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 ?.
