Today, I am going to review the Skunkwirkz(LLC) 15-22 Magazine Loader for the Smith $ Wesson M&P 15-22.
I will be using 3 different types of magazines.
they are: 1. A stock S&W 25 round magazine
2. A S&W 10 round modified to hold 25 rounds using raven eye customs load assist tool(
http://www.raveneyecustom.com/Pages/MP1522.aspx)
3. A Plinker Tactical 35 round magazine with the Plinker Tactical assist tool.
First of, this is not the only website that I am doing this review on, so if some information seems unnecessary or extraneous, this would be why. Also, I am testing a beta unit. This is not the final product. I thank Skunkwirkz for the opportunity to be a beta tester as even in this beta version, this is an awesome product.
I'll start off with the suggestions to Skunkwirkz(LLC) for improvement. He has already read these and is making/has made corrrections for these.
The 1st is the loading tube, it is fragile. I believe he is working with someone more familiar with metals to find a sturdier material.
The 2nd issue is the need for the end user to adjust or tune, which is related to the first issue. of course this is being addressed by the use of different materials for the loading tube. I will say that mine did not need any tuning.
The 3rd issue would be packaging, but it's too early in the process to nail this down yet
Now to the fun part. I've played with this so much that I could say I have loaded and unloaded more rounds than i actually have on hand.
First, dump(yes literally dump) 25 rounds(or more for the Plinker mag), into the cartridge holder.
then separate out 12 rounds...notice how the round well gets less deep toward the front of the holder. this causes the cartridge to tip into the loading tube "primer" end first.
next, insert your mag into the loader...i am using the modified S&W with the raven eye customs loading tool...this is also where the first adjustment will need to be made. the end of the loading tube should align with the top of the magazine.
The next step is to align the loading tube in holder. Skunwirkz has done away with the alignment tab and now suggest trimming the cartridge holder. I have not done this yet. the reason he has done this upgrade is some beta testers have broken off the tab while trying to adjust the angle. You should have the magazine/tube in a downward angle so the round slide down the tube.
the first round will look like this:
at this point, you will slowly pull down on the load assist buttons allowing the rounds to slowly fall into the magazine. I find it works best if you pull down, allowing 2 or 3 rounds to go in, then allow the spring back and allow the rounds correctly align/stagger.
do this until the tube is empty and repeat until the magazine is full and again until all of your magazines are full.
now the difference between the magazines.
i prefer doing this using the raven eye customs loading tool. I have this because the S&W magazines that are 10 round long(as long as the 25 rounders, but are pinned to only hold 10 rounds) do not have load assist buttons. the raven eye buttons are a metal button. this tool is not necessary. the buttons are however.
the tool installed:
this tool made this easier than any of my other two options.
the stock S&W mag does not have a hole in the assist button, but extra can be purchased if you have the raven eye customs tool.
a comparison between the 2 S&W mags...the blue follower is the modified 10 round mag, the orange follower is the stock 25 round magazine...notice the hole in the modified assist button.
I will now compare the 35 round Plinker Tactical to the Stock 25 round S&W mag.
Because the Plinker mag has no load assist buttons, but does have it's own loading tool, the Plinker Tactical tool must be used. when i bought this mag, i had the option, for the exact same price, of one with out the load assist tool. the last 5 rounds will not go in using the Skunkwirkz(LLC) set up because the Skunkwirkz(LLC) mag holder interferes with the Plinker tool as seen in these pics.
the Plinker tool, fuly inserted, without the Skunwikz(LLC) mag holder...
and fully inserted with the Skunkwirkz(LLC) mag holder...
i think i covered everything...except
This is "ONE STINKIN' GOOD LOADER!"
for those that have the mossberg 715t, he said if this takes off for the smith, he may adapt it for other makes of magazines.
