Loaded Magazines - At ready?

[skorzy@gmail.com]

General question about semi-auto handguns for home defense.

A home defense semi-auto pistol would require having the magazine loaded, and the weapon kept handy enough to use on a moment's notice. However, if your leave the magazine loaded, the magazine spring will remain compressed for long periods of time. Is this healthy for the magazine? If not, doesn't it eventually decrease the reliability of loading if you ever needed the weapon?

I'm curious what's the best way to keep a semi-auto pistol "ready" for home defense, but not have to worry about weakening the magazine spring over time. Assuming..if there is a way!

Personally, my 686 will probably remain my bedside gun..but the question about semi-autos came up this afternoon and I didn't have a good answer.

[Franksremote]

I keep my mags for HD loaded and rotate them every six months. In the end, it really depends on the mag manufacturer and how they've setup the mag. Some are better designed to "break-in" while loaded and don't lose much (if any) tension and others will start to droop. Best is to check every couple of months for proper functioning and change the springs as needed. YMMV

[Black Majik]

Springs wear from use, the constant compression/uncompression of the springs is what wears them out. You're ok leaving them loaded for long periods.

[blkA4alb]

Springs do not lose their strength from extended compression, they weaken from compression and extension.

(Wow, I made it sound complicated somehow.)

[Tweak338]

Springs do not lose their strength from extended compression, they weaken from compression and extension.

(Wow, I made it sound complicated somehow.)

Indeed, you did make that sound complicated..

[hoffmang]

But what if that one last round....

-Gene

[oaklander]

Springs do not lose their strength from extended compression, they weaken from compression and extension.

(Wow, I made it sound complicated somehow.)

So true - otherwise automobiles would start to sink lower and lower until they hit the ground.



IMO having tension on a spring doesn't hurt it.

My self defense gun is loaded, cocked, with the safety *off* - but I keep it in an electronic safe by my bed.

[ruey220]

loaded magazines

Springs do not lose their strength from extended compression, they weaken from compression and extension.

(Wow, I made it sound complicated somehow.)

that's kinda the opposite though when you're in bed.

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

that's kinda the opposite though when you're in bed.

Well, that's what wears out a bed. The constant compression and extension.

[ccwguy]

Well, that's what wears out a bed. The constant compression and extension.

Exactly, if you're married the bed will last longer than if you're a bachelor!! hahaha

[1911su16b870]

Autoloader for HD. Number you mags. Montly or Bimonthly take the primary and secondary, with your HD loads, to the range and see what happens. Identify any mags that give you problems. A handgun is used to fight your way to the longgun. Fight with the longgun.

Or take all you mags with you to a training class and see what happens!

[shinigami]

My HD shotgun has shells in the tube, my 5.56 mags at the ready, 9mm mags in pistol...they've been like that for about 8 months now.

[Glock22Fan]

That springs under compression lose effect after a time used, supposedly, to be the case many years ago before spring technology got as advanced as it is today.

Modern manufacturers will tell you "No problem" carrying loaded mags for years. My G22 has had all its magazines loaded for over ten years (except when I empty them through the barrel, and immediately refill them). My .22 Walther rifle (yes, Walther do make rifles) has had its mags loaded for more like twenty years.

On the other hand, the author Lee Child, who generally doesn't make firearms mistakes that I notice (except for his preference for 9mm over .45 and I guess that's shared by many on this board), had his hero's life saved because a BG used a Beretta whose magazines had been loaded for some time (you would think that the first cartridge in the magazine would have been chambered when he racked the slide, even if the second misfed). I hope that Beretta voiced their disapproval.

[slick_711]

True story:

A WWII vet passed away, his daughter brought his condition 1 GI 1911 in to the shop. She didn't know much about guns and was uncomfortable with them, but knew the safety was on so she put it in a box w/o touching the trigger and brought it to us. Illegal perhaps, but commendable/safe on her part giver her experience. Anyway, when I picked it up and she told me it had been sitting in a drawer "just like that" for at least forty years, I got curious. Took it onto the range, flicked the safety off, fired 8 rounds without a hitch. Bone dry, but no feed issues, no magazine problems, no failure to fires.

Like everyone said, its the compression/decompression that weakens springs, not prolonged compression. Albeit I don't recommend leaving a pistol around for 40 years without a checkup/tuneup.

[DrjonesUSA]

Springs wear from use, the constant compression/uncompression of the springs is what wears them out. You're ok leaving them loaded for long periods.

Ditto.

End of story.