Regal cable gun locks.

[cleandog]

I recently purchased a S&W 5904 it came with a Regal cable type gun lock. It is the type that feeds down through the breach and then through the magazine well. I have never owned a gun lock and have been of the mind that a person would be SOL if it were in place and gun was needed in a hurry. Also wife and I never had kids and are too old now so it never was an issue.

What I am wondering is, would it damage recoil spring assembly if it were locked in open position for a long period of time with the recoil spring under constant tension?

I am not planning on doing so but it is something I have always wondered about when I see these types of locking mechanisms.

Sorry if this has been discussed a thousand times, I searched for an answer and didn't find one.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[Zjnovak]

Loosen up? Maybe.
Weaken to the point where it could be dangerous to fire? Very unlikely.

Just go buy a $4 trigger lock at Walmart. Better yet, just lock the case.

 

[Jdavis]

Springs lose tension and weaken from mechanical action and should not be a problem if left with the action opened. This is also true of magazine springs left under the tension of being loaded for long periods of time.

 

[cleandog]

Zinovak and Jdavis,

Thanks for replies and that's what I do I just lock the case when necessary.

Joe

 

[S&Wman]

Bear in mind I am not a proponent of cable locks. Actually I hate them. However, I would suggest rather than locking the slide back, I would ride the slide forward against the cable. That way the slide would only be back about a half inch or so. Much like the safety plug that is shipped with the gun from the factory.
A better choice may be a safe, a quick access safe, or a handgun safe etc.