Reloading depends on the weapon’s design, but the principle is similar for most modern magazine-fed firearms: the shooter replaces or replenishes the magazine and, when necessary, chambers a round.
An empty reload is performed when both the magazine and chamber are empty. After inserting a new magazine, the shooter must chamber another round by operating the action, releasing the bolt, or using another method provided by the weapon’s design.
A partial, or tactical, reload is performed before the weapon is completely empty, while a round remains in the chamber. The shooter replaces the magazine without spending additional time chambering a round. The weapon is ready to fire as soon as the new magazine is seated, provided the shooter’s firing hand can operate the trigger.
During a reload, operating the weapon itself usually takes less time than handling equipment: stowing the old magazine in a dump pouch or returning it to a magazine pouch, then drawing a fresh one.
In training, a fighter can develop weapon-handling skills to the point of automaticity, especially when reloading from a table. In actual combat, however, pressure, awkward positions, and the need to manage equipment — particularly the old magazine — can have a significant effect on reload speed.
The fastest option is to drop the magazine on the ground. This can be a rational choice during an intense engagement, when returning the weapon to a ready state as quickly as possible matters most. The drawback is obvious: the magazine is lost, and any rounds remaining inside are lost with it.
A more deliberate option is to retain the magazine by placing it in a dump pouch or returning it to a magazine pouch. This takes longer, but preserves both the magazine and any remaining ammunition. It is especially appropriate during a tactical reload, when the magazine is not yet empty.
The choice depends on the situation: the greater the urgency, the more justified a rapid drop becomes; the more time and control available, the more reasonable it is to retain the magazine.
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Reloading with Magazine Retention
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Reloading with Magazine Drop
Body position affects the speed and ease of reloading: the more stable the shooter’s posture, the easier it is to replace the magazine.
Standing
Reloading while standing is the most natural. The shooter maintains good control of the weapon and has unrestricted access to magazine pouches, the dump pouch, and the weapon’s controls.
Steady Position
In the steady position (CTRL), the shooter acts more deliberately. Reloading may be slower, but unnecessary movement is reduced, allowing the weapon and equipment to be handled more quietly.
Moving
Reloading while moving creates additional difficulties. The shooter must handle the weapon and equipment while controlling their direction of movement and maintaining balance.
A pistol can be reloaded while walking or even running because it is lighter and more compact.
Long guns can be reloaded while walking, but not while running.
The larger and heavier the weapon, the more stable the required position. Heavy belt-fed machine guns, for example, must be reloaded while sitting or lying prone. This is due to the weapon’s weight, the size of the ammunition box, and the need to position the belt correctly.
Prone
Reloading while prone is inconvenient. Dirt, dust, snow, grass, and small debris create an additional problem. Where possible, the shooter should avoid pressing the weapon against the ground to prevent debris from entering its mechanisms. Reloading while prone is slower, but allows the shooter to maintain a low profile and remain behind cover.
Reloading is affected not only by body position and weapon design, but also by the shooter’s condition. The greater the stress, the more urgently the shooter tries to reduce the time during which they are unable to fire.
In a calm state, more deliberate reload methods are possible.
Under severe stress, however, the shooter may act faster and less carefully. For example, when attempting a quiet reload in the steady position, the character may still perform it abruptly and drop the magazine.
Using a captured weapon can be difficult, especially if its layout is unfamiliar. The shooter may reload it according to the weapon-handling methods they know, or act instinctively based on established habits.
