What do I need to load AR mags comfortably and efficiently?

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chaim

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I'm wondering if the stripper clips and adapter are "good enough" or if I should go the extra money to invest in a speed loader. The stripper clips and loader/adapter/whatever are much cheaper, but if they don't really work it isn't really a savings. If I go with a speed loader, then which one?

Also, my mags are uncomfortable to load by hand, but they are cheap USA mags. Are AR mags uncomfortable to load, or is it just that I have cheap mags? When I get better mags are the feed lips going to be different enough that they should be more comfortable? I never had to load AR mags before. I just recently bought my AR, and still haven't had a chance to try it yet nor have I invested in mags (I only have the two 20 round USA mags the dealer "threw in" on my used AR purchase- the previous owner kept all his mags). When I was in the Army I had a bad ankle and was discharged after Basic so I never had to load my own mags while there, so I don't really know if this is a mag problem or just the way AR mags are.
 
Lula mag loader.
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OK, yours was the first of several suggestions of that. My question, is it really worth about $15 more than stripper clips and an adapter? The cheapest I've seen a Lula was just over $20 online, while I've seen clips and an adapter for $5 "Buy it now" on Ebay.



The LULA is nice for range but when TSHTF I'll be using stripper clips, they're faster.
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That's ok because if the "SHTF" I'm not going anywhere near my AR (nor my SKS).

For the more likely SHTF situation, civil disturbance, I want my Winchester 94 in .45LC and I may want to add a shotgun for the same situation. Those coupled with a good handgun or two should be fine for HD in a mob/riot situation.

For the big SHTF situation that people around here love to talk about but will certainly never happen... For now I'll go with my Savage 110 in 30-06 until I pick up a Winchester 70 Featherweight Classic, CZ, or Howa in either 6.5x55 or .243 for longer ranges and my Remington 581 bolt .22lr until I get a .223 bolt gun for shorter ranges. Untrained civilians are nothing but target practice for trained troops if you think you're going to go up against them in conventional small unit actions. Your best bet for survival would be hit and runs, very small ambushes, and sniping. Of course, we aren't likely to be invaded by anyone anytime soon and I somehow doubt there is going to be some kind of civil war here in the next century or two (and if there is how do you know we won't be the ones on the government's side- maybe it could be angry animal rights or environmentalist types or something).
 
Do you have to manually load the stripper clips then load the mag or do you buy ammo already on clips?

If you manually load the stripper clips you would save a step using the LULA.

1. Load stripper clip
2. Use stripper clip to load mag.

or wth the LULA

1. Load mag.

The advantage of the stripper clips is that you don't have to carry loose or boxed ammo.

But for pure speed and ease of loading, I don't think the LULA can be beat.
 
That's ok because if the "SHTF" I'm not going anywhere near my AR (nor my SKS).

For the more likely SHTF situation, civil disturbance, I want my Winchester 94 in .45LC and I may want to add a shotgun for the same situation. Those coupled with a good handgun or two should be fine for HD in a mob/riot situation.
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You want to use a lever gun or a handgun for a mob/riot situation over an AR-15? :eek:

OK, whatever floats your boat
 
Do you have to manually load the stripper clips then load the mag or do you buy ammo already on clips?
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You can do it either way. .223 ammo can be had already on stripper clips or boxed or loose.

If you manually load the stripper clips you would save a step using the LULA.

1. Load stripper clip
2. Use stripper clip to load mag.

or wth the LULA

1. Load mag.
Click to expand...

Correct, IF you buy your ammo boxed or loose, not if you buy it already on stripper clips.

The advantage of the stripper clips is that you don't have to carry loose or boxed ammo.

But for pure speed and ease of loading, I don't think the LULA can be beat.
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I'm a huge fan of the LULA, but I challenge you, I'll put a paycheck on the line.

If you can load a 10, 20 or a 30 round AR mag with a LULA loader faster than I can load the same size mag with stripper clips, I'll give you a paycheck.

No offence, but I don't think you've ever used stripper clips.

The LULA is nice but not in combat/SHTF.
 
The LULA doesn't wear out like stripper clips do. You have to pre-load the stripper clips. I'll tell you what, I'll load two magazines with the LULA in the time it takes you to load three stripper clips and strip them into an M16 magazine! :D

Last I checked, most of the .223 out there comes in cardboard boxes. You are going to the range to shoot said ammo. Why would you first load that ammo on stripper clips when you could take less time to load it into the magazines in the first place?
 
Badger said what I meant.

A single-step LULA load is quicker than a two-step stripper clip load.

I assume that not all commercially available loads are available on stripper clips. Is this correct?

The advantage with the LULA is that the loading process is the same one-step procedure whether you use the best match ammo or Korean surplus or your own home-grown favorite.

Bvmjethead,

I'll pass on the bet. I'm not into throwing money away.:D
 
Another advantage of the LULA is that there is absolutely no pressure or wear on the feedlips when loading or unloading with a LULA.

I got mine at Brownell's for $15, plus shipping.
 
I use 8 fingers and 2 thumbs.
Seriously, I have anough magazines that I can load all the ammo I want to shoot while still at home, and just carry loaded magazines to the range.

And for SHTF? Well, if I need more than the 210 rounds that I keep on my web belt and in the gun, I'm in very deep S*** anyway. I always figured that if you were in a serious enough fight, you'd be dead long before you used up 210 rounds in a semiauto weapon.
 
Seriously, I have anough magazines that I can load all the ammo I want to shoot while still at home, and just carry loaded magazines to the range.
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That would be nice, but here in Maryland a loaded magazine is considered a loaded weapon (meaning we need to load magazines at the range).

I, too, highly recommend the LULA. It UNLOADS the mags even faster than it loads them up, useful when you're heading out to the range and need to empty your mags for "safe transport":barf: .

chaim, if you haven't already, check out the Maryland AR-15 Shooter's site. Lots of great info, and make sure to check their FAQ about magazines. General rule of thumb is stick with USGI, Thermolds, Orlites, or the English SA-80 mags.
 
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