Mags loaded or unloaded?

[Rusty53]

No unless going to the range...i do keep my defense clip loaded ,but cycle it with my other clip...

 

[PAFMAN3]

I keep two loaded.cylcle other two every month

 

[Don 73]

I have 3 mags for my 9c that only get unloaded when I go to the range. The same goes for my duty mags (3) for my Glock 21.

 

[Kovariles]

If your gun is for self defense, it would not be much use to carry empty magazines. We in Australia are not permitted to have such a dilemma, even just keeping a loaded magazine locked in the ammo safe (separate from the gun safe) can put you in jail. How is that for gun control?

 

[Watchdog]

All four of my 1911 mags stay loaded all the time.

Two 12-gauge pumps' magazines stay loaded all the time.

I've never given a thought to spring compression or "memory" or any of that other supposed negative stuff regarding keeping magazines loaded over long periods of time.

 

[shooter1911]

My two primary carry guns, a 1911 and 45C both live with two loaded magazines each 24X7. My 12 ga auto shotgun also stays loaded with LE 132 00 Buck Shot 24X7. I've done this for years with no issues.

 

[DocSunShine]

No.

Keeping 70+ magazines loaded seems unnecessary.

I do keep 5 or 6 loaded: often for years.

This, and if you don't have that many mags, now is the time to get your magazine stock right.

 

[Kovariles]

This is almost right. Keeping a spring compressed will have an affect on it. That affect just won't be significant.

If it had no affect, the mag wouldn't get easier to load, would it?

I am currently doing a test on this very subject. Last year in June, I compressed a spring. It has been sitting compressed every since. In June of this year I will release it and see how much it lost, if anything.

Rastoff, you are worrying about nothing. Do your car or truck springs compress with time? Can you imagine if you had to replace your truck springs every so often because they have sagged, or had to keep your car on stands to take the load off the springs when not in use? Nonsense. Springs are designed with a hefty safety margin, trust me I know, I am a mechanical Engineer, I had designed more springs in my working life then most people had hot breakfast so, keep your magazines loaded especially if your gun is for self defense.

 

[Rastoff]

I'm not worrying about anything. You obviously didn't understand what I said.

 

[AR-Getsome]

M&P FS 9. Left spring, hundreds of rounds cycled. Right spring, brand new. Old mag no problem cycling. I keep my magazines loaded all the time.

 

[coltle6920]

I have a comfortable chair that is around 30yrs old. As the years went by I've found I'm sitting lower than originally.It is getting considerably harder to get out of the chair each day.The springs have weakened significantly.

To put it in gun terms the chair has caused my butt numerous FTE's from the chair.

As far as the springs in our mags go the opinion definitely seems to lean on the side of having no affect.

 

[Bkreutz]

I have a comfortable chair that is around 30yrs old. As the years went by I've found I'm sitting lower than originally.It is getting considerably harder to get out of the chair each day.The springs have weakened significantly.

To put it in gun terms the chair has caused my butt numerous FTE's from the chair.

As far as the springs in our mags go the opinion definitely seems to lean on the side of having no affect.

I'll have to use that, I'll put it right next to my "Why did you shrink my pants in the wash?" line