Reloading a rifle with the shooting hand

I always reloaded my AK entirely with my right hand while my left hand holds it. I'd drop the mag with the right hand, then reach down and grab the new one with my right hand. I would next insert it with my right hand before finally cocking the gun with my right hand.

I know that this is going to bring a lot of hate, but my procedure is rather similar to how the reload is handled in the below video. Before anyone moans about it, yes, I know it is from a video game. Video games are not real life. However, this is the technique I was taught (not by the game; I was shooting an AK before I played L4D2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NaD_q0AujQ

This shows another way of doing this (not me in the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RImixbIX6jk

The AR's charging handle and bolt release are both set up for left hand access. Seems inefficient to change the mag with the right hand, then get your shooting grip, and then close the bolt...when you could have kept your RH where it belongs, the whole time.

I reload bolt-actions and shotguns with my RH, being a rightie. But AR and pistol mag changes are by LH.

I reload with whatever hand I am comfortable doing so with. I am ambidextrous so it doesn't really matter....chris3

If you have a proper sling, you should have no reason to be losing control of the front of the weapon by taking your hand off of it. It helps to tuck the stock under your armpit, tilt the muzzle upward and forward at a 45 degree angle, and rotate the rifle to the left anywhere from 45-90 degrees to facilitate magazine insertion. A good sling will help to stabilize the rifle. A common problem that comes up is that people often have their slings improperly adjusted. More often than not, they're too loose. There's a difference between a sling and a carry strap.

Doing a mag change with your left hand is usually much faster and allows you to keep your grip and stay on target. However with an AK I find it faster to do a right handed reload. Since the bolt doesn't lock back, and it's awkward to operate with your left hand. Just part of the bad ergonomics of the rifle.

^ I don't think that the AK has bad ergonomics at all. A lot of people have issues where they try to take their AR techniques and ideas to it. I think the ergonomics are personally better and I am definitely glad for all the big easy to hit controls.

Moved from ST&T...

High speed tactical reloads are much faster for the new soldier learning the routine when they have a light rifle and it's left hand doable. You can and will beat the AK in a reload with the AR, and most modern battle rifle designs are doing it.

Line up 20 mags on a table, one for the AR, one for the AK, each with one round in it. Have the shooter load the mag, aim, fire, and drop it, repeating for all 20 mags, against the clock, and for accuracy. The AR shooter will win every time.

Why? The AR starts with the bolt held back and locked, and will be every succeeding shot. The trigger finger never leaves it's station, and helps by dropping the mag. Ergonomic means less monkey motion or wasted time, and the AK is NOT ergonomic in that regard. Stoner paid attention to control layout and function, his setup is now the baseline for new weapons. Not the wronghanded, slow, and harder to accomplish AK method of inserting a mag against a closed bolt and then being forced to charge it.

While recreational shooters can play around all they want on a warm Saturday afternoon at the gravel pit, serious tactical shooters will prefer the increased ease of design that a user friendly firearm offers. It gives them that much more edge to stay alive.

Here's what most people miss at a three gun match - it's not the forest of AR's they need to be overwhelmed with, they are there because it's the right kind of tree to begin with. Other species pop up - bolt guns, AK's, AUG's, and some of those are operated by a highly skilled shooter that can make them work. In the long run, what they have posted is that it was fun to try, but they could see exactly why the AR is top dog - superior control layout with left hand reloads. It's not popular because it's America's service rifle, it's popular because it helps the shooter get in First Place.

THAT'S the end result of better ergonomics. AR's win, AK's lose. Cheap ammo and a great magazine design aren't enough to make up the difference.