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MAGAZINE SPRING LIFE

twincam2
YOU GUYS KNOW MORE ABOUT GUNS THAN ME, SO I NEED HELP. HOW LONG CAN YOU LEAVE A MAGAZINE FULLY LOADED BEFOR THE SPRING BECOMES TO WEAK TO FUNCTION? I'M REFERING TO COLT GOVT 45ACP. SOME SAY TO ONLY KEEP 7 IN A 8 ROUND OR 6 IN A 7 ROUND MAG. DO NOT KEEP THEM FULLY LOADED. OTHERS SAY EMPTY THE MAG EVERY FEW MONTHS AND REPLACE WITH ANOTHER, TO LET THE OTHER REST. AND OTHER SAY LOAD IT UP AND KEEP IT LOADED IT'L BE FINE. WHATS THE PROPER WAY TO KEEP YOUR MAGAZIN LOADED AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER?. THANX FOR THE HELP TWINCAN2
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • shooter93
    This is a subject that is probably debatable but GOOD springs won't wear out in several life times or get "memory" I've seen and fired flawlessly magazines that were loaded with 7 rnd. of 45 since the second world war. I have numerous rifles built in 1900 era actions that have never failed to feed or fire while retaining their original springs. I keep magazines loaded all the time and have never experienced a problem. Some will disagree but it works for me
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  • He Dog
    Shooter93 hit dead center on this one. Springs, at least in good factory magazines, last a very long time and do not take a memory.
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  • stalion10
    as stated above, GOOD quality springs wont weaken ( although poor quility springs will, because they in general are'nt tempered to proper specs.). but if they are'nt cleaned & lubed properly they will (gunk-up) or rust in which case they will fail to feed properly, the former can be fixed by a simple cleaning & lubrucating, & the latter by replacing the spring, hope this info helps

    deerhunting.jpg it's not the type of gun you have in the heat of a battle that counts, only if you have enough ammo for it, lets face it, a gun without ammo is only as good as a base ball bat!!
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  • HKman
    What you read here is true about good springs, but if you are not sure it would'nt hurt to alternate your mags. Not only will it save your spring life but it will also help keep the follower of the mag operating smoothly.
    If you don't rotate mags then you should at least press down on the top round to make sure the rounds themselves are'nt sticking due to corrosion of the brass.



    "There are those who make things happen, those that watch things happen and those that say, what happend?"

    AC Tactical
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  • twincam2
    A BIG THANX GUYS, I VALUE ALL YOUR INPUT. ALL MY MAGAZINE ARE COLT I HAVE NO AFTER MARKET MAGS, SO I HOPE YOU MEAN THE COLTS BEING GOOD QUALITY. I DO KEEP THEM CLEANED AND OILED. BUT FROM NOW ON EVERY MONTH I WILL DEPRESS THE TOP ROUND A FEW TIMES TO CHECK THE FUNCTION.AS THIS IS MY MAIN GUN ON MY CCW. TWINCAM2
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  • He Dog
    Colts are indeed good. Aftermarket magazines are the ones that can be, well, variable in quality. I also have a number of Colt mags and though I know it is not necessary, I too rotate among 10 mags for each pistol. Can't hurt eh?
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  • twincam2
    Thank You He Dog, and every one else. Thats good advise. twincam 2

    Know how to make God laugh...? Make plans.
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  • sharpshooter039
    I like Chip McComick power mags myself but any good mag works great,I have had some laying loaded on a shelf in my gun safe for a couple years and never had any problem out of them.Just the same I always change out the mags on my carry gun everytime I change the time on my clock for daylight savings time,just a habit but I kind of like it

    [image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/869284/nogunnextdoor.gif[/image]
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  • wm69
    This is an interesting topic. A few of the guys on AR15.com have said that keeping magazines loaded will not hurt them, and that what wears out the springs is actually compressing and releasing the spring over and over again. A thread on the subject with a few good points....

    http://www.gunforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=9228&Main=9200
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