The Bottom Line
All in all, this is a good product, and only falls short due to the variety of magazines that just don't fit it properly. After all, it is difficult to create a truly universal loader, with so many different magazines in the world. But the Baby UpLULA does a pretty good job, and even includes a "tooth" to help you unload your mags.
Pros
- Fits many small pistol magazines, 22 through 380 caliber.
- Works very easily, and very quickly.
- Prevents wear on magazine feed lips - and your thumb.
- Designed and made well, and is tough and sturdy.
- Has a "tooth" on the back, for unloading magazines.
Cons
- There are many small pistol magazines that aren't compatible with it.
- The manufacturer's list of magazines that it won't load is incomplete.
- Unlike the original UpLULA, it doesn't have a lock to hold it closed.
Description
- Pistol magazine loader for small-caliber pistols. Makes loading fast and easy - if it fits your magazine. Made in Israel.
- Made of tough plastic (reinforced polymer) and steel. Steel beak that depresses the rounds is blued and deburred.
- Keep the steel parts (beak and springs) lubricated, so they don't rust.
- Use your hand on the loader, instead of your thumb, to push down each cartridge when loading.
- Helps save your magazine's feed lips by preventing the cartridges from sliding against them under pressure when loading.
- Only fits narrow single-stack magazines, less than 1/2" wide.
- Put mag on a support (like a table or bench, or even your leg), and place the loader over it.
- Squeeze the loader to close it, push down to depress the mag spring, insert a cartridge, then un-squeeze while raising it.
- Baby UpLULA has a "tooth" on the back side to aid in unloading magazines.
Guide Review - Baby UpLULA Mag Loader for Small Pistols Review
The Baby UpLULA small pistol magazine loader is a good product, and does its job well. Like the original UpLULA, you place it over the magazine, squeeze it (which places the steel "beak" over the follower or the previous round), push down to compress the mag spring, insert a round, then un-squeeze the UpLULA while raising it. Piece of cake.
The benefits of using the UpLULA are reduced thumb soreness and reduced wear on your magazine's feed lips. As you may know, worn or otherwise damaged feed lips can cause all kinds of feeding and jamming problems in semi-automatic pistols. When you load a magazine conventionally, each round slides against the feed lips, under spring pressure, as it's inserted. The UpLULA prevents that, thus saving wear and tear on magazines, which can be pretty expensive.
Another good thing is that I can load a magazine faster using an UpLULA than I can when I do it the old-fashioned way.
The Bad
Sadly, it's not all wine and roses with the Baby UpLULA, because it won't work with many models of pistols and magazines. Listed below are some guns that I know are compatible, as well as some that are not.
Tested Compatible Models (I used the Baby UpLULA to load these guns):
J.P Sauer Model 38H 32 ACP Pistol
Beretta Tomcat 32 ACP Pistol
Colt 25 ACP Pistol
Incompatible Models (some of these are per the manufacturer, and some I tested myself):
Bauer 25 ACP Pistol (mag too short)
Browning BDA 380 ACP Pistol
Beretta Cheetah 380 ACP Pistol
Hi-Standard Model H-D Military 22 LR Pistol
Kimber 22 LR Conversion for 1911
Ruger Mark I, II, III & 22/45 22 LR Pistols
Ruger 10/22 22 LR
Smith & Wesson 22A/22S 22 LR Pistol
Taurus PT138 380 ACP Pistol
Walther P22 22 LR Pistol
Magazines wider than 1/2"
Magazines with projecting side pin
As you can see, there's a considerable list of mags that just don't work with this loader - and if you are loading 9mm magazines, use the original UpLULA, because the Baby UpLULA just won't cut it.
I wish the Baby had a latch like the original UpLULA, to hold it shut. I really like the latch because it makes the UpLULA smaller, so it fits better in pocket or pack.
Conclusion
Even with its shortcomings, the Baby UpLULA really is a good product, and I recommend it.
- Russ Chastain
