Is that reloading style where you strike the empty one outwards and inserting a fresh magazine (much like MW2's FAL reload) common in AK variants?

ezekill said:
Is that reloading style where you strike the empty one outwards and inserting a fresh magazine (much like MW2's FAL reload) common in AK variants?

The style is actually more common if you wanna reload really fast.

Actually seen a video of a US soldier comparing the standard reloading method with that, using a rifle borrowed from either an Iraqi or Afghani soldier. Of course I can't find it...

CrimsonAirMode said:
The style is actually more common if you wanna reload really fast.

Despite being faster, you'll have to use some force to 'slash' the spent magazine out, and if the new magazine doesn't hit the mag release, the two magazines will collide, causing deformity.

There is another way to reload, just as fast but doesn't cause deformity, it is that you use your thumb to hit the mag release and also the spent mag in the process, just like you would with the new magazine, only it's your thumb, which is softer and thus does not cause deformity if it misses.

MacGuffin said:
Actually seen a video of a US soldier comparing the standard reloading method with that, using a rifle borrowed from either an Iraqi or Afghani soldier. Of course I can't find it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZwkv_NUmU This?

Tagged airsoft as Beta Project and LCT are both airsoft companies; same with Avalon in post #1193364 by the same artist. A Beta Project "Tactical AK", LCT AK-74M lower handguard, Aimpoint T-1, and replica Surefire MB556K muzzle brake will indeed produce this configuration. (What real rounds are doing in the magazine, I don't really know. Perhaps it's an actual firearm done up in the same, Mag-K-esque way.)

ezekill said:

Is that reloading style where you strike the empty one outwards and inserting a fresh magazine (much like MW2's FAL reload) common in AK variants?

That technique is more memery than anything else. mikoyan's suggestion to use the thumb is the better way.

There is, however, one caveat, and that is if you have the "Yugoslav/Serbian" AK mags with last-round hold-open functionality. Because the magazine follower itself is being used to hold the bolt open, there's substantial spring pressure keeping the magazine in the gun. In this case, using another magazine to push on the mag release gives you greater leverage to push the empty one free.

Here's Polenar Tactical explaining AK reloads.

Additionally, the FAL's mag release lever is smaller than the AK's and on the right side of the mag well rather than covering the entire back of the mag well. In many FAL patterns, there's an additional bit of metal covering its right side as well, presumably as a measure to stop it being bumped accidentally. Actuating it with another magazine would be more awkward than anything else for a right-handed shooter and seems highly unrealistic.