Works but not right out of box - VISM AR Mag Speed Loader V2

This speed loader works very well for loading loose rounds into 5.56/.223 mags, but it requires some gorilla efforts to get it ready to use the first time. The first one I ordered and received from OpticsPlanet had to be returned because despite even using a hammer and a punch tool, I just could could not get the tray cover to open or even budge with taps from a hammer and punch tool, so it was useless for loading loose rounds. I ordered a second one, thinking the first one was defective, and the tray cover on the second one was also very tight—but I was able to eventually pry and slide it open using a large flathead screwdriver between the gap between the bottom edge of the cover and the main body. Once I was able to slide the cover open, it was still very, very tight, but it was openable. So I sprayed some DuPont dry lubricant on all the surfaces where parts mated together, and it has worked wonderfully after that. Smooth and quick loading of bulk 5.56 and .223 rounds into all my mags.

One tip that’s not so easy to pick out from all the YouTube videos is that for loading loose rounds, the loader has to be held at an angle such that the small (pointy bullet) ends of the rounds all sit naturally in the groove meant for the small end of rounds. At first, I made the mistake of trying to let the rounds rest against their primer side in the loader, and that just did not work and even ended in a couple of dented round casings.

Overall, I’m happy with my purchase. I’ve deducted one star because of the much-too-tight tolerances from the factory and for lack of instructions on proper use, but once I was able to fix the stuck sliding cover and figure out how to use the product, this speed loader has been very consistent and very fast.