How does reloading work in the Army?
 

This question goes out to the people in the marines and other armed forces. You know how in video games you shoot off a couple of rounds then reload. You first had about 60 rounds but when you reload you know have 55 rounds. Well that wouldnt work in real life because all of your ammo is in magazines and not lying around. So Im just wondering what happen if say a guy just charges at you and you shoot him down with just a couple of shots. What do you do? Reload and waste a mostly full mag? Or just stick with it and hope you dont get into a long firefight? Or say you use up about half you mag? Three quarters? And the only games that I know of that are magazine based instead of bullet based are Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 and warrock.

You don't change mags just because you're fired off a few rounds. Generally, when in contact, you just keep firing until you run dry - otherwise eventually you're going to be putting in half full mags and that's a bad thing. The exception would be if you're going to be clearing a trench or building - that's generally the only time you fire on full auto, and for that you want a full mag.

Usually you rounds on stripper clips and top up your mags when you have the chance.

Usually you keep all your used mags and put in fresh 1s, when you run out of fresh mags you either reload a used mag or if you have the time, take out the ammo in the used mags and top as many as you can

Depends on personal preferences sometimes. Some can run half mags and others once they've fired enough and the threat might be still out there, you reload with one in the chamber.

The Battlefield games are also magazine based. You actually discard anything left in the mag when you reload, which makes things interesting with some weapons.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 1 and 2 is the same way

The Arma series and Insurgency actually keep all your used mags when you reload.

One of my old high school friends who went to West Point (and who's now in Iraq) told me that they reload partially-empty mags in MOUT training. Or at least, he said they do this with their Berettas; I don't remember if he said this applies to M4s as well, but I imagine it's the same way.

I'll ask my marine buddies how they do reloads

Thank you. I havent played every Military game so thats why I didnt include those ones. Also last time I check GRAW was also bullet based. Anyways thank you because its been bothering me and my friends quite a bit when we're playing COD 4.

Few tidbits you may find interesting - I'm shipping off to Kandahar in 3 1/2 weeks, and I'm issued both a rifle (C7A2) and pistol (Browning Hi Power). I work mainly inside the wire, and day-to-day I just carry my pistol and keep my rifle locked up in my foot locker. I'm issued 2 mags for the pistol, and 5 for the rifle. They'll give me another 5 if I ask for them.

Infantry types (who, unlike video games, are rarely issued pistols) will always carry at least 10 mags, often more. This is on top of normally carrying a belt for one of the section LMGs. This is a problem, as our tac vest is only designed to carry 4 (plus one on the weapon). They usually either replace their canteen pouch with a spare ammo pouch, since we're now issued camelbacks, or just get a new vest altogether. You'll see alot of non-issued kit, I for example do not use the issue holster, as it is shit.

When in KAF, you always have to carry a weapon - those of us lucky enough to have a pistol usually carry that, those without carry their rifle, or if they're really unlucky, LMG. You also always carry one loaded mag, though not on the weapon. Risk of accidental discharge.