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Flared magwells - a pistol mod so common they now come standard on many production handguns. In theory, these upgrades help shooters achieve faster, more controlled reloads by adding material to help guide the magazine into the gun. But is the perceived increase in speed worth the added weight and decreased concealment? We think so.
Inserting a fresh magazine is arguably the most important step of any reload to get right, as it requires a degree of fine motor control to quickly and efficiently drive the mag home. Moreover, failure to seat the magazine properly can induce malfunctions in even the most reliable handguns, resulting in a failure to feed or a double feed.
To mitigate this risk, many firearms trainers recommend executing reload drills utilizing dummy rounds or snap caps to identify problem areas in the shooter's technique. Improper indexing of the magazine, using insufficient force to engage the magazine catch, or snagging a round on the edge of a standard magazine well can slow down an otherwise effective reload.
Proper training can help new shooters remedy or avoid these issues altogether, but a flared mag well can help take out some of the guess work. This part adds additional material at the base of the magazine well, providing an angled surface to more easily funnel the magazine into the firearm, and can give shooters the confidence to fully insert a fresh mag on the first attempt - resulting in an all-around faster reload.
Adding bulk of any kind to an EDC pistol may seem counterintuitive, as it could result in printing and decreased concealment. However, from a tactical perspective, the benefits of a flared magwell outweigh the one potential con for one very important reason: fine motor control goes out the window amidst a stressful and life-threatening defensive encounter.
Consequently, achieving faster and more predictable reloads in exchange for a slightly larger grip profile is a net positive on a defensive firearm. Several manufacturers even offer low-profile magwells that are specifically designed for concealed carry, so that you gain all the benefits but the trade-off is minimal.
There are tons of modifications you can make to your carry gun, some more effective than others. To learn more about magwells and other upgrades for your EDC setup, be sure to watch our video on the top 5 upgrades for your pistol in 2023.
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