XTECH Tactical Speed Mag Review: AR-15 Magazine With Built-In Loader

Loading rifle and pistol magazines can cause problems for shooters young and old, regardless of age or size. With the popularity of high-capacity pistols and rifles, the issue has become more prevalent.

When Colt’s 1911 .45 semi-automatic pistols were among the most popular defensive handguns for law enforcement and civilian users in the 1970s and 1980s, loading their single-stack magazines was easy. Relatively little pressure was needed to seat the cartridges, which were easy to grasp and hold in place over the rounds already loaded. The original magazines also held only seven or eight rounds.

The growing popularity of 9mm pistols in the 1980s, along with 5.56mm rifles and high-capacity magazines, changed the dynamics of magazine loading. The smaller cartridges and higher round counts made loading magazines much slower. Smaller cartridges can also be easier to fumble under stress or in poor lighting. It’s been a growing problem for law enforcement and civilians alike.

Fortunately, the folks at XTECH Tactical in Gilbert, Arizona, have come up with several products designed to make magazine loading easier. Their lineup includes rifle and pistol magazines, magazine parts, loaders, grips and accessories.

XTECH sent me several samples for testing, and the first product that caught my eye was the XTECH Tactical Speed Mag, a 30-round 5.56mm/.223 AR-15 magazine with a built-in speedloader.

It looked like an interesting solution for new shooters, younger shooters and experienced shooters who have trouble topping off a standard 30-round AR-15 magazine.

What Is the XTECH Tactical Speed Mag?

The XTECH Speed Mag is an AR-15 magazine with a built-in loading mechanism that makes loading a 30-round magazine completely easier than using finger pressure alone. It is an excellent piece of equipment, especially for shooters who may have difficulty due to limited hand strength.

However, I would not consider using the XTECH as a full-blown law enforcement, duty or survival/combat magazine because of the same design features that make it beneficial. I think it is an excellent range, training or perhaps competition magainze.

Built-In Loading Sleeve

You’ll immediately notice the Speed Mag looks different than a conventional AR-15 magazine. Featuring an all-composite construction, when the magazine is at rest, you will see the follower is connected to an exterior loading ring.

The ring is actually rectangular and wraps around the magazine body, functioning more like a sliding sleeve.

As you pull the sleeve downward, it compresses the magazine spring and lowers the follower, allowing cartridges to be placed into the magazine without pushing them down by hand. XTECH recommends starting with two rounds at a time.

The sleeve has grooves on its narrow ends to give your fingers and thumb a better grip. Resting the magazine base on a hard surface makes it easier to pull the sleeve down and control the loading process.

The design eliminates the need to press individual cartridges downward against increasing spring tension. Instead, the loading hand simply places the rounds into the magazine while the other hand pulls the sleeve down.

Visible Round Count

A long, curved slot runs down both sides of the magazine body, allowing you to see the magazine spring and the position of the cartridges inside. This slot is why this particular magazine won’t work well for duty, as it can be easily plugged by mud, sand, snow, ice or dirt.

The slots also allow you to see how the cartridges are stacked and get a reasonable idea of how many rounds remain.

That can be useful during a match or recreational shooting session when you’re deciding whether to change magazines.

How to Load the XTECH Speed Mag

The Speed Mag comes packaged in a clear zip-lock bag with an information card containing operating directions. While the magazine is easy to use, you do need to pay at least a little attention to those instructions.

Now, I’ll confess that I’m bad at reading directions. However, the included instructions came in handy when we went to the range and were simple to follow.

I wanted my 12-year-old son Owen to try the Speed Mag first. It looked like something he should be able to operate with a little explanation.

I demonstrated how to rest the magazine base on a firm surface, pull the sleeve down just far enough to place two 5.56mm cartridges on the follower and then gently release the tension without disturbing the cartridges. I loaded four rounds to show him how it worked, then watched as he continued loading.

According to XTECH, with practice you can eventually load three to five rounds at a time, filling the entire magazine in seconds. For now, I just wanted to make sure we could learn to load it without causing a jam.

At first, Owen had no trouble. But when he got about halfway through loading the magazine, I noticed a gap between two cartridges. It was about the size of a single round and was clearly visible through the slot on the right side.

Instead of clearing the magazine out and starting over, I decided to continue and see what would happen during the test.

XTECH Speed Mag Range Test

We tested the XTECH magazine with my Brownells Retro 601 full-size AR-15, which has a “Vietnam Green” forearm and buttstock and 1:12-inch barrel twist. If you find a Retro Brownells AR on the used market, grab it.

Owen had always admired that rifle but had never fired it. Since it was our test rifle for the day, the time had finally come.

We used standard Hornady 55-grain FMJ ammo. Before Owen began shooting, I pointed out the cartridge gap in the magazine and explained that it might cause a malfunction but wouldn’t break anything.

Owen began firing slowly at a silhouette target 40 feet away, enjoying the distinctive “ping” that the Retro 601’s pronged flash hider made with each shot.

He fired about10 rounds when the double-feed jam occurred.

I cleared the malfunction and recovered the offending cartridge. It had a few small nicks on the bullet nose but was otherwise none the worse for wear. Owen continued firing, and all the remaining rounds he had loaded fed and fired without another problem.

I loaded another 30 rounds myself, working two cartridges at a time and made sure not to pull the loading sleeve down too far. That limited the extra space available for cartridges to shift out of position.

The cartridges dropped into place without requiring any downward pressure from my loading hand. The only real pressure came from the hand pulling the sleeve down.

Once I finished, I looked through both magazine slots and confirmed that all the rounds appeared to be stacked correctly.

I inserted the magazine into the Brownells 601, ran the charging handle and chambered the first round.

Taking aim at the center of the silhouette, I fired all 30 rounds. They ran through the Speed Mag as smooth as silk.

I was very impressed.

What I Learned About Loading the Speed Mag

Operating the XTECH Tactical Speed Mag is quite easy, though it requires just a bit of attention to detail.

I don’t believe the folks at XTECH are exaggerating when they say you can learn to load it quickly with a little practice.

My recommendation is to start with two rounds at a time, avoid pulling the sleeve farther than necessary and check that the cartridges are stacked properly before using the magazine.

Once you get the rhythm down, the design makes loading considerably easier than pushing cartridges into a conventional magazine by hand.

Is the XTECH Speed Mag Worth It for AR-15 Owners?

XTECH Tactical has won me over with the 5.56 Speed Mag.

I will likely use it during future AR-15 rifle and ammunition tests because it makes loading easier and eliminates the need to empty magazines I already have loaded at home.

The composite construction feels solid, and the built-in loader is simple to use.

It has many potential benefits for younger shooters, older shooters and people who are new to recreational rifle shooting. The Speed Mag makes it easier to introduce them to loading and operating an AR-15 without having to fight magazine spring pressure.

For the range, recreational shooting, training and possibly competition, I think the XTECH Speed Mag is an excellent accessory. Range time will definitely be easier for everyone involved.

Sources:

XTECH: XTechTactical.com
Hornady Ammunition: Hornady.com