The results may surprise you.
There are times when loading a 30-round SAINT AR magazine is a meditative pursuit.
Thats why investing in a speed loader makes sense.
In this matchup, the author tries to determine which is the best AR magazine loader: the Magpump or the Maglula.
I have never used them side-by-side, however.
Most are 30-round magazines, but some are 10- and 20-round variants.
The Magpul and Hexmag are polymer, while the Okay and Duramag are metal.
A variety of magazines were tested — Okay Surefeed, Sentry Hexmag, Magpul G2 and G3, Lancer, and Duramag. Brass- and steel-cased ammo was also used.
The Lancer is a hybrid magazine with a polymer body and metal feed lips.
I also used brass and steel case ammo to see if case material affects performance.
Magpump AR Magazine Loader Specs
The Magpump comes in two pieces: a hopper and a loader.
The Maglula is lightweight and has a small footprint, making it easy to bring to the range.
I liked this setup the first time I used it.
Just dump rounds in the hopper, insert a magazine into the loader and start pumping the handle.
Two pins attach the hopper to the loader.
When magazines are inserted in the Magpump, they click in place. That curved lever is pressed to release magazines.
It is lightweight, about one pound, and stands about 10.5 high and 7.75 wide.
you might also load 300 BLK with the Magpump using 300 BLK-compatible magazines.
MSRP is $99.
You need to orient rounds correctly when you drop them into the hopper of the Magpump.
Its 16.5 long and weighs about 13 ounces.
A magazine is inserted at one end, and cartridges are placed into the tray/track.
It comes with a cloth case.
In the Maglula rounds are inserted diagonally, then slid toward the magazine so the cartridge tip and rim are under the tray lip.
MSRP is $149.
Both speed loaders can be mounted to a bench.
Magpump: When you drop cartridges into the hopper, you must ensure the rounds are correctly oriented.
Magazines snap into place at one end of the Maglula. All magazines tested were compatible, and the Maglula proved faster than the Magpump in the author’s testing.
You cant just drop in a handful of cartridges that are pointed every which way.
Insert a magazine via the slot on one side.
All tested magazines clicked into place.
The slide on the Maglula needs to be quickly slid to insert rounds into the magazine.
Maglula: First, insert the magazine into the loader.
All the magazines mentioned easily clicked into place.
I could load and position multiple rounds at a time relatively quickly.
The Magpump is much easier to load; just drop rounds in the hopper.
The first point goes to Mag-pump.
If its bolted or clamped down, you only need one hand.
Push the lever forward, and youll see a round drop through the window built into the loader.
Release the lever, and the round moves to the loading position.
you’re able to feel the rounds being pushed into the magazine.
When the magazine is full, the loader will stop loading rounds.
you might feel it when the mag is fully topped off.
While pumping the lever, you could get into a rhythm.
Dont force it, or the cartridges will jam.
This happened to me once.
I had to remove the hopper to remove a stuck cartridge.
It was my fault for gorillaing the lever with too much force.
Not much effort is required to pump the handle, even when the last few rounds are being loaded.
All magazines were easy to load except for the Lancer, which had a five-round limiting floor plate.
This is the magazine I use for hunting.
The fifth round would not load.
Rounds load in a blink of an eye.
I tried babying the Maglula and sliding the slide slowly, and it still easily loaded rounds.
It even loaded all five rounds into the Lancer magazine.
I counted rounds from both loaders to ensure all 30 rounds were loaded.
For someone with not a lot of hand strength, Id recommend the Magpump.
It is easier to operate.
The Maglula requires more strength.
The point goes to Magpump.
Magazine Speed: Which Loader Is Fast and Furious?
The Maglula, however, is faster.
My benchmark was loading a 30-round magazine by hand.
I averaged 1 minute, 12.8 seconds.
With the Magpump I averaged 55.7 seconds, and with the Maglula I averaged 39.8 seconds.
Clearly, the Maglula is the speed demon.
Which Loader Is Range Bag Ready?
If the Magpump is a complicated mechanism, then the Maglula is an example of simplicity.
you could take this to the range with you since it is lightweight and portable.
you might even store it in a rifle case.
The Magpump is larger and, in my opinion, is better bolted to your shop bench.
It is too cumbersome to take to the range, though you could.
Again, point to Maglula.
The cost of them is comparable, so thats not really a factor.
It comes down to speed and ease.
The Maglula has speed, but the Magpump offers ease.
Either one will fill up empty mags and no sore thumbs.
Go to forum thread
