Magazine question

[skinnedknuckles]

This is a newbie question. I've had a Winchester Model 70 with internal magazine for a while, so I'm used to loading it from the bolt opening. The other day, I was trying to single feed a round in my Axis .223 Rem and without thinking I pressed down and the round snapped past the magazine lips and into the magazine very easily.

I had been loading the magazine out of the rifle as I would a pistol magazine, and it was awkward and hard on the fingers. I've "discovered" I can load the magazine by just snapping the rounds past the lips.

The newbie question is: is this practice acceptable or am I going to damage the magazine?

Thanks.

[J.Baker]

That's the way they're supposed to be loaded.

[skinnedknuckles]

Thanks. Once I stumbled on the fact that I could do it, I figured I was supposed to do it, but wanted to check. It sure is easier on the fingers, and faster.