Leaving AK Mags Loaded

[MattBeck]

Hey guys, quick question-

Will i damage AK Magazines (of various capacities, from 10, to 40 rounders, primarily standard 30's) if i leave them loaded for very extended periods of time?

I know leaving AR magazines loaded longed term can wear out springs, etc, but haven't heard anything about AK magazines having or not having this problem.

Looking forward to you responses

Matt Beck

 

[whm1974]

From what I know springs wear or break faster from loading and unloading all the time then from being compressed all the time.

That said don't load mags all the way.

-Bill

 

[imas]

I've had pistol mags that stayed loaded for years without any trouble. I would avoid leaving AK mags loaded however. Load one or two if you must but function test them occasionally.

 

[GunDog44]

I leave mine loaded for a month or so, then unload and load the other spares, alternate them from time to time.

 

[Kurt]

Word is that its the cycling that wears springs rather than the compression.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

My uncle bought a Mak-90 way back before the things were illegal to import. Before the Bush Sr and Clinton import bans and the AWB. He paid about $200 for this thing, 200 rounds, 2 30 rounders, and a 75 round drum. The drum he kept loaded with the spring uncompressed. But he kept the loaded 30 rounders loaded with some of the included Chinese manufacture ammo for about 10 years. One day my brother and I found the rifle caked in a thick layer of dust in a corner. After seeking his permission we dusted it off, handled it a while, then inevitably asked to shoot it. We emptied both the 30 round magazines without any problems whatsoever. Even though they had been kept loaded and the springs compressed for years, they functioned fine. To this day when we handle that rifle, we can't tell the difference between loading those mags, and loading our relatively new Bulgy waffle mags or Romanian ribbed steel mags.

AK mags are rather like the rifle itself--almost obnoxiously rugged and reliable. You don't have to load 28 rounds instead of 30 to get reliable function. You don't have to baby or pamper them. Bad mags are rare. Good mags are about as indestructible as the rifle. It may not be a wise choice unless you have a compelling reason to do so, but my experience suggests keeping AK mags loaded for long periods of time is A-oK.

 

[MechAg94]

Springs are not damaged in the short term unless they are overloaded. A magazine design that is not crap will not overload the spring at full capacity. If you are concerned, it is an easy thing to leave each mag one or two rounds short of full without hurting availability.

I guess I have not shot enough for cycling to be a problem yet. I never cycle through my mags except for shooting. Personally, I think you are making the problem worse by cycling the mags for no reason. I generally only shoot a few mags regularly at the range. I keep all the spares loaded. I would think you would have to go through some heavy use (like repeated combat or training) for cycling to become an issue. Like before, short loading the mags should help.

 

[buck00]

When I first got my AK someone told me if I left my AK mags loaded it would wear out the spring and ruin it. As other members have told you, this is not true.


At one point, I did keep my AK mags totally unloaded. Then I realized that in an emergency (SHTF) I would be sitting there on my floor desperately trying to load 40 round AK mags with shaking hands. I don't want to be doing that during an emergency.

 

[cracked butt]

I'm betting that there are places in the world where AK mags are left loaded for years in dirty environments and work just fine when they are needed. They are made to do that.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I'm betting that there are places in the world where AK mags are left loaded for years in dirty environments and work just fine when they are needed. They are made to do that.

Yeah I bet spring wear due to long term storage is a huge priority for warring tribes in Central Africa, enraged and soon to be dead Muslim extremists in the Middle East, and rebels in Southeast Asia as they bury their rifles in rice patties. I wonder how many mags have been kept stored for years rattling around in flatbed trucks and camels, dumped in sand and swamps, and still functioning 100% when called on. Of course, in many of these places, mags might not get an opprotunity to experience long term storage, but in some corner of the world right now, there is an AK in a bag of rice with a mag that was loaded in the 1970s and it will probably still work when some frightened peasant needs it too.

Matt, something tells me you are worrying about an AK far more than an AK was ever intended to be worried about. If you want to worry about your rifle, get an AR. An AK was built from the ground up to be hell and back reliable, and as simple and trouble free as possible to operate and maintain. Worrying that much about them kinda defeats the purpose.