Is this bad for the Magazine Spring?

[RonB]

I recently purchased an HD shotgun. Mossy 590. Anyway I purchased 00 buck shot for the HD weapon ammo. Anyway....is it damaging in any way to keep the magazine full for exteneded periods of time? I ask for three reasons...

1st....im a gun newb

2nd....I took out the ammo the other day to shoot a different kind of ammo and noticed the 00 buck appeard to be stressed. When I first loaded the magazine (8+1 BTW) the bullets appeared as they did out of the box...solid red plastic. Yesterday when I took them out of the magazine they appeared to have a compacting affect to them....what I mean is....the buck in the shell had stressed the sides of the shell to the point where it had discolored and I can now FEEL the shot through the plastic....not sure that makes sense.

3rd....will the spring be ok? Will it lose any of its strength being compressed for extended periods of time?

Should this be happening? Is this just indicative of shotguns?

Thanks!!

Ron

 

[slopemeno]

The effect you're describing happens over time with a loaded mag, but it doesnt effect the ability of live rounds to chamber. NOW, that being said, some duty shotguns that ride around in a patrol car for a decade or so, due to the constant jarring of the road, would compact to a point that it became difficult to chamber. The smart move is, say, once every six months or so, remove the barrel and test drop the rounds into the chamber. If they hesitate, into the scrap pile.
From my experience, I left a Mossberg 500 8-shot loaded for over 18 years, and yeah, with the same ammo in it. I think i still have those rounds, just not in the gun. I purchased them in 1981...? Not proud of it, but hey, there you go. The mag spring is a little weak now, but it still works great. I guess the next time I'm ordering stuff I should get a choate follower and spring.

 

[Dave McCracken]

IMo, ammo should be changed out every 6 months or so. Use it at the range and load up fresh.

I load one shell under capacity. This keeps the springs less strained. One 870 here has been more or less kept loaded since 1980 without probs.

Really careful folks replace the springs every decade or so.

HTH....

 

[Fred Fuller]

Those are reasonable questions, Ron.

Mossbergs are good shotguns, you shouldn't have to be concerned about the magazine spring being stressed by being compressed in a loaded magazine. It should last a good long time even under compression. I'm like Dave McC in that I like to leave a tubular magazine loaded a round short of what it will actually hold. I do it because it is a bit easier on the spring and the rounds in the magazine, since they are not under the pressure of full compression, and because I load magazines with buckshot and SideSaddles with slugs. Leaving room for another round in the magazine means I can perform a 'select slug' drill if needed as soon as I pick up the gun.

I too like to rotate ammo on a regular basis. Shotgun shells _can_ 'collapse' a bit under the pressure of the magazine spring and bulge enough to be difficult if not impossible to chamber. It isn't likely to happen under normal conditions, but it is a possibility and should be avoided by rotating ammo. You ought to be shooting up your defensive load at least every six months or so and replacing it with new ammo anyway- otherwise you aren't getting nearly enough trigger time.

Do you know how to remove ammo from your gun's magazine without running it through the action? Unloading a shotgun administratively is a good thing to know how to do, it is both safer and easier on the ammo. It's done by manipulating the shell stops, I don't have a Mossberg handy to experiment with (and don't remember how) but I am sure one of the regular Mossberg shooters here can explain the process to you.

Just remember, that all that stands between noobs and experienced shotgunners is training and trigger time.

Good luck, stay safe and have fun,

lpl/nc

 

[slopemeno]

To remove ammo via the shell stops in a Mossberg: Holding the gun ejection port up, muzzle downrange, reach into the loading portull the left shell stop towards you, then push away with your thumb at the opposite one. Lots of this will tend to beat your fingers up as the shell stops have some rough edges. I use the first round I removed to manipulate the shell stops after that. Once you get it down a rocking motion with your "stooge" round will do the trick. Also-you'll find when loading, using two-rounds-at-a-time will really save wear and tear on your fingertips. Grab two, and force the first one in with the second one, the load the second one. I have a High Standard 10-b thats just brutal when it comes to that stuff.

 

[tango3065]

Dave how often do you change mag springs, or is it even needed.

 

[9mmMike]

While I do agree with changing out "duty" ammo, springs do not wear while being compressed. Springs wear from continued compression and decompression. Many springs will take a "set" but once it's done, it's pretty much done.
Overcompression is another matter entirely but, at least on my 870's, a full mag is not a fully compressed spring.
Also, once long ago I pulled all my 870 springs and found that their lengths were quite varied. None of my guns have any mag-spring related problems nor have they ever. Some are much easier to load than others though. In my opinion, and I could be wrong, mag springs (unless they get rusty) are just something about which I would not worry.
Do I check 'em? Sure, every time I pull the gun apart which is after every shoot.
Mike

 

[Dave McCracken]

Memory fades, but I think I replaced it late in the 80s.

 

[RonB]

Do you know how to remove ammo from your gun's magazine without running it through the action? Unloading a shotgun administratively is a good thing to know how to do, it is both safer and easier on the ammo. It's done by manipulating the shell stops, I don't have a Mossberg handy to experiment with (and don't remember how) but I am sure one of the regular Mossberg shooters here can explain the process to you.

Just remember, that all that stands between noobs and experienced shotgunners is training and trigger time.

Good luck, stay safe and have fun,

lpl/nc

Lee,

Since it was mentioned...I have another question...Is it only from a safety standpoint that you DONT want to run ammo through the action...or is there a detrimental (sp?) reason why?


Great advise everyone!! Thanks! Sorry....takes me a little bit to get back on here...work sure keeps me busy.

 

[AStone]

I'm like Dave McC in that I like to leave a tubular magazine loaded a round short of what it will actually hold.

Which is why I'm planning to buy a +1 extension for the 870P. I'd like to be able to load all 5 rnds in those nifty little packs and still be '1 down'.

Memory fades, but I think I replaced it late in the 80s.

<Major laughing ensued, even at 3 AM.>

Oh, dang, thanks.

Nem

 

[Fred Fuller]

In many guns, it bangs up the shell heads some to run the ammo through the action. A half dozen trips through the mechanism and things can start getting pretty ratty- and maybe, less reliable as far as feeding is concerned. Not to mention that lots of us old fuddyduddies find it unsettling to see someone hose out their full magazine load of six or seven live rounds through the action of the gun, when it really isn't necessary to do it that way.

It really IS a safety issue too, Murphy is always there, remember, and chambering rounds repeatedly when it isn't necessary can lead to unexpected loud noises.

Stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[AStone]

<Noticing the time of Lee's post>

Dang, dude. Either you're up early (on the east coast), or I'm up late (on the west coast), or both.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Well...

I was up at about 0600 local (dog wanted to go out), been up about 45 minutes and the sky is beginning to get pink in the east. I don't think I'm up early, but I'd sure say you're up late...

Gotta go start breakfast cooking, sorry 'bout the detour on your thread, Ron.

lpl/nc

 

[Dave McCracken]

During the Prison years I noted that ammo repeatedly unloaded by running it through the chamber would develop bent rims. None would fail to chamber but some took a bit more muscle to do so.

 

[RonB]

Makes sense Dave....I will stop from unloading it this way. Thank you!

Lee...no biggie man...it happens from time to time