I did a tactical reload of my 16 in Iraq during an ambush. It should be noted however that I was behind a 10 foot berm and the rest of my squad was still engaging, not exactly one on one at the qwik-e-mart. In addition to the fact that they preach magazine retention, my primary reason for putting the mag in a drop pouch was the fact that it was one of my personal orlites from home so it actually functioned.
About a week later while clearing a field of fedayeen forces my rifleman was hit 7 times by a syrian hiding in a hole(he fully recovered point blank body armor saved his life) with an ak. During this exchange I was closest and emptied two magazines into the hole(it would have been less but a man with some 25 little holes from my SS109's was still returning fire) while doc took care of the wounded. Not only did I not retain those mags, when the first one stuck in the mag well I removed it with sufficient force to send it 20 yards into a stream.
I don't think thats exactly what you're looking for, but I feel that both types have their place and as with everything else "situation will ditate".
Alan Elam LCpl/USMC
