Keeping Magazines Loaded - The Firearms Forum

CountryGunsmith · 02-23-2003, 11:17 PM

rodgerglide
Member
Posts: 15
(12/24/01 1:39:52 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del All Any harm in keeping mags loaded?
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Is there any damage to mags by keeping them loaded? I am wondering if my practice will cause spring damage or deflection. If so,how long does it take? Is it dependant upon mag type,capacity,or what? Have any of you experianced any problems?

AntiqueDr
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1606
(12/24/01 1:42:13 pm)
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ezSupporter
Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded?
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Over time, springs will take a "set" and lose some of their strength. This was more of a concern years ago than it is now, but many people still rotate their magazines every month or so.

May not be necessary, but probably still prudent.

We Buy Guns! 1 - 100, Antique or Modern!
www.apaxenterprises.com

Xracer
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1336
(12/24/01 4:24:28 pm)
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I agree with Doc, but then again, I've seen some old G.I. M1911 mags that have been loaded more than 10 years, and are still fine.

Tac401
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Posts: 3110
(12/24/01 11:27:52 pm)
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ezSupporter
Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded?
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Yep, me too, once a month at a minimum!
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gun runner john
Moderator
Posts: 401
(12/25/01 9:27:54 am)
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I'll go against the grain and say that using the magazines will do more damage to the springs than leaving them loaded. A properly designed spring, that is not stressed outside it's design limits, should not "take a set". Let's take an example that most of us live with every day, your car's valve springs. A number of them are either partially or totally compressed whenever the engine is stopped, when's the last time you heard anyone worry about that? Personally, I spend no time worrying about mag springs "taking a set", and I've never had the problem with any brand name mag.

One exception would be poorly designed springs, but I doubt these would last long enough for you to leave them loaded and take a set.

Tac401
Administrator
Posts: 3119
(12/25/01 2:05:40 pm)
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ezSupporter
Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded?
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In my .45's I strictly use Wilson mags and their
spring & follower kits in all of my other mag bodies.
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gun runner john
Moderator
Posts: 403
(12/26/01 11:17:30 am)
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So Tac, do you have a problem with Wilson springs taking a set?

Tac401
Administrator
Posts: 3126
(12/26/01 12:13:40 pm)
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ezSupporter
Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded?
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GRJ,

My main reason for using Wilson is function/reliability
and I've never had them take a set however, I still
rotate once a month(force of habit)although I have
gone up to 6-months without a problem.
The Firearms Forum Vietnam Memories Bulletin Board Contact Administrator

Bob In St Louis
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1556
(12/26/01 9:44:57 pm)
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I have left magazines loaded for long periods of time, but I back off on the total capacity by a couple of rounds to slightly "ease" the full tension on the spring - so I leave a 15 round mag with 13 rounds in it. Top it off before use - God willing and time allows!
Crusty Cruffler of Fine Spanish Pistols - Eibar Rules!

gpostal
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1756
(12/29/01 1:55:52 pm)
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i recently took apart a ramline mag to see what type of spring it had in ,it has been loaded for over ten years and was downloaded by two ,but was getting a little week

when i took it apart i found out that it was a coil spring that attached to the top of the mag as you load it ,it uncloiled
i put it back together, and reloaded it after a few weeks ,and is tight as new

a kind of set un-set ,wierd huh!

02-23-2003, 11:17 PM	#1
CountryGunsmith Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Deep Piney Woods of East Texas Posts: 5,116	Keeping Magazines Loaded rodgerglide Member Posts: 15 (12/24/01 1:39:52 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del All Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is there any damage to mags by keeping them loaded? I am wondering if my practice will cause spring damage or deflection. If so,how long does it take? Is it dependant upon mag type,capacity,or what? Have any of you experianced any problems? AntiqueDr Senior Chief Moderator Staff Posts: 1606 (12/24/01 1:42:13 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Over time, springs will take a "set" and lose some of their strength. This was more of a concern years ago than it is now, but many people still rotate their magazines every month or so. May not be necessary, but probably still prudent. We Buy Guns! 1 - 100, Antique or Modern! www.apaxenterprises.com Xracer Senior Chief Moderator Staff Posts: 1336 (12/24/01 4:24:28 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I agree with Doc, but then again, I've seen some old G.I. M1911 mags that have been loaded more than 10 years, and are still fine. Tac401 Administrator Posts: 3110 (12/24/01 11:27:52 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yep, me too, once a month at a minimum! The Firearms Forum Vietnam Memories Bulletin Board Contact Administrator gun runner john Moderator Posts: 401 (12/25/01 9:27:54 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'll go against the grain and say that using the magazines will do more damage to the springs than leaving them loaded. A properly designed spring, that is not stressed outside it's design limits, should not "take a set". Let's take an example that most of us live with every day, your car's valve springs. A number of them are either partially or totally compressed whenever the engine is stopped, when's the last time you heard anyone worry about that? Personally, I spend no time worrying about mag springs "taking a set", and I've never had the problem with any brand name mag. One exception would be poorly designed springs, but I doubt these would last long enough for you to leave them loaded and take a set. Tac401 Administrator Posts: 3119 (12/25/01 2:05:40 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In my .45's I strictly use Wilson mags and their spring & follower kits in all of my other mag bodies. The Firearms Forum Vietnam Memories Bulletin Board Contact Administrator gun runner john Moderator Posts: 403 (12/26/01 11:17:30 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So Tac, do you have a problem with Wilson springs taking a set? Tac401 Administrator Posts: 3126 (12/26/01 12:13:40 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GRJ, My main reason for using Wilson is function/reliability and I've never had them take a set however, I still rotate once a month(force of habit)although I have gone up to 6-months without a problem. The Firearms Forum Vietnam Memories Bulletin Board Contact Administrator Bob In St Louis Senior Chief Moderator Staff Posts: 1556 (12/26/01 9:44:57 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have left magazines loaded for long periods of time, but I back off on the total capacity by a couple of rounds to slightly "ease" the full tension on the spring - so I leave a 15 round mag with 13 rounds in it. Top it off before use - God willing and time allows! Crusty Cruffler of Fine Spanish Pistols - Eibar Rules! gpostal Senior Chief Moderator Staff Posts: 1756 (12/29/01 1:55:52 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Any harm in keeping mags loaded? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i recently took apart a ramline mag to see what type of spring it had in ,it has been loaded for over ten years and was downloaded by two ,but was getting a little week when i took it apart i found out that it was a coil spring that attached to the top of the mag as you load it ,it uncloiled i put it back together, and reloaded it after a few weeks ,and is tight as new a kind of set un-set ,wierd huh! -->