A good magazine loader is a necessity for any avid shooter. Not only will they save your fingers from fatigue when loading those last bullets, they will allow you to do it much more quickly than ever before. For many people, it makes reloading their magazines a much more enjoyable process at a relatively low cost.
What makes a good magazine loader?
The main things to look out for when shopping for a good magazine loader is the quality of the material, how well it performs, and the price. A good quality magazine loader is one that’s durable and made to last. In terms of performance, it needs to make your job of loading ammo a whole lot easier. A lot of people use magazine loaders not only for their efficiency, but because they make it easier on the thumbs, and make it less likely to get hand fatigue. When it comes to price, there isn’t a great deal of difference between them. It's not really something you want to spend a lot of money on, so as long as it works well, fits your gun, and looks the part, you’re good to go!
To give you a head start and arm you with some information before you shop, take a look below at some of the best magazine loaders of 2017:
1. Maglula UpLULA Universal Pistol Magazine Loader
Price range: High
This universal magazine loader is pretty good all around. It simplifies and speeds up the loading process loads. You can insert up to 60 shots of ammo per minute with this loader. Another great this about the Maglula UpLULA is that it allows easy loading. Simply drop the rounds in and away you go. No pushing or pressing required. It’s a highly durable loader and will withstand several uses. It’s also available in 4 different colors. Bad points: A little on the expensive side for a magazine loader, but the quality can’t be faulted.
2. RAE Industries Single Stack Magazine Loader RAE - 702 for Pistol Magazines
Price range: Low
This competitively-priced loader is a great accessory for anyone that uses single stack mags. It’s easy to use and is nice and compact so fits easily in a pocket or purse. The RAE single stack loader comes in a range of vibrant colors too, giving you great visibility when you need it most. Bad points: No complaints. Works as it should and is available at a good price.
3. RangeTray Thumbless Magazine Loader for the Glock 42 .380
Price range: Mid
Suffer no more with this thumbless magazine loader. This patent-pending design makes loading your ammo easier than ever. Simply insert your round and press down. These loaders are durable and built to last. They also come in a range of different colors for easy identifying and increased visibility. Bad points: None to report.
4. Rae Industries 708 CZ Scorpion EVO Magazine Loader
Price range: Mid
This is a great magazine loader to use with your CZ USA Scorpion EVO. It’s ideal for reducing hand stress and tension and allows you to load your magazines much faster than before without using any excessive force. Bad points: Looks a little cheap and you can see it’s been 3D printed. Apart from that it’s pretty good value for money.
5. Caldwell Universal Pistol Magazine Loader
Price range: High
This magazine loader from Caldwell works great with both single and double stack magazines. It’s made of extremely durable polycarbonate material so will last for years. Its ergonomic handle makes it nice to hold and easy to use and it will load just about any magazine. There’s no effort at all required with this magazine loader. It’s fast, it’s efficient, and it looks good too! Bad points: It has quite a few adjustments and knobs, which can make it a little slower to operate than some of the others available.
6. MakerShot Custom Magazine Speedloader
Price range: Low
Although it’s not a universal loader, they are made available to fit most calibers and magazines and its easy load assist feature helps protect your fingers too. It may be one of the cheaper magazine loaders on the market, but the MakerShot is just as high quality as some of the more expensive models out there. It offers durability, reliability and is fast and also easy to use. Bad points: It’s not universal so you will need to purchase one for each type of gun.
7. Butler Creek Asap Magazine Loader, Double Stack
Price range: Mid
It’s sturdy, it’s quick, and it takes just one action to load a magazine. The Butler Creek Asap magazine loader is compact and lightweight taking the hard work out of loading your weapon. The double stack loader works with various magazines and will easily reduce loading time at the shooting range. Bad points: A little bit slower at loading then some of the other magazine loaders available.
8. Elite Tactical Systems Universal Pistol Mag Loader
Price range: Mid
This ETS magazine loader will save you loads of time loading at the range. The first great thing about it is that it can lift 10 rounds out of a bullet tray without you having to touch a single one. The second is that it’s a great design that will hold any double stack pistol magazine. Bad points: The feed handle is quite stiff and does take quite a lot of force to compress it.
9. Maglula LULA Colt 9 SMG All-in-One Magazine Speed Loader and Unloader
Price range: Mid
Another great military-style magazine loader on offer from Maglula, designed to fit your Colt 9 SMG perfectly. It’s small and lightweight and will most certainly help eliminate thumb pain and injury. These loaders and unloaders are fast, reliable, and built to last for thousands of rounds. Bad points: None to report.