Magazine loads-How Long can you keep

[Niel4]

Newbie here......was wondering how long you can keep a magazine (32 cal, 22LR, 45 ACP) fully loaded with ammo without damaging the spring mechanism?

Seems to me if the spring was depresseed for a long period of time it would not be good....but what is that?

Thanks

 

[3pairs12]

I keep mine loaded for long periods of time. Sometimes close to a year. I don't think that a depressed spring would have any affect on its life expectancy. Think of the struts on a car they are under load for ever.

 

[cloudedice]

Springs do not go bad from staying in one position for any length of time. Springs go bad from compression and expansion.

 

[rcmodel]

I have 1911, Woodsman, AR-15, S&W 39, and other mags that have been constantly loaded for going on 40 years.

They always still work fine when I shoot the ammo out of them and reload them with fresh ammo.

As already noted, cycling is what wears out a spring.

The one exception is some of the modern really Hi-Cap mags.
Glock mags for instance, are best down-loaded by a round or two to prevent leaving the spring over-compressed in extended storage.

Another way to think of it is:
Do your cars springs wear out while it is setting in the driveway holding up 3,500 pounds?
Of course not.
If you never drove it, they would never wear out & sag.

See this:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_163_27/ai_99130369/

rc

 

[edelbrock]

I learned something. I believed the myth. I guess it is time for me to load up all of my mags.

 

[Niel4]

Thanks for the input.....I was hoping prolonged compression would not be a problem!

 

[Clarence]

I read an article about this issue that referenced a case where an MP40 and fully loaded magazine were found in a warehouse in the Netherlands 40 years or so after WWII. The gun, magazine, and rounds functioned like new.

After reading that .............. I keep mine fully loaded at all times.

 

[rcmodel]

I can't stress enough that there are mags, and then there are mags.

John Browning and others of the time designed plenty of spring room in the mag for a full load of ammo left indefinitely.
For instance, a 1911 mag held 7 rounds and a Browning HP held 13.

They could have held more by sacrificing spring life.

Modern designers have went the other way with 8 round 1911 mags and 17 round 9mm mags. I don't anticipate them fairing so well if left fully stuffed for 60 years!

IMO: Modern hi-cap mags should be down-loaded a couple of rounds for long-term storage.

Note the mag spring wadded up in the bottom of this Glock X-ray.




rc