Magazines Loaded or unloaded

[boneaddict]

Whats the common consensus

[baldopepper]

Not sure what you're asking.

[boneaddict]

Does it ruin the magazine to leave loaded (compressed springs???)   

[Knocker of rocks]

Does it ruin the magazine to leave loaded (compressed springs???)

Springs are ruined by extension or compression beyond their design criteria, or by cycles.

None of this would apply to storing ammunition in a magazine

[b23]

I have some old metal Colt mags, 10's and 30's, that I've had since my first AR from back in the mid 80's that the only time they weren't loaded was when I was out shooting but once back home they'd get loaded back up and stored that way.  Pretty much any and all of my AR mags are stored loaded, even the newer plastic ones, and I'd guess around 50% of my handgun mags stay loaded.  I don't know if one way is recommended over the other but that's how mine are.

[buckfvr]

I guess it all depends on what you think might happen and how likely you think that might be.

[huntandjeep]

EDC Pistol and extra mags are always loaded , Bump in the night AR Pistol and extra mags are always loaded . Hunting rifles , pistols I hardly shoot, etc, are empty

[Alchase]

Load them up, no factual data supporting keeping loaded magazines hurts the springs in any way.
And while they do sell magazine rebuild kits, I personally have not ever heard of one going bad.
I do cycle through my many full magazines. When I go shoot I grab the mags from the bottom of the stack. Then when re-stocking, I place the newest on top.
The magazines stored in my “home defense” rifles, I will take out and shoot once or twice a year just to cycle through the ammo.
Even that is not really needed, just a habit I got into.

[boneaddict]

I’m glad I asked this question.  Huntwa Myth Busters!   Thanks!

[hunter399]

Well not sure if it's busted.
I've had mags that like the last round or two won't get picked up by the bolt.
It's like the spring can't push them up fast enough for the bolt to pick them up.

With that said,I think it only happened to me one time ,with a mag loaded to capacity for a very long time.
I believe it was some cheapo brand too.
Don't believe I've ever had any problems with Magpul.
Mags I use for hunting are normally half full.
Ten round mag , I'll load it with 5 while hunting,just cause I want the most reliable. As much spring tension as possible.
Self defense mag ,I'll load them all.
If it doesn't pick up the last round ,and goes click.
I'll drop it on the ground and grab another.

[Alchase]

That is a good point, buy quality Magazines to begin with. All mine are Magpul Gen 2 and Gen 3 PMAGS. They work every time, and they are reasonably cheap.
I have a few 10 round mags, I only use for sighting in and range shooting, the rest are all 30 round mags. I use to have a few 20 round mags, but I found I never used them, and wanted all to be the same.
Keep your eye on Midway USA and other online retailers. They often have really good sales on 10 to 12 or more Mags.

Here is an article from Pew Pew Tactical with every thing you would ever need to know about AR Magazines.

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-magazines-ar-15/

[pianoman9701]

I've had several loaded. I spoke to an SOF armorer. He said that the springs have memory if loaded for a long time and can fail to load the last few rounds or can cause a jam. 

[Knocker of rocks]

Well, I’ll be.

That is metallurgically correct, according to the applied physics guys.

The question would become, is the creep functionally significant in a realistic period of time measured in months, years, or decades.

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/56286/why-does-a-spring-lose-its-energy-when-compressed-for-a-long-time#:~:text=If%20you%20keep%20it%20compressed,hence%20deformed(or%20bent).

[Woodchuck]

I always have half of my mags loaded but I do rotate them every 6 months or so. No scientific reason really, just makes sense to me that a compressed spring will weaken. I see it on cars regularly.

[Knocker of rocks]

But the work cycle of a car spring is many orders of magnitude greater than any pistol

[Woodchuck]

But the work cycle of a car spring is many orders of magnitude greater than any pistol

Absolutely, Just the way my brain works. 

[gutsnthegrass]

I was told to keep them either completely empty or completely full. Something about the springs either need to be fully compressed or relaxed due to their memory.

[Alchase]

This same question was posted on AR15.Net a few years ago with thousands of responses.
The number of people who actually had issues with the springs “with know good magazines” was so insignificant.
We’re talking about less the 25 out of thousands who posted.

While It is mechanically possible, but so rare it is not worth worrying about.

Having the feed lips or followers damaged is 100s of times more common.
Why, because in combat you may not  be in a position to actually worry about the mag you just dropped on reload.

Hence the term “Police up your mags” after contact.

 

[wadu1]

My dad brought back a loaded 1911 mag in 1946. I remember seeing it when I was a kid while cleaning up his place to sell, I found it. Ammo was head stamped WCC 44, put it in my 1911 and it ran just like new.

[jaymark6655]

Knocker of Rocks is right. Cycles of a spring is what causes fatigue. So if you have an EDC and you download it every time you get home, then that mag is going to wear out really fast. I used to do that before I learned better in a machine elements class.

If its properly designed and built, leaving it compressed shouldn't have any impact. That is the key, even known good manufacturers can have a few go bad sooner than they should due to build tolerances and variation of material composition. Unloading probably won't really lengthen life of those poorly built mags, but cause them to go even quicker.

I have had more magazines hang up on feeding rounds from extreme use (load - fire - repeat all day long for months), being too dirty (most people don't clean mags, AR blow back is definingly going into them), deformation of body or follower (sometimes so minor its nearly impossible to see).

[Alchase]

With the introduction of M4 Feed Ramps, now used by most manufacturers, one of the main causes of mis-feed, pretty much disappeared.

Most mis-feeds are now caused by bad buffer spring or low gas.

[300rum]

Well into the 90's you could find .45acp Ball ammo cheap.  Should have stocked up back then....

My dad brought back a loaded 1911 mag in 1946. I remember seeing it when I was a kid while cleaning up his place to sell, I found it. Ammo was head stamped WCC 44, put it in my 1911 and it ran just like new.

[Chesapeake]

Let’s say leaving a mag loaded damages the spring.
To what point does it damage the spring and after how long?

I’d say damage is minimal and springs are cheap. I leave them loaded and if by chance one begins to fail me I’ll replace the spring.
Hasn’t happened yet.

[Alchase]

Let’s say leaving a mag loaded damages the spring.
To what point does it damage the spring and after how long?

I’d say damage is minimal and springs are cheap. I leave them loaded and if by chance one begins to fail me I’ll replace the spring.
Hasn’t happened yet.

I have many dozens of loaded Magazines, some have been in my rotation for many years. At the rate I shoot, each magazine would be shot "approximately" every six months. I take ten 30 rounders with me every week. Ten rounders are reserved for sighting in usually if accessories have changed, but they are in my range bag.
 Not once, ever, have I had an instance where a spring has gone bad. No one I personally no of has either.