keeping mags loaded.....for how long?

I don't believe that they will lose their tension, and I have never seen any evidence to the contrary.

If others disagree, I'd like to see the evidence and their sources, otherwise, it's another Old Wive's Tale.
 
To add to what OldRanger said:

They will lose their tension sooner and with greater effect if stressed beyond what they were designed to do i.e. over extension or compression.

Typically a mag spring is never going to be stressed beyond its capabilities as its contained in the mag body. Especially with our stupid mag laws here in Canada
 
GIGGIDY said:
To add to what OldRanger said:

They will lose their tension sooner and with greater effect if stressed beyond what they were designed to do i.e. over extension or compression.

Typically a mag spring is never going to be stressed beyond its capabilities as its contained in the mag body. Especially with our stupid mag laws here in Canada
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Mag restrictions or not, they were designed for full capacity so it wouldn't make a difference.

TDC
 
I read in NRA's "American Rifleman" years ago about this question.

A fella bought a 1911 from an estate sale. The gun had been in storage for 40 years and the magazines were loaded. He was surprised to find that all the mags functioned perfectly.

I never worry about the springs wearing out in a loaded mag.
 
+1 for all the others; springs weaken by CYCLING. In fact, you put more wear on your mag springs by loading and shooting them at the range than you do by storing them loaded. Mine are always capped up for storage, and haven't had a problem yet (nor will I)!

-M
 
CenturionX said:
I read in NRA's "American Rifleman" years ago about this question.

A fella bought a 1911 from an estate sale. The gun had been in storage for 40 years and the magazines were loaded. He was surprised to find that all the mags functioned perfectly.

I never worry about the springs wearing out in a loaded mag.
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This sounds like a story that I heard recently on a shooting podcast when a fella asked a similar question about mag spring life. Apparently an MP-40 and several loaded magazines were found inside of a wall in a house in Belgium (or Germany perhaps) when they wanted to renovate the place. Magazines functioned fine after 50 years of storage.
 
I am happy the OP asked this question. I have always wanted to store my mags loaded, but some EXPERT told me not to.

I plan on keep them full (for convenience).
Thanks
 
The only sage advice I was given was keep them loaded one or two rounds under full cap, and you will NEVER have trouble.
 
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