4 Tips for Reloading Your AR-Style Rifle Like an Expert

Reloading your AR-style rifle is an essential part of shooting. Whether it’s at the range, hunting, or at a competition, you will need to know how to reload, and the smoother and faster you can reload, the better. Being able to reload a Block 2 M4 efficiently can help you quickly reacquire your target and improve your odds of success in a competition scenario. For most shooters, a speed reload is ideal, but knowing the different reloads can help you be a more well-rounded shooter.

How to Do a Basic Reload

The basic reload, whether it’s an M16 or a modern 308 AR, starts with hitting the magazine release and dropping the empty mag. You will want to have another magazine ready and loaded, preferably in a tactical belt or chest rig. Keep mags on your dominant hand’s side, rounds facing the back. On a chest rig, have the rounds facing your strong side. The mag should be upside down, with no brass showing. As you reach for the mag, keep your thumb facing forward. Grab the mag, rotate it so the brass is skyward, and send it home in the mag well.

It’s a basic movement but should be committed to muscle memory, so it’s worth practicing. Once you have the basic reload down, you can transition to these other techniques.

Learn the Speed Reload

Speed reloading is a technique to use when fractions of a second matter, like during a competition. While a typical reload has you moving the rifle so it’s easier to replace the mag, a speed reload has you keep the rifle in the firing position. An in-spec lower with a high-quality mag should see the mag drop free when you hit the mag release button. You should hit the mag release with your non-dominant hand, which stays on the grip while your strong hand reaches for a new mag. Grab it, slam it in the mag well, and use your offhand to hit the bolt release.

The Tactical Reload Technique

A tactical reload is slower than a speed reload but has the advantage of keeping your magazine rather than dropping it and moving on. Start by grabbing the spare mag. Then, with the same hand, grab the mag in the rifle while hitting the mag release with your offhand. Pull the old mag out and insert the new mag. Put the old mag somewhere you can store it, like a dump pouch on your belt or in your chest rig. This is a great technique to use during normal range days when precision is more important than speed.

How to Improve Your Reloading Speed

There are two ways to get better at reloading. First, you should practice as much as possible. Drill every time you go to the range, and you will get faster as muscle memory sets in. Second, adjust how you view your firearm as a whole. While it’s easy to focus more on the AR15 upper receiver, you can’t forget your lower, either, especially when you need to factor in reloads. Become familiar with all the parts of your firearm, specifically how they feel in your hands. When you can identify your mag well quickly without looking or fumbling, you’ll start to become a more technical reloader.

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