Ammo kept in magazines

[brdrail]

All - how long can you keep ammo stored in a magazine? I'm debating the issue of a revolver vs. an autoloader - it seems that a selling point for the revolver is that it can be kept loaded without any parts going bad. With an autoloader - will the spring in the magazine deform or the bullets poorly load if the magazine is kept loaded for extended periods of time? This is also tied to the Glock 21 posting I just put up - it's either that or a S&W 686

 

[The Bushmaster]

Before I purchased my Kimber I carried a Firestar for years (1992 through 2008). The magazine springs are the same ones. I have never replaced them and they remained loaded all that time. Same with the hammer spring on the M43. Cocked and locked all the time. Spring set or weakening occurs when you compress and uncompress springs repeatedly. and not when they are kept in a compressed state as has been the common belief. I was one of those that had that "common" belief and it has been proven to be a false belief. So compress those springs and leave them compressed. Only relieve them when you plan on cleaning them...

 

[Ron James]

This subject seems to be hashed over and over and over. Short answer, neither the springs nor ammo will spoil. For more detailed and I mean detailed information, used the search feature,

 

[brdrail]

Thanks much!

 

[zammyman]

I've fired AR magazines left at 90% capacity for 4 years, they all fed and fired fine. Usually I keep the spring compressed slightly less than 100%, such as having -1 in the magazine.

 

[BikerRN]

I rotate my magazines every six months.

What can I say, I'm "old school" and set in my ways. If I wanted a gun to leave loaded 24/7 with no care or concern as to it's ability to function, it would be a Double Action Revolver.

BikerRN

 

[KBintheSLC]

will the spring in the magazine deform or the bullets poorly load if the magazine is kept loaded for extended periods of time?

The short answer is no.

Mag springs wear out from being cycled many times, not from being stored loaded.

 

[rcmodel]

Springs wear out from cycling them.
Not from staying compressed.

Think of your car.
If you parked it in the driveway and never drove it, the springs would last a lifetime.
(Even though they are holding up a 3,500 pound car.)

But if you drive it, and cycle the springs, they will get weaker, and wear out eventually.

rcmodel

 

[jaydubya]

After Vietnam, I stuck my Browning High Power in my sock drawer still loaded with Navy ball. Thirty-odd years later I again became interested in shooting. I fired off the load in that magazine (plus those in my two other magazines) with no problems. Since then, I have fired over five thousand rounds from that pistol and those magazines. No feed problems. Because I am chicken, I replaced the mag springs last year with new Wolff's. No feed problems since. As someone else said, it is the continuous loading/unloading that wears mag springs out, not a steady compression.

Cordially, Jack

 

[rcmodel]

Geez! Is it time for that question again already this week.

I have 1911, Woodsman, AR-15, S&W 39, and other mags that have been constantly loaded for going on 40 years.

They always still work fine when I shoot the ammo out of them and reload them with fresh ammo.

As already noted, cycling is what wears out a spring.

The one exception is some of the modern really Hi-Cap mags.
Glock mags for instance, are best down-loaded by a round or two to prevent leaving the spring over-compressed in extended storage.

Another way to think of it is:
Do your cars springs wear out while it is setting in the driveway holding up 3,500 pounds?
Of course not.
If you never drove it, they would never wear out & sag.

See this:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...7/ai_99130369/

rc