Lightnin’ Grip Loader

Yeah okay, so I’m a cynic; but in my defence I’ve spent 30 years in this industry and some of the so called wonder machines and guns that have come across my desk have been, well, let’s say just a tad over-exaggerated. Crap might be a better word! One concept that has been tried over and over again are magazine loaders for high-capacity 22s, like the good old Ruger 10/22.

Filling those 25-round banana clips is a pain and also hard on the thumb. I have seen at least five different machines that were supposed to do it better and faster and none of them have been that good. In most cases it took longer to fill it up and sort out the various jams than it did to dump 25-rounds on the bench and load by hand!

Greased Lightnin’

However, I got a call from Pete Denness (Black Rifle) telling me they import the Lightnin’ Grip Loader from McFadden Machine Co. Inc. for a wide range of 22 rimfire, fed systems 22 magazine reloader and would I like to test one? Well I hadn’t had anything really bad to play with for a couple of weeks and needed cheering up! But now I’d better eat those words as the damn thing really works!

The build is Lexan; a clear, high-strength plastic with a pistol grip and operating lever at the base and a large hopper forward of that. The idea is simple – dump in 50-rounds of 22 LR shake it down into the feed trough, our old friend Mr Gravity helps here as the shells naturally fall point-down. Now you are ready to fill. The Lightnin’ is not biased as it offers a series of magazine adaptors for most makes of hi-cap clips, oddly enough this does not include Ruger’s BX25. On that point other after-market 10/22 mags offer centred (Butler Creek) or un-centred (RamLine) feed lips so get the right adaptor! At the end of this article is a list of compatible magazines, though Walther’s Colt Tactical series, HK 416 and Beretta ARX 160 need a slight modification and I have included a picture and explanation from Pete to illustrate what is required.

The adaptor fits into the top of the grip and is retained by lugs at the front and a sprung cross bolt at the rear.

It’s recommend you put the first round into the mag by hand as it eases the initial transition of the ammo. As you shake the loader you will see the rounds drop down into the feed chute and fill it up. Now hold it up at about 20° off vertical and squeeze and release the lever fully, this will push a round, base-first into the feed lips, as you release it rises and a plunger moves across to fully position the base of the case into the rear interior magazine wall. Providing you fully squeeze and release the lever the operation is fast and near 100% efficient, I would imagine that rounds that are really greasy – as some 22 can be – might stick. As the ammo in the chute runs out shake the loader and more will fall down into it from the hopper above.

 

Time Trials

So we know it works and certainly stops that busted thumb feel after a day’s heavy rimfire shooting, but is it efficient? Or to put it another way is it still faster to fill by hand given you have to first dump the ammo into the feed hopper and shake it down. Yes is the answer! I had S&W 15-22 and Butler Creek (BC) 10/22 adaptors and did some time trials in seconds as follows:

As can be seen, a significant difference that improves the job by around 50%, the only variable is how fast and efficiently the rounds can be shaken down into the feed chute. I found it better to dump in 50 as more ammo = more efficient feeding.

Providing you operate the Lightnin’ properly as described you can expect excellent reliability. One other thing I did notice is that the Loader takes out the human element and automatically stacks the ammo rim in front of rim as it’s loaded for reliable feeding. So do you, I hear you cry, but mistakes happen with monkeys – I know, I am one too!

Priced at £30 and £8 for the mag adaptors, I started this test thinking if it works why would I want one, as my Smith mags are easy to fill by hand due to their side-button system, but now I would definitely get one as it really does improve the job. For those that use Black Dog 22 mags I’d say the Lightnin’ is mandatory!

 

Magazine Compatibility List

I took this off the Black Rifle website: “The following magazines have been tested with the loader adapters. Other magazines will be added to the list as testing continues.”

Smith & Wesson:

OEM S&W MP15-
22 – S&W Adapter

Sig Sauer:

25 round .22LR 522 Magazine
– AR15 .22 Adapter

CMMG:

25 Round R3 – AR15/
M4 .22 Adapters

Black Dog Machine:

AR15.22 Drum –
AR15.22 Adapter
X Form Magazine –
AR15.22 Adapter
Sonic Weld Mag –
AR15.22 Adapter
Gen 2 Magazines –
AR15.22 Adapter
10.22 25rd Stick Mag –
CENTERED 10.22 Adapter

Colt:

Colt .22LR 30 round magazine
(M4/M16 /HK416/ARX160)
– AR15/M4 Adapter – Loader
modification required

ProMag:

Archangel Nomad 25
round .22LR magazine for
Ruger 10/22 – CENTERED
10.22 Adapter

Loader Modification: For some extra wide magazines (Walther’s – Colt Tactical series, HK 416 and Beretta ARX160) a modification is required to the loader body to enable the magazine to be seated and removed easily. Simply file approximately 1.5mm (1/16th inch) from the lower area where the magazine rubs as shown in the image below. If you would like us to perform the modification for you just drop us a message with your order.
T: 01604 806 303
www.blackrifle.co.uk