loading and unloading magazines

[FFES]

I don't know how many people unload their magazines, but I was wondering if in doing so a person might push the bullet farther down in the brass and cause it not to work right when you reloaded it back in the magazine again. Does this sound crazy or am I trying to over think things. Maybe it's not a good idea to unload a mag in the first place. Any help.

FES

 

[Hapworth]

It's called bullet setback. Less of a concern when loading and unloading a magazine than when racking that first round into the chamber and later unloading and clearing the chambered round.

Consider measuring fresh rounds against those that have been chambered or loaded, or at least eyeballing them, marking the racked rounds and switching them to practice use rather than carry after they've been cycled.

In quality factory defense ammo, you should have at least a few cycles before setback might be an issue.

(Another reason to love revolvers, by the way. )

 

[SMSgt]

You'll get endless opinions on empty-full mags, but in the end it makes no difference. I keep mine empty except for ones currently in use--which stay full. Either way, I've never had a magazine problem.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I have told this story before:
After my Father passed (old Cavalry Trooper) the family went through his belonging. A number of Colt Model 1911 magazine were found fully loaded with old GI 230gr ball ammo. We took the magazines and fired them. Not one malfunction or FTF occurred. These magazines had been fully loaded for at least 30 years.

 

[Smoke]

(Another reason to love revolvers, by the way. )

Not really a revolver guy but if I had one (number 1 it would be a S&W) that puppy would stay loaded.

Having said that my 2 carry guns I simply leave loaded unless I'm cleaning them or shooting them.

 

[Hapworth]

The OP is asking about affect on the bullets -- setback -- from loading and unloading magazines, not affect on the magazines themselves.

 

[H Richard]

A warning had been issued to law enforcement officers some years ago, about unloading and reloading the same round in a magazine because of setback. Many factory rounds are not crimped. A taper crimp of .003" can prevent most setback and running your factory ammo through your taper crimp die is not a bad idea.

 

[Smoke]

The OP is asking about affect on the bullets -- setback -- from loading and unloading magazines, not affect on the magazines themselves.

I'm trying to figure out how loading and unloading a magazine would cause set back in the round

 

[Hapworth]

I'm trying to figure out how loading and unloading a magazine would cause set back in the round

I'm not sure that it would; that's why in my first reply I noted it was less of a concern when loading and unloading than when chambering and unchambering, which to my understanding is much tougher on bullets than loading is.

 

[gray wolf]

I'm trying to figure out how loading and unloading a magazine would cause set back in the round

You can't figure it out cause it doesn't happen, just like mag springs do not weaken from being let loaded.
Rounds set aside for target use should have the OAL checked with a caliper. A round with bullet set back can go BOOM on the range as good as on the street.
__________________

 

[forrestinmathews]

I shoot my magazines empty at the range or on the COF. I then clean them when I clean the pistol. I do not unload magazines with rounds in them. Cycling the magazine spring is what weakens them, so quit rolling with it and enjoy. Standard capacity OEM magazines are usually very durable. The only time I've ever had trouble is when pushing the envelope for capacity with 140mm magazines and extension kits. The glock 33rd has difficulties at times also.

 

[Kentucky Dave]

Maybe it's not a good idea to unload a mag in the first place.

Sure it is! It's called "shooting."

 

[Smith-Nut]

It is not a major problem but since most auto bullets are not crimped (as already mentioned) the problem could occur. I carry a weapon, or two (on the job) every day (both in country but also "on the job" outside), and have done so for over 30 years. With a pistol I keep extra empty magazines in my locker. Maybe 4-6 times a year I unload my carry magazines and then take the empty ones and load them up with the AMMO I just took out from "the carry" magazines. I don't chamber the same round. So the round that has been in the chamber ends up down in the button of the magazine.

Of course 80 % of the time the AMMO is just used on the range and new AMMO is loaded.

Any way I don't think it is a problem but I don't ignore the fact that a bullet might get a "setback" so like any other thing that has anything to do with protecting my own or other peoples lives I go by the saying:

Better safe then sorry!

 

[SMSgt]

A mag spring gets compressed when you load the mag, whether before you store it or before using it--no difference. A mag spring gets uncompressed when you unload it, whether by firing it or manually pushing the rounds out--no difference. Keeping mags full or empty makes no difference to the springs.

If you can push the bullet into the case when loading the mag, you have a poorly crimped round.

 

[Smith-Nut]

I have (with different magazines/guns) experienced mags having problems feeding (pushing the round up fast/hard enough when the mag have been loaded for several months). Or explained in a different way: I have (last a Beretta 92 FS) had bullets "rattle" in the mag (inserted in the gun) and this can only happen when the spring does not push the bullets up hard enough. I've never experienced this with mags that have been rotated about every month. For same reason (still after the rule: "Better safe then sorry") I rotate my mags. But of course all this is off topic since this was not what FFES asked about ;-)

 

[federali]

Same Experience as Jimmyj

I was once given a loaded .25 Auto magazine to dispose of and it's owner said it had been in the attic at least since WWII. Mag spring felt perfectly fine to me upon unloading the mag.

One other factor that, I think, no one mentioned is that constant trips in and out of the chamber subjects the top one or two rounds to constant trips under the extractor. In time, this can wear on the rim and can eventually lead to a failure to extract upon firing.

I find it easier to clear the chamber, then, upon reloading, the top round in the mag gets chambered while the round extracted from the chamber goes to the top of the magazine. In this way, there are two rounds being alternated. This happens when I clear my expensive street loads in order to use less expensive reloads or cheap fodder while at the range.

 

[venomballistics]

loading and unloading a magazine is not what causes bullet setback ... that is, unless your using a hammer to do it, at which point you should be referred to the manual.

as I am sure it is safe to assume that you use your thumb like most of us, any setback is caused by chambering the round. that is the action of the slide stripping it from the mag and slamming it into the chamber which has a hammering effect.

there is nearly no reason to unload a duty mag. there is however, a few reasons to clear the chamber of the gun.
for this, keep a sharpie handy. when the round to be cleared is free of the gun, make a mark on it along side the primer. if it already has a mark on it, make another.
when it has three marks, add that round to your range ammo and expend it in practice.

One other factor that, I think, no one mentioned is that constant trips in and out of the chamber subjects the top one or two rounds to constant trips under the extractor. In time, this can wear on the rim and can eventually lead to a failure to extract upon firing.

I suppose it could, eventually, but people do reload these cases and the success there of kinda indicates that it is not as great a concern as the hammering action of the slide dropping on it

 

[SgtLumpy]

There's always so much discussion and argue about magazine springs weakening with use, without use, while under tension etc. Maybe the gangsta d00ds have figured it out. REMOVE the magazine springs, hold the auto loader sideways and allow gravity to let the cartridges roll into position.

Problem solved.

Hope that helps.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Springfeildkid585]

It's called bullet setback. Less of a concern when loading and unloading a magazine than when racking that first round into the chamber and later unloading and clearing the chambered round.

Consider measuring fresh rounds against those that have been chambered or loaded, or at least eyeballing them, marking the racked rounds and switching them to practice use rather than carry after they've been cycled.

In quality factory defense ammo, you should have at least a few cycles before setback might be an issue.

(Another reason to love revolvers, by the way. )

I've expirienced this, but is there any real problem firing a round that has had setback? I've fired these rounds before without issue(they're a little harder to chamber on my more sensitive 1911, but I just re chamber the same round)

 

[Hapworth]

I've expirienced this, but is there any real problem firing a round that has had setback? I've fired these rounds before without issue(they're a little harder to chamber on my more sensitive 1911, but I just re chamber the same round)

Fact is, I don't know. The theory is that setback can cause pressure increase, which for obvious reasons can be problematic. I've seen the issue debated to no particular conclusion. The possibility of chambering problems alone is enough to warrant concern.