Why "bump" the magazine

Full Metal Jacket · May 31, 2005, 02:36 PM

I've seen in some war movies ( I know, hollywood...) soldiers will bump the new magazines against their helmets or tap them from the bottom before inserting them into the gun. I assume this is done so the rounds will feed better.

jonathon · May 31, 2005, 02:59 PM

reseat the top round in the mag... In general carry, the top round sometimes gets unseated.. though on the helmet is a bit of a ruse, just for the effect in a movie..

Its practical in some ways I guess.. my 10/22 I have to do it ocasionaly(only with the high caps)

MEDDAC19 · May 31, 2005, 03:02 PM

Well, I did it in the army and I still do it now. I always did it to make sure all the rounds were seated fully and lined up in the magazine. Of course when you think about it, the recoil probably moves them around. Don't know if it really makes any difference, but it has just become a habit with me.

maxwayne · May 31, 2005, 06:40 PM

It was a habit we got into in the Army. When I got my AR, I did it out of habit, but wasn't wearing a helmet. Darn near knocked myself out.

Eghad · May 31, 2005, 06:52 PM

Same as me in the Army.... they always had a detail to load magazines for the ranges. So you rapped the helmet to be sure they were firmly seated against the back of the magazine...

The Steel Pot had a nicer ring than the Kevlar...lol

damn I missed the Steel Pot......

1. bath & shaving
2. laundry for the underwear

LOL.. the undewear reminds me of a story. I was in a garrison type unit that had never done a bivouac in the field. Some of the younger soldiers were asking me question on how to pack for the field. One asked about underwear changes in the field. I told him that was easy to do. I would just put all the guys and gals in two platoons and then have a formation. I then told them that there was two preffered methods:

a: you could turn your underwear inside out
b: swap with the person next to you

that way you would have a change of underwear..lol you should have seen the looks I got...priceless

One other time a young private asked me how to take a bath in the field...I was talking with another NCO at the time....

I pointed to the nearby Water Buffalo and the other NCO told him that we lifted the hatch and would squeeze down inside and soap up and wash. I then told him the soap residue couldnt be tasted in the water so dont worry about it. For two days he would walk to the other side of the bivouac site and use the other water buffalo..LOL

S.E.R.T.SGT · May 31, 2005, 08:35 PM

Well I guess this has been addressed ad-nauseum by now, but "seating" the rounds, to make sure they feed properly in the weapon.

Eghad · May 31, 2005, 08:38 PM

When I was in basic training most of the Drill Sgts were Viet Vets...they said that it had to be done and I wasnt going to question them...lol

I existed to make them happy by following orders...

Did not want to see thier war face..lol

wonder if it has something to do with the original M16A1s?

armedandsafe · May 31, 2005, 08:43 PM

I was taught to do this on 1911 mags in 1948, so I suspect it predates the original M16A1s.

Pops

butch50 · May 31, 2005, 08:43 PM

It may have started in the early 70's with those crappy AR-15's :barf: (rumor was that they were made by mattel) that were always jamming on us. Maybe that helped in some way, sure as hell didn't hurt anything.

Eghad · May 31, 2005, 08:49 PM

I heard from a friend that some of the troops in Vietnam carried a cleaning rod already assembled to knock out empties with the first AR 16s if they got stuck.

joab · May 31, 2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

rumor was that they were made by mattel

Mine had the Matel logo proudly displayed on it

Some of my lesser 1911 mags need to be tapped.

I always tap AR mags it's a ritual thing

Old Fud · June 1, 2005, 01:23 AM

I learned it on the M1.
And found myself faced with "long rounds" in a qualification -- that cost me time I couldn't afford.
Learned right then to rap-and-seat as routine.

Fud

PaulBk · June 1, 2005, 01:18 PM

The Walther P-22 manual recommends 'bumping' mags to avoid jams.

-PB

shaggy · June 1, 2005, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Quote:
rumor was that they were made by mattel

Mine had the Matel logo proudly displayed on it

This rumor has been so thoroughly debunked I can hardly believe people still believe it. Mattel did NOT make M16's or AR15's. If you had a Mattel M16 it certainly wasn't a real weapon, it was only the plastic toy version - as a child I had one and remember it well.

racinstylez · June 1, 2005, 01:44 PM

ye, i have always wondered why they did that in those war movies....well now I know....

May 31, 2005, 02:36 PM	#1
Full Metal Jacket Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2004 Posts: 260	Why "bump" the magazine I've seen in some war movies ( I know, hollywood...) soldiers will bump the new magazines against their helmets or tap them from the bottom before inserting them into the gun. I assume this is done so the rounds will feed better.

May 31, 2005, 02:59 PM	#2
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	reseat the top round in the mag... In general carry, the top round sometimes gets unseated.. though on the helmet is a bit of a ruse, just for the effect in a movie.. Its practical in some ways I guess.. my 10/22 I have to do it ocasionaly(only with the high caps) __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

May 31, 2005, 06:52 PM	#5
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	Same as me in the Army.... they always had a detail to load magazines for the ranges. So you rapped the helmet to be sure they were firmly seated against the back of the magazine... The Steel Pot had a nicer ring than the Kevlar...lol damn I missed the Steel Pot...... 1. bath & shaving 2. laundry for the underwear LOL.. the undewear reminds me of a story. I was in a garrison type unit that had never done a bivouac in the field. Some of the younger soldiers were asking me question on how to pack for the field. One asked about underwear changes in the field. I told him that was easy to do. I would just put all the guys and gals in two platoons and then have a formation. I then told them that there was two preffered methods: a: you could turn your underwear inside out b: swap with the person next to you that way you would have a change of underwear..lol you should have seen the looks I got...priceless One other time a young private asked me how to take a bath in the field...I was talking with another NCO at the time.... I pointed to the nearby Water Buffalo and the other NCO told him that we lifted the hatch and would squeeze down inside and soap up and wash. I then told him the soap residue couldnt be tasted in the water so dont worry about it. For two days he would walk to the other side of the bivouac site and use the other water buffalo..LOL __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

May 31, 2005, 08:35 PM	#6
S.E.R.T.SGT Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Posts: 236	Well I guess this has been addressed ad-nauseum by now, but "seating" the rounds, to make sure they feed properly in the weapon. __________________ Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lighting they Do not go gently into that good night. Dylan Thomas S.E.R.T.SGT

May 31, 2005, 08:38 PM	#7
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	When I was in basic training most of the Drill Sgts were Viet Vets...they said that it had to be done and I wasnt going to question them...lol I existed to make them happy by following orders... Did not want to see thier war face..lol wonder if it has something to do with the original M16A1s? __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

May 31, 2005, 03:02 PM	#3
MEDDAC19 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2005 Location: Endless Mts,NEPA Posts: 379	Well, I did it in the army and I still do it now. I always did it to make sure all the rounds were seated fully and lined up in the magazine. Of course when you think about it, the recoil probably moves them around. Don't know if it really makes any difference, but it has just become a habit with me.

May 31, 2005, 06:40 PM	#4
maxwayne Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2001 Posts: 402	It was a habit we got into in the Army. When I got my AR, I did it out of habit, but wasn't wearing a helmet. Darn near knocked myself out.

May 31, 2005, 08:43 PM	#8
armedandsafe Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 1,001	I was taught to do this on 1911 mags in 1948, so I suspect it predates the original M16A1s. Pops __________________ Armed and Safe: Not just a theory If it time to bury them, it is time to dig them up. Remember, "Behind every blade of grass."

May 31, 2005, 08:43 PM	#9
butch50 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2005 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 1,403	It may have started in the early 70's with those crappy AR-15's :barf: (rumor was that they were made by mattel) that were always jamming on us. Maybe that helped in some way, sure as hell didn't hurt anything. __________________ ‘‘Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest.’’ ~ Mahatma Ghandi, "Gandhi, An Autobiography", page 446 ‘‘The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.’’ ~ Patrick Henry

May 31, 2005, 08:49 PM	#10
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	I heard from a friend that some of the troops in Vietnam carried a cleaning rod already assembled to knock out empties with the first AR 16s if they got stuck. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

June 1, 2005, 01:23 AM	#12
Old Fud Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2004 Location: California Posts: 119	I learned it on the M1. And found myself faced with "long rounds" in a qualification -- that cost me time I couldn't afford. Learned right then to rap-and-seat as routine. Fud

June 1, 2005, 01:18 PM	#13
PaulBk Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Location: Western Washington Posts: 164	The Walther P-22 manual recommends 'bumping' mags to avoid jams. -PB

June 1, 2005, 01:44 PM	#15
racinstylez Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 240	ye, i have always wondered why they did that in those war movies....well now I know....