One of the coolest gadgets I saw at the Industry Day at the Range was the Mag Pump AR-15 ammunition loader. This ammunition loader is well designed to quickly load Mil-Spec AR-15 magazines. In fact, the Mag Pump was actually at several vendor’s booths, and everyone I talked to had very positive comments about its performance.

The Mag Pump is designed to load AR-15 magazines very quickly through a manually loaded hopper system. The design relieves shooters of excessive finger and hand fatigue during a long day of shooting. This speed loading capability was particularly helpful during the Industry Day at the Range, where hundreds of media and industry types are shooting the latest firearms. I’ve seen booth representatives towards the end of the day exhausted and with beat up hands and fingers.  The Mag Pump appeared to be universally praised for relief and help in loading magazines.

Mag Pump AR-15 Magazine Loader

Unlike similar products, the Mag Pump’s huge benefit is the top loading hopper. Several competitor products require the loader to attempt loading one round at a time, or fitting multiple rounds into specific loading slots. If the round isn’t placed just right, the loading process is stalled until proper placement is achieved.

The Mag Pump hopper allows the loader to simply dump rounds in. There is no need to sort the rounds into a nice order, as the design will feed cartridges facing either direction and even sideways. The Mag Pump mechanism moves the cartridges into loading position one cartridge at a time through a small opening at the bottom of the hopper. As each cartridge moves into loading position it is directed bullet down through the guide tunnel.

Magazines are inserted near the base with the back side up. This ensures the bullet down cartridge is properly positioned to be mechanically inserted into the magazine. To facilitate loading, the user simply inserts the magazine as shown until receiving a tactile and audible lock. After the magazine is fully loaded the user presses down on a lever just above the insertion point to release the magazine. The Mag Pump is designed to prevent loading beyond a standard capacity for the magazine.

Loading is performed by cranking the large handle on one side. The loading process is designed to work as fast as the user can crank the handle and keep ammunition in the hopper. This process is much faster and easier than trying to hand load magazines, especially as the magazine gets near full capacity. In addition, the hopper system makes loading magazines much quicker and efficient than products designed for one round at a time or requiring precise loading into a load tray. According to the Mag Pump representatives a motivated loader could load (3) magazines in a minute.

The standard Mag Pump is made from high quality polymer, and designed to mount to a work bench or simply sit free on its base. I did not see any Mag Pump’s permanently mounted at the Industry Day, and all seemed to work just fine. The current models are designed for .223 Rem., 5.56mm, and .300 BLK. However, the Mag Pump representatives told me there are already plans to build a Mag Pump for AK-47 (7.62x39mm) magazines, and Glock magazines. The Mag Pump Elite version made from machined aluminum. The Mag Pump Elite also changes the loading lever from polymer to aluminum with a ball head, much like ammunition reloading turrets.

Mag Dump AR-15 Magazine Unloader

To compliment the Mag Pump, the company is including a Mag Dump unloader with every purchase. The Mag Dump works similar to a Mag Lula in reverse. The Mag Dump is inserted over the top of the magazine, and locks into place with an audible and tactile lock. An over-sized handle is moved forward and backward to eject cartridges one at a time. Unlike the Mag Lula design that is more of a rocking forward and backward action, the Mag Dump slides the lever forward and backward. Additionally, the Mag Dump is specifically designed to unload so the user does not have to flip a switch.

The Mag Pump representatives performed an unloading demonstration with the Mag Dump, and a full magazine was unloaded in about 5 seconds. As fast as the user can move the lever, is as fast as the magazine will unload. This is much easier than trying this process by hand, or by using a cartridge case or other object for assistance. This I know all too well from many blood blisters and sore fingers.

The Mag Pump and Mag Dump come with a transferable lifetime warranty. When questioned about the extent of this warranty, the representatives said it was a lifetime guarantee regardless of the owner or the occurrence. They went as far as to say “drive over it with a truck, if it breaks we’ll replace it.”
The Mag Pump and Mag Dump are made from injection molded high strength polymer, while the Mag Pump Elite is made of machined aluminum with a sturdier loading handle.

Mag Pump Features

• Hopper fed loose ammunition loader
• Polymer and machined aluminum options available
• Compatible with all Mil-Spec AR-15 magazines
• Transferable Lifetime Warranty
• Reduces magazine loading time
• Eliminates hand and finger fatigue while loading
• MSRP: $199.00 (Polymer), and $399.00 (Elite – aluminum).

Mag Dump Features

• Quickly and easily unloads AR-15 magazines
• Injection molded polymer
• Large, easily operated lever
• Push-button magazine release
• Patent pending design
• Transferable Lifetime Warranty.

There have been several magazine loaders and unloaders to hit the market. Probably the most famous is the Mag Lula line, which has been very effective. However, the Mag Pump and Mag Dump are very well designed to load or unload magazines very quickly and efficiently. Easy loading through a hopper system was much quicker than many competitors I’ve seen and used. Having the Mag Dump included with every purchase has me seriously considering a purchase in the near future.