leaving Mags filled
What would be a reasonable length of time to leave a mag filled without hurting the spring? Or does leaving a mag filled for a few months hurt the spring. Thanks for any info.
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Current thinking is that leaving a magazine loaded does not hurt the spring by constant compression. Wear is caused by cycling between compressed and relaxed. Like shooting the gun. Oh, well. 0 -
If it is going to be for an extended time some of us like to leave one round out. 0 -
I have used magazines that have been left loaded for several years with no failures - 1911 and Sig 229. My duty magazines got cycled every month at quals so I wasn't worried about them taking a set. I changed out the mag springs on my duty weapons every year with new ones from Brownells, no real need to, probably, but cheap insurance and it made be look inside the mag.
I always thought the ammo budget was cheap insurance against the lawsuits.0 -
quote:Originally posted by 62fuelie
I have used magazines that have been left loaded for several years with no failures - 1911 and Sig 229. My duty magazines got cycled every month at quals so I wasn't worried about them taking a set. I changed out the mag springs on my duty weapons every year with new ones from Brownells, no real need to, probably, but cheap insurance and it made be look inside the mag.
you qualified monthly? Would like to see that ammo budget0 -
I have been using the same 3 Magazines for 20+ years in my primary 1911 Bulls-Eye gun during that time I have shot very close to 150,000 rounds of ammo through them one stays loaded after each practice or match . If things go right no FTF FTE it may stay loaded for years. I have never changed springs in any and I do go years at a time without malfunction. Good QUALITY springs DON"T go bad. 0 -
If it's not a gun that you are going to grab in an emergency , there is no need for the Magazine to be loaded ! 0 -
My team quals monthly witn handgun, MP-5 and M-4/Mini-14, and our agency does tri-mesterly with handgun, backups, Mini-14 and shotguns. Ya, the ammo cost can be steep, but it's a whole lot cheaper than a Federal suit brought alleging inadequate training.
I've read about WW-II German Mp-40 mags being found loaded for 50+ years and still being operable. Dunno if that's true or not, but it's feasible. I've got several 30 round Ar-15 mags from the 80's that still function just fine with the mags kept loaded with 28, along with Sig 228 mags that are many moons old that also have been good.
If you're concerned about the springs taking a set, change them. Peace of mind isn't all that expensive, and confidence in your life-protecting equipment is always a factor in your ability to react to a threat.0 -
It is the movement of the spring the wears them out, not leaving them compressed or uncompressed.
I found some (5!) Ruger Mk II mags that had been loaded for 15 or 16 years. Some corrosion on the exposed lead of the rounds, but they all fed fine and still work fine to this day.0 -
Years ago I met with a woman, who's husband had died, to buy a pistol. The husband had been a pilot with the flying tigers in Burma under Clair Chennault. She still had his pilots shoulder holster, 1911 pistol and mags loaded with WWII era ammo. These mags had been loaded since the war. I unloaded one of them and the spring was still in good working order. So I guess keeping them loaded for 50+ years is not a big deal. 0 -
It does beg the question of why the mags aren't getting regular exercise at the range. Surely you aren't one of those that buys a gun, loads it, and then doesn't go practice. [}:)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Laredo Lefty
1911 pistol and mags loaded with WWII era ammo. These mags had been loaded since the war. I unloaded one of them and the spring was still in good working order. So I guess keeping them loaded for 50+ years is not a big deal.
I've read similar story. I also read single stack spring don't take a beating like the high cap spring. Being that single stack uses beefier springs compared to the high cap being thinner. Being in California my full size H&K USP don't take but 10 rounds so there's plenty of spring left [:D].0 -
quote:Originally posted by protector22
What would be a reasonable length of time to leave a mag filled without hurting the spring? Or does leaving a mag filled for a few months hurt the spring. Thanks for any info.
I have yet to see a credible report of a quality magazine spring wearing out from just being left loaded.
The "current" thought on this is that its repeated cycles of loading and unloading magazines that wear them out, not just sitting loaded.
So the correct answer to your question is probably "years".
This question comes up from time to time, and the best advice I can give here is that if you're worried about your magazine spring wearing out from staying loaded, then make sure to test your magazine every year or so, and keep an extra (unloaded) magazine handy as a backup.
If you find that your magazine isn't working right, it won't be a surprise during an emergency, and you'll have a functional backup ready to go.
If you're REALLY worried about magazine failure in your home defense or concealed carry gun, then do what I do. . .just use a revolver! [;)]
Edit:
quote:I also read single stack spring don't take a beating like the high cap spring.
That may be true. Magazine design probably does play a role here.
I've also heard an anecdote about a loaded WWI-era 1911 pistol being dug up from somebody's attic, then functioning perfectly fine with the 70+ year old magazine and WWI-era AMMO in place!
Personally speaking, I've put at least 5000 rounds through my late 1960s era Hi-Standard .22 with its original magazine, and the prior owner had put at least that many as well, and the magazine works fine.0
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