[Gunsmoker]

I have a Hi-Power 9mm single action that I use for home defense. I was thinking about keeping the gun loaded and a bullet chambered with the hammer back so I can be ready if SHTF. I may not be able to hit the range every week, so is it bad for the gun to have it in this position 4-6 weeks at a time?

I know it's safe, but are any parts on the gun stressed? The only part I would think is stressed would be the hammer because it's back and just wanting to go hit the firing pin.

[mwpslp]

From everything I have read the answer is no, it will not make anything weaker. Kinda like keeping a magazine loaded........but that's another post.:D

[Devonai]

Everything that I understand about spring stress would say no. If your Browning is your primary home defense weapon I wouldn't worry about it. Otherwise, I'd keep the mag loaded but the chamber empty and the hammer down.

I would also fire that magazine and ammo every six months to make sure everything's ship-shape.

[litman252]

If you were to carry it, it would be cocked and locked...................

Don't worry about it for the first..................... 5 years or so.

Tony

[Wesker]

Yea I don't see why people are so shaky about this. Springs are designed to be either compressed or uncompressed, and in either form for years. The only time you need to worry is when you stretch a spring beyond it's memory to where it loses it's shape. You bend metal, you weaken it and you cannot get it the way it was.

As long as you don't do this, keep that gun cocked and locked for the rest of your days if you want.

[brownie0486]

keep that gun cocked and locked for the rest of your days if you want.

Solid information sir.

Brownie

[daysleeprx]

Based on a lot of your previous posts...you're really paranoid about this new gun of yours.

It's a gun. Shoot the crap out of it. Guns are designed to take the abuse of cycling over and over when fired. Why worry about keeping a hammer cocked? :D

[Sean Dempsey]

My concealed firearms constructor (a cop) says him and some of his instructor buddies put a fully loaded 1911, cocked and locked, in a safe...

for 11 years.

they pulled it out and fired the whole clip.

flawless.

YMMV

[Wesker]

*HISSS* *HISSSSSSSSSSSSS!* He said CLIP! He's a witch, may we burn him?!

[brownie0486]

Based on a lot of your previous posts...you're really paranoid about this new gun of yours.

I suggested in another thread he google the Browning hi powers and read the volumes of information that can be gleaned on that gun as well.

Brownie

[SFvet]

We had a troop say "CLIP" at the academy who ended up wearing a paperclip with him for the rest of training so he knew it was "MAGAZINE" lol;)

[1911Tuner]

Gunsmoker...A related discussion here.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=225856&page=2

Post # 19 may be of particular interest to you.

[ETXhiker]

A compression spring's natural state is in the uncompressed state. It may take years to have any noticeable effect. But being constantly in a compressed state (i.e. magazine spring) will eventually cause the spring to weaken. Springs are cheap, however. Change them if you are worried about it.

[swampgator]

It's a gun. Shoot the crap out of it.

The best piece of advice ever given on a firearms website!

My concealed firearms constructor (a cop) says him and some of his instructor buddies put a fully loaded 1911, cocked and locked, in a safe...

for 11 years.

they pulled it out and fired the whole clip.

Documented cases of over sixty years of storage exist.

IF I were a magazine or spring manufacturer you'd bet you last greenback rumors would float that storing loaded mags was bad juju. Springs don't wear out as often as we're lead to believe.

[KD5NRH]

If it bothers you, spend less than $40 every other year to change out every spring in the gun including all your mag springs.

Two years is nothing for those springs, and I can easily spend more cash than that on one trip to the range. Just make sure you shoot up a box or two after every change to break the new parts in and check for any malfunctions.