Storing magazines

[sirmissalot]

I'm sure this is a dumb question but I tried searching it and came up with nothing.

How do you guys store your rifle and pistol magazines, loaded, or unloaded?

I've heard several times that storing them loaded will wear out the springs but I've never had an issue. Is it a myth or what?

I'm not asking if you store the magazine for your bedside pistol loaded, I mean your "spares".

[Zardoz]

I am of the belief that if you do not intend to use the mag in the next six months, it should be empty. I cycle through my extra mags every 3 months or so to make sure there are no issues.   

[mebco09]

I think what you will hear guys talk about about is spring "set" if you leave them loaded.   

I have never had a problem leaving magazines loaded, I have no idea how long I have left one loaded the longest, but I bet it was more than a couple of years. 

I wouldn't leave a bunch of magazines loaded for a long time though. 

[dontgetcrabs]

Myth.  It will not hurt any part of a magazine to leave it loaded.

[tlbradford]

Myth, but number them and keep rotating them for use.  For my self defense loads in my ccw's I unload the mags every 8 weeks to check the ammo for signs of corrosion.

[ICEMAN]

Myth.  It will not hurt any part of a magazine to leave it loaded.

 

[Heredoggydoggy]

Myth.  It will not hurt any part of a magazine to leave it loaded.

 

  Double that.  I heard a box of 1911 magazines fully loaded with .45 ACP ammo from WW II was found, and they functioned flawlessly.  I've shot 30-round magazines that have been loaded with 9mm ammo for years, and they worked fine in my HK94. 

[philepe]

Myth.  Recently someone posted on here or another site about mags they had loaded for 15+ years then recently tried them, IIRC they all cycled fine.

[sirmissalot]

Cool that's what I thought. Several of my guns I have always left the magazines loaded full and have never noticed a difference so I believe it to be a myth as well.

[dscubame]

Always heard loaded is no problem and will not damage the mag.  Two cents

[romaknows]

Always heard loaded is no problem and will not damage the mag.  Two cents

Good to hear this as i thought my glock 20 magazine was worn out from me keeping it always loaded ( it fails to cycle so it must be something else to blame ) any ideas???

[dscubame]

Glocks seem to be pretty bullet proof.  I have often thought cycling problems are mostly due to type of ammunition being shot.  Are you shooting quality ammunition?

[tlbradford]

Always heard loaded is no problem and will not damage the mag.  Two cents

Good to hear this as i thought my glock 20 magazine was worn out from me keeping it always loaded ( it fails to cycle so it must be something else to blame ) any ideas???

How strong is your grip?  A lot of short cycles occur due to a weak grip.

[marlin]

I leave all of my mags loaded at all times, and I have a Glock 20, no problems.. I know Glock mags suck to take apart, but you could stretch the spring out.. I do that sometimes when I clean them. I take the mag apart, clean it good inside and out by running a rag through there, and stretch the spring before I put it back together.
 Dirt inside the magazine could also cause problems if it creates too much friction or drag between the mag body and the follower. Try cleaning and stretching the springs.

[JoeE]

My Glock 21 mags have been fully loaded for nine years and functions everytime I shoot it with no feeding problems from the magazines. I have had my AR pmags fully loaded for at least 4 or 5 years with no problems as well.

[700xcr]

Always heard loaded is no problem and will not damage the mag.  Two cents

Good to hear this as i thought my glock 20 magazine was worn out from me keeping it always loaded ( it fails to cycle so it must be something else to blame ) any ideas???

Could be ammo, guide rod spring too light or you gun just needs a good cleaning.

[jaymark6655]

As others have stated myth.

Now cycling a spring from compressed to uncompressed no matter how slow, will wear it out.  They have a set number of cycles for their lifespan, its a lot.

Certain all-plastic mags when left loaded will stretch and just let the rounds fall out and could cause double feeds.  That is why Glock puts some metal in theirs.

[troyspinetar]

Great topic! One of those questions I've thought in my head. Cool to hear these responses! 

[romaknows]

Always heard loaded is no problem and will not damage the mag.  Two cents

Good to hear this as i thought my glock 20 magazine was worn out from me keeping it always loaded ( it fails to cycle so it must be something else to blame ) any ideas???

Could be ammo, guide rod spring too light or you gun just needs a good cleaning.

I probably bought the cheap ammo, i will clean everything really good and run some quality rounds through it and see if that helps.

Always heard loaded is no problem and will not damage the mag.  Two cents

Good to hear this as i thought my glock 20 magazine was worn out from me keeping it always loaded ( it fails to cycle so it must be something else to blame ) any ideas???

How strong is your grip?  A lot of short cycles occur due to a weak grip.

First time anybody has suggested I had a "limp wrist" ha ha  .  I honestly didnt know a weak grip could cause a jam.

[jyerxa]

Myth.  Recently someone posted on here or another site about mags they had loaded for 15+ years then recently tried them, IIRC they all cycled fine.

I can vouch for that. I have a crappy 9mm that I never shoot anymore. I had left one of the mags loaded up for about 15 years. The pistol is crap but the mag is still good.