Bolt Open or Closed When Inserting Magazine?

[Turkeytider]

Not sure this makes any difference but I`m in a learning mode about rifles for sure. In order to ensure proper seating and chambering of a first round, can bolt position make a difference? Thanks for patience with a basic question, guys.

 

[Riomouse911]

I prefer bolt open if the situation allows for it. It assures me there is a chambered round when I load then close.

I especially like open bolts with fully loaded Mini-14 mags, those can be a grizzly to seat when full on a closed bolt.

Stay safe.

 

[entropy]

Open if the option exists. One less action to perform, and as Riomouse says you know for sure that top one goes in the pipe.

 

[bfoosh006]

Surprisingly, some mag / AR combos have issues when seating a fully loaded mag on a closed bolt.

There isn't a list of the combos that I am aware of... but the typical issue is "X" brand fully loaded mag is very hard to seat on my AR with the bolt closed "

I prefer a closed BCG and a freely insert able fully loaded mag.

So my best answer will be, test all your mags with your specific firearm.Both open BCG and closed BCG.

Some of the first Lancer mags were noted for this... it wasn't a design flaw on the mags part, but it was tolerance stacking issues.

Lancer posted a simple DIY fix for those having the issue. ( sanding the follower legs slightly shorter )

Another known mag seating issue is the Magpul M3's in BCM lowers... while not a bolt open / closed issue, the M3's rear "anti over-insertion" tab doesn't play well with BCM lowers... also readily fixed sanding the tab thinner.

 

[The Glockodile]

Personal preference - open.

 

[daniel craig]

Either or. For me it's simply part of the timing of reloading. If I'm fully out of ammo and I'm at lockback well I'll reload with the bolt open if I'm not and I want to reload with a round in the chamber I will reload with the bolt closed instead of jacking out that round. It really doesn't matter either way to me.

 

[Speedo66]

I like to have the ability to insert a loaded magazine into a gun with a closed bolt, just because it adds to its versatility.

If I was a tactical kind of guy, I'd say it makes changing mags from a partially depleted one to a full one easier, while still keeping one in the pipe in a combat situation. AKA tactical reload.

 

[jmr40]

Depends. If I want the chamber loaded it is easier to insert the mag with the bolt open. Then close it to load the chamber. If I plan to carry with a cold chamber, then insert the mag with the bolt closed.

I'll add that SOME magazines if fully loaded can be hard to insert with the bolt closed. And then hard to chamber the 1st round when needed while increasing chances for a malfunction. It really depends on each magazine and you just have to know your gear. It might be necessary to load SOME magazines 1 or 2 rounds short of full.

 

[FL-NC]

Open is generally the best practice.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I can load a full mag into my Ar-15's fine with a closed bolt, but it is easier if open. My Sks and Mini 14 are more difficult to load with closed bolt.

 

[.308 Norma]

As I've mentioned in several threads, my wife and I have been exterminating ground squirrels over on our friend's ranch over the course of the last few weeks. Most of the time I've been using my Kimber bolt action .22LR, and it came with 3, 5-round magazines. I've been keeping 2 loaded magazines in my shirt pocket, and 1 in the gun, and when there's kind of a lull in the shooting, I just eject the magazine that's in the gun (regardless of whether or not there's still a round or two left in it) and shove a fresh magazine in - with the bolt closed.
Then, if another ground squirrel doesn't pop up right away, I "top-off" the ejected magazine from the pouch full of .22LR rounds in my vest or jacket pocket.
My wife does the same thing with her Ruger "American Rimfire" bolt action, only she has a 10-round and a 15-round magazine - same magazines as a 10/22.
BTW, we went ground squirrel shooting yesterday morning, and again after lunch and a nap. Ground squirrel shooting is about over for this year because the grass is getting tall, making the ground squirrels hard to spot, and they'll be going back down into their dins for their long hibernations pretty soon anyway.
We've sure killed a lot of them this spring though. I think they're like rabbits in that their populations go in cycles, and this is a big year for them. My wife, our grandson and I have probably killed somewhere around 500 ground squirrels this year. And over on our friend's ranch yesterday, it didn't seem like we've put much of a dent in the population. It seemed like every time we'd shoot one, another would pop up out of a hole not two feet away, and the ones in the tall grass behind us were "chirping" at us the whole time we were there.

 

[wesmonster]

Well depends on the rifle.
With a semi auto with bolt hold open on an empty mag, you’d normally have an open bolt for mag changes, like with an AR or Mini-14. Then hit the mag release to chamber next round.
In something like an AK with no BHO, you’ll seat a mag on a closed bolt every time. BHO mags will keep the action open when empty but as soon as you remove the mag, the action closes.
Now if we’re talking a bolt action, I would always seat a mag on a closed bolt.
Some rifles are just easier to seat full mags when open. My Colt pattern AR in 9mm is very difficult to seat a full mag on a closed bolt, the only way to insure it’s fully seated is on an open bolt, even the hardest slap won’t always seat.

 

[mljdeckard]

I have established the habit of having the bolt open. I suppose the idea of downloading two might help in some cases on a closed bolt, but I have never had any trouble loading on a closed bolt. I just jam them in hard.

 

[N555]

I prefer bolt open if the situation allows for it. It assures me there is a chambered round when I load then close.

I especially like open bolts with fully loaded Mini-14 mags, those can be a grizzly to seat when full on a closed bolt.

Stay safe.

Yeah bolt open for sure on mini14 and the like. If you put like 3 rounds in a 5 round mag it seats ok. Or about 13 rounds in a 30 ehh.

 

[Ignition Override]

Turkeytider: If you could describe which specific type(s) of rifle you have in mind,

people can then give the proper info.

One type of rifle I have is said to operate best when the bolt carrier is pulled to the rear, before inserting a magazine.
The military version was used by about 65 countries.

 

[jmorris]

My mags that I have as reloads on stages are generally downloaded to smooth out the reload. This is because with a stuffed mag the BCG has to push the column of bullets down with greater force than when there is a bit of breathing room.

When the BCG is retracted, none of that matters but it’s faster to perform a “top off” reload than a “empty gun” one.

 

[sarduy]

Not sure this makes any difference but I`m in a learning mode about rifles for sure. In order to ensure proper seating and chambering of a first round, can bolt position make a difference? Thanks for patience with a basic question, guys.

For tactical reload = closed
For emergency reload = open

 

[Turkeytider]

Turkeytider: If you could describe which specific type(s) of rifle you have in mind,

people can then give the proper info.

One type of rifle I have is said to operate best when the bolt carrier is pulled to the rear, before inserting a magazine.
The military version was used by about 65 countries.

Yes, I wasn`t specific enough. Looks like most responses are from AR type shooters. I was referring to bolt action guns, hunting and target.

 

[entropy]

Same answer applies; if an option, open. If not, closed. .308 Norma's situation is about the only one I can think of where closed would apply for a bolt action, but when prairie dogging, there always was one guy in the group that had their gun loaded even if the others were reloading. It was rare for three or four guys to be out at the same time.

 

[Nature Boy]

Either

 

[TonyAngel]

It depends on the situation. If I'm in a situation where running out of ammo would be bad for my health (or playing like I'm in that situation), I'll reload while when the opportunity presents itself, usually while moving or taking advantage of cover. I use all magpul mags and have no problems at all seating a magazine on a closed bolt.

 

[Varminterror]

For many rifles, a full mag will not lock into place with the bolt closed, so this is one complication to this considerations.

But barring a full mag which doesn’t leave room to sink below the close bolt…

If your rifle doesn’t feed properly based on whether or not the mag was inserted with bolt closed or open, then your rifle doesn’t feed properly. Fix the rifle, don’t manipulate the technique(s).

 

[Ironicaintit]

I'd much rather throw the mag in there with the bolt open, but either will do. Which is good, cuz it's not always possible (or convenient)
Varminterror is right IMO: correct the quirks so that it'll work either way.
That way you don't have to stop and think, when you may not have time to stop and think

 

[Australian410hunter]

Generally speaking, confirm clear when I pick up the rifle, insert magazine when moving to area where shooting, move to 'instant' condition; work bolt, ready to shoot, when at expected area of hunting, or ready to fire on range.
If reach end of magazine, bolt open, insert magazine, close bolt, to continue shooting.
And if walking, and have fired majority of magazine may 'tactical reload' another magazine into rifle, which remains bolt closed, round in breach.
When practical top up partially expended magazine, if required.
Unless hunting pigs, or rabbits, this is not normally required, as most hunting requires one to two shots.

 

[matttric]

I always do bolt open. Main reason is safety. It’s one more check for me that I didn’t make a mistake and seat a round. It also allows me (or anyone else) to do a quick visual inspection to ensure the firearm is empty. The other reason I load with bolt open, is it’s one less action to preform, All my handguns auto lock to the rear when empty, my ARs lock to the rear, and on my bolt action, I leave the bolt to the rear. I put in a mag, ride the bolt forward, and ready to go. The 3rd reason is muscle memory. If i do things the same way every time, not only does it become smoother, but I’m less likely to make a mistake.