Speed reload

A speed reload is the action of reloading a weapon in a very short amount of time by ejecting the currently loaded magazine with one hand, and drawing as well as loading fresh magazine with the other hand. This is quite similar to a regular reload of a weapon, but when well performed can have a large time advantage. The tactical advantage here is lost with closed bolt weapons that do not have a round in the chamber, as the gun will then require cocking with the new magazine inserted to chamber the new rounds. This does not apply to open bolt weapons, as they do not require charging. A speed reload is often thought to be more or less the opposite of a tactical reload.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of a speed reload is quite simply speed. If done right, it should take anywhere from five to ten seconds. The main disadvantage of a speed reload is that if there are rounds left in your previously load magazine you will lose them, and it is much louder than a tactical reloads and leaves the magazine and bullets as evidence. In a military fire-fight where survival is paramount, whether there is evidence or not is moot.

See also

• Tactical reload
• Closed bolt
• Open bolt