Leaving Magazines Loaded - Page 7

Animalmother · 01-01-2010, 10:29

Have read and heard a lot about this subject over the years and have come to conclude that leaving mags loaded is not a problem.

whistler52 · 01-01-2010, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by raw6464

It's really the amount of compression/rebound cycles over time that kills a spring not a constant compression. A constant compression on a spring is no different then being contantly uncompressed.

Using the same mag over and over is what kills springs not time. Springs engineered and manufactured to be springs DON'T weaken from being loaded within their design specifications as explained in the orginal post on this thread.

So the issue at hand is if you have a mag that you keep loaded for long periods of time, do you need to replace them... just because?

IMO the internet myth is that constant compression does not change a magazine spring. Go to the Wolff Gun Springs website and read FAQ #5.

But, you really don't need Wolff to tell you this. Take a used Glock mag and a new Glock mag and press down on the follower. With my used Glock mags I can feel less force pushing the follower up compared to a new Glock mag.

Now whether the spring force continues to reduce with age and use is debatable. But, to maintain that constant compression is the same as a totally uncompressed state is clearly wrong.

Ryobi · 01-01-2010, 16:53

No reason to replace them more than every 5 years or so. They'll function indefinitely, but it's cheap to replace them every 5 years or so, even though it's not really necessary. And if you're looking for good info, the internet isn't necessarily your first choice, to go further, if you're looking for good info on the internet, getting advice on whether replacement is necessary from the website of a company that sells replacements is ludicrous.

den888 · 01-01-2010, 17:10

I never overfill mags, but keep them loaded in my G26 (it's my HD weapon).

***SHOOTER629*** · 01-02-2010, 20:40

Originally Posted by raw6464
It's really the amount of compression/rebound cycles over time that kills a spring not a constant compression. A constant compression on a spring is no different then being contantly uncompressed.

Not to make a point but, I had this question hammered to me by students in the past. I called H&K, Glock and colt a few years back and they all stated the same thing-" Rebound Cycles causes the springs to weaken not constant compression. Also, just last year at a Sig Armorers class the question was asked again, Sig Trainer stated the same " Rebound cycles causes weakness in springs."

PATRICE · 01-03-2010, 09:59

.....

JohnKSa · 01-04-2010, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by PATRICE

One faction...leaving the magazine loaded, causes spring wear. Another faction...cycling the magazine causes spring wear.

It would be more accurate to summarize in the following manner.

One faction says that leaving the magazine fully loaded may cause the spring to weaken if the spring materials, spring design, spring manufacturing techniques are wanting or if the magazine design overcompresses the spring either unintentionally or intentionally as a design compromise to save space and weight while maximizing capacity at the expense of an inexpensive easily replaced part. Otherwise it won't weaken the springs.

Another faction says that cycling the magazine causes spring wear but only over a very long period of use unless the spring materials, spring design or spring manufacturing techniques are wanting.

oldschool1961 · 01-12-2010, 20:00

Extremely Well writen and interesting article. You have answered several things I have often thought about. Thanks......

cciman · 02-07-2010, 19:06

This (below) is probably the best engineering / chemical/ physics answer, but it assumes that the material used is not deformed by that first initial full load, or x loads after that. Cycle of one over time.

Simple test is to have 50 new springs, measure them all before, and after a full mag load, then tabulate the lengths. Ideally, to do the same test over a few ranges in time: Immediately, 1 month, 6months, 1yr, 10 yr., etc. to see what effect time has on compression x length of spring.

All I know is I have personally squashed once and shortened many a pen spring in my time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunderwood

I decided to look at custom/high performance spring manufactures (not gun springs). I wanted to look for a generic, engineering answer and I found one.

In short, the engineering community agrees that springs do not have issues with storage in a none rest state as long as the are operated in a range of compression or elongation that does not deform the spring. Instead the consensus was that springs wear out through cycles. Thus, your mag springs get softer or wear out by loading/unloading the mags.

Storing any number of rounds in a mag (0-max) has no impact on spring performance or lifespan since you do not deform the spring (if you did it wouldn't work after the first load/unload cycle). However, changing the follower to cram another round or two into a mag might compress it enough to slightly deform it.

j-glock22 · 02-07-2010, 19:22

I've kept mags loaded for years and shot fine. I never have had to replace a mag spring yet to date... And I still have a few NFML's

Eagle22 · 03-08-2010, 08:54

Oh wait intruder / bad guy I have to load up my mags, before I can defend myself.

NOT.

PBR Sailor · 03-08-2010, 15:29

I am not an engineer and can only speak from practical experience. When some of the people I train left their Glock magazines loaded for an extended period of time without "resting" the springs, the magazines failed to lock the slide open after the last shot. Most of them fed adequately, but did not lock the slide open. Some of the magazines caused feeding problems. After I replaced the magazine springs, they functioned properly in almost every case. The people who took care of their equipment and "rested" their magazine springs did not have any problems.

No math formula, no scientific studies, just my experience with maintaining over 70 Glock 22 pistols for ten years.

***Glockdude1*** · 03-08-2010, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-glock22

I've kept mags loaded for years and shot fine. I never have had to replace a mag spring yet to date... And I still have a few NFML's

I am still waiting for at least one of my mag springs to fail in some way.

JohnKSa · 03-08-2010, 21:10

Quote:

I am still waiting for at least one of my mag springs to fail in some way.

Well, I suppose that's one approach.

OR, one could learn from the experiences of others...

Quote:

...just my experience with maintaining over 70 Glock 22 pistols for ten years.

Given that very few of us will ever get to "experiment" with that many pistols, when someone who has had such experience posts it publicly, it is a very valuable resource.

Ceapea · 04-15-2010, 14:14

Does anybody here remember when their mags were new? The 3 mags that I have for my 34 were pretty tough when the last few rounds were loaded in. Now, they just slip in. That has to say something for springs wearing out. I too have a 33 rd mag (2 actually for the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 that I am on a waiting list for) and after leaving 25 rounds in it for 3 months (my nightstand gun is the 34 with the 33 mag) the last few bullets barely pop out when I cycle them out. They probably will feed all of the time, but I don't want to find out that they don't at just the wrong time. Yes, I believe that springs loose their "spring"! There, I said it. But from what I've seen, it's true. Go ahead, try loading a brand new mag next to your old one, you will notice a difference. And if springs don't wear out, you wouldn't!

Ceapea

Ceapea · 04-15-2010, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBR Sailor

I am not an engineer and can only speak from practical experience. When some of the people I train left their Glock magazines loaded for an extended period of time without "resting" the springs, the magazines failed to lock the slide open after the last shot. Most of them fed adequately, but did not lock the slide open. Some of the magazines caused feeding problems. After I replaced the magazine springs, they functioned properly in almost every case. The people who took care of their equipment and "rested" their magazine springs did not have any problems.

No math formula, no scientific studies, just my experience with maintaining over 70 Glock 22 pistols for ten years.

I agree with this.
You know, all anybody has to do is compare a new mag to an old one to see the difference. It's as simple as that! If anyone actually performs that small,easy test, they could never say that springs don't wear out. I mean really! It is not magic, has nothing to do with anything but the fact that there is a difference. What would cause that difference?

Ceapea

***stopatrain*** · 04-16-2010, 07:29

My mags are loaded all of the time with no problems.

Thunderbolt56 · 06-02-2010, 17:13

New to Glock magazines, but my colt 1911 mags stayed filled for over 5 years (I had three) and stood up to almost weekly trips to the range and through quite a few informal local range competitions. Never had a failure.

I've already bought 3 extra mags for my Glock and plan on getting a couple more. I keep two loaded with SD ammo and the rest loaded with range ammo because I often go at the drop of a hat and it's nice to be able to run off 50 rounds without having to reload anything.

They're cheap enough that I'd just grab a new one (or two) every year and rotate the older ones out if I were worried about it, but I'm not there yet.

Just keep them clean and I wouldn't worry about it.

elLOCOmutha · 06-03-2010, 04:46

My magazines are always loaded when stored/carried, never had a problem with any of them for any of my firearms.

Ringo S. · 06-26-2010, 17:03

I keep Makarov in my car, never had any problems with magazine.

Mako72401 · 07-03-2010, 22:28

I tend to keep magazines loaded for the couple of pistols I carry the most. I have never had a problem with them feeding, but always am a little conscious/worried about the springs. Good original sticky article though. Makes me feel a little bit better.

Bill Lumberg · 07-04-2010, 07:24

Something to be mindful of- all springs aren't the same. No, glock mags won't wear out sooner from being kept loaded, but some mfrs springs, and most pump shotgun magazine springs will fade if loaded to capacity, at least old mossberg and remingtons.