Can Magnets Hurt a Gun?

DeadWhiteGoose · Sep 25, 2012

Just a quick thought I had. Can a magnet harm a firearm in anyway? I was looking at some magnetic barrel rests to put in my safe and figured I'd see if there were any dangers before hand. Thanks

OFT II · Sep 25, 2012

I guess that a magnet could put a residual field in a gun that would cause it to attract any ferrous metal particles in the area.

MichiganScott · Sep 25, 2012

As long as they are covered, there will be no harm to the gun.

silentflyer · Sep 25, 2012

My thought are it might be an issue with some of the semi-autos with there collection of springs and parts "sticking. Can't say for sure since my stuff is 99% wheel guns, but reading all the problems with miss fires,failure to feed,eject, cycle that the semi guys write about here, why create another possible issue?

murphydog · Sep 25, 2012

Mechanical watches, yes; firearms, doubtful.

Tired Gunsmith · Sep 25, 2012

We had heavy magnetic closuers on cabinets in our shop, and never had any problem with guns due to the magnets.

Retired LTC USAR · Sep 25, 2012

I would think it would have to be a very large and very powerfull magnet in order to magnatize any small parts/springs in a semi auto.

brick · Sep 25, 2012

They might lose their memory

2152hq · Sep 25, 2012

To actually interrupt the functioning of the gun,,I can't think of any common magnet that would do that.
Maybe a real powerful one in an Arnold movie.

The point already made about creating a magnetic field around the gun parts and then the part(s) annoyingly pick up every tiny flake of ferris metal around,,yes it can.
I've have that happen to hand tools and parts in the shop.
But the place is always covered with a layer of filings and other metal 'dust' from finishing.
Unless you're in that environment,,I doubt you'd find much of a problem.

Another thought,,and I don't have an answer,,
Could some of the modern optics be effected in anyway. I'm not in to 'scopes, but some of the latest seem to be so much more than a tube and lenses. Maybe they already took that problem into consideration in the design.

parsonbw · Sep 25, 2012

DeadWhiteGoose said:
Just a quick thought I had. Can a magnet harm a firearm in anyway? I was looking at some magnetic barrel rests to put in my safe and figured I'd see if there were any dangers before hand. Thanks

I had a friend one time that had magnets in his gun safe. Sucked the blue right off the finish!!!!

Just a joke, what they said.

VaRecon · Sep 25, 2012

Breaking Bad shows us magnets can hurt a lot of things.
However, in real life you shouldn't have any issue.
I've heard of people using a strong magnet to hold there guns to the door of their safes and as a magnetic rifle holder for the door or wall.
As long as you're gentle, I wouldn't think even the finish would be bothered.

Warmech · Sep 25, 2012

2152hq said:
The point already made about creating a magnetic field around the gun parts and then the part(s) annoyingly pick up every tiny flake of ferris metal around,,yes it can.
I've have that happen to hand tools and parts in the shop.

Same here... You shouldn't have any problem with lead or brass (non-ferrous), but steel does contain iron (ferrous), so there's always a chance the magnetism could transfer, however slight that transferred pull might be.

On the bright side, your newly magnetized gun might be strong enough to attract that wristwatch you're wearing so you could free up the rail that was formerly holding your tactical timepiece!

There is some small seriousness in that

, considering maybe a watch, key ring, or anything else steel or iron you might have on your person and/or near the gun at some point. However, as someone else pointed out, the force of the firing mechanism(s) would probably be strong enough to -not- be affected.

krallstar · Sep 26, 2012

I think i mentioned this before. I bought a parts kit for my SW40F off gb. And it seems to have some parts that are magnetized. Trigger bar, trigger pin, ejector, sear block pin and sear and hammer. The other metal parts are not. I asked before if this is a problem.

Maximumbob54 · Sep 26, 2012

I think complaints would have popped up long before now if magnets were a problem.

Titegroups · Sep 26, 2012

I bet if you get enough replies to this someone will argue the contrary.

handejector · Sep 26, 2012

No, and it keeps them from getting arthritis.

It also helps disrupt gun counting rays from black helicopters.

{knowing nod here}

keith44spl · Sep 30, 2012

I keep a De-magnetizer handy to pass my EDC over, ya know,
just in case I accidently walk through a magnetometer.....

Ya jest can't be too careful out thar.

Su Amigo,
Dave

setxn · Sep 30, 2012

They will make steel shot stick to the inside of the barrel of your shotgun and ruin the pattern.

Can Magnets Hurt a Gun?

DeadWhiteGoose

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OFT II

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MichiganScott

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silentflyer

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murphydog

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Tired Gunsmith

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Retired LTC USAR

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brick

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2152hq

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parsonbw

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VaRecon

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Warmech

krallstar

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Maximumbob54

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Titegroups

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handejector

keith44spl

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setxn

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