Proper way to change mags on PTR91?

[65k10]

I know this sounds silly, but bear with me.

I recently got a PTR91 mostly for a range toy, but I figured I might as well be somewhat proficient with it. I'm getting accustomed to most of the quirks of this rifle, but the best way to change mags is somewhat escaping me. My initial assumption was to eject the empty mag, insert new mag, and charge the weapon. The problem is that it seems to take a solid smack on the bottom of the mag to get it to lock in, which makes changing mags clumsy since it's hard to do it in a smooth motion. I've been reading that some people were advocating that before ejecting the empty mag, you should lock the bolt back, then do your mag change. While this does make inserting a loaded mag loads easier it still seems a bit clumsy. Is there a "correct" way to reload this type of rifle?

[Kyle Reese]

Either type of reload will work for the G3 type rifle.


My initial assumption was to eject the empty mag, insert new mag, and charge the weapon. The problem is that it seems to take a solid smack on the bottom of the mag to get it to lock in, which makes changing mags clumsy since it's hard to do it in a smooth motion.

To make this work, download by one or two rounds and go from there.

After shooting my G3 clones for a while, it made me appreciate the simplicity and excellent ergos of Stoner platform.

[TGS]

The PTR91 does not have a bolt hold open, correct?

So using the HK prescribed reload should solve the issue of the mag being hard to insert, right?

[Skullybones]

The PTR91 does not have a bolt hold open, correct?

So using the HK prescribed reload should solve the issue of the mag being hard to insert, right?

It has a notch that the charging handle locks into. A palm strike from that position charges the weapon.

[65k10]

Either type of reload will work for the G3 type rifle.



To make this work, download by one or two rounds and go from there.

After shooting my G3 clones for a while, it made me appreciate the simplicity and excellent ergos of Stoner platform.

I'll have to try downloading them since I'd like to only have to mess with the charging handle once per reload.

I agree with it making me appreciate my AR rifles in terms of controls more. That said I like this gun more than I thought I would. The sights are pretty nice, the controls are easy to use with winter gloves on, and combined with the collapsing stock it makes a somewhat compact and snag free gun that fits nicely in a pickup or tractor. If only it was lighter and reloads were a bit smoother.

[ragnar_d]

After shooting my G3 clones for a while, it made me appreciate the simplicity and excellent ergos of Stoner platform.
After shooting heavy metal with my HK91, I agree. Made me wish for an AR-10/SR-25 platform for sure . . . or at least a proper paddle mag release.

OP: I was reloading in a similar method to you (and still do to an extent). I'll be following this one to see if I can glean anything from folks who might have a little more experience this platform.

[Tamara]

A palm strike from that position charges the weapon.

Yeah, but when I had a former Bundeswehr drill sergeant for a roommate, I got told to cut that out. :o

[TGS]

It has a notch that the charging handle locks into. A palm strike from that position charges the weapon.

I'm talking about a last-shot hold open, which I believe the PTR91 does not have.

Thus, the reload espoused by HK was to:
1) Lock the bolt to the rear (thus preventing the closed bolt from impinging on a loaded mag)
2) Drop the mag
3) Insert new mag (now able to since the bolt is locked to the rear)
4) Chamber the round.

So, doing the HK prescribed reload would work around the problem of trying to insert a full mag on a closed bolt.

[65k10]

I'm talking about a last-shot hold open, which I believe the PTR91 does not have.

Thus, the reload espoused by HK was to:
1) Lock the bolt to the rear (thus preventing the closed bolt from impinging on a loaded mag)
2) Drop the mag
3) Insert new mag (now able to since the bolt is locked to the rear)
4) Chamber the round.

So, doing the HK prescribed reload would work around the problem of trying to insert a full mag on a closed bolt.

Correct. The PTR doesn't have a last shot bolt hold open. If this is what HK recommends I suppose I can give it a go.

[Lester Polfus]

At MP-5 Skool the mantra was "Working Parts to the Rear, Mag Off, Mag on, Working Parts forward"

All the cool kids did the HK slap.

If you look around on the internet (By googling "Mp5 Manual") You should find copies of the MP5 manual floating around. I know you have a PTR in 308 and not an MP5 in 9mm but the beauty of all those HK roller lockers is they work exactly the same way.



I'm talking about a last-shot hold open, which I believe the PTR91 does not have.

Thus, the reload espoused by HK was to:
1) Lock the bolt to the rear (thus preventing the closed bolt from impinging on a loaded mag)
2) Drop the mag
3) Insert new mag (now able to since the bolt is locked to the rear)
4) Chamber the round.

So, doing the HK prescribed reload would work around the problem of trying to insert a full mag on a closed bolt.

[Coyotesfan97]

At MP-5 Skool the mantra was "Working Parts to the Rear, Mag Off, Mag on, Working Parts forward"

All the cool kids did the HK slap.

If you look around on the internet (By googling "Mp5 Manual") You should find copies of the MP5 manual floating around. I know you have a PTR in 308 and not an MP5 in 9mm but the beauty of all those HK roller lockers is they work exactly the same way.

Or shorten it to Back Off On Forward.


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[Tamara]

The reason Marko said they discouraged slapping the charging handle was that supposedly over time it'd wear down the notch in the receiver. 'Course, he was in during the G3's sunset years and those things had been abused by a couple decades' worth of young Fritzes by then.

[Dagga Boy]

I shot a HK91 for years in matches and it was my turret gun in our armored vehicle (it was sold to Hollywood and is the armored vehicle used by ATF in the movie Red State).
I ran it just like the MP-5. It becomes second nature to always run that charging handle to the rear before you do anything. It prevents a lot of issues that are usually shooter induced. I slapped the charging handle, but it was not in the over exaggerated way that a lot of the "cool guys" did. Yeah, we had our own "Costa's" in those days. It was usually accompanied by yelling something "tactical" like "up!" or "ready" to let your imaginary team know that you were back in the imaginary fight...:rolleyes:.

[Chuck Haggard]

The reason Marko said they discouraged slapping the charging handle was that supposedly over time it'd wear down the notch in the receiver. 'Course, he was in during the G3's sunset years and those things had been abused by a couple decades' worth of young Fritzes by then.

I attended an Army SRT school in which they had us running school MP5s, and they taught us the same thing. Slap looks cooler, a quick tug and release was more gooder.

[Coyotesfan97]

I attended an Army SRT school in which they had us running school MP5s, and they taught us the same thing. Slap looks cooler, a quick tug and release was more gooder.

When I went through the HK operator and instructor schools they taught us the slap good and the tug bad. They were concerned with guys riding the handle and creating a malfunction.


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[Dagga Boy]

The key is an open hand so you do not ride the handle at all, it just didn't have to come from over your head.

[LSP972]

When I went through the HK operator and instructor schools they taught us the slap good and the tug bad. They were concerned with guys riding the handle and creating a malfunction.


This. Of course, Phil Singleton was my instructor, so it was back in the days when 9mm cartridges were loaded with black powder…


I can still hear him; "Bolt to the rear! Mag off; mag on! Working parts forward!"

.

Oh; I see Lester already mentioned that. Guess you spent some time on the Loudon County S.O. range too, eh, Lester?:D

.

[Coyotesfan97]

This. Of course, Phil Singleton was my instructor, so it was back in the days when 9mm cartridges were loaded with black powder…


I can still hear him; "Bolt to the rear! Mag off; mag on! Working parts forward!"

.


I was fortunate enough to have gone through one of Phil's five day entry classes after he left HK. I always wondered why it was so foggy and smoky on the line.

The best part of the class was "taking the piss out of the Limey". Calling Phil a Brit always went far. LOL



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[LSP972]

I'm told he's still around, still working.

An interesting fellow…

.

[Chuck Haggard]

Phil taught at the winter KCMTOA conference last year. Gave a run down on the Prince's Gate hostage rescue.