1911 Magazine Spring Question

[WoodchuckAssassin]

A 1911 is my bedside gun, and is always cocked-an'-locked. How often should I switch out magazines so I don't ware out the spring? I've heard some people say a couple weeks...and others say every couple of days.

What do you guys/gals think? Thanks for your opinions!

 

[JTQ]

Typically it is cycling of the spring that wear it out.

Several forum member have reported stories of finding an old 1911 in the attic or basement that had been left loaded for decades. They took the pistol out and the magazine worked just fine.

 

[rcmodel]

If they are good quality 7-round mags, like GI mags, you can leave them loaded indinfinately without harming the spring.

The spring is never over-compressed when fully loaded on a 7-round mag.

As JTQ said, cycling a spring is what wears it out.

So constent unloading & reloading will wear it out faster then just leaving it loaded.

You should change out your bedside ammo probably every six months to a year just as a feel good excercise in case oil from the gun migrates to the primers and kills them.

BTW: As a thought, if you leave the gun cocked & locked all the time?
Would you need to change out the main spring every few days too?
Because it is fully compressed all the time when Cocked & Locked??

rc

 

[jr_roosa]

An easy solution. Is to take it out and shoot a couple of mags through it once per month.

I have the checkmate 8 rounders and those springs are terrible. I rotate the mags through my bullseye gun and it become obvious when the springs get too weak so I keep the freshest ones for carry.

J.

 

[bigfatdave]

non issue

you also don't need to put your car up on jacks at night to let the shocks relax

 

[1KPerDay]

I've heard some people say a couple weeks...and others say every couple of days.

Wow...

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Haha! I thought my information was a little off. Thanks for the info.

The only mags I have the 2 that came with the gun (Ruger mags). What might be some other reliable magazine brands to invest in?

 

[matrem]

I've fought the urge to respond to this, as I respect the opinions of the folks that have already responded, but:

I don't at all see it compared to leaving your springs/shocks relaxed or even semi compressed on your vehicle.
It is better equated to weighing down your springs to the max for an extended period, then expecting them to work every bit as well at the very top (relaxed) end of their cycle.
In my experience, it just doesn't work that way.

I've done some testing (at least to my satisfaction with 1911 mags),and after over a year of being fully loaded the quality ones have never failed to cycle, but some have absolutely failed to lock the slide on two different 1911s.
One 1911 a Colt, and the other an Armscor Citadel.

I have only tested the 8 rd mags, so I'm not speaking as to the 7s.

I'd be in total agreement with rotating two or three times a year without worrying at all.
But I would rotate.

 

[col.lemat]

I have left magazines for M14 M16 M1 carbine and 45 loaded for 10 years with out any ill effects worked just fine, now I check them about every 20 years

 

[tuj]

I have found the best 1911 mags are Tripp Cobramags.

 

[powder]

The best mags are the ones you tear down, clean, inspect, and lightly oil the springs in. Shoot the pistol and see how it operates. If you do not know the history of the springs in the mags-replace them. Cheap insurance and a great comparo. for yourself, before and after.