How often do you replace (brand new) your everyday carry mag?

[dben002]

Science tells us that a fully depressed mag spring will lose it elasticity over a number of years. So it makes sense (i think ??) that if you have a flush mag with one in the chamber (added pressure on mag spring) in your EDC and it's been there forever you may want to purchase a new one.

Any scientist here on the forum that can comment on this?????

 

[Arik]

Actually science tells us that a spring in USE will loose elasticity over a number of years. A compressed spring does not. (Assuming it's a quality made spring from a know manufacturer with a history of good quality)

My carry mag has been continuously loaded since 2004ish.

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[wingriderz]

I never have replaced any carry on

 

[pharmer]

I have 5 mags for my 6906. I shoot the 12 rds (11+1) twice a year and load another mag with 12, chambering the 1st rd. So each mag spends 6 mos out of 2 1/2 years in the gun with 1 rd less than capacity. Been working 100% since 1994. Joe

 

[BAM-BAM]

Actually science tells us that a spring in USE will loose elasticity over a number of years. A compressed spring does not. (Assuming it's a quality made spring from a know manufacturer with a history of good quality)

My carry mag has been continuously loaded since 2004ish.

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Ditto... number of threads on this subject.... and anecdotal stories of magazines loaded for 20 years- WWII and even IIRC WWI or shortly after........ that still functioned...........

 

[Ballistic147]

I've got an old Ruger P91DC that has had the mag fully loaded since 1992 and it still runs 100%. Don't see it being a problem.

 

[Ranger17]

I have multiple mags for my Shield, and i use each about the same in range trips (at minimum its monthly) and practice to ensure they all are consistent and work with no issues. I figure when i'm at the point of carrying, then occasionally i'll run thru the mag w/ the SD rounds while at the range which allows me to get some add'l practice in and rotate the mag and ammo as well.

At this point I don't see me having one designated carry mag

 

[GaryS]

Never. Although I have replaced springs. Actually I disassemble, clean, inspect, and put new springs in any used magazines I acquire.

 

[zonker5]

.......that if you have a flush mag with one in the chamber (added pressure on mag spring) in your EDC......

How does having one in the chamber add pressure to the mag spring?

 

[Arik]

How does having one in the chamber add pressure to the mag spring?

I was kinda lost on that too

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[Smoke]

Science tells us that a fully depressed mag spring will lose it elasticity over a number of years.

Cite please?

 

[dben002]

I was kinda lost on that too

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My perception...no tech basis for comment..based on the fact of loading a full mag and the pressure to seat mag..then racking one in chamber and removing mag adding one back to mag and reloading mag..seems to require more pressure to seat mag after putting one in chamber..

 

[SgtStone]

... you may want to purchase a new one.

Any scientist here on the forum that can comment on this?????

I'll bite. I front end load the magazine purchases w/ the EDC.

My current EDC came w/ one 6-round magazine w/ an extended grip base plate. I ordered two 7-round flush mount mags w/ the pistol. After a successful break in period, I ordered two flush mount 6-rounders specifically for concealed carry.

I carry the pistol w/ 1 round chambered & 6 in the low profile mag. I carry one 7-rounder in a mag pouch. I store the "spare" 6 & 7-rounder empty, switching them after shooting at the range -- about every two weeks. I mainly use the original 6-rounder w/ extension for dry fire practice.

I load & fire all the magazines while target shooting, cleaning them with compressed air, a cloth & nylon brush between reloads. I always strip & clean new magazines but take apart used mags only after considerable cycles or massive dust exposure.

 

[dben002]

Cite please?

Youtube..fully loaded mags stored for 5 years..vs not loaded for 5 years..about 12 mags in all..3 different guns...6 or 8 loaded for 5 years and 6 or 4 not....all 5 year springs removed and compared with non 5 year springs of same gun and cal....all 5 year loaded springs were shorter than the non loaded springs and a few were mis shaped....

 

[Smoke]

Here's a post from THR from an Engineer named Walt Sherill. It's typical of his posts but I would suggest you go to THR and search Walt SheriLL/ Springs and sit back and read.

The Wolff Springs website says words to this effect:

1) Springs that are compressed to their design limits will wear/die more quickly than springs that aren't.

2) They recommend downloading a hi-cap mag a round or two (to avoid that design limit.)

They note that 7-round 1911 mags and similar non-hi-caps can be kept loaded fully for years without problems. But that hi-cap mags (which generally use the same mag tube but must compress the springs more to fit the extra rounds in) don't survive as long.

I've been lead to believe that cycling the springs will slowly (very slowly) degrade them -- but unless that cycling pushes the spring to extremes, its not a big deal. They'll probably outlast the gun (or in the case of rocker valves, the car engine.)

Letting the mag spring rest without any rounds (i.e., unloaded) doesn't improve a thing. Rotating springs/mags doesn't improve a thing -- it just delays the wear by spreading it over a larger number of mags.

Guys who participate here who shoot air guns which rely on springs will tell you that leaving a spring fully compressed will kill it quickly. Its a fact of the air gun world.

So whether a mag will degrade when fully loaded depends on its design... and just because its a factory hi-cap doesn't mean it WON'T...

Most of my hi-cap are physically identical to my 10-round mags; the difference is the followers and springs. The spring in the hi-cap must work harder. Which spring do you think will last longer? I know, from experience, that the 10-rounders are going to outlast me.

 

[Smoke]

Youtube...

And, you lost me right there

 

[Smoke]

My carry magazines get randomly rotated every time I go to the range but they essentially stay loaded for years at a time. I have yet to have one fail on me

 

[dben002]

My carry magazines get randomly rotated every time I go to the range but they essentially stay loaded for years at a time. I have yet to have one fail on me

To understand why i asked the original question look at a youtube vid by shadetree armor...you will know which one by the pic of 12 mags lined up on a chart.....

 

[Kinman]

All of my carry mags are the original equipment, when I go to the range I use a "range" mag. One of my odd personal habits is to replace the ammunition in all loaded weapons on my birthday, new ammunition every year, regardless. I am also anal about cleaning, I clean all firearms after use...unless I am shooting again the next day, then they are only wiped clean. I've always been very careful about over lubrication around magazines or in cylinders where ammunition is going to be sitting for any length of time, lightly oiled is the rule, no synthetics.

 

[dben002]

Just a thought but maybe post it in this thread so every one can look at it.

I would but i am on a smartphone and the vid has no addressvshowing on my phone and i really dont know how to get it here......