General Advice on Playing with Standard Mags  
written by Andrew Dodwell (aka Dude)



Equipment:

 Get a decent vest or webbing that can take the number of standard mags you plan on using. Most airsofters that play with standard mags carry around 9mags, 8 in vest and 1 in the weapon.

You may consider a good drop leg pouch to dump empties in. ASOE Spent mag pouch, has an elasticised opening in the top flap to allow one way entry for the mags.

 

This mag pouch can hold 6 mags , which Should make it easier to get the remaining mags into the vest or webbing and allow you to separate part used mags and empty ones

 

Magpuls are also a seriously good idea - it's a lot easier to get the mags out of the vest quickly, which is a major consideration. Makes things a lot easier in the long run.

Get an electric speed loader, makes reloading mags in the field much easier

 



If using a vest , check for a map pouch , this is usually closed with Velcro or snap fasteners . It should be of a convenient size to take a fair number of empties.

Quick one here about dumping the spent mags. If you don’t have the luxury of spare pouches, tuck your shirt in or pull your smock waist cord or belt up nice and firm. Pull out your empties and stuff them down your shirt front..



 

Playing Tactics


Learn the art of controlled firing. Avoid the “spray and pray” option and don’t go in for providing covering fire. Get it so you can let off a 3 – 5 round burst each time and count the number of shots you fire. This will give you a good indication of how many rounds left in each mag, and avoid a dump pouch full of part used mags.
Shoot only if you see something you feel you can hit. Judgement of who you can and can't hit comes with practice. Use your sights , open , red dot or telescopic AFTER zeroing which ever one your using.

Move after firing , don’t take the usual Airsoft tactic of staying there. Fire move fire, this way you will avoid getting pinned down by people with High caps and keep the pressure on them.

If your defending from a fixed position , lay your fresh mags out in a easy to reach place and just put / drop the spent ones on the floor. Don’t forget to pick them all up after though.

Work out the placing of your mags and get familiar with this, you don’t want to be looking all over your webbing/vest to Find them, practice till you can just reach for them, this also applies if your using a dump pouch, you don’t want to be dropping spent mags as your moving. Practice changing mags ,dumping the spent ones in the pouch/down your shirt and sliding the fresh one in, the last thing you want to do is be fumbling when under a hail of bb’s.

Double mag clamps do give 2 mags close to hand BUT they are too large a shape to pouch easily. If a mag pouch takes 3 mags, it will usually only take 2 when clamped and be harder to stow when empty.

A ready mag system holds a spare mag close to the mag well , for faster changes, and keeps mags as single items.

If you are about to reload mags, do it in cover and if possible with someone providing cover. Remember that a Auto loader is quick But makes noise, getting a shorter Standard loading rod may be an advantage for those “shuss” moments.

Get a Reliable side arm with a spare mag or 2, there Will be times when you are out of  loaded mags, caught changing mags, a decent pistol in a decent holster Will be worth its weigh and expense.

Oh and don’t carry loose ammo in a bottle , standards cut the rattle down a lot so why ruin it with a bottle of BB’s  sounding like a maraca’s convention ?.