How to load an AR rifle with a magazine

This blog entry illustrates how to load an AR style rifle with a magazine. Although the AR rifle illustrated is a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T, this information presented generally applies to all AR style rifles. Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Loading an AR rifle is a fairly straightforward task. First, take the magazine with ammunition and align it at the bottom of the firearm.


(NOTE: In the photo above, the magazine has been turned to face the camera for illustrative purposes only)

Now, press the magazine up into the AR rifle using a smooth upward motion. Press upward on the magazine until it "clicks" into place. You do not need to slam the magazine into place, but you do need to press up a little more force than you usually would with a typical handgun magazine.


Just press up on the magazine until you hear the "click" of the magazine locking into place.

Now grab the charging handle on the rear of the AR. You can perform the next step by using just two fingers as in the illustration below.


Once you have the charging handle in your grip, pull it directly back away from the body of the AR rifle in one strong motion. Don't be afraid to exert some force to get the charging handle to move back on the AR.


Once the charging handle has moved as far to the back as it can, let go of the charging handle. At this point, when the charging handle moves forward, a round of .223 or 5.56 ammunition will be loaded from the magazine into the chamber of the AR. The AR rifle is now ready to fire.

When you pulled the charging handle back, the dust cover on the side of the AR will have popped open if it was not open already. In this next photo, you can see the charging handle has been pulled back and the magazine with ammunition is visible through the dust cover.


This next photo is an overhead side view of the AR when the charging handle has been pulled back. Notice the bolt behind the ammunition in the magazine. When the charging handle is released, the bolt will come forward, pushing a round of ammunition into the chamber.


The next photo was taken just as the charging handle was released. Notice how the internal mechanism works.


...and another photo on the side of the AR rifle after the bolt has traveled fully forward after the charging handle was fully released.


The AR rifle is now loaded and ready for use.

As always, DO NOT FORGET THE FOUR RULES!


#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY

# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

-end-