Magazine Spring - How often should it be changed?

[shappy0869]

My 870 has a 2-shot extension and I keep it fully loaded. How often should the magazine spring be changed and is it a good idea to keep it loaded one round short to maintain spring life/tension? Thanks.

 

[imprezagm4]

I don't think replacing the spring is something you have to do. If rifle/handgun magazines are fine to be kept loaded I don't think it'll be a problem on an 870... That being said, I don't know for sure.

 

[Dave McCracken]

My HD 870 with two shot extension has been pretty much kept loaded since around 1980, one round down. Took it out last year and fired off a few rounds. Still works perfectly.

Still, springs are cheap. A new one every decade or so may give some peace of mind.....

 

[B.D. Turner]

Don't worry about your spring worry about your ammo. Shotgun shells are prone to mushroom from being packed together in a shotgun tube. This could lead to failure to chamber a round. It is very important to rotate your ammo and not keep the same shells loaded for long periods of time.

 

[sm]

You are supposed to change them?

Don't tell my '74 SX1 with 300,000 rounds fired through it. It just keeps running flawlessly and don't know better...

 

[shappy0869]

Thanks for the replies, I figured as much but I was just making sure after reading the second to last FAQ here.