Leaving Ammunition in Magazines

[Uncle Chan]

Is it bad? Too much wear on the springs? Will it weaken the springs? No harm done? WHat's your opinion?

 

[JonB]

Well I'm not sure of the long term effects, but I leave one AR mag loaded, as well as one for each pistol. I figure if I need a gun I probably won't have time to sit and load a mag first.

 

[cslinger]

Assuming good quality magazines using good quality springs the springs should be fine just about indefinitely. As a rule spring steel is fatigued through use and not through sitting in a compressed state. You may want to download by a round or two for piece of mind.

Chris

 

[benEzra]

No harm done, as long as the magazine isn't loaded beyond its rated capacity. Assuming the spring was properly manufactured, it's repeated cycling of the spring that will wear it out, not loading it once and leaving it loaded.

I suppose heating the magazine really hot while the spring is compressed could be a problem (could anneal the spring in the compressed position), but I think you'd cook off the ammo first.

 

[Uncle Chan]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your responses and confirmation of my own thoughts and beliefs.

Unc