Magazine Management in Combat: When to Drop and When to Hold
In the heat of actual combat, the decision of whether to drop or reserve an empty magazine is crucial. Soldiers and first responders often face life-or-death situations where every second counts. This article discusses the best practices for managing magazines during a fight and the importance of proper training.
The Bottom Line: Drop When Necessary
In actual combat, the rule of thumb is to drop an empty magazine if it is inconvenient to bag and replace it. The goal is to maintain continuous firepower and not let your actions compromise your survival or that of your fellow soldiers. Once the situation allows, recover and reload your dropped magazines with loose ammo from stripper clips, using a mag loader tool to streamline the process.
Circumstances Matter
How you handle an empty magazine depends on the circumstances. If the situation is dire or you are in an assault, you may need to dump a spent magazine and insert a fresh one. Losing an empty magazine is not worth risking your life or that of your comrades. Instead, prioritize quick and efficient reloads over the time it takes to put the empty magazine back in its pouch.
Magazines: Reusable but Not Irreplaceable
Magazines are indeed reusable, but the priority is to stay alive and fight. In life-or-death situations, it's acceptable and often necessary to let an empty magazine fall to the ground. This is a practical decision, as the alternative could be a costly mistake. Conversely, if the battle is over and conditions permit, you can pick up and reuse empty magazines. However, in the heat of the moment, don't waste time over a single magazine.
Utilize a Drop Pouch for Efficiency
A drop pouch can be used to dump empty magazines, making it a middle ground between dropping them on the ground and cluttering a tight pouch. This tool not only keeps the battlefield cleaner but also saves time during critical moments.
Train as You Fight
One key principle in combat is to train as you fight. Simulating real combat situations in training can help ingrain the proper behavior when under pressure. For example, there have been studies showing that soldiers and police officers lost valuable seconds during mid-reload periods, putting them at risk. However, these same individuals carried their spent magazines or instead took the time to clear their brass, which proved counterproductive.
Example of Proper Training
In a training scenario, a soldier may have the habit of collecting his brass in his pocket. This muscle memory could prove fatal in a real combat situation. Instead, it's better to drop the brass and reload quickly. If the hypothetical example soldier had dropped the brass and immediately reloaded fresh rounds, he might have been back in the fight and better positioned to defend himself.
Post-Combat Cleanup
Once the battle is over, it's important to clean up and reuse any available ammunition. However, during the fight, prioritize your survival and that of your team. Do not take chances when life is on the line. In training, practice the same efficient methods to prepare for real combat.
Proper magazine management is a critical part of maintenance and combat readiness. By understanding the best practices and training rigorously, soldiers and first responders can better prepare themselves for the intense and demanding nature of combat.