Storing loaded mags?

[CWUSCG]

Just a quick question for the Gun Guru's. Does it deteriorate the spring tension or mag lips if you store a loaded mag for a long period of time? Will it effect the feeding at all? Your thoughts?

[Lucky Scott]

dont worry, it's fine.

[HCz]

dont worry, it's fine.

+1 It's the repeated use that will wear it out.

[kel-tec-innovations]

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest or argument but from my knowledge quality springs wears only when it is compress rebound compress rebound ....... When the spring is left in a compressed state or expanded state it does not wear as long as it doesn't move. The spring gets weaker as it is compressed and rebound over time.

[Southpaw45]

I got two Glock mags that have been loaded to max for over 14 years. They still function perfectly but I can tell that the springs did loose some power to them when I compare them to a new mag. Springs do weaken but will still function for what they were designed to do. Some mags you need to break them in so they are easier to load. My new Glock 30 was a perfect example. I was hard to load the 10th round in the mag. I let the mags sit fully loaded for a while and now it's not hard to get that 10th round in.

[evidens83]

+1 It's the repeated use that will wear it out.

This. You are fine!

[Black Majik]

I generally agree it's the cycling which wears down the mag spring. However fwiw, I've worn down mag springs by simply keeping them loaded.

[stitchnicklas]

you will be fine,lock and load

[3rd_gear]

sorry about the thread jack, but what is the thought on the lips deforming on plastic mags like pmags, if the mag is stored loaded.

[shoupdawg]

I haven't had issues with PMAG's being loaded, nor with my sig handgun mags.

[mif_slim]

I've kept mines fully loaded since 02..... It's still functioning.

[3rd_gear]

I've kept mines fully loaded since 02..... It's still functioning.

Are you refering to plastic or metal mags?
I have bought used Orlites years ago and the feed lips are spread wider than new mags, they still function though. I really do not know if this was caused with prolonged loaded storage or heat from the weapon.

[ElkHunterSL]

At Rauhauges, Todd Jarrett mentioned during his seminar/shooting that it's usually best to keep your mags for storage at 70-80%. So a 10 round mag, stored with 7 or 8. This keeps some tension off the spring and will allow it to last longer.

[turbogg]

At Rauhauges, Todd Jarrett mentioned during his seminar/shooting that it's usually best to keep your mags for storage at 70-80%. So a 10 round mag, stored with 7 or 8. This keeps some tension off the spring and will allow it to last longer.

That makes sense. Thanks for the info.

[M. Sage]

It's metal fatigue that causes springs to wear out. Metal fatigue is caused by loading and unloading repeatedly, not by loading and leaving it that way. I saw someone's blog where they found a WWII-vintage M1911 magazine that was in a sealed container and had been loaded all that time. He broke the seal, loaded his pistol and it functioned just fine. Spring was like new.

sorry about the thread jack, but what is the thought on the lips deforming on plastic mags like pmags, if the mag is stored loaded.

Can be an issue, but it's going to vary with magazine construction. Military M16 mags? Problem IMO because the feed lips are notoriously weak. An AK mag? No issue, ever. IIRC, this issue is why the PMag comes with that cover. One thing it does is take stress off the lips.