Gun Storage Opinions

[HugheSec08]

I want to make it very clear that this is not a "will keeping my mags loaded hurt the springs?" thread.

It doesn't, next question.

My question for you guys is whether or not you think leaving a fully loaded magazine seated in a firearm for extended periods of time could damage the frame? I wouldn't worry about it in something with full slide rails like a 1911. But in a polymer frame pistol with small areas of thinner metal for slide rails, like a Glock or FNX, for example... do you guys see any potential issues with that?

I ask because I don't unload my carry gun or my nightstand gun, both of which are polymer frames and don't have full slide rails. For those of you keeping score at home, that's why I used a Glock and an FNX as my examples haha.

Thanks guys!

*Edit* My question isn't limited to slide rails, I meant any portion of the frame or its inner workings at all. One reason I ask is that, despite being kept clean enough to eat off of, my FNX no longer drops mags freely. It used to drop empty mags with the slide locked open, now it won't even drop a full mag with the slide in battery. So I'm wondering if some warping occurred or I damaged the mag catch with constant pressure.

 

[Kingcreek]

I never thought about this issue before and I don't know if it might be the reason for your problem, but I can tell you I have a Glock 2nd gen model 23 that has been loaded since 1994 with no problems yet.

 

[eddd7]

I want to make it very clear that this is not a "will keeping my mags loaded hurt the springs?" thread.

It doesn't, next question.

My question for you guys is whether or not you think leaving a fully loaded magazine seated in a firearm for extended periods of time could damage the frame? I wouldn't worry about it in something with full slide rails like a 1911. But in a polymer frame pistol with small areas of thinner metal for slide rails, like a Glock or FNX, for example... do you guys see any potential issues with that?

I ask because I don't unload my carry gun or my nightstand gun, both of which are polymer frames and don't have full slide rails. For those of you keeping score at home, that's why I used a Glock and an FNX as my examples haha.

Thanks guys!

*Edit* My question isn't limited to slide rails, I meant any portion of the frame or its inner workings at all. One reason I ask is that, despite being kept clean enough to eat off of, my FNX no longer drops mags freely. It used to drop empty mags with the slide locked open, now it won't even drop a full mag with the slide in battery. So I'm wondering if some warping occurred or I damaged the mag catch with constant pressure.

Try this........I know it sounds a bit unconventional.....smear some Pledge (original) on your mags. Run them in and out of your weapon's grip a few times and then wipe off any extra.

This also works great on any other plastic sliding surfaces like window side runners, sliding doors, etc. Pledge has a waxy feel, doesn't attract dust when dry, is cheap and available.
BTW, also makes your hands slippery too, so beware.

 

[hso]

My question for you guys is whether or not you think leaving a fully loaded magazine seated in a firearm for extended periods of time could damage the frame?

It shouldn't when you consider that the only thing holding the magazine into the frame with any pressure is the magazine catch. The magazine itself would reinforce the frame if anything. As to the magazine catch being damaged, that's always a possibility, but I'd first look at the magazines to see if the follower is engaging.

See the detailed discussion below.

http://fnforum.net/forums/fn-fnx/40...r-wear-spots-anybody-have-these-problems.html

 

[reddog81]

How would the magazine damage anything?
I don't think it would happen unless something else bent the frame and now the magazine isn't sliding freely. In other words - the magazine not dropping freely is a symptom, but the magazine did not cause the problem.

 

[HugheSec08]

When I noticed the mags not dropping freely, I came to the conclusion that the mag catch had been damaged, somehow. I continued down that line of thought and started wondering if the rounds in a fully loaded magazine pushing up against the bottom of the slide when it's in battery could stress the rails. So I've had no problems there, the only problem is the mag catch- maybe. The rails came as kind of a secondary curiosity.

For the record the Glock is 100% fine, so perhaps I just found a weak point on the FNX. The mags not dropping free isn't much of a problem though. If I burn through 16 rounds of .45 ACP and need to speed reload in an HD situation, I'm probably dead anyways haha.

 

[herrwalther]

For the record the Glock is 100% fine, so perhaps I just found a weak point on the FNX. The mags not dropping free isn't much of a problem though. If I burn through 16 rounds of .45 ACP and need to speed reload in an HD situation, I'm probably dead anyways haha.

Still something to look into. If the mags of the FNX are supposed to fall freely and they aren't, you might have some other tolerance issues inside the grip and release.

 

[oneounceload]

How would the magazine damage anything?

My thought as well...............guess I am befused and confuddled.......

 

[hso]

The mags shouldn't.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

+1 for "you will be fine"

 

[Walkalong]

Can't see how. I have a loaded mag in an AR, an AK, and a Mini 14 right now. They stay there when I am not shooting them.

 

[ku4hx]

I read the question like this, "Would a fully loaded magazine have enough upward force to partially lift the poly frame's rails out of the plastic over time?".

I have certain poly guns for which seating a fully loaded magazine is very difficult. I -1 the magazine and it seats very easily. For these guns, seems to me the fully charged magazine is trying to lift the slide and the only thing holding it in place are the rails. Rails that are embedded in plastic.

Since I download all my magazines by one round for ease of insertion, I can't really relate to the problem. But I do think it's an interesting question.

 

[Twiki357]

I can’t imagine it being a problem. I’ve had a fully loaded P-11 in my truck for a number of years. The only time it leaves the truck is at the range or when it’s being cleaned. It still functions perfectly. Even after being in 140+ degree AZ heat in the truck.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

The magazines are specifically designed to be inserted, left in place, and removed when necessary to reload.

As mechanical things go, wear and tear occurs when parts are moving relative to each other in dynamic systems. An inserted magazine in a firearm that's not being used is utterly stationary relative to all other parts of the whole gun, therefore there is no wear between the components. In fact, the only parts which move in any significant amount when the gun is fired are the spring and follower as the ammunition is used and the gun's slide lock is engaged after the last round. Some other wear occurs as the bullets are stripped from the magazine.

Wear on the frame of the gun could thus only occur when the magazine is being inserted and removed. And honestly, since the gun is designed for this, the most wear would be to the magazine catch and spring and to the portion of the magazine which engages this...and then only during the latching and unlatching actions.

If your FNX is no longer dropping mags freely, then the problem isn't likely to be simply due to leaving the magazines in the gun for extended periods of time. First thing I'd do if this happened to me would be to inspect the gun and magazines, then thoroughly clean the gun and magazines. If the problem persisted, I'd try a new, quality magazine.

 

[Ibmikey]

I think we sometimes get a bit involved in the "what if" syndrome however i guess we could ask the Gov to do a study over a thirty year period, they could buy a frame of every material in use and watch to see if they fold, spindle or mutlitate over the time allotted. Seriously if a person is that concerned just give the pistol routine maintenance, unload the mags and replace with fresh ammo in a different mag...you know just common sense things that will relieve your worry. In my case i just leave my bedroom G19 loaded and ready for years at a time and have no concerns about it working when/if needed.

 

[HugheSec08]

I read the question like this, "Would a fully loaded magazine have enough upward force to partially lift the poly frame's rails out of the plastic over time?".

I have certain poly guns for which seating a fully loaded magazine is very difficult. I -1 the magazine and it seats very easily. For these guns, seems to me the fully charged magazine is trying to lift the slide and the only thing holding it in place are the rails. Rails that are embedded in plastic.

Since I download all my magazines by one round for ease of insertion, I can't really relate to the problem. But I do think it's an interesting question.

ku4hx hit it on the head, much better phrasing, thank you. A fully loaded mag is tough to seat sometimes, and it's the only thing I can think of that exerts any force on the catch or could potentially cause any kind of warping or dimensional changes in the frame and/or slide rails because of the upward force of the rounds in the magazine against the bottom of the slide when in battery. The gun has been treated with kid gloves it's whole life and is kept very clean, so I can't think of anything else that could have damaged it or caused the issues.

I'm just gonna download by 1 to cover my bases and probably spend some time just doing mag changes to see if I can't break it back in to a point where they drop free.

 

[Bobson]

Still something to look into. If the mags of the FNX are supposed to fall freely and they aren't, you might have some other tolerance issues inside the grip and release.

I absolutely agree. If the mags used to drop free, and now they don't, you have a problem that ought to be identified. It doesn't make sense that some level of progressive break-in will solve a problem that only developed later in the life of the gun (as opposed to being present when it was brand new).

If the problem is being replicated with all your magazines, I would take the gun to get it looked at by someone. This is a defensive pistol; you want it functioning as it's supposed to be. Don't leave this sort of thing to chance if you can afford to address it.

 

[Valkman]

I've got a couple of XD-45's that I've had loaded for years and no problems.