supposed to accomplish. I always tap the back spine of a magazine against the palm of my hand (not a hard surface) to ensure that all rounds are fully and equally back in the tube. That's it.
 
I have heard of tapping the rear of the magazine to seat all the bases to the back of the magazine, but not on a hard surface , the palm of the open hand would be enough. This was usually with 22's where the rims were stacked one ahead of the other but it wouldn't hurt with any other type, single or double stack. You're just making sure all the rounds are to the rear.

Tapping the base on a hard surface does nothing but beat up the base plate.

Gary
 
My take on it is the same as Aquila Blanco. I tap to have all the cartridges (primer side) firm against the back of the magazine. Certainly won't hurt anything.
 
Yeah, tapping the bottom of the mag is not very useful, it may even cause a problem. Not too likely unless you do it with a bit of force.


Tapping the rear of the mag, and you do not have to do it with much force... Is to ensure the top round is fully to the rear of the mag. Tap against your hand, or leg, or a helmet if you are wearing one.

It originated with military rifles with detachable mags...

A soldier moving around banging gear into things or jumping, bouncing around, can cause the top round to slip forward a bit in the mags in his mag pouch. This can happen when loading a mag as well, if one is not paying attention. If the top round is forward, past the edge of the mag body, (not enough to be outside the dimensions of the mag body, but forward enough that the top round would catch on the mag body if you tried to push it down or load a round in top of it) A situation like that may cause feeding failure of the round. Or if it is far enough forward and a bit past the forward edge of the mag, prevent you from inserting the magazine.

This isn't a problem with a magazine inserted into a firearm, as the bolt pushes the top round down a bit, so the nose is inside the mag body and unable to move forward much.


Tapping the rear of the mag ensures the round is seated to the rear in an effort to prevent feed failure. They don't take the time to look at the round, they just do the tap as a precaution.


This may not be as necessary with the new M4 feed ramp design. As the lower cut feed ramp may allow a round that is too far forward to still feed properly.

Newer magazine/followers may not have this issue either.

The Magpul for example is said to feed the new steel tipped rounds higher up into the feed ramp, preventing damage to the lower feed ramps.

It's possible that the changes to the GI mags over the years helped as well. For example... The newest revision is being introduced to fix the issue of the new bullet design causing feed ramp damage. And there were changes before this spanning back several decades.



As far as mag tapping... That's my understanding of it anyway.
 
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I don't understand what tapping the bottom of a magazine is supposed to accomplish. I always tap the back spine of a magazine against the palm of my hand (not a hard surface) to ensure that all rounds are fully and equally back in the tube. That's it.
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Same here with all my mags. It's a habit.
 
Probably a throw back to when M1 Rifle clips were thumped on the butt plate(also seen as dimples in stocks) to seat the cartridges. Doesn't do anything one way or the other with a pistol mag.
As mentioned, it's not on a hard surface. Your hand is good.
 
I certainly don't think it does any harm.
I've seen lots of Vietnam-era clips of G.I.s tapping their mags against their helmet before seating the mag, to think that there must be some benefit, in some instances, of ensuring that the rounds are stacked flat against the rear of the mag for best function.
I do occasionally tap my .45 mags against my palm, to ensure that the top round is fully seated in the tube.
There can also be issues with case rims overlapping each other, and I've read a detailed mag-loading procedure, for hi-cap "1911" mags, that included tapping the mags on the bench every five rounds, or something, to ensure that the rounds are aligned and seated properly.
Click to expand...
Thats how Dad taught me and the wife how to shoot. He was from Korea days so a little before the Vietnam War.
 
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