Taurus G3C
The G3C runs well for the price, but its magazine release can feel gritty or stiff—especially when you’re trying to do a quick reload under stress. Sometimes the mag doesn’t drop free, which just adds to the hassle.
It’s a solid budget shooter, but if you’re training for speed or carry, that reload hang-up becomes a problem fast. What feels fine on the first mag can turn into frustration by the second.
Springfield XD Subcompact
The XD Subcompact shoots nicely for such a small gun, but the short grip doesn’t give much room to work with during reloads. If your pinky’s hanging off, good luck getting the mag seated quickly.
And if your hand rides too high during the reload, you’ll probably pinch your palm between the mag base and the frame. It’s one of those things you don’t notice until you’re actually running drills.
KelTec P11
The P11 is small, light, and surprisingly reliable—but reloading it is a pain. The mag release is stiff, and the grip texture isn’t exactly friendly when you’re trying to slap in a new mag fast.
Even worse, the mags can sometimes bind if they’re not inserted just right. It’s not a big deal at the range, but in a rush, it slows everything down.
S&W SD9 VE
This one feels good in the hand and shoots soft, but the reload process isn’t smooth. The mag release can be sluggish, and the factory mags don’t always drop clean.
You also need a solid slap to seat a fresh mag, or you’ll wind up with feeding issues. It’s a decent gun out of the box, but the reload experience leaves something to be desired.
Glock 36
The Glock 36 offers .45 ACP in a slim frame, but that single-stack design means tight mag wells. Reloads are noticeably slower compared to double-stack Glocks, and the mag doesn’t always seat easily.
Add in the fact that it’s easy to miss the small mag opening during a quick reload, and you’ve got a gun that feels smooth at first—until it’s time to keep it running.
Walther PPS M2
The PPS M2 is a nice-shooting slim 9mm, but its mag release isn’t the most intuitive. Some models use a paddle-style release, which throws off muscle memory for those used to a button.
Even when you get the hang of it, mags don’t always drop free. It’s a great concealed carry piece, but it can slow you down when seconds count.
Ruger Security-9
The Security-9 is affordable and shoots well, but the mag release is small and recessed. It’s hard to hit cleanly under pressure, and the mag doesn’t always fall out without a little help.
When you’re practicing reloads, this becomes obvious fast. It’s one of those pistols that feels fine at the bench, but clunky in dynamic drills.
Beretta Nano
The Nano is small and sleek, but the reload process can be awkward. The mag release is flush and tough to hit quickly, especially under stress or with gloves.
Add to that a mag that sticks if the gun is even slightly dirty, and you’ve got a reload issue that turns a sleek pistol into a headache real fast.
CZ P10S
The P10S has great ergonomics and trigger feel, but its magwell isn’t the most forgiving. Without aftermarket flaring, quick reloads can be rough—especially with compact mags and limited grip space.
You might not notice it while shooting slow, but run some reload drills and you’ll see where it lags. It’s a solid shooter that just needs a little help in the reload department.
FN 509 Compact
The FN 509 Compact is built tough and shoots well, but mag changes can feel stiff and deliberate. The mag release is a little sharp and mags can stick, especially with extended baseplates.
It’s a great range or carry gun, but if you’re expecting buttery-smooth reloads out of the box, this one might take some breaking in.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
