Fully loaded magazines VS capacity VS caliber

[CDW4ME]

If 8 + 1 rounds of 45 GAP in a model 38 is enough, then leave out one round when carrying the XD45 compact that holds 10 + 1 rounds to increase spring life? Still have 9 + 1 rounds.

If 9 + 1 rounds 9full capacity) is enough in a XD40 sc then only load the XD9 sc with 12 + 1 instead of it's 13 round capacity to increase magazine spring life?

Do you download magazines by 1 round if they hold a certain minimum number of rounds?

Since the 9mm typically holds more would you leave one 9mm out to reduce stress on the magazine spring like in my XD40 vs XD9 example?

 

[jfdavis58]

No. Springs are cheap and you just never know when one more round...

Why introduce a silly computational puzzle? Do I have 5 left after subtracting the one I didn't load into, uh, duh what does this mag hold?????

Practice, starting from a full mag; carry a full mag! Frankly, you will develop a second sense about when it's running dry and down loading will mess that up in a dangerous manner.

Besides springs are cheap and current practice in metallurgy has given quality springs incredible life cycles---buy spares if you need the security blanket.




On the other hand don't leave magazines full and sitting in the safe either--there's no practical sense in 'tempting fate'.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Use a full mag. I've carried M&P for several years now and I keep all of the mags 100% loaded all the time. I go to the range with it about once a week. I've never had a problem with a single mag. If I did, I could just order some new springs. Its not that big of a deal.

 

[Jim Watson]

My normal practice is to insert a fully loaded magazine, rack the slide, and holster.
No +1, but no download to spare the springs, either.

 

[REAPER4206969]

There is a lot of wrong in this thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsRFwy8ZL4I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPigvHWiX4Y

 

[REAPER4206969]

On the other hand don't leave magazines full and sitting in the safe either--there's no practical sense in 'tempting fate'.

Do you put your car on blocks at night? Fully charge all of your magazines and leave them alone until you need them. An empty mag is a worthless mag.

 

[wvshooter]

Very unlikely, but the round you leave out could be the one that kills you. The magazine in my carry gun, whichever gun that happens to be on a particular day, is always fully loaded. The chamber is always fully loaded as well. The safety, if the gun has one, is always off. The holster is my safety. Also, I always have a few magazines fully loaded but not inserted into any gun just laying around for weeks waiting for their turn to be carried.

Why the concern about springs. They last a very long time and are easy and cheap to replace.

 

[GLOOB]

I'd say it depends on your particular mags. There are historical examples where it makes sense. Some of the early 8 round 1911 mags were supposedly unreliable when loaded all the way. There are still some guys that will always stick with the 7 rounders, or load only 7 in an 8 round mag.

All mags aren't made equal.

As for storing them empty vs unloaded: I store them loaded. I figure that's what they're supposed to do. If they don't want to work that way, then I want to find out as soon as possible.

Tempered steel retains a crystalline structure of different elements at an atomic scale. If a spring is bent too far for it's design, this structure is damaged along fatigue lines, and it takes a set. If it's tempered properly, and it's bent only within it's design limits, then the structure largely doesn't change. No temper is 100% perfect. Some percent of the atoms will not be in the right orientation, or the ratio of elements will be slightly off. But if the temper and and alloy are good enough, the amount of "good" spring will be enough to get the job done, even though some part of the spring is actually taking a set.

But if there is a significant manufacturing defect, the spring won't work reliably after taking a set. And you'll find out faster by leaving your mags loaded all the way. That's my opinion, anyway.