As for opening the thing, I’ve found it easiest to grasp the mag with both hands, squeeze it and use both thumbs to unlock the magazine and which point should make it easier to open it however you want.

I agree 100% with this article though; these mags make for nice range gear, but I wouldn’t bet my life on them.

the steel corners of the slide bit me a few times when searching for a “safe” technique to use. i find if i hold the back of the mag in my right hand across my body with that hand under the mag, then grip the slide with my left, it’s fairly consistant, and there is less of a chance of spraying the rounds remaining in the clip onto the ground.

the mag seems to open up at the top when it’s open to load. thus, the rounds don’t stack cleanly.

quite often i’ll get a round at a random part that will set the base of the round into the center well and screw up the whole system. grabbing the nose of the round and pulling it to the front usually lets the stack reseat properly, but come on.

i practiced loading a few times (i wanted to see if i could load in 30 seconds like on the promo video. lol). a hint on keepint the rounds in the mag is not to slam the slide closed. slide it up to the point where it would release the spring tension, which is almost closed, then push it home smoothly. slamming the slide closed upsets the stack and at least 1 or 2 rounds go flying.

as for holding them in, you had better luck than i do. i was carrying a mag back to the bedroom and dropped it from roughly waist high onto carpet and it spit 2 rounds onto the floor.

thinking i’m going with magpuls next. or a pmag.

I have 4 of these mags and I’ll add some things and some of those things that confirm your tests

1) When closing the “open” mag, if you don’t have your palm or thumb over the top, it’ll spit rounds out and I learned this the hard way.

2) You can over-close it.

3) They can be difficult to open even for strong guys. I found you may have to show someone once, and then they can get it since there is a technique to it.

4) They are heavy because they are steel.

5) They did make it thru a carbine class. And I suffered zero feed issues with them. I did not bounce them like a ball while using them though. Now, they do only indoor range duty when I suspect I may have to load mags with other people and I have only one Lula.

6) After using, PMAGs, these, and Okay brand modified mags, the PMAGs are my first choice, Okays second, these last.

7) I’ve read Cammenga’s CS is very good, though I haven’t tested it myself.