{"id":154,"date":"2017-09-27T19:20:40","date_gmt":"2017-09-27T19:20:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/?p=154"},"modified":"2018-09-20T09:30:17","modified_gmt":"2018-09-20T09:30:17","slug":"strategies-for-reloading-pistols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/strategies-for-reloading-pistols\/","title":{"rendered":"But I Can&#8217;t Reach! Strategies for Reloading Pistols"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By necessity, pistols are generally designed for the average hand size of their anost likely market: men. It makes sense from the manufacturer side to make their products easier to use for the majority of their customers.<\/p>\n<p>For those of us who aren\u2019t \u201cnormal,\u201d it can be a bit more challenging. And it turns out that most everyone doesn\u2019t seem to quite match the idealized hand model that\u2019s used for most pistols anyway. Even with average and some larger hands, controls might not always be easily or consistently manipulated. Or, the shooter might be left-handed. Among the most important controls for any shooter to be able to reach is the magazine release, a necessary part of performing reloads.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_217\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-217\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-217 size-full\" title=\"Desert Eagle Pistol at the range\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Desert-eagle.png\" alt=\"large pistol that's difficult to manipulate\" width=\"770\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Desert-eagle.png 770w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Desert-eagle-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Desert-eagle-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Desert-eagle-200x113.png 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Desert-eagle-750x423.png 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-217\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Magnum Research Desert Eagle is a big gun to run for almost everyone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So what to do? I\u2019ve got below a whole bag full of tricks that you can try to make your reloads more reliable and faster.<\/p>\n<h3>Tips for Reloading Pistols<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-219 size-full\" title=\"McKenzie reloading a pistol\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Reloading-pistols.png\" alt=\"Reloading a pistol\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Reloading-pistols.png 770w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Reloading-pistols-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Reloading-pistols-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Reloading-pistols-200x112.png 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Reloading-pistols-750x422.png 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The first part of reloading a pistol is getting the magazine in the gun out. That means the shooter has to manipulate the magazine release and either let the old magazine fall out through gravity or grab onto it and strip (pull) it out. The shooter also needs to get the new magazine and put it in the magazine well.<\/p>\n<p>Getting at that magazine release is the trickiest part of the reload, so it\u2019s where I\u2019ll be focusing. We can debate another time on where the reload should take place, how best to get the new magazine into the gun, and efficient ways to get the gun back on target.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m also going to focus on the most common magazine release type found on American pistols: a button on the left side of the gun, theoretically under or near the shooter\u2019s strong hand \u2013 right \u2013 thumb when gripping the gun. Some of these techniques are also adaptable to the European paddle-style releases found under the trigger guard, like on the HK VP9.<\/p>\n<p>Ready to try them out? Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n<p>As with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/shooting-vision-cross-dominance\/\">cross-dominance solutions<\/a>, we\u2019ll start with a quick video first, and you can read on below for more details.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nKYZEYaC89E?rel=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>The Flip<\/h3>\n<p>When reloading, most people will try to multitask by reaching for the new magazine with their non-shooting hand while using their primary hand\u2019s thumb to manipulate the magazine release. If you can\u2019t reach the button, the simplest strategy is to just loosen your grip and lightly toss the gun to rotate it until you can press it. After inserting the fresh magazine, you reestablish your grip as you push your non-shooting hand back into position.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m sure you can already see some of the potential downsides. This technique inherently requires some loss of control over the gun. That\u2019s a tricky proposition, especially if your hands are slick with sweat or rain or a little less nimble because of cold. It\u2019s led to dropped guns, even among the highest levels of practiced and experienced shooters.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also not a completely reliable option. The gun won\u2019t always spin consistently, so you won\u2019t be able to hit the magazine release every time. It&#8217;s even worse when you aren\u2019t just standing still or if your hand is slicker or stickier than normal.<\/p>\n<p>Flipping seems fast, but there are other methods just as quick, but less risky.<\/p>\n<h3>The Push<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-233\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Push-Dithered-4.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Instead of simply letting go and relying on a flick of the wrist to bring the magazine release to the thumb, the gun can be moved in a more controlled fashion.<\/p>\n<p>With the push technique, the shooter still loosens her primary hand a bit but then uses the fingers of that hand to push the front corner of the grip and rotate the gun into the thumb. This way, the gun flops around less and you can control exactly where and how fast the gun goes.<\/p>\n<p>While the grip of the gun doesn\u2019t remain fully encircled by the hand, the fingertips provide an extra point of contact that helps prevent a dropped gun. They also push the gun a little bit back into the web of the hand, not just sideways. That helps ensure that the gun stays in the hand and doesn\u2019t slide out in the gap that\u2019s created by opening up to loosen the grip.<\/p>\n<p>As a bonus, pushing the magazine release into the thumb means that there is pressure from both sides into the button, making the press more positive and more likely to be successful in dropping the magazine out.<\/p>\n<p>The downside is that you do need to be relatively coordinated to make the push technique work. It can also be difficult to get the magazine release to the thumb if you can\u2019t touch the button enough to know where to push it towards or you don\u2019t have a lot of practice with getting the angle of the push right.<\/p>\n<h3>The Pull<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-213 size-full\" title=\"The Pull Pistol reloading technique\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Pull-Dithered.gif\" alt=\"how to reload a pistol using a pull method\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, the push technique doesn\u2019t work well because the gun is too big or you\u2019re not familiar enough with it. That\u2019s when the pull technique can be a better choice.<\/p>\n<p>Here, the fingers of the non-shooting hand use the bottom of the trigger guard to gently pull and rotate the magazine release towards the thumb of the primary hand. The primary hand only needs to loosen up enough to allow the rotation to happen.<\/p>\n<p>Since the pull happens when the non-shooting hand is leaving the gun to grab the fresh magazine, it\u2019s a relatively natural movement. It\u2019s a little bit slower, though, because you have to get through pushing the magazine release before you can reach for the fresh magazine. You also might not be able to reacquire a good strong hand grip until you push the gun back into place with your non-shooting hand as it moves back onto the grip, so both coming and going you\u2019ll need two hands.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s still a very effective strategy though, especially when practiced with the push technique either at the same time or as an alternate strategy when the non-shooting hand isn\u2019t available.<\/p>\n<h3>The Other Thumb<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-205 size-full\" title=\"The other thumb reload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Other-Thumb-Dithered-1.gif\" alt=\"Pistol reload method using thumb\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another two-handed technique is to use the thumb of your non-shooting hand to press the magazine release.<\/p>\n<p>The primary hand doesn\u2019t have to do anything but maintain its regular grip on the gun. A slight modification to how your non-shooting hand leaves the gun is all that you need to accomplish this technique. In return, you won\u2019t lose even the slightest bit of control over your gun.<\/p>\n<p>Because the gun stays strongly gripped, it\u2019s possible to press the magazine release very firmly. The button will also always be in the same place relative to the shooting hand, so the physical landmarks of finding it with the non-shooting hand thumb never change. Ultimately, the technique is very reliable and consistent.<\/p>\n<p>The downside, because you do need two hands, is that there\u2019s no backup for single-handed shooting that is similar, like the push\/pull options. You\u2019ll need to learn something completely different to address those situations.<\/p>\n<h3>The Trigger Finger<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-201 size-full\" title=\"Trigger finger reload method\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Trigger-Finger-Dithered.gif\" alt=\"Trigger Finger reload method\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So far, every technique described assumes that the magazine release button is somewhere in the neighborhood of the shooting hand\u2019s thumb. That might not always be the case, especially if you are left-handed and shooting a pistol set up for a right-handed shooter.<\/p>\n<p>Ambidextrous pistols or flipping the magazine release to the other side aren\u2019t always options, so what then? The most common answer is to use the index finger of your primary hand \u2013 that\u2019s right, the tip of your trigger finger.<\/p>\n<p>It can seem awkward to bend your finger far enough to press the magazine release, but it works very well for some shooters. They don\u2019t have to break their grip at all or as much as some of the other methods. As a bonus, they can perform the technique one-handed too.<\/p>\n<p>However, while your index finger can\u2019t be in the trigger guard or on the trigger while it is pressing the magazine release, it can slip in when you are trying to reload quickly or under stress. Practice under safe pressure is necessary to ensure that you don\u2019t have an accidental or negligent discharge while using this technique.<\/p>\n<p>It can also look like your finger is in the trigger guard because it\u2019s not straight and high along the slide as it would be for a traditional reload. If you are at events where a finger in the trigger during a reload leads to disqualification, or around range safety officers who are unfamiliar with the technique, that can cause problems.<\/p>\n<p>Still, this technique is preferred so much by some left-handed shooters that they prefer their magazine release on the left side of the gun. For that matter, some right-handed shooters will move their magazine releases to the right side. For lefties, this is an extra advantage because they aren\u2019t limited to being comfortable shooting pistols that are set up opposite to most of what\u2019s available off the shelf.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also one of the few strategies that\u2019s directly transferable to paddle-style magazine releases that are part of the underside of the trigger guard.<\/p>\n<h3>Hardware Solutions<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-223 size-full\" title=\"Close up of the magazine release on a pistol\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Hardware-solutions-1.png\" alt=\"Things you can buy to help with your grip and make reloading your pistol easier\" width=\"770\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Hardware-solutions-1.png 770w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Hardware-solutions-1-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Hardware-solutions-1-768x459.png 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Hardware-solutions-1-200x119.png 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Hardware-solutions-1-750x448.png 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So far, all of the different options are mostly ways in which you, the shooter, can work around a gun that doesn\u2019t quite fit. The reality of the firearms market is that many people, even top shooters, can\u2019t quite reach magazine releases and press them without compromising their grips in some way, and they have to use one of these ways to operate their gun efficiently.<\/p>\n<p>However, with some guns, there are options that can either make one of these techniques more reliable or make it so that you don\u2019t have to use them at all. If you are a competitive shooter, check your rulebook before making any of these changes, as not all of them are allowed for various competitions or gun divisions. Some of these options also may not be suitable for defensive firearms.<\/p>\n<h5><strong><em>Extended Magazine Releases<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>One gun modification that might be possible for you is an extended magazine release. These are replacement parts that are either longer, larger, or shaped differently than the factory original magazine release.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_161\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-161\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-161 size-medium\" title=\"A large paddle shaped mag base\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun-300x218.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun-1024x744.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun-768x558.png 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun-200x145.png 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun-750x545.png 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun-1140x828.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/Limited-Gun.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-161\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The large, paddle-shaped magazine release is easier for small hands to reach on this 2011.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Extended magazine releases may make it possible for the button to lie directly underneath your shooting hand\u2019s thumb so that you can simply press it by squeezing the thumb in. If not, it can provide a more positive felt index so that when you flip, push, pull, or use another finger to press the button, it\u2019s less prone to error because you\u2019re just adjusting position to press with more force, not to find the release in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>A word of caution: a too-extended or enlarged magazine release can also cause more malfunctions. When it\u2019s too easy to press the button, you may find yourself without a magazine in the gun at all because you\u2019ve squeezed the grip too hard or in just the right spot. It\u2019s important to be careful to not allow a part that helps one relatively minor manipulation get in the way of your standard grip for actually shooting.<\/p>\n<h5><strong><em>Grip Modifications<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>You might also be able to modify the grip of the gun itself.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a pistol with interchangeable parts to change the size of the grip, make sure you try all of the different sizes available. For instance, the Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P small backstrap can make a big difference in being able to reach the magazine release.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_162\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-162\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-162 size-medium\" title=\"Interchangeable grips\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/VZ-Grips-Options-300x231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/VZ-Grips-Options-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/VZ-Grips-Options-768x591.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/VZ-Grips-Options-200x154.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/VZ-Grips-Options-750x577.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/VZ-Grips-Options.jpg 983w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-162\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1911 grip options. PC &#8211; VZ Grips.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Almost all pistols with removable grip panels, such as 1911s, also have factory and aftermarket options that can make the grip size smaller and controls easier to manipulate. You\u2019ll want to look for \u201cslim\u201d grips, those without palm swells, or those with cut-outs that get the thumb closer to the magazine release.<\/p>\n<p>Certain guns can also be directly modified, through a process called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.recoilweb.com\/friday-night-gun-pr0n-boresight-solutions-73541.html\">grip reduction<\/a> when parts of the grip are removed or reshaped to make it smaller or better suited for the individual. It\u2019s best to leave making these changes to an experienced professional because incorrectly performed work can permanently damage the gun or reduce its value.<\/p>\n<h3>So Now What?<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-225 size-full\" title=\"Pistol, ammo and magazines on a target\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/so-now-what.png\" alt=\"Pistol on a target\" width=\"770\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/so-now-what.png 770w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/so-now-what-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/so-now-what-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/so-now-what-200x107.png 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/so-now-what-750x401.png 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a lot of different ways to hit one little button on your gun. Which one should you use? The one you\u2019re most comfortable with, meaning the one that is most consistently reliable for you and fastest after you\u2019ve put in some work to learn the technique. It might be a combination or variation of the options I\u2019ve presented, and it might be different for different guns. You\u2019ll have to try them and see, then report what works best for you.<\/p>\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction--text b-share-calltoaction-text\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction-text__header\">\n<h2>Share this article with your friends!<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"b-social-icons clearfix\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/strategies-for-reloading-pistols\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon facebook\">&nbsp;Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/home?status=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/strategies-for-reloading-pistols\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon twitter\">&nbsp;Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/strategies-for-reloading-pistols\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon linkedin\">&nbsp;LinkedIn<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/strategies-for-reloading-pistols\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon pinterest\">&nbsp;Pinterest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By necessity, pistols are generally designed for the average hand size of their anost likely market: men. It makes sense&hellip;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item-meta\"><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/clock.svg\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" alt=\"\"><time class=\"published\" datetime=\"2017-09-27T19:20:40+00:00\">Sep. 27, 2017<\/time><\/span><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/comment.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\">1 comment<\/span><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/strategies-for-reloading-pistols\/\"><span>Read more <\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/chevron-right.svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5,4],"tags":[6,10],"class_list":["post-154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-competition","category-range-training","category-self-defense","tag-pistols","tag-reloading"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=154"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2679,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154\/revisions\/2679"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}