Magazine springs: what causes them to need replacement

[vito]

I am certainly no expert on this, and I am wondering if leaving a magazine empty, with the spring fully expanded, is better or worse than leaving a magazine fully loaded with the spring compressed. Common sense seems to tell me that the spring is being stressed when it is compressed, but I know that I have read that a spring actually will last longer in operating condition if kept compressed. So which is really wearing out my spring of these three choices: fully compressed all/most of the time; fully uncompressed all/most of the time; frequent use which compresses and decompresses the spring repeatedly?

 

[MattNH]

Low cycle fatigue is the enemy of springs, no matter the application. Sitting empty or loaded, magazine springs do not go through the cycles. Loading and unloading repetitively wears them out even to the point of failure.

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

magazine springs

A factory or equivalent magazine will last you if not abused. To start off, use one round less than what the magazine holds. You can leave them full for months without a problem. If you shoot regularly, cycling the rounds in the magazines will not deter the springs. I normally shoot at the range once a month and cycle my mags each session. When I return home, I clean my gun and disassemble the magazines and dry swab the inside of the mag, wipe off the spring and degrease the follower and floor plate. I reassemble the mags and they are as good as new without spring fatigue. I have had my magazines in each of my guns for years and have not had a problem.

Nick

 

[H Richard]

I have some 1911 mags from the 50's, and many of them seldom get used since I don't do much competition any longer. But I have used 50 year old mags without any problem. I normally rotate the ammo through my various semi-auto's annually if not more frequently.

 

[rburg]

I'm not an engineer and I don't work with springs except to use them. I have had magazines that are now almost 100 years old. I've also had guns with springs that exceeded 100 years. All just kept on working.

So I'm just guessing. My best guess is the quality of the spring is what determines how long it will work. Its something you can't see or feel. I also remember as a boy getting toys with springs that didn't last even a few hours of play. And I've got an example I purchased a few years back that is just junk. It lasted a couple of years of very light usage and now it doesn't work at all.