Hey Everyone. Any opinions on how long it's okay/safe to keep a loaded magazine in a semi auto?? Will springs lose resistance if kept in there too long?? Should I rotate magazines after certain amount of time?? Thanx in advance for opinions/advice, JG
HOW LONG OKAY TO KEEP MAGAZINE LOADED?
- Thread starter JG1947
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Forever is generally fine. There will soon be lots of scholarly metallurgy and anecdotal asides on each side of the issue posted here . . .
donk52
Member
I second that.
I used to believe the old wives tales about loaded mags having their springs weaken over time.
Back in 1977 I had some SIG P220 mags with spring so overpowered that if fully loaded, the nose of the top cartridge would dive down as the slide went forward.
So I kept them loaded waiting for the springs to weaken, I tried them after a year and then waited some more . . . 41 years later I am still waiting
Those same original magazines do the same thing today after being kept fully loaded for more than four decades.
I have no doubts that quality magazines can be left loaded for the lifetime of the firearm owner with out their being an issue
All the spring manufacturers will tell you different, but they have an ulterior motive, they are trying to get you to buy springs more than once in a lifetime
I'm with Muss Muggins, as long as there is not a "lubrication" or corrosion problem. As Muss said, there will be scholarly input on this side, as well as on the other, and anecdotes on both, also. My anecdote is second hand, from the gentleman my uncle's age who gave me a rather unusual H&R Model 195. He was given a 1911 magazine brought back from the first World War by a vet who thought he was also bringing back a 1911, only the pistol itself somehow disappeared before he could get his hands on it. Anyhow, my friend eventually got this fully loaded (7) mag, and, in the fifties or sixties, stuck it into a 1911 and proceeded to fire all seven rounds without a hitch.
I don't know much about metallurgy, but I'm pretty sure that Colt does.
I don't know much about metallurgy, but I'm pretty sure that Colt does.
Thank you everyone, I guess I get the message
Which is not to say that springs never wear out. I agree with the posters above but I had a Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP, made in 1917 I believe, and in the 1980s when I acquired it the magazine's spring was worn out and it would NOT lift a round all the way into the receiver for a second shot. EVERY TIME. Shoot. Re-rack. Shoot. Re-rack. Etc.
I leave my magazines in guns that I carry or frequently use or plan to use loaded all the time so I definitely agree with the folks posting above. I just wanted to point out that exceptions to everything always exist.
squidsix
Member
If they wore out when static, every car on the road more than a few years old would need springs.
I have fired ammo that was stored in original 1911 mags from 1917 till recently. All the ammo fired, all the mags worked just fine. Locked the slide back when empty in modern pistols. Mind you these were old school music wire mag springs.
I have fired ammo that was stored in original 1911 mags from 1917 till recently. All the ammo fired, all the mags worked just fine. Locked the slide back when empty in modern pistols. Mind you these were old school music wire mag springs.
My Gen 1 duty Glock mags have sat fully loaded since forever. During the monthly audit last week it was noted that the one that sits in the pistol most of the time seemed a bit weaker, in fact the auditor emptied it and counted the rounds to ensure we hadn't lost one.
Still works though, but next time it's due for an annual armourers servicing I might get them to replace it.
Still works though, but next time it's due for an annual armourers servicing I might get them to replace it.
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This topic was put to bed recently on spring fatigue. The name of the manufacture escapes me that offered the following info.Spring fatigue comes form being compressed and relieved over and over again.Fatigue does not come form a constant compressed or relieved state.These findings were discussed in great length by some pretty well known other gun forums dedicated to semi autos.
mike campbell
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Why NOT rotate?
if one ever practices with their gun, why not have 2 magazines? Since we're assuming a magazine has been loaded with SD loads "awhile", and presumably, we're going to practice with the gun someday, why not have at least one additional magazine so that we can unload the SD rounds from mag 1 and load them into mag 2 while we shoot practice rounds from mag 1. Wouldn't it be nice to have 2 mags that we trust to feed our SD rounds?
if one ever practices with their gun, why not have 2 magazines? Since we're assuming a magazine has been loaded with SD loads "awhile", and presumably, we're going to practice with the gun someday, why not have at least one additional magazine so that we can unload the SD rounds from mag 1 and load them into mag 2 while we shoot practice rounds from mag 1. Wouldn't it be nice to have 2 mags that we trust to feed our SD rounds?
My department issued Gen 2 Glock 23 was retired w/me in '97 and I put it, along w/all three loaded mags, in my safe for 10 years w/o touching it. When I finally did take it to the range (finally decided to get LEOSA qualified) it ran just fine, not a single hiccup. This is not something I would do w/my LCP but for service caliber I'm guessing it should be fine.
squidsix
Member
Like I posted earlier . . . 
That's why I switched to a Sleep Number.
gunhobbit
Member
Wouldn't want to disappoint.
In 2011, moving stuff around, I found an ammo pouch of AR15 mags I'd loaded in 1981. Took them to the range and they fed just fine....
Thank you everyone, I guess I get the message
Oh, they're just getting started.
"What's the best gun lube?"
gunhobbit
Member
Bacon grease - that way a good day at the range also smells like a good breakfast.
