Extended magazine release

ChickenHawk

ChickenHawk

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Talk me out of the extended magazine release. I am a short guy with midget sized hands. I have to completely shift my hand from the firing position to release a magazine from my rifle. Is there a downside to an extended magazine release to help my midget hands and T-Rex arms? It definitely seems like a product looking for a problem, but I haven't dealt with any in person and am hoping someone here can enlighten me.
 
I feel like someone associated with a T-Rex should be the right place to solve a short-handed issue šŸ¤£

My only concern would be if you get one that sticks out too far to the side. You may be more likely to release the magazine by accident.
 
Chihuahua Floyd said:
In general or for a specific rifle? I use an extended mag release on my 10-22, but not my AR.
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For an AR. Should have been more specific, but that is why I put it in the AR section.
 
C-doodle said:
I feel like someone associated with a T-Rex should be the right place to solve a short-handed issue šŸ¤£

My only concern would be if you get one that sticks out too far to the side. You may be more likely to release the magazine by accident.
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That is what I am afraid of. I only have pictures to go off of so I'm hoping someone here has real world experience with one. They are a cheap part, but kids keep me busy so I'm hoping that if they suck I won't waste time installing just to uninstall one at a later date.
 
JBoyette said:
What?

Why are you using your trigger finger to release the magazine? I get it, its a technique but not a good one, on many levels.

use your left hand in two ways.

1. Come off the handguard in-route to the reload, activate the mag release and at the same time strip out the empty magazine and stow it away, grab and insert the new magazine, drop the bolt with your left thumb.
2. Secure the new magazine, and conduct a tactical reload with the left hand.

Fire control hand is for SAFE to FIRE, trigger control and muzzle orientation ONLY.

John

Oh...

View attachment 450970
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Bahahaha, and thanks. Just the information I needed. I've had several ARs, but haven't started seriously practicing with them until recently. Sounds like a better way to reload. As I said, it seemed like a solution looking for a problem.
 
One of the worst habits one can develop is not stowing the empty magazine. Do not start that crap.

We were in Kosovo in 2001 in one of the few legit firefights, by the 2nd hour we were down to one mag each and a breadcrumb trail of empty magazines.

Why?

Because at Bragg we could always go retrieve them off the ground after the training event.

Don't do that. Stow them away and keep them on your body, pouch, pocket etc
 
JBoyette said:
One of the worst habits one can develop is not stowing the empty magazine. Do not start that crap.

We were in Kosovo in 2001 in one of the few legit firefights, by the 2nd hour we were down to one mag each and a breadcrumb trail of empty magazines.

Why?

Because at Bragg we could always go retrieve them off the ground after the training event.

Don't do that. Stow them away and keep them on your body, pouch, pocket etc
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Seriously, thank you for the advice. I am open to any advice that someone wants to give me on shooting, just like when I was golfing with a guy that was on the tour I could see the pain on his face and said the same to him.
 
JBoyette said:
One of the worst habits one can develop is not stowing the empty magazine. Do not start that crap.

We were in Kosovo in 2001 in one of the few legit firefights, by the 2nd hour we were down to one mag each and a breadcrumb trail of empty magazines.

Why?

Because at Bragg we could always go retrieve them off the ground after the training event.

Don't do that. Stow them away and keep them on your body, pouch, pocket etc
Click to expand...

There's a reason for that dump pouch. The PS, PC/PL, and S4 will make you rue the day you have to draw more mags....
 
That makes a lot of sense. Does the same apply for pistol mags? I would think so except that when you need a pistol reload you probably need it right now as soon as possible.
 
IMO, there is nothing wrong with extended controls. You should be able to activate all the controls without changing your firing grip. Ideally, we should try for learning and being competent reloading with both hands. There is a time for retaining mags and a time for not retaining mags.

I went through a couple different control styles before finding what I liked. I also use a short throw safety on all my rifles.
I've found that actual grip you use to be critical as well. Some have beaver tails. Some don't. There are different grip angles. Narrow/fat/etc. They all put your hand/finger in a different spot.
Right here in Hillsborough and you are welcome to come by and get them in those tiny hands!

Also, @Studentofthegun has some experience with this issue. Maybe he can chime in.
 
NKD said:
IMO, there is nothing wrong with extended controls. You should be able to activate all the controls without changing your firing grip. Ideally, we should try for learning and being competent reloading with both hands. There is a time for retaining mags and a time for not retaining mags.

I went through a couple different control styles before finding what I liked. I also use a short throw safety on all my rifles.
I've found that actual grip you use to be critical as well. Some have beaver tails. Some don't. There are different grip angles. Narrow/fat/etc. They all put your hand/finger in a different spot.
Right here in Hillsborough and you are welcome to come by and get them in those tiny hands!

Also, @Studentofthegun has some experience with this issue. Maybe he can chime in.
Click to expand...
Short throw safety is news to me as I can't actuate my safety worth a crap quickly. I honestly didn't know that was a thing. I'm working my way towards optics, but I'm pretty good with my irons right now so I'm trying to get technique down first, make all of the controls user friendly second, then optics last.
 
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ChickenHawk said:
Short throw safety is news to me as I can't actuate my safety worth a crap quickly. I honestly didn't know that was a thing. I'm working my way towards optics, but I'm pretty good with my irons right now so I'm trying to get technique down first, make all of the controls user friendly second, then optics last.
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Sent you a PM.
 
I will say this: if you are worried about, as a civilian, whether you should have retained a mag, then you should have, and it probably doesn't matter because you are likely screwed anyway. If you are reloading you better be moving and communicating, or at least be behind cover, but these are topics for a different thread.

I also favor learning to reload using a variety of techniques, but generally not a fan of 'enhancements' to guns because a lot of people like short cuts and use them as a crutch. Not everyone, mind you, but I have seen enough to make me really rethink my position on this.

@NKD , you mentioned grip, I think this is one area where folks like me with small girly hands can make the biggest impact regarding ergonomics and handling.

Adding, these little doo-dads and gee-gaws are pretty cheap. Try them, but do not use them forsaking different techniques.
 
JBoyette said:
What?

Why are you using your trigger finger to release the magazine? I get it, its a technique but not a good one, on many levels.

use your left hand in two ways.

1. Come off the handguard in-route to the reload, activate the mag release and at the same time strip out the empty magazine and stow it away, grab and insert the new magazine, drop the bolt with your left thumb.
2. Secure the new magazine, and conduct a tactical reload with the left hand.

Fire control hand is for SAFE to FIRE, trigger control and muzzle orientation ONLY.

John

Oh...
Click to expand...

Are you saying you use your left hand wrapped around the mag well to push the magazine release while grabbing the magazine at the same time?
 
I tend to stick with the basics as it doesn't bother me personally. If you decide to go extended I'd look at something close to basic such as the AR Stoner extended https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102135336

I have a few equipped with the Odin works and they work amazing however they take some time getting used to as they can be much easier to bump accidentally or workaround from various shooting positions. For my wife, its a solid balance as the Odin works gives more surface area and easier to hit, because shes more careful and a bit frailer she hasn't had the same issues I've had with them.
 
NKD said:
IMO, there is nothing wrong with extended controls. You should be able to activate all the controls without changing your firing grip. Ideally, we should try for learning and being competent reloading with both hands. There is a time for retaining mags and a time for not retaining mags.

I went through a couple different control styles before finding what I liked. I also use a short throw safety on all my rifles.
I've found that actual grip you use to be critical as well. Some have beaver tails. Some don't. There are different grip angles. Narrow/fat/etc. They all put your hand/finger in a different spot.
Right here in Hillsborough and you are welcome to come by and get them in those tiny hands!

Also, @Studentofthegun has some experience with this issue. Maybe he can chime in.
Click to expand...

@NKD post reminds me of a very important topic.

End Use.

I say that because it really matters. If one is running a competition gun then @NKD post is 1000% correct.

My reply and default response is Military - Nuclear Security filtered responses.

So the end use does matter, because what's great for a 3-gun rifle can freaking suck when you go over a wall or fence.
 
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JBoyette said:
@NKD post reminds me of a very important topic.

End Use.

I say that because it really matters. If one is running a competition gun then @NKD post is 1000% correct.

My reply and default response is Military - Nuclear Security filtered responses.

So the end use does matter, because what's great for a 3-gun rifle can freaking suck when you go over a wall or fence.
Click to expand...

Indeed.
 
To drill that point:
I was hanging with an SF guy I know. I know him from 3gun as he is not only a badass American hero, but he's a badass competition shooter, too. Great guy who is an incredible shooter.

I had noticed he used the ugliest, clunkiest, weirdest looking grip I had seen. Had a HUGE thumb shelf sticking out the left side. (pic below may be it.)
Asked him "why do you use that horribly abomination of a grip?".

His response: "when you sling a rifle and have to sling it all day, for teaching/patrolling/whatever, the charging handle becomes annoying as hell, digs in, and it's exacerbated by extended handles. So this holds it out from my body a bit. Now I have gotten so used to it I have it on everything".

It was the second time I had heard about charging handles (especially extended) digging in: the first time being our guy @JBoyette .

external-content.duckduckgo.jpg
 
NKD said:
To drill that point:
I was hanging with an SF guy I know. I know him from 3gun as he is not only a badass American hero, but he's a badass competition shooter, too. Great guy who is an incredible shooter.

I had noticed he used the ugliest, clunkiest, weirdest looking grip I had seen. Had a HUGE thumb shelf sticking out the left side. (pic below may be it.)
Asked him "why do you use that horribly abomination of a grip?".

His response: "when you sling a rifle and have to sling it all day, for teaching/patrolling/whatever, the charging handle becomes annoying as hell, digs in, and it's exacerbated by extended handles. So this holds it out from my body a bit. Now I have gotten so used to it I have it on everything".

It was the second time I had heard about charging handles (especially extended) digging in: the first time being our guy @JBoyette .

View attachment 451024
Click to expand...

This one time I was running around with a M4gery with one of those Tango Down vertical grips. Didn't have any sort of chest rig. Just a shoot me first vest with nothing in it.

Was running around trying to practice transitions to sidearm. Somehow or other that vertical grip managed to hit be square in the nuts.

Anyway, I learned right then that one has to run their stuff before they know what will happen. Now I'm super fat and move like a dizzy walrus, so my running and gunning days never started and ain't gonna ever start so that's that. I'm okay with it.

ChickenHawk said:
Talk me out of the extended magazine release. I am a short guy with midget sized hands. I have to completely shift my hand from the firing position to release a magazine from my rifle. Is there a downside to an extended magazine release to help my midget hands and T-Rex arms? It definitely seems like a product looking for a problem, but I haven't dealt with any in person and am hoping someone here can enlighten me.
Click to expand...

I am also descended from carnival workers and pickpockets. Small hands are handy when you're swiping wallets from drunken hicks lining up for the tilt-a-whirl.

There is no downside for anything that actually works. Doesn't matter if it makes the gun look stupid. As long as it WORKS for your intended use, RUN it.

I don't see how putting an extended mag release on an AR would hurt anything. Slap it on there if you need to. Find one you like and put it on every rifle you own.
 
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