Question - Storing Magazines Loaded

[Bopper]

How long can you store loaded magazines? I'm particularly interesed in M14 magazines.

I typically rotate my rifle and pistol magazines. Keeping them loaded a month or so and resting a few months. There have been times when the magazines have remained charged longer than I would like but still work just fine.

What do you folks think?

[Beelzy]

I have kept "Factory" mags loaded for many, many years. Never a feeding issue with any of them.

Aftermarket mags are a crap shoot.

PS. It's the constant compressing and decompressing the spring in the mag that "wears" it out.

[THT]

I have kept "Factory" mags loaded for many, many years. Never a feeding issue with any of them.

Aftermarket mags are a crap shoot.

PS. It's the constant compressing and decompressing the spring in the mag that "wears" it out.

Exactly. The springs in a loaded mag will not take a set however cycling ammo causes wear. Think of a piece of metal like an unfolded paper clip being bent back and forth...it eventually breaks whereas if you bend it once and lead it, it's relatively unchanged.

[Bopper]

That's kind of what I was thinking. Seems like the only way to wear out a spring is to overwork it or change it's temper.

Thanks for the advice.

[motorhead]

i used to rotate. found out i was actually wearing them out by doing so. springs werar by compression/relaxation. it's better to leave compressed.

[B Strong]

How long can you store loaded magazines? I'm particularly interesed in M14 magazines.

I typically rotate my rifle and pistol magazines. Keeping them loaded a month or so and resting a few months. There have been times when the magazines have remained charged longer than I would like but still work just fine.

What do you folks think?

Indefinetly.

I once ran into some 14 mags that had been loaded for approx. 20 years.

I took them to the range and they fed 100%.

As long as the mags aren't exposed to wet conditions and suffer rust and/or corrosion, the 14 mag will store loaded and function when needed for about forever.

[God Bless The Mauser]

Sometimes the feed lips can bend, I had some GI 1911 mags that I left loaded for a while and they bent. GI mags shouldnt bend but this batch did, they were the parkerized kind. I bought some blued ones at a gun show and they seem to be better quality and haven't bent the feed lips yet.

[JTROKS]

Sometimes the feed lips can bend, I had some GI 1911 mags that I left loaded for a while and they bent. GI mags shouldnt bend but this batch did, they were the parkerized kind. I bought some blued ones at a gun show and they seem to be better quality and haven't bent the feed lips yet.

I got a couple of Colt factory 7 rounders and a Chip McCormick that's been loaded constantly and they are still fine. The longest they were loaded without interruption is approx 8.5 years. Took to range fired the rounds, worked 100%, loaded with new rounds and are stored standby duty again.

[damndave]

you can store them for yrs. doesnt effect them

[God Bless The Mauser]

I got a couple of Colt factory 7 rounders and a Chip McCormick that's been loaded constantly and they are still fine. The longest they were loaded without interruption is approx 8.5 years. Took to range fired the rounds, worked 100%, loaded with new rounds and are stored standby duty again.

I'm going to upgrade to Wilson Combat mags once I get some other gun stuff out of the way and I have some funds. Wilson Combat looks to be about the best there is for 1911 mags.