As you can see from the picture, the LULA is much more compact than the Cammenga.

Cammenga Easy Loader

1) Attach the loader to the empty magazine


2) Fill up with rounds


Unfortunately, you cannot fit 30 rounds into the Cammenga in a single sitting. The most I've been able to do is somewhere are 22 rounds at a time.

3) Close top


4) Rack it forward.

This is a little harder than it looks. I usually place the magazine against my chest and pull the handle towards me in a single motion. All rounds load in about a second.

Also easily fits on the Beta-C and the Magpul mag


LULA


The LULA is much more compact than the Cammenga. In fact, the lever even presses down into the body when not in use to further reduce its profile.


Unlike the Cammenga, the LULA locks directly into the magazine catch.

Operation

1) To load, place LULA on magazine


Operating the lever back and forth pushes the stack of rounds on either side of the magazine down, enabling you to insert a round

So basically it's:
Push the the lever forward, insert round. Push the lever backward, insert round.

LULA makes claims of loading magazines in superman-fast times. In practice it takes a little longer.

For loading, the Cammenga is the faster system. However, LULA is also a magazine un-loader. To unload, simply hold the magazine sideways, rounds pointing to the dirt, and operate the lever back and forth. Rounds dump right out.



The standard AR LULA worked in both the USGI and the Magpul magazines, but had a problem with the Beta-C.



Once the LULA is engaged on the feed tower of the Beta mag it is very hard to take it off, due to the lack of space. I think it puts needless pressure on the feed tower (which is made of plastic) and is a PITA to take off.

Between the two:

Cost: Tie. Both run $20-$30

Models offered: Tie. Both have models for multiple firearms and calibers

Speed: Initially Cammenga. However when you factor in the unloading capability of the LULA, it certainly evens out. LULA comes out on top when you add the fact a full mag cannot be loaded in a single motion.

Easy of Use: Neither are hard. The Cammenga is easier to figure out if you've never seen either one.

Portability: LULA, hands-down.

Tally all of the above, and the LULA wins for me (Even though my preferred method of unloading mags is, of course, shooting!)

To anyone that says, "Nah my hands work fine" obviously haven't spent a lot of time with sub-guns or shot 500 rounds in a single sitting on any kind of regular basis.

Of course, not many of us can afford to shoot 500 rounds in a single range session, unless of course it's with a .22lr. Which leads me to my next review, the Butler Creek Magazine Loader.

Butler Creek 10/22 Loader

.22lr's are a pain in the ass to load--several hundred times. By the time I leave the range my thumbs were black and sore just from loading magazines. On a whim I picked up a Butler Creek mag loader at a gunshow for $20.



Funky looking for sure. Here's the operation:

1) Insert magazine and lock in place with the lever as shown


2) Open the hopper and dump a bunch of ammo in


3) Shake the whole thing lightly so the rounds line up and tilt towards the magazine


4) Crank the knob on the right clockwise

30 rounds load (well, 28 in this case) in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, the only aftermarket magazines I have for my 10/22 are Butler Creek so I couldn't test any of the others out.

Works great with the 10-round factory magazine too.

I highly recommend this to anyone who owns a 10/22. Now if they would only make them for the Mk Series...

AR mag loaders to be covered in the future:

-Regular stripper clips
-Beta "Personal Loader"
-LULA stripper clip loader.
-LULA bench loader

So this is not all-inclusive by any means.


 

Standard USGI Stripper clip

 This review includes a standard USGI magazine and also a Magpul PMag.


First and foremost, a stripper clip charger is needed for standard strippers to work. My first thought was, "can a PMag accept a charger?" Upon initial inspection I discovered this:

A slot for a charger.

Fits like it was made for it (which it most certainly was)


The USGI magazine doesn't have a special slot like the PMag, the charger just fits over the rear-most rib of the magazine, as shown:


Operation:

The stripper clip charger is placed on the magazine as shown above. The loaded clip is inserted into the charger


Holding onto the magazine in one hand and pressing down on the cartridges with the other (at the base) loads the magazine quickly.


Same for the PMag


Stripper clips are great because:
-You can load ammo fast
-When loaded into bando's you can keep track of ammunition easily
-Both the stripper clips and chargers are very inexpensive.

Cons:
-Stripper clips and the needed charger are most definitely expendable items. Don't expect a stripper to last for more than just a few reloads and a charger to last forever.

The most common part to break on a stripper clip is the tiny metal clip that holds the rounds in. When it breaks off, the stripper is dead.



This happens due to metal fatigue. Every time you load a magazine with a stripper clip that little tab bends. When you reload the stripper you have to bend it back. When the metal is brought to load over and over it will become fragile and break.

Furthermore, the lips that hold the rim of the cartridge will also deform


If you can shake the filled stripper clip and cartridges fall out, the lips are deformed. So long as the metal tab is still in place it can be fixed. Simply squeeze the lips down slightly with a pair of pliers and it will be 100% again.

Chargers also will wear out and deform just like the lips of the stripper clip. When this happens just toss it and go with a new one.
 

Back to reviews