Figure 1

140 rounds of .223 at the ready.  What one 7 pocket bandolier can hold.

Figure 2

Typical set up for the .223 is a cotton cloth bandolier with 7 pockets (there are other types out there).  Seven cardboard “boxes” to go into the 7 pockets.  14 chargers (stripper clips), one charger guide and one big bobby pin (not shown).

Figure 3

I tried my US made charger on 20, 30 and polymer magazines with no issue.

Figure 4

The charger guide is basically sheet metal formed to attach to the back of the magazine and having a channel for the charger clip.  The 7.62 NATO (.308 Win) guide looks identical, except bigger.

Figure 5

The charger (stripper clip) is a steel strip that has a brass flat spring inside of it.  At either end of the clip is a small brass tab that is used to retain your rounds.  Keeping the tab bent only so much to hold onto your rounds will make them last longer and will make charging the magazine much easier.  Once one of the tabs are broken, you can toss the clip.

Figure 6

The stripper clip holds 10 rounds by sliding the ammo such that the rim of the case is held between the steel guides. 

Figure 7

Once you have 14 of the clips loaded, you can place them in the cardboard “box” in a mirror image fashion.  Then place one of the boxes in each of the 7 pockets.

Figure 8

Totally loaded and wrapped up with the cloth belt and secured with the bobby pin, this compact package will protect your ammo, will not rattle, and will ready at a moments notice.  A loaded 7 pocket bandolier weights in at just about 4 lbs.  The dimensions are

5 ½ x 4 x 2 ½ and they fit neatly into a .30 cal steel ammo can.

Figure 9

The same brass tab that holds the ammo in the clip could also make it more difficult than necessary when charging the magazine.  Keeping bent only enough to hold your rounds in the clip will both make charging your magazines easier as well as prolong the life of the clip.

Figure 10

The first step for charging an AR magazine is to attach the charging guide.  It slips onto the back of the magazine, as shown above.  Make sure that it goes as far down as possible onto the magazine.  New magazines or ones that have a heavy phosphate finish may be harder to slide the guide onto.  You may have to work with it a few times to wear away some of the finish.

Figure 11

Another look at the guide in place. 

Figure 12

The next step in the process is to slide one of the clips into the charger guide.

Figure 13

The process of pushing the rounds into the magazine can be done a number of different ways.  Just depends on your technique and hand strength.  I found that placing the magazine bottom on a hard surface and then pushing down with several fingers or even using both hands across the upper most round gives me enough leverage to push all 10 rounds in at once.  Once in a while, the clips are tight and more force is needed.  Generally, once you get the process and the rounds going into the magazine, they all want to go at once.

Figure 14

Note that the stripper clip does not enter the magazine body.  Depending on your magazine capacity, you may load another 2 or 3 clips to fully charge the magazine.  Just repeat the process with another clip.

Figure 15

After you are done loading, remove the guide and the last empty clip.  As with most magazine fed weapons, it’s a good idea to “tap” the magazine (the back end) on a hard surface to seat rounds all toward the back.  Many times, G.I.’s will tap the magazines on their helmets to seat the rounds.  Only ONE time will they forget they aren’t wearing helmets….     Note the first round is seated way forward (exaggerated for effect).  This would give you trouble trying to put this magazine into your rifle. 

Figure 16

Figure 17

An ammo bandolier kit will normally have a 5 pocket cotton bandolier, 5 cardboard inserts, 10 clips, one guide and a bobby pin.

Figure 18

The cardboard inserts hold two 5 round clips.  Note, these are not the same cardboard inserts that the Garand 8 round enbloc clips will fit in.   Ten of these loaded inserts will go into one bandolier giving you 50 rounds of ammo.  Weight is about 3 lbs total, and like the AR bandolier, you can wrap the cotton belt around the package and hold it all together with the bobby pin.

Figure 19

As we saw with the AR guide, the M1A guide slides onto the back of the magazine.  Again, make sure that it seats all the way down.

Figure 20

The clips will seat into the charger guide.

Figure 21

I’ve found that loading 5 rounds of .308 is much easier than 10 rounds of .223.  Not only are there few rounds, but the clips are shorter, there is no keeper tabs at the end that need to be bent back.  Again, according to your magazine capacity, you would use additional clips to complete the loading process.

Figure 22

At first I thought that these 7.62mm bandolier kits would be hard to find, but in a recent issue of Shotgun News I saw, right on the front cover, that a company is selling .308 ammo already loaded on the clips and in the bandoliers.  Having said that, I have found that you can, in a pinch, use the 8mm Mauser clips (shown above) as well to load .30 cal ammo into magazines as well as directly into the rifle magazine (like the 1903 Springfield).  The rounds are not held as tightly, but it does work.  Care does need to be taken that the clip itself does not enter into the weapon.

Figure 23

As before, you place the Mauser clip into the charger guide, it will fit rather loosely, but in a pinch, it will work.  One thing to watch out for is that these narrower clips can slide down into the magazine if you are not careful.   As always, tap the back end of the magazine to seat all the rounds.