What the devil is an "Admin Reload"?

[Naufragia]

Hey, everybody. Stupid question time. I've just spent a lazy, and quite pleasant, Sunday morning reading here at DC.com and in various other firearms forums and for the second time in as many hours I've read a mention of the "Admin Reload." Google was of little help, so I've decided to come here, lay bare my ignorance, and ask: What the devil is an Admin Reload? How is it different from a "tactical reload" or a "speed reload" (or is it)?
Thanks in advance for the education.
Later.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[buckeye .45]

The only time I have ever heard of admin reloads is when for some reason the line in training needs to go cold, and condition 4. Then, when the training is ready to start again, there is an "admin reload." It is for training purposes only, as far as I have ever heard. And really just means loading the weapon again, after it had to be unloaded for a safety/admin reason.

[Naufragia]

The only time I have ever heard of admin reloads is when for some reason the line in training needs to go cold, and condition 4. Then, when the training is ready to start again, there is an "admin reload." It is for training purposes only, as far as I have ever heard. And really just means loading the weapon again, after it had to be unloaded for a safety/admin reason.

Oh. Okay - so it's a firing line training term. That makes sense.
Thanks, man.

[Old School]

I will explain how my agency does it. When firearms are inspected ( we use the Glock-21 and 36) the weapon is left in the holster and the magazine is removed and placed on a table containing a snail bullet trap. The weapon is then removed from the holster and the muzzle placed into the bullet trap. The slide is then racked and locked open ejecting the live round from the chamber. The round is shown to the inspecting officer and placed on the table next to the magazine. After the inspection the pistol is returned to the holster. The magazine is inserted into the holstered pistol. The pistol is then removed from the holster, the muzzle placed into the bullet trap, the slide is pulled to the rear and released chambering a round. The pistol is then placed back into the holster and secured. The magazine is removed, the round originally removed from the pistol is replaced into the magazine and the magazine is then replaced into the holstered pistol.

Administrative unload and reload. This may vary from agency to agency. This came about with my department because of a neglegent discharge during a weapons inspection a few years ago.

[Naufragia]

I will explain how my agency does it. When firearms are inspected ( we use the Glock-21 and 36) the weapon is left in the holster and the magazine is removed and placed on a table containing a snail bullet trap. The weapon is then removed from the holster and the muzzle placed into the bullet trap. The slide is then racked and locked open ejecting the live round from the chamber. The round is shown to the inspecting officer and placed on the table next to the magazine. After the inspection the pistol is returned to the holster. The magazine is inserted into the holstered pistol. The pistol is then removed from the holster, the muzzle placed into the bullet trap, the slide is pulled to the rear and released chambering a round. The pistol is then placed back into the holster and secured. The magazine is removed, the round originally removed from the pistol is replaced into the magazine and the magazine is then replaced into the holstered pistol.

Okay - now I get it. I read two references to the "admin reload," both of which assumed that the reader understood the term in context. Well, this reader does now.
Thanks, Old School, and thanks again, buckeye.

[crabbys44]

An admin load or similar term typically refers to any loading/unloading while the gun is still in the holster.

I'm glad I don't work with Old School. No offense bro, but damn, what a procedure.

[Naufragia]

No offense bro, but damn, what a procedure.

Thanks, crabbys.

[shockwave]

There's a great video on YouTube I only saw once and couldn't find again, showing some drill procedures in Mexico the police were doing. And this very expert officer rises up from behind cover, shoots twice at a target, gets back behind cover.

Here's the "administrative reload": He now flips open the cylinder of his revolver, flicks out the two spent shell casings, loads two fresh cartridges and closes the cylinder. Now he's "topped off." That's how you do it with a revolver.

With a semi-auto, you drop the magazine that is "not full," and replace with one that is.

[gschoelles]

+1 Admin reloads are great for teaching newbies gun handling at the range and keeping control of muzzle coverage especially in large groups. I would not easily dismiss this teaching tool.

An admin load or similar term typically refers to any loading/unloading while the gun is still in the holster.

I'm glad I don't work with Old School. No offense bro, but damn, what a procedure.

[Chad Rogers]

The only thing missing from the term admin reload is somebody's name attached to it.

[RoadRunner71]

The responses so far have been LEO/military in nature. This is my Layman's interpretation of the administrative reload.

Where the tactical or speed reload are done under the stress of training or actual confrontation, the administrative reload is basically any reload (various actual proceedures) NOT done under stress. Example would be the reloading proceedure after you have cleaned your gun. Everyone has their own proceedure, but should be accomplished slowly, safely and with all due consideration of ones suroundings.

[JPCleary]

As I recall, an admin reload is when one tops off their gun with a fresh magazine and a tactical reload is when you run dry and drop the empty magazine slamming in a new one.

Here is a video of Travis Haley of MagPul Dynamics conducting an admin reload...

YouTube - Admin Reload

[Old School]

As I recall, an admin reload is when one tops off their gun with a fresh magazine and a tactical reload is when you run dry and drop the empty magazine slamming in a new one.

Here is a video of Travis Haley of MagPul Dynamics conducting an admin reload...

YouTube - Admin Reload

So he starts off with an empty weapon holstered with no magazine, draws and points down range then inserts a fresh magazine and chambers a round and reholsters and that is their definition of an administrative reload is that correct ? The reason I ask is because I do not understand the reason for pointing the empty weapon down range prior to the reload.

[Harryball]

So he starts off with an empty weapon holstered with no magazine, draws and points down range then inserts a fresh magazine and chambers a round and reholsters and that is their definition of an administrative reload is that correct ? The reason I ask is because I do not understand the reason for pointing the empty weapon down range prior to the reload.

Yes that is there definition of an admin reload. The weapon pointing down range repetition of the draw stroke and sight alignment. The believe the more you do it, the more it becomes second nature which I agree with. This is Clints take on it.

YouTube - Administrative Handgun Load

[Harryball]

Double post sorry...