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Sometimes the best answer is the most obvious, and the simplest. That was apparent a while back when I happened past the MagLoader booth at the SHOT Show. While I watched the apparently husband-and-wife team demonstrate it, this uncomplicated magazine-loading tool first impressed me with its effectiveness, then with its very basic design.
What's it do?
The MagLoader is made of molded plastic, and is meant to be worn on the thumb. It's used to push down the follower or the top cartridge in a pistol magazine (or "clip," as it's often erroneously called), to make the next round easier to load into the mag. This is illustrated quite nicely by a drawing on the back of the package. Best of all, it works!
Three Different Sizes
The MagLoader is available is three different sizes... small, average, and large. I find that I can use the small size fairly well, with my long wiry fingers. Dad has thicker fingers, and uses the large size quite well. A snug fit is best, because you don't want the tool sliding around on your thumb while you're trying to load your magazine.
The MagLoader shown with a 9mm pistol, magazine, and ammo.
The following photos show how the MagLoader works, and how easy it is to use:
First, you place the MagLoader on the top round in the mag (or the follower).
Then you push that round (or the follower) down, out of the way...
...and slip a new cartridge in. Push the cartridge in as far as it will go, remove the MagLoader, then shove the cartridge the rest of the way back.
All photos by Russ Chastain, all rights reserved.
It's a Good 'un
I recommend the MagLoader without hesitation. After seeing it in action at the SHOT Show and trying it for myself, I wonder how I managed to get along without it for so long!
Don't buy this for your 22 auto pistol (it's a little too big for that), but it works just fine on 9mm Luger and 45 ACP, and should do well for most centerfire autoloading cartridges (their Web site says it's intended for 32 through 45 calibers) The Magloader works fine in both single-and double-stack magazines. Another good thing is that it's made in the USA.
-Russ Chastain
