question about keeping mags loaded

[akirpal78]

I keep my 40 loaded next to my bed. my question is, is there say a rule of thumb on how long I should keep the mag loaded and the spring compressed? not sure if the spring will go bad.

[adrenaline]

From what I've been reading since I've been here at Calguns, the issue is when the mag is emptied and loaded up consistently. You shouldn't have to worry about it if it is loaded up and remains that way.

Honestly, as many times as I've been to the range.....I trust my go to gun even with the constant loading and dumping of ammo.

[The War Wagon]

Loaded is not a problem - loading/unloading repeatedly is what stresses/wears out springs.

[todd44044]

I agree with adrenaline. I would suggest loading to capacity -1, though. That should be sufficient to maintain a long spring life. Hope this helps. God Bless!

[Mongoblack23]

a fully loaded mag will not wear out your spring. constant loading and unloading (a spring in motion) is what wears it out. keep it fully loaded, and dont worry.

[crackerman]

Somewhere on the web some metallurgist did some cool report but I can't find it anymore but the best example I use is bending a paperclip. Bend it once or twice and it still is strong Bend it a dozen times and it will break so a mag spring just compressed is not going anywhere.

[RazzB7]

You should put your car up on jackstands at night too. Take the load off of those springs.

[Decoligny]

Even with constant loading and unloading you will rarely if ever have a spring wear out on you until you hit into the thousands of rounds fired, if not tens of thousands of rounds fired. It is after all "spring steel" that is used for springs, not recycled paper clips.

[WDE91]

You should put your car up on jackstands at night too. Take the load off of those springs.

he might have airbags or fluid filled shocks

[TROYSD]

in the navy we sill had .45 , and we were only allowed 5 shell in the mags so they didnt wear out

[5shot]

If it's a good quality magazine (not cheap after market), you should have no problems with the springs. In law enforcement we carried loaded mags for many years, unloading and reloading them once or twice a month for practice or qualifications. Over 30 years I've never heard of anyone who actually had a magazine go bad. That's with some guys doing a bare minimum of maintenance, and others shooting 10's of thousands of rounds.

[IllTemperedCur]

Shouldn't be a problem.

But for peace of mind on your primary defensive firearm, you could do an annual spring replacement in the gun itself and the mags. Cheap insurance.

[Mr. Beretta]

If it is a quality made weapon with it' s factory magazine, it can stay loaded for years and work fine.

However.....you should be practicing with your weapon at least every month. Thus your mag with be used and reloaded often.

[akirpal78]

thanks to all you guys and gals for the information. everyone on calguns is awesome and full of great advise. I have a sig sauer sp2022 40s&w. and I have one factory mag and one aftermarket.

[acolytes]

You should put your car up on jackstands at night too. Take the load off of those springs.