movie question

Typically to ensure all the rounds are seated flush to the rear of the magazine, also to knock loose any binding dirt/mud/poo etc that might be in the magazine.

It can also act as a rough check to see if the magazine is starting to act it's age.

If any rounds start to come loose then the magazine, spring or feedlips are buggered, get rid of the mag now and not when your in the middle of a firefight....

Yeah, from what I understand it's to ensure relatively uniform cartridge alignment as well as to loosen any packed dirt/grime that may have found its way into the mag during storage/transport.

Some soldiers just do it without really knowing the reasoning behind it. They do it because the veterans all do it. Eventually they ask, "By the way, why are we banging our mags?" They get a response similar to the posts above.

One suggestion. Make sure you are wearing your kevlar and not another type of headwear before banging the mag on your head. I can tell you from personal experience that it really really hurts!!!

Make sure the rounds are seated at the back of the mag so it will feed reliably without having any hang up in the mag and bind the follower or get hung up upon insertion. I'm sure they use their helmet because it's the hardest and closest thing to smack it on. I occasionally use a shooting bench or my hand since I don't want to hurt the pack of marlboros that adorn my helmet at the range (jk!)

My sw22a mag binds up occassionally and without thinking of it, I now smack it in my hand before loading it, and it frees up the top round which has a tendency to be at an improper angle. Since doing this I've never had any issue. I didn't think about how I see the mag being tapped on the helmet in movies until afterwards.

I thought they did it in the movies to indicate the tap'ee would not make it through to the end of the movie!
They always seem to be the ones who get killed, kind of like the token black guy in the slasher flicks.

We used to do it in the Army to seat all the rounds to the back of the magazine, and to give the sand, bugs & water a chance to fall out.
But that works way better if you tap on a boot heel with the feed lips pointed down.

I never was one to do it on my helmet for that reason.

That plus the fact all that tapping & waving mags around up by your head just draws attention & rifle sights to your head.


rcmodel

I tap my mags against my hand or thigh. Same effect, but less chance of denting the mag and messing it up even more.

According to the vets I talk to, they say they used to do it to check whether or not the magazine was loaded, and if so, to what extent.

It helps ensure the top rounds are seated.

i do it on my thigh if its a rifle. right shoulder for pistols. donno if i have to for pistols but sometimes do to feel tacticool

yeah i get a real laugh when people do that, most like was said above has no idea why they are doing it they just do, i don't do that never have and see no need in the future to do it, and i have never had any issues by not doing it.

It's also why many Garand stocks look like they've been attacked by woodworms... tapping the bullet points to make sure they're properly seated in the clip.

I palm my pistol mags after loading to ensure proper stacking. Some wonder why it matters on a rimless cartridge, and I suppose it doesn't. It certainly makes a difference in finicky 22LR mags. I also try to give my SKS a good bump on a bench after loading, as that has jammed before from improper stacking.. Always bump an SKS with your hand holding the bolt open!!!