Magazines Loaded or unloaded

[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.