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Posted: 8/13/2006 3:11:00 PM EST
(LONG-term = decades)

I was just wondering how the guys at Arfcom store (for example) their 30 rounders for LONG-term storage. Fully loaded? Down-loaded to 28? 25? Please post your reasons.

Just a noob to the magazine forum wondering how I should store my mags/ammo. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Link Posted: 8/13/2006 3:14:52 PM EST
[#1]
Right now my 30's have 25 rds in them because I'm worried about wearing out the springs. All my mags have chrome-silicon springs. I'm wondering if this is necessary.
Link Posted: 8/13/2006 3:47:39 PM EST
[#2]
Springs fatigue from multiple compression/decompression cycles, not from static loading.  Therefore, down loading your mags is doing absolutely nothing to extend the life of your mag springs.

Check out this article.  It has been posted several times.
Link Posted: 8/13/2006 4:09:54 PM EST
[#3]

Quoted:
Springs fatigue from multiple compression/decompression cycles, not from static loading.  Therefore, down loading your mags is doing absolutely nothing to extend the life of your mag springs.

Check out this article.  It has been posted several times.

Exactly... and a 30 round mag is a 30 round mag!
Link Posted: 8/13/2006 6:47:40 PM EST
[#4]
Load those mags up.  It doesn't matter.
Link Posted: 8/13/2006 9:11:07 PM EST
[#5]
My recipie:

Clean PROVEN mag, floorplate, and follower of mag of choice.
Assemble with NEW very lightly oiled stainless steel spring.
Load to 29.  Shoot partial or entire mag once for function.  
Load to 29.  Store in ammocan of choice with dessicant.

I load all my 30 mags to 29 to ease insertion on a closed bolt.  One less thing to get hung up on during a stressfire reload.
Link Posted: 8/13/2006 10:05:53 PM EST
[#6]
Download to at least 28 or maybe lower.  DO NOT store loaded 30rd mags loaded full (30rds).  I had a chest pouch with eight 30rd mags loaded to 30, this being my SHTF pouch, I never touched it. I used other mags for shooting.  After hurrican Rita, the my hunting crew went to our cabin in the woods to check it out.  I had been wearing or carrying the chest pouch since returning after the storm passed.  There were some very big limbs in trees all around our camp, so we decide to try shooting some down.  I unload the mag in the gun.  I then reach in the pouch and grab one of these fully loaded mags.  I attempt to insert the mag (closed bolt), it won't go in.  I slam in into the mag well, it bounces out.  I take the rifle, lay it on the arms of a chair on the porch with the mag well facing up.  I slam it again, it bounces out of the mag well and out of my hand onto the ground four feet below.  These mags had been in that pouch for two to three years.  Imagine after five or ten years...  It won't wear your springs out, but you'll play hell putting one in an AR with a closed bolt.


TS
Link Posted: 8/14/2006 3:16:21 PM EST
[#7]
Thanks for all your advice.

Also, do you recommend chrome silicon or stainless springs for LONG-term (loaded) storage?
Link Posted: 8/14/2006 5:39:08 PM EST
[#8]
I prefer Stainless springs.

CS springs surface oxidizes (rust) slightly.  CS mag springs are supposedly the "new" thing.  I have not seen any long term tests yet.

What happens if you leave that CS spring for 2-3 years, or 6-7 years?  That slight surface rust that would normally get wiped down during routine cleaning is now oxidized junk that rusted your mag spring together.   Imagine the possibiilities.  
Link Posted: 8/15/2006 11:13:39 AM EST
[#9]
Link Posted: 8/15/2006 12:27:01 PM EST
[#10]
sorry for the tangent, but why store in mags for decades?  Why not just leave them boxed, or on strippers - way cheaper and less space - and you can constantly keep track of which mags are still good.  Let me in on the secret!  
Link Posted: 8/15/2006 3:31:39 PM EST
[#11]
Just one of those theoretical "shtf" scenario-arguments I guess. Grab-n-go. Also, storing loaded mags seems simpler.
Link Posted: 8/15/2006 8:03:27 PM EST
[#12]
all my mags with 30rds go in fine with a "little" nudge
Link Posted: 8/15/2006 8:09:09 PM EST
[#13]
Haveing a box of empty mags seems rather useless to me.  Gun don't work without loaded mags.

Plus, I would need twice the storage space (space for empty mags and space for ammo).


I like to live simple and be ready to go.
Link Posted: 8/26/2006 4:58:12 AM EST
[#14]
I download my thirties to 28 rounds. I do that to make them easier (or should I say possible) to insert with a closed bolt not because I'm worried about spring life.

Since I never seem to have any trouble with fully loaded twenties on a closed bolt, I keep them loaded to max capacity.


Quoted:
Haveing a box of empty mags seems rather useless to me.  Gun don't work without loaded mags.

I can't stand empty mags either. They seem so... impotent.  
Link Posted: 8/26/2006 10:16:37 AM EST
[#15]
I kept several 30rd mags fully loaded for a little over a year and I dont recall any issues when I took them to the range.  I have since abandoned that practice.  I keep about 7k rds in bandos and a few loaded beta mags ready to rock in case.
Link Posted: 8/26/2006 9:41:37 PM EST
[#16]
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