A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft. While maintaining the distal end of the elongated shaft inside the surgical opening, the cartridge is removed from the cartridge opening, a second cartridge containing a plurality of second surgical fasteners is inserted into the cartridge opening, and the actuator is engaged for dispensing one of the second surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.