Loaded Magazines?

[buddyd157]

ok, i did use the search feature, i could not find what i was looking for. (maybe i worded it wrong?)

in any event, with my glock i got 3 mags, with the cz, i will be getting 2, and i already bought an extra one.

here is the question:
if i loaded up one mag for each gun, and kept them in my closet, is there any sort of time limit they can be kept loaded, before the spring(s) either weaken or give out?

reason for keeping these in the closet, is for added safety, but still quick to reach, and pop into either gun. if any of this makes any sense.

thanks to all in advance

buddyd

 

[frankmako]

load them up and don't worry. it will not hurt a thing to keep them loaded forever.

 

[jmorris]

I have one pistol that has had a fully loaded magazine for longer than I have been alive, it still works.



That said, I have much newer mags that have seen much more use and are never stored loaded, that I have had to replace their springs, several times.

 

[bearcreek]

here is the question:
if i loaded up one mag for each gun, and kept them in my closet, is there any sort of time limit they can be kept loaded, before the spring(s) either weaken or give out?

No one really knows what the time limit on CZ or Glock mags is. Both those guns have only been around for 30-40 years or so. There have been 1911 mags that sat loaded for over 70 years and ran fine. Hopefully you're shooting them more often than that.

 

[Hartkopf]

ok, i did use the search feature, i could not find what i was looking for. (maybe i worded it wrong?)

in any event, with my glock i got 3 mags, with the cz, i will be getting 2, and i already bought an extra one.

here is the question:
if i loaded up one mag for each gun, and kept them in my closet, is there any sort of time limit they can be kept loaded, before the spring(s) either weaken or give out?

reason for keeping these in the closet, is for added safety, but still quick to reach, and pop into either gun. if any of this makes any sense.

thanks to all in advance

buddyd

Some people like to load one or two rounds away from full for long term storage and there could be some validity to that strategy. It does depend somewhat on the magazine and spring design. Lots of variables and takes 20 years to prove right or wrong.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

if i loaded up one mag for each gun, and kept them in my closet, is there any sort of time limit they can be kept loaded, before the spring(s) either weaken or give out?

No there isn't. Repeated use, i.e. regular shooting, or over compression will wear out magazine springs. So if you are really worried, download by one round. But in modern guns with modern springs, you shouldn't have a problem.

Check them by regularly practicing, and the next time you have a little extra money, buy three more magazines per gun.

Edit: And welcome to THR! You're in a good place here...….. usually. Some of us get a little crotchety now and then.

 

[Bronco72]

I have read that what weakens a spring is the compressing and uncompressing it! If compressed and left alone, it does not bother the spring anymore than leaving it uncompressed.
It was on the computer so it must be true

 

[Carl N. Brown]

"It was on the computer so it must be true"

In the 1990s I bought a M1 Carbine magazine pouch with two rusty magazines, loaded with green corroded ammo headstamped 1944. The set had been sold at an estate auction and was supposed to be a souvenir from either WWII or the Korean Police Action.
The magazines cleaned up nicely and I have used them in my M1 Carbine in the military matchs. I can't swear how many years the magazines were left loaded. Could have been from the day they were stashed in a GI's duffle bag in 1944 or 1945.

So it's now been on the computer twice.

 

[rust collector]

Welcome! As others have stated, spring life varies but will usually run into decades and they are easily replaced when the time comes. Enjoy, give them regular exercise, and replace if and as needed.

 

[Deus Machina]

With properly designed magazines (like Glock and CZ) with good materials (like Glock and CZ), you can leave them loaded until rust is a larger concern than spring wear. Even the Glock.
Spring steel wears out through duty cycles or stress beyond its work range. It would take years to wear it out through normal function anyway, good manufacturers aren't going to design things to work outside their range, and most magazine springs can't compress beyond it; the follower or the spring itself stops it before then.
The only thing to worry about otherwise would be heat, but that brings more immediate problems. If you can't fry an egg on it, it's not bothered.

 

[Riomouse911]

If you want extra insurance, but a spare Wolff spring for each magazine and have them on standby. As you go shoot, over time if you feel the springs seem weak swap them out.

With the quality of CZ and Glock springs, in all honesty the swap will probably be around 2030 or so... but with the crazy zealotry of anti-gunners and the continual assault on gun rights you can never plan far enough ahead to keep them running should a ban on replacement part kits ever take hold in your state.

Welcome, these THR guys and gals have a ton of knowledge and expertise and don’t mind sharing.

Stay safe.

 

[Jim Watson]

Chuck Taylor, on his way to 250,000 rounds through a Glock 17, said magazines lasted longer if loaded with 15 instead of 17.

I had to replace springs in Wilson 47D 8x.45 about every other competition season and my Metalform 10x9mm were completely reworked with new springs and followers. I am on the third set of springs in some Tripp Cobramags.

On the other hand, back when we were satisfied with 7 .45s, or 9 9mms; I don't recall ever having to replace a magazine spring.

I have read that what weakens a spring is the compressing and uncompressing it! If compressed and left alone, it does not bother the spring anymore than leaving it uncompressed.
It was on the computer so it must be true

And yet the vendors tell us that if a magazine is too stiff to load readily or drags on slide movement, to leave it loaded for a week to "set" the spring.

My procedure for a "house gun" is to load magazine, insert in pistol, rack slide, decock (Sig Sauer.) I do not "top up" the magazine. Works so far, but it has only been a few years.

 

[Hartkopf]

If you want extra insurance, but a spare Wolff spring for each magazine and have them on standby. As you go shoot, over time if you feel the springs seem weak swap them out.

With the quality of CZ and Glock springs, in all honesty the swap will probably be around 2030 or so... but with the crazy zealotry of anti-gunners and the continual assault on gun rights you can never plan far enough ahead to keep them running should a ban on replacement part kits ever take hold in your state.

Welcome, these THR guys and gals have a ton of knowledge and expertise and don’t mind sharing.

Stay safe.

Agreed. Buy extra magazines and springs because one day your gun might be useless when parts are unavailable.

 

[Jim Rau]

I guess I am old school when it comes to this subject. In RVN we would load approx 10% less than the rated capacity and that was due to feeding the first round in a 'loaded' mag could give you problems. But I still use that 'rule', especially when it comes to leaving a mag loaded in a weapon or storage.

 

[TonyAngel]

I’ll echo what others have said. What wears springs out is cycling them. Keeping them loaded doesn’t hurt anything.

I have enough AR mags to load up 1000 rounds. I keep them loaded. Always. Been doing it for as long as I can remember. No problems.

 

[film495]

I've taken several old springs, magazine springs, recoil springs, on 50 year old firearms, and refreshed them by giving a quick pull to extend the spring just a touch, and run them for years now with no concern or issues.

 

[shafter]

I just accept that magazines are disposable and keep a few unused ones around as spares. The rest I use until I start getting malfunctions and then toss.

 

[Speedo66]

I’d be more concerned about the lips of plastic magazines deforming over time from the constant pressure.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

MAGAZINES

I've read a bunch of these threads and the best information I've got from them is this,

Springs have a compression limit. If you compress a spring beyond that limit it will deform immediately and it will never work right again. If you compress a spring close to that limit it becomes susceptible to "creep strain" which will eventually cause it to fail.

The majority of gun manufacturers design their magazines so that even when fully loaded the load never approaches that compression limit. The problem is more with the off brand magazines like Pro Mags.

Having said that, magazines are expendable. Buy spares

Even though my research indicates that it's really not necessary, I keep enough magazines on hand for a given gun that I can put them through a long rotation cycle. 1 year loaded /5 years in the box. At that rate they should out last Methusala.

The question of "fatigue limits" and "creep strain" (which apparently is only a factor at 4X the melting point (Degrees Kelvin) of a given metal) is discussed in detail here


Does static tension wear out a spring? | Physics Forums

 

[Riomouse911]

I guess I am old school when it comes to this subject. In RVN we would load approx 10% less than the rated capacity and that was due to feeding the first round in a 'loaded' mag could give you problems. But I still use that 'rule', especially when it comes to leaving a mag loaded in a weapon or storage.

That is especially true with trying to insert Mini-14 mags on a closed bolt. If it’s full it isn’t going!

As for the plastic feed lips, I haven’t ever had an issue with older Glock mags, but we did have a few first-generation 30-round AR P-mags split on the molding seams over time. We went to metal GI-spec magazines after that and never looked back.

These work magazines have been loaded with 28 every day for the past 14 years, and shot monthly in practice/qualification. I think we’ve replaced maybe three or four springs in this time for the set of eight magazines that go with each of the seven guns.

Stay safe.

 

[FlSwampRat]

ok, i did use the search feature, i could not find what i was looking for. (maybe i worded it wrong?)

in any event, with my glock i got 3 mags, with the cz, i will be getting 2, and i already bought an extra one.

here is the question:
if i loaded up one mag for each gun, and kept them in my closet, is there any sort of time limit they can be kept loaded, before the spring(s) either weaken or give out?

reason for keeping these in the closet, is for added safety, but still quick to reach, and pop into either gun. if any of this makes any sense.

thanks to all in advance

buddyd

I have several mags for each of my autoloaders that I use for range use and usually are kept empty for no particular reason and other than I used up all the range ammo at the (duh) range.
I have a couple of mags (2 each) for each pistol that have JHP's for serious work that are almost never unloaded. Once a year or so I'll switch them out on a cold snowy night. (In Florida, yeah right)

In none of them do I have issues with feeding and weak springs.

And yeah, welcome to THR.

 

[buddyd157]

WOW....!!

thanks to EACH and every one of you who responded (and future respondee's as well!!..)

yes, "if it's on the internet, it must be true"..

this is why i am so VERY GLAD i found this site, as a new owner/shooter NEEDS CORRECT INFORMATION, not B.S. internet crappola..!!

my "intention" is to not load them up full, like maybe 12 cartridges rather than the full 16.

i figure that at least i'll get one or 2 shots off at any home invader, and if he has any buddies with him, i'm sure they will jump out the door, or window they crawled thru to get into my home.

and the mag(s) i choose, most likely now both the CZ and Glock, will of course have hollow points. as i WAS told by my instructor, it's highly recommended over round points.

again, THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH, YOU REALLY MAKE ME FEEL WELCOMED WITH ALL YOUR HELP...!!!

(i wasn't shouting, i was emphasizing my gratitude...!!!!)

and by the way, another member in (i think) another thread i started, recommended that GunBlue490 guy, it's GREAT that he was an armorer for several companies...!!!

 

[Hartkopf]

The good thing about Glocks is you can buy 17,19,24, and 33 round magazines that work in all of the full size 9mm. You can down load a 24 round magazine with 20 rounds if you choose and you still have good capacity to work with. Especially for a house gun.

 

[FlSwampRat]

WOW....!!

thanks to EACH and every one of you who responded (and future respondee's as well!!..)

The depth of knowledge on this forum is fantastic. The years of experience here go back to the Pleistocene. And that just with only a couple of members!
Seriously, we might disagree, quibble, argue and poke fun at each other, but, after all, we're the kind of family that puts the fun in dysfunctional.
Enjoy your time here.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

again, THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH, YOU REALLY MAKE ME FEEL WELCOMED WITH ALL YOUR HELP...!!!

(i wasn't shouting, i was emphasizing my gratitude...!!!!)

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!!!!!

The depth of knowledge on this forum is fantastic. The years of experience here go back to the Pleistocene. And that just with only a couple of members!
Seriously, we might disagree, quibble, argue and poke fun at each other, but, after all, we're the kind of family that puts the fun in dysfunctional.
Enjoy your time here.

Lots of good humor to be had here also, which only adds to the fellowship.