Mag Storage - loaded or empty?

6GunJustice

6GunJustice

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Okay, this is a real noob question, but I just don't know, so here goes . . .

Is it hard on mags (the springs specifically) to keep them loaded while in storage, or is it best to store them empty. Talking a few weeks/couple months period of time.

6Gun
 
If your mags are staying loaded for weeks or months at a time without use....you need to get to the range.:p



And NO, it won't hurt them a bit...




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Properly designed and manufactured magazines, using high quality springs will not be damaged or fatigued by storing them full.

Springs are worn out by cycling it hundreds or thousands of times from minimum to maximum compression, like when you load 10 rounds into a 10 round magazine, and then shoot all 10 rounds. Each cycle will shorten the life of a spring. Assuming again, of course it is a properly designed and manufactured spring and that maximum compression will not exceed the spring's elastic limit.

So if you load a magazine and store it for 20 years, then shoot it, theoretically, that is only one cycle. IMO, negligible wear.
 
Hi. Flat springs do not lose temper from being compressed. Repeated use, over a very long time, can work harden the bends of a mag spring, but leaving a mag loaded won't do anything.
"...to work them in..." Totally unnecessary. Take a new mag apart and clean it(same kit you use to clean a new pistol), but you don't need to 'work in' a mag.
 
tim_up_north said:
If your mags are staying loaded for weeks or months at a time without use....you need to get to the range.:p



And NO, it won't hurt them a bit...




.
Click to expand...

LOL - agreed! Haven't yet had the opportunity to store them for that long - my very first gun is in the mail (STI Spartan) as of today - I can hardly contain myself I'm so excited!!! In reality, I don't expect to store them for that long . . . just something I thought about and made me wonder . . .

Thanks for the replies, 'all!

6Gun
 
The mags in my safe, used to go the range with me. Now that I know they work 100 percent, they stay loaded in the safe at all times. I have a couple that go to the range for practice shooting. Just a convenient way to hold 20 rounds of Gold Dots ;)

And Glock mags DO need to be worked in. Straight out of the box, that tenth round was a legendary beast. Now I can usually put it in without the loader.
 
i store my glock 22 mags full...heard some pd's advise their officers to load 14 instead of 15 rounds in their glock 22 mags....i dont know what the reasoning is behind that
 
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