Mag Question - Loading and Feeding

[Phil3]

I have noticed that some mags have open feed lips which permit the insertion of a round directly down from the top. The rounds do not pop back out due the shape of the follower which keeps the round in place. Others, like the Howa I have, have lips so close to one another it is not possible to insert the round from the top. The round must be inserted from the front of the mag where the feed lips are wide enough to get the cartridge under the lips. Then the cartridge is slid rearward. This is more difficult. Is there a benefit of one design over another? The AR-15 mags can be loaded from the top, but I see they sit staggered (left, then right, then left) and are picked up that way. On the Howa, the round is always centered in the mag. Is there a benefit to having each round always load from the center (Howa and perhaps others) or...? Just curious.

My Howa mag.
http://www.legacysports.com/uploads/images/News/ATI_Detachable_Mags%20copy.jpg


Thank you.

Phil

 

[jonbearman]

Centerfeeds are way smoother than staggered and dont leave many scratches on the case body.

 

[deadwooddick]

Also practically eliminates "misfeeds" due to mag lip "damage/distortion" where right laying cartridge feeds while left laying one won't.