Loaded Pistol Mags

[MrMarz408]

If you keep a pistol mag loaded will it ruin it? Thx

[Black Majik]

If you keep a pistol mag loaded will it ruin it? Thx

Nothing to worry about, you're good to go keeping them loaded.

Most will say that magazine springs wear from cycling (loading and unloading). I have experienced loss of spring tension by keeping them loaded for extended periods of time (couple years). However they still functioned perfectly and replacement springs are cheap.

[MrMarz408]

Thx. I couldn't see myself loading mags
everynight and unloading in the morning for Home Defense purposes.

[JTROKS]

Thx. I couldn't see myself loading mags
everynight and unloading in the morning for Home Defense purposes.

You'll wear them out faster loading and unloading them nightly/daily. I have a couple of 1911 mags fully loaded for more than 9 years now. I've shot the rounds and reloaded them about 5 times since then. They are still loaded up and ready to go with my Colt 1991a1 commander.

[ElkHunterSL]

I keep mine loaded to 70-80%, I.e. 7 or 8 rounds in a 10 round clip.

[1911Operator]

I remember last year when I went to lake tahoe. I was on the north west shore on the "nevada" side. and there is a antique/gun shot there. They had some really cheap mags from WW2 and WW2 un-opened 45acp ammo in the origional box. I asked the guy if these rounds are still good to shot, he said yes but they might smoke alot. The were really cheap and I got them. I also asked him about the mag. since it was from WW2, would the spring be bad on it? and he said it should be just fine. He also told me that some relative of his passed away and he when he went through his things, he found a box that had been un opened for about 25 years. He found a full 7rd mag. unloaded it , checked it , put rounds back in and shot it without any problems.

[plan-b]

Polymer double stack mags can bulge if left loaded for long periods of time. My cousin has a USP .40 that he bought when they first came out. He left one of his 13 round mags loaded for some number of years and mostly shot it with 10 rounders. Eventually it wouldn't drop free anymore so he had to rebuild it. If you have metal magazines or metal lined polymer, your only real worry would be either corrosion or the possibility of the feed lips widening.

[joelogic]

Had to.

[CapnHawk]

When I was stationed in SE Asia in the early 70's, several of us in my squad carried Thompsons. We were supplied with cases of fully-loaded 30-round magazines dated 1944. No magazine failures were ever reported.

[1911Operator]

When I was stationed in SE Asia in the early 70's, several of us in my squad carried Thompsons. We were supplied with cases of fully-loaded 30-round magazines dated 1944. No magazine failures were ever reported.

WOW! thats cool!

[WWDHD?]

Its probably fine to leave most mags fully loaded. I have a mag for some of my guns loaded with seven rounds (10-rd mag) just in case. Most experts I've read say the springs most likely won't wear out.