Is it OK to keep magazines loaded all the time?

[6.8mmARHunter]

Is it OK to keep magazines loaded all the time? If I buy standard capacity pistol or rifle magazines (pistol ~ 15 rounds, rifle ~ 30 rounds) and load them up and then toss them in the safe, will they still function (have the same elasticity) in 5, 10, 15, or 20 years?

[chester]

Tag been wondering the same thing


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[Dan-o]

Tag.

I load my spare high capacity mag to about 50% because I have the same concern,

[ghosthunter]

I have read that you should relax your magazines once in a while. I have 4 16 round mags for my sigma. I load two and relax two every couple months.

For my rifles I unload the mags at the end of each hunting season.

[CAMPMEAT]

Mine work after 2-3 years. They should I would suspect. Nothing is stretching since it's compressed.

[JimmyHoffa]

same, probably not.  The stress in the springs will relieve over time.  Happens in the short time you load to shoot, but that is on a minute scale.  Whether or not the difference in function will be noticeable will be more about the design/metal used.

[PlateauNDN]

I was instructed to let you mags relax unloaded few times a year. I had extras so every month I'd swap out the mags so the springs wouldn't lose the pressure, rust and possibly malfunction.

[ghosthunter]

http://preppingtosurvive.com/2012/02/03/spring-fatigue-should-i-store-magazines-fully-loaded/

[JimmyHoffa]

And not just magazine springs, but other springs in a gun and even screws.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

I would keep them unloaded when in storage. 

I do 28 in M4 30 round mags and capacity in my pistol mags when in use or probability of use.

I have replaced springs in pistol mags for scheduled maintenance, but have never had a tension problem with a magazine.  No problems with 30 round M4 mags either (since 1991).

[BULLBLASTER]

Imo. Leaving a mag loaded will not adversely affect a spring. All mine stay loaded. The cycling of a spring is what causes it to wear out or stretching or compressing beyond normal dimensions. Sitting loaded will not affect it any more than and probably actually less than loading and unloading frequently.
I learned about springs in engineering school.

[eastcoastguy]

I leave mine loaded except one. I rotate them every month or so.never had one fail on me.

[HawkCreek]

Working a spring will wear it out a lot faster than leaving it in compression (magazine loaded). We had "security rounds" in a sealed ammo can at one old duty station. 28 rounds in a magazine and they'd been kept that way for years. The magazines worked fine when we finally took them out to use up the ammo.
I've had the same three loaded magazines for my Glock since I got it. They've been unloaded a few times during range time but that's been three years now and they all work fine.

[Stein]

Imo. Leaving a mag loaded will not adversely affect a spring. All mine stay loaded. The cycling of a spring is what causes it to wear out or stretching or compressing beyond normal dimensions. Sitting loaded will not affect it any more than and probably actually less than loading and unloading frequently.
I learned about springs in engineering school.

The above are the facts. Where is that a spring is loading in unloading not keeping under constant tension. Keep your magazines either loaded or unloaded, it doesn't matter. How often you load and then unload them is what will wear the spring out.

[mountainman]

Imo. Leaving a mag loaded will not adversely affect a spring. All mine stay loaded. The cycling of a spring is what causes it to wear out or stretching or compressing beyond normal dimensions. Sitting loaded will not affect it any more than and probably actually less than loading and unloading frequently.
I learned about springs in engineering school.

The above are the facts. Where is that a spring is loading in unloading not keeping under constant tension. Keep your magazines either loaded or unloaded, it doesn't matter. How often you load and then unload them is what will wear the spring out.

[magnumb]

From much reading over the years, the general consensus from multiple sources (specifically dedicated reloading, handgun, rifle magazine articles) have most always promoted keeping your mags loaded, unless of course you never plan to use certain one's.

In tests aimed at obtaining as definitive an answer as possible to this question, the results showed that the loading/unloading of mags taxes the springs substantially more than just keeping them loaded.  These sources all came to the same conclusion which initially was a toss-up for me in regards to how the results would play out.

I do know that upon purchasing new Glock mags or a new Glock with mags, that I immediately fully load each one of them when brand new and let them sit for several weeks.  I then test each mag out thoroughly for reliability and then fully load them again or discard (hasn't happened, as yet) and set them aside for........whenever.  Any Glock owner should tell you that all subsequent reloading of that new mag after using this method allows for easier loadings from that point forward.  Not super easy loadings in most cases, but certainly 'easier' than when brand new. 

Most all of my 35 Glock mags are fully loaded, but I have little doubt that most mags (read......springs) will outlast everyone of us no matter how we choose to deal with this concern.  But since the effort to keep them fully loaded is free and not very time consuming, I opt to believe these past sources as they get paid to do such tests.

YMMV........

[h2ofowlr]

I have had some mags that have been loaded for 10+ years.  Been in the same ammo can.  I should check on those, but they were brand new, loaded, boxed and haven't been touched since.

[6.8mmARHunter]

I have had some mags that have been loaded for 10+ years.  Been in the same ammo can.  I should check on those, but they were brand new, loaded, boxed and haven't been touched since.

That's the scenario I'm interested in. Magazines that are fully loaded and then stored for extended periods of time. Any chance you could unload one of those and see what you think regarding spring strength etc... ?

[CP]

It depends on how good the steel is.  There are many mechanical designs that rely on a compressed spring to stay compressed for years, even for decades.  If the proper steel is selected and it is properly heat treated the spring constant will not degrade significantly.

[Knocker of rocks]

It depends on how good the steel is.  There are many mechanical designs that rely on a compressed spring to stay compressed for years, even for decades.  If the proper steel is selected and it is properly heat treated the spring constant will not degrade significantly.

 

Springs degrade from cycles, frequency and amplitude.  Constant compression should not affect a correctly made spring, even if measured in years or decades.

[magnanimous_j]

Tag.

I load my spare high capacity mag to about 50% because I have the same concern,

From what I've read, that's the one thing you're not supposed to do. Since springs work by metal memory, having the spring sit have compressed will make it act unpredictably. You should keep it unloaded or fully loaded.

Just what I've read, so take that for what it's worth.

[Bob33]

It's primarily a factor of the quality of the springs.

FWIW: https://www.gunsprings.com/faq#Faq5

5. How often should I change magazine spring?  Should I unload my magazines, rotate magazines, load with fewer than the maximum rounds?   

Magazine springs in semi-auto pistols are one of the most critical springs and are the subject of much debate and concern. Magazines which are kept fully loaded for long periods of time, such as in law enforcement and personal/home defense applications, will generally be subject to more fatigue than the weekend shooter's magazine springs in which the magazines are loaded up only when shooting.

 Magazine design and capacity also affect the longevity of the spring. In many older pistol designs,  maximum capacity was not the always the goal such as with the 7 round 1911 Colt magazines will last for years fully loaded.  There was room for more spring material in these guns which reduces overall stress and increases the usable life of the spring.

 More recently higher capacity magazine have become popular. These are designed to hold more rounds with less spring material often in the same space. This puts more stress on the spring and will cause it to fatigue at a faster rate. Unloading these magazines a round or two will help the life of the spring. Rotating fully loaded magazines will also help the problem somewhat but it is not always practical.

 In applications where the magazine must be kept loaded at all times, a high quality magazine spring such as Wolff extra power magazine springs, will provide maximum life. Regular replacement of magazine springs will provide the best defense against failure from weak magazine springs. Regular shooting of the pistol is the best way to be sure the springs are still functioning reliably.

[Alchase]

I also rotate my mags. I keep 5 loaded with PDXs for every day carry and home defense. All the others are loaded up with solids for punching paper.  When I go through my cleaning retinue, I also rotate the mags more out of habit than need.
If you shoot often, just rotate your carry mags.
I honestly have never had a mag spring go bad, besides,
most magazines the springs are pretty easy to replace.

[Mongo Hunter]

Imo. Leaving a mag loaded will not adversely affect a spring. All mine stay loaded. The cycling of a spring is what causes it to wear out or stretching or compressing beyond normal dimensions. Sitting loaded will not affect it any more than and probably actually less than loading and unloading frequently.
I learned about springs in engineering school.

+1

Springs wear our in compression cycles. leaving loaded or unloaded makes no difference. I leave all my mags loaded all the time.

[XAFSSGT]

This has to be one of the most highly debated topics in firearms.  The truth seems to be that nobody knows for sure.

I personally keep my magazines loaded and about twice a year, I unload them for about a week, and then reload them.

Does it do anything significant? Hell if I know, but it's not that difficult to do, and satisfies piece of mind.

[BULLBLASTER]

This has to be one of the most highly debated topics in firearms.  The truth seems to be that nobody knows for sure.

I personally keep my magazines loaded and about twice a year, I unload them for about a week, and then reload them.

Does it do anything significant? Hell if I know, but it's not that difficult to do, and satisfies piece of mind.

If it gives you peace of mind that is enough for you to do it.
I honestly don't think that 95% of guys could ever wear out a magazine short of sitting and loading/unloading it all day every day. Hell I have mags from my grandpa that are 70+ years old and still function. My personal opinion is it really doesn't matter. Besides mags are pretty cheap also. Buy a new one if a guy gets worried about it.

[coachcw]

lets get a bad guy in front of me and we will see if it matters 

[NW-GSP]

Springs are cheap. Replace them every few years. I was told this by the firearm armourer where I worked.

[dscubame]

It depends on how good the steel is.  There are many mechanical designs that rely on a compressed spring to stay compressed for years, even for decades.  If the proper steel is selected and it is properly heat treated the spring constant will not degrade significantly.

 

Springs degrade from cycles, frequency and amplitude.  Constant compression should not affect a correctly made spring, even if measured in years or decades.

 

[jaymark6655]

Imo. Leaving a mag loaded will not adversely affect a spring. All mine stay loaded. The cycling of a spring is what causes it to wear out or stretching or compressing beyond normal dimensions. Sitting loaded will not affect it any more than and probably actually less than loading and unloading frequently.
I learned about springs in engineering school.

X2
Mechanical Engineer, I use to swap my loaded and unload mags every month until I learned about springs.  Now I just load them all and let them sit, shot earlier this year no problems with mags that have been loaded for about 3 years.

[300rum]

This.

Imo. Leaving a mag loaded will not adversely affect a spring. All mine stay loaded. The cycling of a spring is what causes it to wear out or stretching or compressing beyond normal dimensions. Sitting loaded will not affect it any more than and probably actually less than loading and unloading frequently.
I learned about springs in engineering school.

[300rum]

In my main competition pistol I run about 20k rounds/year.  Cycles wear out springs, that's how it works.  I have mags that I practice with and mags that I shoot in competition.  At the end of the year the mag springs that I practice with (and cycle more often) are shorter then the less cycled springs.  In fact, by the end of the year the spring is about flush with the base pad when it started out about four inches below the basepad (they still run though).

Down loading will allow you to seat the mag easier, it won't save the spring.  Loading a Pmag to 28 will allow you to seat it easier.  Down loading a competition mag by a round will allow you to seat the mag with less effort. 

Speaking of Pmags, I use the dust cover to take the pressure off the feed lips so that the feed lips won't warp, that's what they are for.

Last, mag springs are a consumable item, keep lot's on hand and change them out whenever you have and issue. 

[BULLBLASTER]

  spot on with the consumable items. Similar to barrels. There's a lot of people that think they buy a gun and mag and are set for life. It takes maintenance and parts. Just like a car, oil change? New tires?
Granted 95% of people will never wear out a gun...