Speedloading Help

[ECHOONE]

Its been awhile since Ive been shooting and have just got back into it. Back in the day, when I was in the service I use to shoot the 1911, when I got my CCW last year I weaned myself back in with a .38 special and recently purchase a Springfield 1911A1 and have been practicing almost every day but am finding it difficult to do my reloads due to my small hands. before I can release the mag clip I am forced to lose my good grip and need to rotate my hand around in order for my thumb to hit the release. does anyone here know of any techniques I could implement to avoid loosing my solid grip and having to rotate my hand back and forth on the handle. Last thing I need is to look like an ass dropping my pistol doing a reload because I lost my grip!

[1911NM]

Have seen some people at USPSA matches who have that small hand issue drop the mag with their weak hand then go for a new mag. Always hesitate to mention a mag release extension as so many have issues with getting a good thumbs forward grip and having the mag hit the ground at the same time. IIRC, there are aftermarket ambi-mag releases that could be hit with your trigger finger. Might check Brownells. Would be worth it to go into your safe room, no ammo, and try different ways of dropping a mag., trigger finger, weak hand, etc. However it works for you, practice, practice, practice.

[spwenger]

...but I now teach a technique described to me by Bert DuVernay, fomer director of S&W Academy. Bert offered it as a cold-weather technique, intended to work when you're wearing thick gloves. Since I am fond of "universal techniques," I figure if it's reliable with gloves, it will always be reilable and, even if it's a trifle slower than the customary match-oriented technique, it doesn't require you to compromise your firing grip, making it more reliable under stress.

When you perceive the need to reload, bring your gun-hand elbow back to your rib cage (keeping the muzzle in a safe direction), as you reach for the new magazine with your non-gun hand. Punch the magazine-release button with the thumb of the hand that is holding the magazine and, if needed, rip the old magazine out by grasping the base plate between the little and ring fingers of the hand that is holding the new magazine. (If you are holding the gun in your left hand, you will need to make sure that the gun is already rotated as descired in the next sentence.) With the gun rotated (again, making sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction) about 45 degrees inward (7:30 if the gun is in your right hand, 4:30 if it's in your left hand), slip the lips of the magazine into the well and slap the magazine into place. If the gun is in your right hand, slide the left thumb up to where it reaches the slide relase and yank down. If the gun is in your left hand, roll the middle finger of the right hand under the gun and up to the slide release and yank down. Again, this is accomplished without compromising the firing grip of the gun.

[1911 guy]

It's not always a bad thing, I tend to do it myself. The trick is consistency. Practice this drill slowly, speed up when you've gotten it fumble-free.

Load two magazones of one round each. Lock and load one, put the other into your mag pouch.

Fire the round *accurately* - this is about doing it right, not fast, in the beginning.

Move your right hand toward your body, hitting the mag release as you move. Strip the mag from the gun with your left, even if it "always" drops free. Continue the downward motion with your left hand, dropping the empty and moving toward your mag pouch.

Grasp the magazine with the base near your palm, locating the end of your index finger at the nose of the bullet in the mag.

Draw the mag, moving it toward the gun, which should now be at chest level right in front of you.

The index finger gives you a locating point, put the mag into the gun, slamming it home with the heel of your hand in one motion.

Send gun back into battery.

Reacquire firing grip and push gun back out in front of you to firing position.