This Topic Has Probably Been Beat To Death And Shat On...But - Spring Wear On Magazines?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - This Topic Has Probably Been Beat To Death And Shat On...But - Spring Wear On Magazines?

Posted: 1/12/2006 9:35:42 PM EDT

I know the debate on magazine spring wear goes one of two ways. One person will say it's bad to leave magazines with ammo in them for a long period of time. Another person will say the only way a magazine spring is worn out is my repeated compression and release.

I've seen the ugly debates with the shit-flinging and name-calling but never was able to determine what the correct answer was.

Hopefully without igniting a shitstorm, does anyone know?

Posted: 1/12/2006 9:38:01 PM EDT

[#1]

it is from cycling, I left magazines loaded for 7 months in bosnia, then used the same mags a few years later in Iraq, where one of them was left loaded for almost 10 months straight, no problems with it I still use it to this day

Posted: 1/12/2006 9:38:06 PM EDT

[#2]

Experts in spring wear and engineers mostly agree that it is repeated compression and release that causes spring fatigue, NOT constant compression.

The only compression problem can come from OVER compression of a spring. in other words, if you were to load 30 rounds in an AR mag, then jam something in there extra that put extra pressure on the spring, you could eventually have some problems... but who would do something like that?

Posted: 1/12/2006 9:39:01 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
I know the debate on magazine spring wear goes one of two ways. One person will say it's bad to leave magazines with ammo in them for a long period of time. Another person will say the only way a magazine spring is worn out is my repeated compression and release.

I've seen the ugly debates with the shit-flinging and name-calling but never was able to determine what the correct answer was.

Hopefully without igniting a shitstorm, does anyone know?

No.

Much like 'how many licks does it take to get to the center of tootsie roll tootsie pop', man is not meant to know the answer to this question.

Posted: 1/12/2006 9:40:14 PM EDT

[#4]

Alrighty, sounds good.

I'm heading off back to college in a few days for another 6 months and was planning on filling all of my magazines for preparedness when I get back. Even when I did return some of them would likely remain full for a number of months, even years......sounds like I don't have anything to worry about.

Posted: 1/12/2006 10:28:41 PM EDT

[#5]

I've got pistol magazines that have been left loaded for at least 15 years--no problem at all when I use them.

Posted: 1/12/2006 10:44:47 PM EDT

[#6]

I think it depends on the particular mag, one of my 1911 mags had a dead spring after being left loaded for a couple years, yet others were fine.

A few months should be no problem unless its a junk mag to begain with.

Posted: 1/13/2006 1:08:48 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Alrighty, sounds good.

I'm heading off back to college in a few days for another 6 months and was planning on filling all of my magazines for preparedness when I get back. Even when I did return some of them would likely remain full for a number of months, even years......sounds like I don't have anything to worry about.

You have the right answer. As I recall, LTC Chuck Santos had some 20 or 30 round mags stored loaded for 20-something years after bringing them back from Viet Nam, and they worked just fine.

ETA: never mind, he's still around, I just don't frequent the forums he posts in.

Posted: 1/13/2006 1:11:35 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Alrighty, sounds good.

I'm heading off back to college in a few days for another 6 months and was planning on filling all of my magazines for preparedness when I get back. Even when I did return some of them would likely remain full for a number of months, even years......sounds like I don't have anything to worry about.

You have the right answer. As I recall, LTC Chuck Santos had some 20 or 30 round mags stored loaded for 20-something years after bringing them back from Viet Nam, and they worked just fine. He used to post here but I haven't seen him around in awhile.

hell people have been known to find ole grandpa's 45 from wwII and the mags still work.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - This Topic Has Probably Been Beat To Death And Shat On...But - Spring Wear On Magazines?

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