pistol magazine life

[rodblder]

has there been any definitive info made avail by the gun mfd especially
Glock as to the best way to ensure long life of their magazines? I've heard 2 different Glock dealers say opposite things as one says the spring lasts longer under load while the other say mags last longer empty.....
any experts out there???
thanks

[boopiejones]

There is absolutely no way that a compressed spring will last longer than a relaxed one.

I wouldn't recommend keeping all your mags loaded. Maybe keep a handful loaded for emergency purposes and when you go to the range, shoot those mags first and then move a couple new mags into the loaded rotation.

[Bansh88]

Haven't seen one of these threads in a while.

[glocksigtastic]

Loaded magazines will screw you. I used to keep a couple mags loaded at all times, accidentally put one in my range bag one day, and it wouldn't cycle for crap after 2 shots.

Talked to an older more experienced guy about it and he said if you're going to keep mags loaded for long amounts of times for self defense situations, that you should once a month or even every 2 weeks change out the mag with another. If you have a mag that has been loaded for over 2 months to mark it and only use for training/plinking and that a mag that's been loaded for over 4-5 months should be thrown away or get a new spring.

kinda makes sense that the springs would get all jacked after being compressed for so long, I just never had thought about it.

[71MUSTY]

Loaded magazines will screw you. I used to keep a couple mags loaded at all times, accidentally put one in my range bag one day, and it wouldn't cycle for crap after 2 shots.

Talked to an older more experienced guy about it and he said if you're going to keep mags loaded for long amounts of times for self defense situations, that you should once a month or even every 2 weeks change out the mag with another. If you have a mag that has been loaded for over 2 months to mark it and only use for training/plinking and that a mag that's been loaded for over 4-5 months should be thrown away or get a new spring.

kinda makes sense that the springs would get all jacked after being compressed for so long, I just never had thought about it.

All scientific evidence suggests this ^^ is wrong. Compressing and relaxing springs weakens them not staying static either compressed or relaxed.

This whole urban legend started because some people bought knock off mags with bad springs.

SORRY

Ranks right up there with "You can get pregnant using public bathrooms" Well actually you can but only if you have sex in them.

[omega]

magazines will definitely last longer if stored empty

rotate your mags if you use them for defense, also test them for reliability

[L84CABO]

Just as a point of reference...

I use Wilson ETM mags in my 1911. The regular springs, not the flat wire springs...which are supposed to last even longer. I leave the mags loaded. And then unload and reload with range ammo when I go to the range. I have yet to have a problem with cycling. This is through about 6K rounds over a period of 5-6 years. I figure I'm about due to replace the springs preventively...not because there are problems. I've got no complaints about the durability/longevity of the springs. And when I do replace them I will probably opt for the flat wire springs.

[Bansh88]

Loaded magazines will screw you. I used to keep a couple mags loaded at all times, accidentally put one in my range bag one day, and it wouldn't cycle for crap after 2 shots.

Talked to an older more experienced guy about it and he said if you're going to keep mags loaded for long amounts of times for self defense situations, that you should once a month or even every 2 weeks change out the mag with another. If you have a mag that has been loaded for over 2 months to mark it and only use for training/plinking and that a mag that's been loaded for over 4-5 months should be thrown away or get a new spring.

kinda makes sense that the springs would get all jacked after being compressed for so long, I just never had thought about it.

Any LESS info? Why would you "accidentally" put loaded mags in a range bag?
Hope you keep your car on jacks.


Though not scientific or approved by a manufacturer, I have kept all my magazines (more than 10, less that 300 and capacities of 5-75) loaded since 1999 and had no issues minus the occasional poor choice purchase to save a few bucks. A mistake I assume many Calgunners make whilst "building" the cheapest AR they possibly can.

[Milsurp Collector]

has there been any definitive info made avail by the gun mfd

From an article in American Handgunner

Magazine spring madness: 'creep' to your 'elastic limit' to un-earth the urban legend of 'spring-set'
American Handgunner
May-June, 2003
by John S. Layman
You can download the whole issue for $2 https://fmgpubs.com/product/american...june-2003-pdf/

Carlton Nether, Customer Service for Beretta USA, tells us keeping a pistol magazine loaded for an extended period doesn't cause magazine spring failure, however, failures to feed can result. He says, "The ammo will 'roll' in the magazine. If the mags are kept loaded and moved around a lot -- say on a cop's belt -- the rolling action can, over time, cause creases in the cases. These creases can cause malfunctions. Also the top bullet will roll against the magazine lips and creasing can occur there as well. Just check old ammo that's been bouncing around in a magazine for a long time.

We tell police officers if they keep loaded magazines, take a few seconds to "cycle" the ammo. Periodically unload the mag and reload it in a different sequence. This movement will allow the bullets to be in different parts of the magazine and help eliminate creasing.

At STI, Dave Skinner, President and CEO says, "Personally, I rotate my 'under the bed' and 'under the seat' mags about every six months. I always empty them the 'fun' way and have never had a failure." Given what we learned above, this sounds like a good idea. Smith and Wesson customer service also says magazines can stay loaded indefinitely without hurting the spring.

[CSACANNONEER]

Old wives tell tales but metallurgists, scientists and educated people know the truth. Mag springs do not fail, weaken or "go bad" when loaded for indefinite periods of time. Now, the ammunition can corrode if not stored properly thus creating a problem when trying to smoothly feed it.

[rcslotcar]

I should have unloaded my duty mags every day. After 20+ years of being loaded all the time some one should have told them it was bad to keep them loaded. They could have failed to function which they never did!