Two AK-47 reload methods compared, one favored for speed

Running an AK dry in a fight isn't the time to figure out your reload. A short demo from Tactical Rifleman breaks down two ways to get a fresh magazine into an AK-47 under time pressure, with a clear preference for one over the other.

Snapshot

The video walks through what to do the moment you hear a click and know you're empty: bring the rifle into your workspace and swap magazines fast. The presenter demonstrates a standard reload first, then a second technique he says is quicker and more consistent with how he'd run an M4.

Key points

• Technique one: the support hand drops the spent magazine, then the fresh mag is indexed toe-to-heel and rocked into place before a push-pull check confirms it's seated.
• Charging the gun: after confirming the magazine, the shooter racks the action from over or under the receiver and gets back on target.
• Technique two, the preferred method: instead of removing the empty mag first, the fresh magazine is used to sweep the spent one out by striking across the magazine release.
• Why he likes it: Tactical Rifleman says this sweep method is faster and lines up more closely with AR/M4 reload mechanics, which helps keep technique consistent across platforms.
• Same confirmation step: both techniques end with the same push-pull grip check before returning to the fight.

Quick take

This isn't a deep-dive tutorial, it's a quick side-by-side of two reload methods, but the comparison is useful if you've only ever learned one way to run your AK. The sweep technique is worth working into dry-fire practice if you also shoot an AR platform, since the goal is fewer things to think about when your gun goes empty.

Watch the full video: Tactical Rifleman