Can You Load Fixed Magazine Rifle Through Bottom?

[HGM22]

For rifles like the Mosin Nagant and SKS, instead of loading rounds one by one through the top, can someone just open up the magazine from the bottom, throw in a pile of cartridges (oriented correctly), and close the magazine? Would the rounds feed (I get the Mosin's rimmed cartridges might not work as well)?

And yes I know about stripper clips, but this seems like a faster way of loading cartridges for those without. Instead of feeding 5-10 rounds one by one all under spring pressure, it seems easier to drop in said rounds and THEN apply spring pressure.

 

[Captain O]

To put it plainly, no. You need to load the fixed-floorplate magazine through the top, after you have locked the action in the open position. Theoretically, it could be done, but it would be nearly impossible to put the ammunition into place, compress the spring into position and screw the bottom back into position. (This would require the use of between three and four hands and the arms of Arnold Shwarzenegger). :banghead:

What's the point?

 

[Jeff H]

I've never tried it but I'm leaning towards no, not practical. The springs are pretty stiff on both guns and in the case of the SKS, the bullets stick down past the bottom of the stock and into the mag. If you open the magazine, there is nothing to hold all of the bullets in place.


Stripper clips are fast. I always have a few hundred 7.62x39 and a hundred or so 7.62x54R loaded on clips at all times. Reloads are easier than changing a magazine on my AR.

 

[Longhorn 76]

Sounds like you need a Krag.

 

[chicharrones]

SKS? Yep.

See this video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1c7ZTcNTC5s

 

[Panzerschwein]

With an SKS, that will work for about 7-8 rounds in my experience. For a Mosin, due to the rimmed cartridges, it is a bad idea and doesn't work.

But these guns have stripper clip guides for a reason.

 

[jrdolall]

I imagine, though I have never tried it, that it is one of those things you probably could do but why bother? Loading single cartridges in as SKS isn't difficult and stripper clips make it a 2 second drill.

 

[Sav .250]

In stead of asking folks ..............Try it, Find out for yourself..........J s/n.

 

[tark]

It works on a Mosin, at least. Don't worry about the Rims. The Mosin has an interrupter which eliminates the problem of one rim snagging the rim of the cartridge below it and failing to feed. The Mosin is a brilliant design and is the only military rifle that has completely solved this problem. Loading a 7.7mm Arisaka from the bottom is easy, but it doesn't seem any easier than loading it the conventional way. At least not to me.

 

[axxxel]

I've tried this on bolt action rifles with staggered feed, i.e. when every other cartridge feeds from the left or right position, as opposed to a single feed where the top cartridge is always centered, which is more common in pistols and modern bolt actions with detachable mags (I really don't like that solution for rifles).

It kinda works but the follower has a higher and a lower portion, and you have to get the cartridges to stack right to fit it.

 

[Panzerschwein]

It works on a Mosin, at least. Don't worry about the Rims. The Mosin has an interrupter which eliminates the problem of one rim snagging the rim of the cartridge below it and failing to feed. The Mosin is a brilliant design and is the only military rifle that has completely solved this problem. Loading a 7.7mm Arisaka from the bottom is easy, but it doesn't seem any easier than loading it the conventional way. At least not to me.

Sometimes you'll get a Mosin with a worn interrupter and it will invariably cause rim lock if you load this way. Interrupters are cheap (as are most Mosin Nagant parts) but I still advise against it as a general rule. Quality stripper clips (not junk Chinese ones) will allow you to reload in no time.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Interrupters can also be blocked by poorly inlet stocks or gunked up by excess cosmoline in the action/stock.

Easy way to check is to load the magazine in such a way as to CAUSE rimlock. Yes, put the rim of each cartridge behind the one below. A properly functioning Mosin will feed them all with no troubles!

Stripper clips are still easier. Bolt action rifles don't exactly have strong magazine springs to work against and fumbling with four loose cartridges (the Mosin will only hold four in the mag, 5th round is chambered) and closing the mag is a sure time-loser.

 

[barnbwt]

I should hope it's possible, since it's probably the only way Kali's will get to load their semi-autos before long...

TCB

 

[HGM22]

Haha, if Jerry does it that's good enough for me.

 

[Jim Watson]

Schultz & Larsens are meant to be loaded from floorplate.
Tiny ejection port to stiffen the receiver against rear lockup.