Leaving loaded magazine badd?
Is leaving a loaded pistol magazine bad for your magazine over a long period of time?Will that wear out the springs?
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Eventually yes. Rotate loaded magazines every 6 months or so. Springs weaken, but they are usually replaceable. Some guns are more tolerant of longterm magazine loading than others. Reliability is the issue. You want the gun to feed and magazine springs are a factor in failure to feed
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
quote:
Is leaving a loaded pistol magazine bad for your magazine over a long period of time?Will that wear out the springs?
I heard this a long time ago---I left a COLT(genuine)
45 mag loaded for 7 YEARS---it fired after the 7 years without a
skip but this ONE example doesnt really prove ANYTHING,but
I only use COLT mags and I do rotate them a few times a year.
DW0 -
If they are factory mags, and are able to be broken down by removing the floor plate, simply take the plate off of the loaded one every year or so, and allow the spring to sit out of the magazine for a few days or a week. This will return the spring to it's original strength, it has a "memory". While you do this, load the other one, and visa versa.
A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.0 -
Hi Lee:
This topic comes up every so often and usually provokes some dispute. Modern metallurgy and quality construction means that a lot of magazine springs will still have the power to lift cartridges into position after long-term loaded storage, and there is much anecdotal evidence to that effect. (You know, grampa's WW1 vintage 1911 blasts out the whole clip after 50 years in the dresser drawer, etc. By the way, if you find grandpa's old Colt, DON'T just go out and blast away. Any such firearm should be inspected before firing, and besides, the ammo may be collectible!) I have no doubt Dean's magazine worked after seven years.
Conditions of storage would seem be critical.
On the other hand, I have seen a few magazine springs that failed after being compressed for an extended period, the ones that come to mind immediately are a big frame double stack .45 Llama mag, and several of the cheapy potmetal auto mags. Seems obvious that a top quality mag is less likely to suffer spring failure than a cheapy. And I would never rely on a magazine spring that had a problem on visual inspection, like corrosion or incorrect bend, even if it is functioning ok at the moment.
Personally, while I have some cheapy mags around, they are used for practice only. For carry purposes I buy the best mags available, and no mag goes in my carry guns for defensive use without first being thoroughly tested for reliablility.
And for the record, I do rotate mags so that they are not always loaded, and I shoot carry guns regularly so that any problems will hopefully develop on the range and not when I need it.
redcedars0 -
Go to the Wolff gunsprings website and read the FAQs:
http://www.gunsprings.com
In there you'll find some good information about magazine springs and long term loaded storage.0 -
I am our Dept.Range Instructor,and over time it will make your springs weak.Ive heard story's like the above,but you shouldnt put your or your family's lives on it.The Glock mags tend to be stronger than most others,but I still switch them out. I teach to unload the gun Mag then the two spare mags on your gun belt.Replace all three with other mags.It is important to do this at least twiced a year.A good way to remember is to switch them out in the fall when the time changes,then do it again in the Spring when the time changes again.This works very well,and hopefully you will never have to change the spring in a Mag.
Best!!
Rugster
Toujours Pret0 -
Here is one of those grandpa stories: My dad brought a Walther PP back from WWII. It was kept loaded in its original holster in a drawer for 50 years, being fired rarely and cleaned every year or so. The leather holster removed some of the blueing, but the mag functions perfectly today and is used on the range. New mags are used otherwise and rotated. I think it is still perfect, but don't bet my life on it.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand0 -
I keep 5 rounds in my 1911, and rotate with another mag every 2 weeks. Is this overdoing it? I also replace the 2 mags every year. I would rather be on the safe side.
Rameleni10
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