How Many Rounds in Your Home Defense Gun?

[gdr_11]

I used to keep a full mag in my HD 1911, but after time I became concerned about long term impact on the magazine spring. I now keep 5 rounds each in two separate mags and try to remember to unload, full load, unload, and then replace 5 rounds in each. Since the only time this gun is handled is to clean, I don't want a fully packed mag that has been sitting stuffed for a long time failing me if I need it. Anyone else do something similar or am I making much about nothing?

[plumbum]

My nightstand gun also holds 5 rounds... because it is a revolver.

Seriously you are over thinking it. I have shot magazines that were loaded for a decade or more, and they still function just fine.

Load them with good quality ammo that you have tested thoroughly, and sleep well.

[MontClaire]

30, 30, 30, 30, 75, 75

[rcslotcar]

00-slug-00-slug-00-00=00 sling 00-00-00-00 slug

[WASR10]

Everything I've read about magazine springs suggest that the metal doesn't fatigue from pressure. So it shouldn't be a problem to keep them loaded to capacity.

[static2126]

I used to keep a full mag in my HD 1911, but after time I became concerned about long term impact on the magazine spring. I now keep 5 rounds each in two separate mags and try to remember to unload, full load, unload, and then replace 5 rounds in each. Since the only time this gun is handled is to clean, I don't want a fully packed mag that has been sitting stuffed for a long time failing me if I need it. Anyone else do something similar or am I making much about nothing?

Way overthiningnit

[uhlan1]

Leaving a mag loaded does absolutely nothing to weaken a spring. Nothing.
Load 'em up.

[Nguyen]

i believe most people fill up their mags to standard cap...

[Mayor McRifle]

6 in my shotgun and 10 in my P220.

[glockman19]

Right now the gun on my hip holds 8 rounds.

[toddh]

1 in the chamber, and a full mag.
Anything else and you have short-changed yourself when you may need it most.


Leaving a fully loaded mag is fine for a week or two.
Just swap it out for a fresh one and unload the other and continue rotate them all.

[Chapped Hide]

17 in the 17

[jdben92883]

The first part is spot on. The 2nd advice will actually wear out the magazines faster than leaving a single magazine loaded. Like others have mentioned it's the loading/unloading of a magazine that wears out the spring, not keeping the spring compressed under load.

[QUOTE=toddh;15295571]1 in the chamber, and a full mag.
Anything else and you have short-changed yourself when you may need it most.


Leaving a fully loaded mag is fine for a week or two.
Just swap it out for a fresh one and unload the other and continue rotate them all.[/QUOTE]

[thegamettt]

18 and 20

[MontClaire]

On a serious note. If you worry too much then you can keep 3 magz loaded to their capacity and have the spare 3 magz you transfer those rounds to every week. So at any day you'll have 3 spare magz with no pressure on springs and 3 loaded.