Storing Bullets in Magazines ??

[DaDuck]

I'm new to firearms (And this forum) and have a couple of rifles.. I'm wondering if it's OK to store bullets in clips? My thinking is that should I need the rifle on short order, I'm ready... On the other hand, it also seems I may be wearing out the springs in the clips themselves, which could have adverse affects down the line....
Any Advice please??

[Noobert]

First thing, its not called "clip", it's a "magazine". Yes, you can keep them loaded, does not wear out the spring. Welcome to the forum!

[damndave]

Keeping magazines loaded will not wear out the springs.

[Barabas]

I keep my bullets in chargers, and I don't mean Dodge.

[diginit]

Depends on the mag. Some are soft and the feed lips will spread with prolonged storage.

[DaDuck]

One rifle is a .22, the other is a .223 mini 14... Would both of those be OK then?

[FS00008]

Yes. Especially if you're using factory mags for the Mini-14. Those things are dang near indestructible (The Factory mags that is). Be careful of aftermarket mini-14 mags though.

[CaliforniaLiberal]

Where's all those guys with the Clip-Magazine pictures?

[CSACANNONEER]

I store 1000s of rounds on stripper clips. I also store a few loaded magazines.

[JagerTroop]

Where's all those guys with the Clip-Magazine pictures?

[cgseanp1]

why is it that the springs don't lose there springyness when they have been compressed for long periods of time?

[ajaffe]

It is not compression that makes a spring lose their elasticity, it is repeated compression and decompression that causes it to wear.

Magazine springs are already compressed even before there are any rounds so why not add some boolets into the mix?

[cgseanp1]

cool, makes sense.

[CaliforniaLiberal]

I'm new to firearms (And this forum) and have a couple of rifles.. I'm wondering if it's OK to store bullets in clips? My thinking is that should I need the rifle on short order, I'm ready... On the other hand, it also seems I may be wearing out the springs in the clips themselves, which could have adverse affects down the line....
Any Advice please??

Welcome to CalGuns DaDuck. You've wandered into a minefield here. There are many gun folk who go nuts when you call a magazine a clip. Like San Francisco residents hearing tourists say "Frisco".

Personally I think the only truly unforgivable sin is calling a perfectly good shotgun a "Shottie."


Have a good time here at CalGuns, don't worry about the loaded magazines. Someone posted here that they dug up some 25 year old loaded mags that worked perfectly and lasted for years more.

Maybe your next question is about storing ammo? If kept in a cool, dry place it will last at least fifty years and probably much, much longer. Shoots just fine. If you put it up in the garage rafters and let it get hot every summer then all bets are off.

[otteray]

Go figure...