mag tube spring under stress?

[neomentat]

if I store my shotgun fully loaded for years does it wear on the spring? Should I store the shotgun with a fully loaded mag tube or 1 rnd less?

[Jicko]

No problem. Springs are "wear" only when you are using them.... keeping them fully extended or compressed don't "wear" its strength...

[AJAX22]

+1 ^^^^

The 'wear' you see in springs comes from metal fatigue not from compression forces.

your rounds will corrode long before your spring deboinks from storage.

[MilSpec.45]

I store my mag tube with one less round in it, but not because I am worried about the spring. I just like having the option of putting in a round of my choosing for the first round. I keep 00 buck in the tube, but now I have the option of putting a slug in for the first shot.

[neomentat]

ahhh, good to know, I guess I will keep a full tube of buckshots in then for emergencies. thanks for the info guys

[Jicko]

Personally, I don't like loaded firearms in my house... since I play with them too much....

The only thing I have loaded is a magazine of hollow-points for my Glock.....

[proraptor]

I keep my 590A1 loaded (8+1) with the mesa tactical 8 round side saddle loaded also.....ready for zombies I am

[wildcard]

I store my mag tube with one less round in it, but not because I am worried about the spring. I just like having the option of putting in a round of my choosing for the first round. I keep 00 buck in the tube, but now I have the option of putting a slug in for the first shot.

Exactly the same thing I do. There's no adverse effect to having the springs fully compressed for extended periods of time. Only way to "harm" the spring is through repeated use.. and even then it would take a LOT.

[Cato]

I have heard of the shotgun shells deforming over time. I keep my shells on the side in an elastic carrier.

[Pont]

Yeah, I wouldn't trust the shells not to deform over time. Just make sure your shottie gets some range lovin' with the old shells every once in a while.

Probably less of a problem on a pump than a semi, since you might be able to make up for slightly deformed shells with extra force on a pump.

As to leaving space in the tube to let you put in the appropriate first round... I just practiced the "feeding a horse a carrot" technique for loading the first shell directly into the chamber. It's really easy. I'm confident I could do it blindfolded. It's also a pretty good technique for loading the tube while you have the shotgun pointed in a useful way.

[DesertDawg]

If you keep your mag tube loaded, then unload it, do NOT pull the spring out and stretch it! That will weaken the spring! I had a buddy that kept his shotgun loaded, and he thought that the constant compression of the spring would cause it to "shorten" and have less tension, so he said that he often removed the spring and stretched it. I told him to go buy a NEW one!

[C9X19]

I have heard of the shotgun shells deforming over time. I keep my shells on the side in an elastic carrier.

i would strongly suggest that you keep your elastic carrier empty unless you're going to be using it right at that time.