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Old 07-31-2016, 04:26 AM
Ricrock Ricrock is offline
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Default Sport 2 for Home Defense?

I purchased my first AR recently, a Sport 2 and I think it is great. Aside from shooting it, I want to have it as backup for home defense. I have Magpul 30 round magazines (2) loaded with Winchester 60gr PDX1 Defender ammo. When I try to insert one of the magazines, the rifle will not accept it unless the bolt is locked back. I would like to have a loaded magazine in the uncocked rifle, so when and if necessary I simply have to cock the charging handle and all systems are go.

My question is, first: can I leave the magazine loaded for a considerable time with no damage to the magazine spring? And second, can I leave the rifle stored (with magazine inserted) with the bolt locked back (with safety on) with no loss of spring pressure on the hammer and trigger group?

I would prefer to have the rifle in a "relaxed" state, but will I do any damage leaving it locked and loaded like a 1911?

Thanks,

Rick
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Old 07-31-2016, 05:44 AM
kbm6893 kbm6893 is online now
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Leaving the mag loaded will not hurt the magazine spring. The reason it is difficult to seat the loaded mag is the mag is full and the top round is hitting the bolt. Reducing the number of rounds by one or two will make it easier, but a firm slap in the mag should seat the fully loaded mag.

Is this rifle kept in a safe? I wouldn't recommend leaving a loaded rifle unsecured. As for leaving the bolt open, I can't imagine it being a good thing.

My rifles are in a safe and ammo is not stored in that safe, other than a magazine for my 10/22. I occasionally need to dispatch a pest in the yard. But the magazine is not in the rifle and the bolt is not locked back.
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Old 07-31-2016, 10:31 AM
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How you keep your home defense guns is a tough decision depending upon your personal situation and something you must think about . There is no one answer.
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Old 07-31-2016, 04:28 PM
Ricrock Ricrock is offline
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There are no children in the house, just myself and my wife. The gun is kept on a high, wall mounted gun rack in my study and is locked up whenever anyone is visiting the house.

I am not concerned with harming anyone accidentally, as that will not happen. I am only concerned with putting undue stress on the components of the rifle, Ie: hammer spring, mag release, and other mechanical parts of the rifle and magazine.
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Old 07-31-2016, 09:07 PM
Gaucho59 Gaucho59 is offline
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One time I managed to squeeze 31 rounds (not on purpose) in my mag and it would not snap in. Removing a round fixes it.
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Old 08-01-2016, 12:39 AM
Ricrock Ricrock is offline
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Thanks, the tip about whacking the bottom of the magazine worked perfectly. I was just a little hesitant to do that. Anyway now I can have the bolt closed and hammer down, with a full magazine. Then when and if the "zombies" come, all I have to do is charge the bolt and it's ready to go, but is very safe until I need it.

How long can I keep my magazines fully loaded before the spring loses tension?

Thanks,

Rick
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Old 08-01-2016, 12:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ricrock View Post
...
How long can I keep my magazines fully loaded before the spring loses tension?

Thanks,

Rick
If you start with a decent magazine, then a very long time, years even. Although I do try to cycle through my magazines every once in a while.

Last edited by Tbat; 08-01-2016 at 12:52 AM.
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Old 08-01-2016, 04:49 PM
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Yeah, it's not a bad idea to load a 30 round magazine with 29 rounds if you can stand only having 29 instead of 30.
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Old 08-01-2016, 05:34 PM
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I see from a subsequent post you've found your solution, but just to address something in the first post:

Do not leave an AR with a loaded magazine and the bolt back; a hard enough whack -- as from a drop or tipping over -- can result in a discharge from inertial bolt drop and firing pin hit.
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hapworth View Post
I see from a subsequent post you've found your solution, but just to address something in the first post:

Do not leave an AR with a loaded magazine and the bolt back; a hard enough whack -- as from a drop or tipping over -- can result in a discharge from inertial bolt drop and firing pin hit.
Agreed. I don't have small kids anymore, so I store mine in the closet with a full magazine, bolt closed and an ejectable chamber flag in the breech. If needed, pull the charging handle and the flag ejects and a round is chambered. Ready to go.
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:50 AM
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Technically you can keep the mag loaded for years. ...decades without issue. However, it wouldn't hurt to check it every so often to make sure the feed lips have not spread or cracked. If you buy good mags it's not an issue but even with good mags there can be a bad batch or you just happened to get a bad one. Getting a few mags and cycling through them every once in a while is a good idea

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Old 08-02-2016, 10:11 AM
Ricrock Ricrock is offline
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Thanks for the answers. I think I'll keep it with a full magazine, with bolt closed on empty chamber. Dust cover door closed will tell me there is no round in chamber. Since I am using Pmag's I don't guess I'll have any problems with the springs either.

Once again, Thank you.

Rick
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Old 08-02-2016, 10:16 AM
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Most masters of the AR-15 platform will tell you they load their 30-round magazines to only 28. This gives enough flex in the magazine spring under the cartridge stack to allow it to seat smoothly when reloaded into a rifle when its bolt is forward. - Massad Ayoob
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