S&W M&P Difficult To Load Mags

Calahan

Calahan

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I'm sure this has been discussed here before, unfortunately the "&" in "M&P" makes a forum search pretty much useless.

I recently bought a S&W M&P9, and I've found that the mags are really hard to load, compared to all my other pistols. I have a Maglula UpLULA, which mitigates this problem. I just can't get over how hard it is to load the mags without the Magula - even the first round is difficult.

Is there a trick (other than the Magula) that I'm missing? Will this get better with a bit of use?
 
Thanks for the links, but they don't answer my question. I know about the difficulty inserting a loaded mag into a gun with one in the chamber (10+1). I also know that with many mags (M&P mags in particular) loading the 10th round in the mag is difficult. I wasn't asking about those issues.

Calahan said:
I just can't get over how hard it is to load the mags without the Magula - even the first round is difficult.
Click to expand...

The problem I have is that the magazines are a lot harder to load than any of my other pistols, right from the first round to the last.

The gun and mags are brand new, and I'm hoping that the mags will improve with a bit of use.

Can anyone with an M&P chine in?

EDIT: also, are there any particular aftermarket brands that anyone can recommend?
 
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Calahan said:
The problem I have is that the magazines are a lot harder to load than any of my other pistols, right from the first round to the last.

The gun and mags are brand new, and I'm hoping that the mags will improve with a bit of use.

Can anyone with an M&P chine in?
Click to expand...

You're not trying to cram 40's in a 9mm mag are you?

M
 
gnmontey said:
You're not trying to cram 40's in a 9mm mag are you?

M
Click to expand...

LOL. No.

I'm finding it is extremely difficult to get the first round in the mag. Subsequent rounds go in easier.

I'm not a noob. I have many handguns from .25 to .45 and everything in between. None of them are anywhere near as hard to load the mags as this M&P.
 
Yeah, it's easy with the UpLULA.

I'm just surprised how difficult they are, that's all. I never felt that I needed the UpLULA --- until now.
 
Calahan said:
Thanks for the links, but they don't answer my question. I know about the difficulty inserting a loaded mag into a gun with one in the chamber (10+1). I also know that with many mags (M&P mags in particular) loading the 10th round in the mag is difficult. I wasn't asking about those issues.



The problem I have is that the magazines are a lot harder to load than any of my other pistols, right from the first round to the last.

The gun and mags are brand new, and I'm hoping that the mags will improve with a bit of use.

Can anyone with an M&P chine in?

EDIT: also, are there any particular aftermarket brands that anyone can recommend?
Click to expand...

I have a number of different 9mm pistols (over 20). The M&P are difficult to load #1 for some reason. After I get the first one in, I can load it just like any other mag, until I get to #10.

I have not found an easy way to get #1 in, except if you use the loading tool, i assume that would make it easy.

I took my mags apart and filed off the follower legs (about 0.20"). This made it easier to load #10 and to seat the mag in a closed action.
 
Thanks Ganderite, that's exactly what I'm experiencing. I just happened to buy the mag loader recently (before I bought the M&P) - glad I did. I'm planning on doing the follower mod shown in the threads that 4n2t0 linked to.
 
Calahan said:
Yeah, it's easy with the UpLULA.

I'm just surprised how difficult they are, that's all. I never felt that I needed the UpLULA --- until now.
Click to expand...

It’s not you Callahan. Every M&P Gen 1 I’ve ever tried has the same issue. Even the well used ones have difficult to load mags. I can hand load Glock mags by hand, even up to 10 but no way with M&P mags!
 
I bought the 2.0 and I found the mags are also difficult to load (the first and last round) . Luckily I kept the 3 mags from my original M&P and they are so much easier to load. The mag spring in the 2.0 seems to be more robust than that of the original. Try leaving you mags constantly loaded it might break in the spring a bit.

I had this same conversation with a member at my range this week.
 
Maybe use something to push the follower down, for the first round? Maybe a small piece of dowel or a large roll pin?
 
M&P mags are way over-sprung. I modified the followers (lots of internet info on that) but it didn't make much difference. I cut a coil off the spring to reduce the pressure and give the follower a little more space to move into and that made a big difference. I run 8 mags so I decided to experiment with one and take 2 coils off (plus the follower mod). That mag is easy to load, feeds fine and is easier to seat with the slide closed. The only thing I've noticed is it doesn't jump out of the gun as strongly on mag-release like the other ones.
 
I have a M&P 40, I went to my first IPSC training session and totally forgot my uplula at home. OMG I had to load multiple mags and at the end of the training session wanted to run over those damn mags.
 
Izzit said:
I have a M&P 40, I went to my first IPSC training session and totally forgot my uplula at home. OMG I had to load multiple mags and at the end of the training session wanted to run over those damn mags.
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Thats funny. I did the same at a range session. after that, I cut a space for the loader in Nanuk case I have for it. Never forget it again.

Also, I modified (saw a Youtube video) one of my mags to test (before I do the rest).

Try it for yourself,

Disassemble the mag, and remove material from the bottom of the follower. I trimmed off approx. 1/4" from the bottom. It has made it easier to get the tenth round in.

Seems like there, either, is more room for the spring to compress further, or the follower can sit lower in the mag to allow more room. Either way. It functions just like the other mags I own and hasn't failed to feed any rounds. I have shot close to 600 rounds through it to date.

I will be repeating these steps to rest of my mags.

**Side note, test as you go. Don't take off so much material that you manage to fit an 11th round. Apparently, it is possible. That would make it a prohibited device.
 
Man up and press that 1st !@#$'er in with all your old man might. If that doesn't work maybe some finger strengthening exercises?

LMAO.

:dancingbanana:Laugh2:cheers::evil::rockOn:w:h::xesG:
 
I have M&P 40.
I fed need the tool. But it does get better.
Now it's the 9th and w
10th round that are hard.
I also bought some aftermarket mags from bullseye $29, easier to load and work great.
 
4n2t0 said:
Man up and press that 1st !@#$'er in with all your old man might. If that doesn't work maybe some finger strengthening exercises?

LMAO.

:dancingbanana:Laugh2:cheers::evil::rockOn:w:h::xesG:
Click to expand...

Uh... sarcasm?


Or not an M&P owner maybe. Sure, after a bit you could force a round in... but if you are doing a 200 round range session, this issue will bring your day to a miserable conclusion.

Still easier to use an UpLula. Of course, some Glock mags are troublesome too, I think someone said there are factory 10rd mags single column, and are very difficult to load manually, unlike the normal double column G mags. Glock makes a simple one-piece mag loader, like a very simple version of an Uplula. Just presses down the previous round to shove in the new one.
 
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