Offbeat: Butler Creek ASAP Magazine Loaders

Loading magazines need not be a tedious, time-consuming chore. A magazine loading device speeds up the loading process while also saving your fingers and magazines from damage.The original USGI M16/M4 magazine filler/stripper-clip guide (commonly referred to as a “spoon”) is designed to allow magazines to be quickly loaded using a ten-round stripper clip and thumb pressure. It’s simple and works as designed, but better options exist.

When using the issue magazine filler, you need to take care not to lacerate your fingers. You have to press down on the rear of the top cartridge because the inside edges of the stripper clip are sharp.

A variety of magazine loading devices are available commercially for both pistol and rifle magazines. Butler Creek® has recently come out with its ASAP® Magazine Loaders. Available in Universal Single Stack, Universal Double Stack, AK-47/GALIL, and AR-15 magazine configurations, the ASAP loaders are easy to use and fast, and provide relief from the dreaded “shooter’s thumb.”Butler Creek provided me with the ASAP Universal AR-15/M16 Mag Loader to try out. This patent-pending loader is constructed of rugged fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) polymer. It features a simple, straightforward design that works very well.

It offers three ways to load magazines. Loose ammo can be loaded one round at a time by a simple click of the loader cap, or the loading arm can be engaged, allowing up to ten loose rounds to be loaded at a time or with use of a stripper clip.

The magazine is inserted into the base of the loader the same way you would insert a magazine into a mag well. The magazine locks into place. Lift the lock to remove the magazine. To load single rounds, just insert the magazine into the loader, insert a cartridge base first into the loader, and depress and release the loader cap. Repeat until the magazine is fully loaded.

To load multiple loose rounds or load with a stripper clip, insert the magazine into the loader, remove the loader cap, raise the loading arm by pressing tabs to move the arm, insert loose cartridges base first or insert the loaded stripper clip into the channel of the loading arm, align and depress the loader cap on the loading arm. Repeat until the magazine is fully loaded.When using stripper clips, depress the loading arm tabs and lower the loading arm to remove the empty stripper clip. Butler Creek recommends using only factory-loaded stripper clips in good condition.

The ASAP Universal AR-15/M16 Mag Loader is designed for use with any STANAG 4179-compliant magazine. STANAG 4179 is a dimensional standard for detachable box magazines that was proposed by NATO in 1980 after adoption of the 5.56x45mm cartridge. This includes aluminum, polymer, and steel M4/M16 magazines.

According to Butler Creek, the loader works with most AR-15 magazines. I have used it with USGI aluminum magazines, Magpul® 30-round 5.56x45mm and 300 BLK GEN M3™ PMAG® magazines, Daniel Defense® 32-round DD Magazine™ magazines, 30-round C Products Defense magazines, and SureFire® 60-round magazines MAG5-60. It has worked perfectly with all of them.

The ASAP Universal AR-15/M16 Mag Loader may be used to load all SAAMI-spec .223 Remington, 5.56x45mm, and 300 BLK cartridges. I have employed it for loading everything from 55-grain 5.56mm to 220-grain 300 BLK without a hitch.The loader may not load the last round in some magazines. This is not an issue solely with this loader. I have found it to be the case with many other loaders I have tested.