Keeping Magazines Loaded

HighVelocity · Post by **HighVelocity** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:50 pm

last year I found 2 1911 mags in my toolbox that had been loaded since the late 80's (and forgotten). I took them to the range and emptied them into a target as fast as I could squeeze the trigger. No problem. Since then I have used those mags many times and the springs are still good.

YMMV

kauboy · Post by **kauboy** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:06 pm

I've also heard that the springs get more wear the more they are compressed and decompressed. Staying in either state, loaded or unloaded, is better than constantly changing the tension of the spring.

Lodge2004 · Post by **Lodge2004** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:05 am

For my "active" firearms, all the mags stay loaded. They get emptied on a regular basis at the range but are either reloaded immediately or when I get home and clean up.

Those firearms that rarely visit the range have all their mags unloaded and stored separately.

I've never had a problem with mag springs. The only worn out springs that I have ever encountered were in the military and that's because they had probably been in use for decades.

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:30 am

kauboy wrote:I've also heard that the springs get more wear the more they are compressed and decompressed. Staying in either state, loaded or unloaded, is better than constantly changing the tension of the spring.

Bingo!!!

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:43 am

I would also say that my only negative experience with magazines has been when I aquired that .45 I'm currently am taking care of...

Yes...that one...

The (3) magazines that came with it were loaded, and were in pretty corroded state...White flaky oxide stuff all through it...I figure I can rebuild those sometime down the road...

So I ended up relegating those magazines to the back of the safe (for future reference, and have since bought a few brand new Wilson Combat mags for that pistol...

Of course those work just fine thank you very much...

kw5kw · Post by **kw5kw** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:35 pm

I checked monthly because there was no option for yearly or never.

I have 3 mags for both of my XD's. Two stay loaded 100% of the time with my defensive carry-type ammo. These get cycled once every 6 months (or so).

I have one magazine for each that I use at the range. It will be this one mag that the springs will flex in and, therefore, wear out as I do subscribe to the theory of: "No flex, no wear."

I know I need to buy more magazines, but there is so much radio equipment to buy... now I will almost be required to purchase a new >$400 scanner to receive APCO-25.

So, I'll continue to use my 3-mag system for now.

Russ
kw5kw

pbandjelly · Post by **pbandjelly** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:55 pm

jimlongley wrote: I number the bodies.

[evil_laugh]Woo Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha[/evil_laugh]

srsly, I didn't pick anything, cause, I don't unload the mags.
except at the range. usually the morning of, or the night before, I'll unload the Defensive Ammo from the mags, and then at the range I load'em up with good ol' Bawl Ammo.
and then they are unloaded, and reloaded as often as $ allows.

Texasdoc · Post by **Texasdoc** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:21 pm

I have spare mags that rest for a week and I reload them .

300shooter

TexasCHLforum.com

Keeping Magazines Loaded

Frequency of unloading magazines