Loaded Mags!

[HOUSTONTX]

I have a glock 22 and I was tryingto get some insight on leaving my mags loaded for a long period of time. I've heard a lot of different things about it but not sure what to believe. Does it ruin the spring? Or does it not really matter? Also, will my glock rust if I leave it in my nightstand? Thanks a lot and long live GLOCK.

 

[earlthegoat2]

It does not matter. Load them and leave them. Working the springs is what wears them out.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Leaving a magazine spring compressed, even for long periods of time, will not hurt it. And simply leaving the gun in/on your nightstand will not rust it. The frame, being plastic, is incapable of rusting, and the steel parts either have a surface hardening treatment or are plated.

 

[Chuck Warner]

.....

....is your nightstand wet?

 

[jaydubya]

I bought my High Power and two spare magazines in 1968, carried them on two Vietnam cruises flying from carriers, and then stuck them in my sock drawer, still loaded with Navy ball, for thirty five years. When I again became interested in loud noises, I joined a local range, and fired off the ball without a misfire. I then cycled, oh, four thousand rounds through those magazines without a problem, and decided to replace their springs on general principles last year. I probably could have waited ten more years but, gracious, springs are so CHEEEEEP.

And if you are worried about your Glock rusting on your bedside stand, keep it in your sock drawer.

Cordially, Jack

 

[DBR]

IMHO best way to insure Glock mag reliability is to load -2 rds. I also prefer Wolff +10% mag springs. I have Glock mags with Wolff springs that have been loaded -2 rds since 1994 and emptied once a year, they are still all good.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Loading and unloading your Mags will wear the springs. Leaving them loaded will do them no harm at all.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Load them full, leave them loaded, and don't worry about rust.

 

[Roughneck08]

What my range insrtuctor told our department was to leave -1 rounds in your magazines until you go on duty and we all do carry glocks. It's all personal preference I reckon. It is a glock so I definetly would not worry.

 

[cottonmouth]

I carried a Glock 22 on duty and never loaded the 15th round in my magazines, it seems like there is too much tension there for the 15th round. And if you can't do it with 14, 15 may not help eigther. Wait for the lull and reload!

J.B.

 

[rcmodel]

Glock, unlike many other guns, over-compresses the mag spring to get the extra capacity.

Downloading by a round or two will greatly increase spring life.

It was covered in detail in several of the Glock "Annuals" in which Chuck Tayler had the long-running "gun test" of a Glock 17 with nearly 200,000 rounds through it.

Take a gander at the xray photo of a fully loaded Glock mag spring here:
http://www.lasermax.com/

rc

 

[joe_security]

A friend has a factory rebuilt G22, purchased in '99. The "used" mags with "U" stamped on them have gone "soft", compared to the new factory mags he purchased for it. He claims the used mags still work fine, he just prefers using the new ones for HD. The gun has never malfunctioned in the 1200 rounds he has fired in 10 years. State troopers in our area are issued the G22, they trust this pistol after 10 years of use.