Keeping a magazine loaded; how long?

I have one magazine that has been (almost always) loaded for over 20 years for killing yotes, no issues yet. If I recall correctly it's the movement of the spring that wears it out not static storage.
 
I've had the same question looming over my head for a while now as I keep a loaded mag in my safe at all times. It would suck to learn the hard way that it's messed up when I go to use it for the first time.
 
Its the spring wear and tear that kills them. I have heard of 1911 mags being found in grandads attic that were loased for decades and functioned fine. An unloaded mag isn't good for anything so long as its stored in a safe fashion all is good.
 
My Sig 220 was issued to me in `85 with three magazines. I loaded all three and have kept them loaded ever since (Except when I' m shooting it. :)

The gun has more than 75,000 rounds through it and two of the three magazines still function perfectly with the original springs. I replaced one spring a few years ago just to see if there was a difference. I could not notice any difference but I have no scientific way to measure spring strength.

After 21 years, I'm not changing springs because now I want to see how long they last. Now that I'm retired, it is not my carry gun and is only used from time to time when I want to shot it.

John
 
I'd add to that the caveat, "If it's a good quality magazine, stored in appropriate conditions".

I have personally seen two Norinco magazines that were stored loaded in a safe for six months which subsequently failed to feed the first round when loaded into a pistol. Brand name mags that were stored with them fed fine, as did the two other Norinco mags. But 50/50 is not odds that I would want to bet my life on.
 
Humour!

spi said:
I'd add to that the caveat, "If it's a good quality magazine, stored in appropriate conditions".

I have personally seen two Norinco magazines that were stored loaded in a safe for six months which subsequently failed to feed the first round when loaded into a pistol. Brand name mags that were stored with them fed fine, as did the two other Norinco mags. But 50/50 is not odds that I would want to bet my life on.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but would a Norc be your "go to" pistol in a SHTF situation, anyway? ... :p
 
In 2002 I found a Radom pistol in my Uncle's attic in Europe, round in the chamber, magazine held 6 more rounds. My Uncle stashed it up there in 1945 and could not find it after the war. Believe it or not, it fired flawlessly:)
 
I find the elastics weaken on my cheap belts when I leave them loaded... also I keep loosing rds in the feild with it so I stoped using it alltogether. Good springs shouldn't weaken to much though. I think new unused spring left compressed for a few weeks soften a bit to a point, and then stay.
 
JCM298 said:
My Sig 220 was issued to me in `85 with three magazines. I loaded all three and have kept them loaded ever since (Except when I' m shooting it. :)

The gun has more than 75,000 rounds through it and two of the three magazines still function perfectly with the original springs. I replaced one spring a few years ago just to see if there was a difference. I could not notice any difference but I have no scientific way to measure spring strength.

After 21 years, I'm not changing springs because now I want to see how long they last. Now that I'm retired, it is not my carry gun and is only used from time to time when I want to shot it.

John
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input John.
Just for your info. I have just managed to get my father interested in handguns and he lives on Limberlost in Tucson (between Flowing Wells & Oracle) (well in the winter anyway). The next time we visit them down there, I would like to know of any ranges I can go to in the Tucson area. I am getting my concealed carry permit shortly and will need to contact these ranges to get the proper paper work to allow me to bring my guns with me into the US and into Arizona.
Thanks
Ernie
 
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