Magazine release
Encyclopedia
A magazine release is the control on a firearm that retains a weapon's magazine.
or Walther P-38. This has the advantages of being both ambidextrous and resistant to inadvertent release. Its primary disadvantages are a slower reload in good conditions and often the requirement for greater force to activate compared to the other systems.
The thumb release located at the junction of the trigger guard and pistol grip as typified by that on the Colt M1911A1 or Browning HP
is common on American designed pistols and those for the American market. It has the advantage of speed in reloading while compromising some on the risk of accidentally dropping the magazine and the requirement to have either comparatively long thumbs or changing the hold on the weapon to actuate it.
A variant of the thumb release is the use of a lever, often ambidextrous, in lieu of a button as found on the Ruger P-series pistols, HK USP, and Walther P99
. This allows the use of either thumb or the use of a finger to activate the release mitigating the disadvantages of the Browning design.
A less common design is a button along the lower edge of the pistol grip like the Micro-Uzi Pistol or the early models of the Beretta 92 and Beretta 93R
. These are intended to be activated by the left thumb and are usually intended for the use of magazines that extend below the base of the grip.
Non-traditional pistols like the Heckler & Koch SP89, TEC-9, Škorpion vz. 61, and others often have magazine releases more similar to longarms.
and M16-series
weapons are common and usually are found only on one side of the weapon, protected by a ridge or other protection against inadvertent activation. This may limit speed of reloading in certain positions or produce a slower reloading when fired left-handed. (In the case of the L85, this is somewhat intentional as the weapon is designed to fire only right-handed.) The disadvantages of this design are improperly protected buttons, decreased ambidexterity, and the requirement for some degree of fine motor control and precision to operate it under stress.
A paddle or lever magazine release like that on the AK-series and US M14 rifle
is located behind the magazine and is often found on designs where the magazine must be cammed into pace. It is ambidextrous, simple, and located very close to the magazine which simplifies loading. Its disadvantage is the increased force required to activate it and often the requirement to manually remove the empty magazine instead of simply letting it drop free.
Some firearms combine both systems like the Heckler & Koch MP5
and G3
-series weapons providing the option of using either variation.
Pistol
Heel or "European" magazine release is located at the butt of the pistol grip and is commonly a simple catch as on the MakarovMakarov PM
The PM is a semi-automatic pistol design. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it became the Soviet Union's standard military side arm from 1951-1991.-Development:...
or Walther P-38. This has the advantages of being both ambidextrous and resistant to inadvertent release. Its primary disadvantages are a slower reload in good conditions and often the requirement for greater force to activate compared to the other systems.
The thumb release located at the junction of the trigger guard and pistol grip as typified by that on the Colt M1911A1 or Browning HP
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. It is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized...
is common on American designed pistols and those for the American market. It has the advantage of speed in reloading while compromising some on the risk of accidentally dropping the magazine and the requirement to have either comparatively long thumbs or changing the hold on the weapon to actuate it.
A variant of the thumb release is the use of a lever, often ambidextrous, in lieu of a button as found on the Ruger P-series pistols, HK USP, and Walther P99
Walther P99
The Walther P99 is a semi-automatic pistol developed by the German company Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen of Ulm for law enforcement, security forces and the civilian shooting market as a replacement for the Walther P5 and the P88...
. This allows the use of either thumb or the use of a finger to activate the release mitigating the disadvantages of the Browning design.
A less common design is a button along the lower edge of the pistol grip like the Micro-Uzi Pistol or the early models of the Beretta 92 and Beretta 93R
Beretta 93R
The Beretta Model 93R is a selective-fire machine pistol, designed and manufactured by the Italian Beretta company in the 1970s for police and military use, that is derived from their semi-automatic Model 92...
. These are intended to be activated by the left thumb and are usually intended for the use of magazines that extend below the base of the grip.
Non-traditional pistols like the Heckler & Koch SP89, TEC-9, Škorpion vz. 61, and others often have magazine releases more similar to longarms.
Longarms
Push button magazine releases as found on the L85-seriesSA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
and M16-series
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
weapons are common and usually are found only on one side of the weapon, protected by a ridge or other protection against inadvertent activation. This may limit speed of reloading in certain positions or produce a slower reloading when fired left-handed. (In the case of the L85, this is somewhat intentional as the weapon is designed to fire only right-handed.) The disadvantages of this design are improperly protected buttons, decreased ambidexterity, and the requirement for some degree of fine motor control and precision to operate it under stress.
A paddle or lever magazine release like that on the AK-series and US M14 rifle
M14 rifle
The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14 was used for U.S...
is located behind the magazine and is often found on designs where the magazine must be cammed into pace. It is ambidextrous, simple, and located very close to the magazine which simplifies loading. Its disadvantage is the increased force required to activate it and often the requirement to manually remove the empty magazine instead of simply letting it drop free.
Some firearms combine both systems like the Heckler & Koch MP5
Heckler & Koch MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
and G3
Heckler & Koch G3
The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....
-series weapons providing the option of using either variation.