Mag storage: full or empty?

[calif 15-22]

All my home defense mags are loaded with home defense rounds to full capacity. None are stored in the guns.

All my range mags are not stored loaded as I don’t like to head to the range with unloaded mags in the car. I’m just paranoid that way.

[BigPimping]

Some full and some empty. I have a few

[deckhandmike]

You guys leave pmags loaded with no dust covers? I always felt like they will bulge eventually.

[calif 15-22]

You guys leave pmags loaded with no dust covers? I always felt like they will bulge eventually.

I have 30 or so 10 rounders loaded with no dust covers.

[DRM6000]

Empty - Guns I won't need immediately

Full - Guns I'd go to if I need them right away

[ir0nclash86]

Left 8 pistol mags loaded for 11 years. I unloaded and wanted to check inspect/clean them...the springs were toast. They had shrunk about a solid inch in length.
Left 10 pmags loaded as well for 11 years. I unloaded but haven't checked to see how much the springs have reduced. .

[H3baton]

Theoretically magazine springs do not go bad by staying loaded. That is if magazine spring is heat treated properly. That being said, I had experienced magazine spring going bad by staying loaded. Always check everything...

I think pmags are junk compare to Lancer or Okay. "Free state (no one is truly free)" residents have been dumping pmags for years now but in Cali we have pretty strong pmag following. Metal feedlips on Lancer and Okay are superior design in long run.

[H3baton]

Pmags are also fatter and not 100% compatible with other 5.56 weapons.

[LoadedM333]

Some full and some empty. I have a few

This!


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[The War Wagon]

I have heard both answers. What say you store empty or full? My feelings is that full is fine. Except for perhaps blocked mags.

FULL!!!

As I just told another newbie;

1911 mags, loaded for WWI, were found in the 1990's - were fired - and had no issues.

You'll be LONG dead, before loaded mag springs ever wear out. It's loading AND unloading (either by shooting, or manually) that wears out springs... eventually...

WHEN trouble comes, you don't want to be fiddling around, loading mags. You wanna say to your wingman, "Pass me ANOTHER (loaded) mag!"

[Kokopelli]

All my standard capacity mags are fully loaded. All my low capacity mags are unloaded.... and collecting dust in a box somewhere.

[DrjonesUSA]

I'll just chime in that I've done tons, tons, and TONS of reading on this topic.

Overwhelming consensus is that leaving mags loaded for indefinite periods of time is 100% OK, will NOT harm the mags.

As others here have pointed out, it's actual use; loading / unloading / cycling that wears out magazines & their springs, NOT simply sitting there waiting to dispense freedom or defense.

Load 'em, keep 'em handy. Especially today.

EDIT: I do download my 30's by 2 rounds.

This is widely accepted as being a good idea; if/when you need to do a tactical reload, it can be hard or impossible to fully seat a mag that's loaded with all 30 rounds.

Not critical, but wise, IMO. If you miss those last 2 rounds, you are probably in a situation that won't be solved by another 30 rounds anyway.....





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[iMigraine]

All magazines are consumables like tires, brakes, alcohol, and women...

[OCEquestrian]

I guess you don't have a lot of ammo

Nope...no ammo here folks... please move along

[Ora Serrata]

If you're really worried about the mags wearing out keep blocked ones full and freedom week mags empty but at the ready. Reason being you can always buy another 10 round magazine in the future, but freedom week may not come again. Use your full 10 rounder to keep the zombies at bay while you or someone close to you loads your freedom week mags.

There were a lot of guys who went through years of war with loaded 1911 magazines, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Personally I keep a couple full mags for my go-to HD guns.