Mag storage loaded/unloaded

[henry1954]

Being a new MP15OR owner, I was wondering if storing mags loaded was a problem? I've always heard an unloaded gun is an expensive stick.

My main reason for buying the gun is for home defense and shooting at the range.

 

[JaPes]

I've had a couple Magpul P-Mags fully loaded and the magazine cap on it for the past two years. No problems. The magazine cap pushes down the rounds just a little bit so the pressure doesn't deform the magazine lips.

 

[11e40]

loaded magazines, no problem. they will outlast you loaded.

 

[Warren Sear]

loaded magazines, no problem. they will outlast you loaded.

Well, what if he is NOT loaded?

 

[Dad1]

Loaded for sure, they make terrible clubs!

 

[BillyJack2012]

10 loaded, 15 unloaded. No rational, strategy or thought for any of it.

 

[Black69]

tvI once found a 351 Winchester in the back of a walk in safe that had been put there in the mid 60's from a court case. This was in the County Court house. We took this and placed it into evidence in the early 90's at our Sheriff's office. There were two loaded magazines with the rifle. We unloaded the magazine and cleaned all the green brass and the next day reloaded the magazines with nice clean polished brass. The magazines were tight and just like new. No loss of pressure of any kind.

 

[gdnagle]

Here a reply I received from Magpul

"Thank you for your inquiry. The factor that truly wears out quality springs is compression cycles, not constant compression. However, we use a high-quality stainless steel springs in our PMAGs and if one ever does happen to wear out any USGI spec spring can be swapped out for the factory one.

Regarding the question of how long, we've had magazines fully loaded for over four years now with no Impact/Dust Cover on and have experienced no feed lip or spring issues. With the cover installed storage life is considered indefinite. There have also been PMAGS reportedly tested to hundreds-of-thousands of rounds (military vetting), and we know positively of ones that have gone tens-of-thousands, so usable life is quite excellent too.



_____________________________________

DANIEL HUNTER TECH SUPPORT SPECIALIST



MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP.

[P] 303.828.3460 x144 [F] 303.828.3469

[email protected]

magpul.com | magpuldynamics.com "

Long story short doesn't hurt to keep them loaded, I have some that have been loaded over 40 years and still worked when I found them. these were metal mags no polymer back then. It pays to ask the manufacture, but sometimes you can still get wrong info from them.

 

[henry1954]

Thanks everyone, loaded it is! I have a better stick, aka "Louisville Slugger". I have found a tremendous amount of tried and trued, experience based information on this forum. Aside from the decision to buy the MP15OR, joining this forum was the best decision yet.

 

[AR-Getsome]

Welcome to the forum, and the addiction. Check out the bottom of this thread, you will see where it says Similar Threads. You can read other threads on the same subject. Everyone here is usually helpful and knowledgeable too.

 

[ASTMedic]

So a little story I've heard from a trusted 1911 gun smith.

Lady called asking him to come take possession of some guns her recently late husband had. When he arrived he found a military issued WWII era 1911 fully loaded and cocked and locked. Magazine was removed and weapon cleared. Gun was taken to a range and fired all the rounds that were found in it to slide lock. If I remember correctly this was sometime in the mid 90's but not 100% sure. At any rate a mag (and gun) can be stored a VERY long time and will function fine.

 

[henry1954]

After reading all the great responses, I spent a little time last night, loading up the 3 Magpul 30 round mags that I had. For me, the next purchase will be getting additional mags, probably in the 10, 20 and 30 round capacities. But the very next purchase has got to be some stripper clips or a better way of loading the mag instead of using the fingers. First clip, no problem, second clip, began to notice the sore thumb, third clip, the "oh I could have had a V8 moment", stripper clips would be so much easier. Lesson learned. Thanks everyone, I hope to post up some pics of the new gun soon.

 

[JaPes]

After reading all the great responses, I spent a little time last night, loading up the 3 Magpul 30 round mags that I had. For me, the next purchase will be getting additional mags, probably in the 10, 20 and 30 round capacities. But the very next purchase has got to be some stripper clips or a better way of loading the mag instead of using the fingers. First clip, no problem, second clip, began to notice the sore thumb, third clip, the "oh I could have had a V8 moment", stripper clips would be so much easier. Lesson learned. Thanks everyone, I hope to post up some pics of the new gun soon.

The AR-15 Maglula is great.


http://www.maglula.com/RifleMagLoaders.aspx

 

[Gatorade]

The AR-15 Maglula is great.


maglula, Ltd. > Rifle Mag Loaders

YES. THIS.

 

[hbbadboy]

After reading all the great responses, I spent a little time last night, loading up the 3 Magpul 30 round mags that I had. For me, the next purchase will be getting additional mags, probably in the 10, 20 and 30 round capacities. But the very next purchase has got to be some stripper clips or a better way of loading the mag instead of using the fingers. First clip, no problem, second clip, began to notice the sore thumb, third clip, the "oh I could have had a V8 moment", stripper clips would be so much easier. Lesson learned. Thanks everyone, I hope to post up some pics of the new gun soon.

I have 30 of the 30 round mags but only enough ammo to fill half them or so.

 

[heatheroo]

I have seen repeated assurances that leaving a mag loaded will not weaken the spring. Great. Understood.....but I also see these caveats that leaving a polymer mag loaded may deform the feed lips. That leaves a nagging feeeling about my loaded PMAGS and Thermolds. Does anyone have firsthand experience with this deformation? Granted if I had mag covers for all my PMAGS this would be a non-issue, but I don't so.........what say you all?

 

[jagular]

I Does anyone have firsthand experience with this deformation? Granted if I had mag covers for all my PMAGS this would be a non-issue, but I don't so.........what say you all?

...get the covers or switch to metal mags. The covers cost $6-7 for a 3-pack. Seems simple to me.

 

[heatheroo]

...get the covers or switch to metal mags. The covers cost $6-7 for a 3-pack. Seems simple to me.

I already stipulated that as a solution.........if the feed lip deformation is actually an issue. Can anyone say definitively, that it is?

 

[cyphertext]

I have seen repeated assurances that leaving a mag loaded will not weaken the spring. Great. Understood.....but I also see these caveats that leaving a polymer mag loaded may deform the feed lips. That leaves a nagging feeeling about my loaded PMAGS and Thermolds. Does anyone have firsthand experience with this deformation? Granted if I had mag covers for all my PMAGS this would be a non-issue, but I don't so.........what say you all?

See the reply from Magpul above.

 

[jagular]

I already stipulated that as a solution.........if the feed lip deformation is actually an issue. Can anyone say definitively, that it is?

I certainly wouldn't want to find out when push came to shove. Id gather information from a more expansive base, then decide for yourself on the potential of it happening. Of course, if it's not a hd weapon and just a range toy it may be non-issue. http://bit.ly/1a92b7d