Ok I was just looking at Beta mags for ARs yesterday and thinking about the chinc 75rd drums I have.
What would you call the button inside the cover of the drum?? I have always heard and read people refer to it as the tension release button, right.

As I thought about it I wondered it is ok to store ammo in a chinc drum with the spring tension applied as if you were going to shoot it 15mins later. I have one loaded right now I sometimes I wonder if I can damage the spring by keeping it loaded for long periods of time, I know the springs for the 30 or 40 round mags are good just left alone. I also know that constant decompression and compression is what wears down a spring.

So it is ok to leave them loaded for prolonged periods of time?

Question is why when with a few winds you can have it ready in 15 seconds. I wouldnt leave it under pressure that's just dumb. *I say dumb refering to the possibility of ruining a $100+ drum and it's value is sure to rise.

Well think of it this way then do the chinese soldiers who carried them leave them unwound and then quickly wind it up or what?? I just want to know what type of duribilty the springs hold up to.

Beta mags claim they can be left loaded for extended periods of time, so I would expect the same of an AK drum if not better.

I don't think it will hurt it jake .... IMHO

I don't think it will hurt, but I only keep a couple of clicks of pressure on mine until I'm ready to use it.  

The benefit of owning Chinese Drum mags is that you can have them completely loaded under no spring tension!!!
Unless you are expecting a swat team to come busting through your door any minute, why would you would leave tension on it?? Sounds stupid to me.