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Posted: 11/16/2004 1:04:03 PM EDT
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Alright, this is a question from a newbie gun owner, so please forgive in advance for my ignorance. I just purchased my first firearm ever, a brand new Bushmaster XM15 E2S just like the one here: http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/bcwa3f14m4iz.asp It came with a 30 round mag, and I bought three additional 30 round mags. I haven’t even fired it yet. Plan to take it to a local range in North Mississippi / West Tennessee as soon as I can find one close that’s relatively cheap. Anyhow, on to the stupid newbie gun owner question: Does it hurt the spring in the magazine to leave it loaded with bullets for an extended period of time? I just loaded two of my new clips last night, 30 rounds each, and left them in the gun case. Is this alright, or will it reduce the lifespan of the spring in each mag? |
it doesn't. i replace mine every year. the old one is usually a good 3/4" or more shorter than the new one every time. HYPE! come on over to the gulf states hometown forum! mike |
They should be replaced every 3-5,000 rounds, which really isn't all that long (but they're CHEAP to replace). It's just that their design allows a lot of "margin" for error, so even springs with 10K rounds on them aren't doing too much bad to the rifle. But perform your regular maintenance, and you'll have little trouble. -Troy |
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Since you are a self professed newbie I thought you might like to get a couple of gun terms straight. The AR-15 takes magazines, not clips. However, a (stripper) clip may be used to load a magazine. Also, bullets are just the projectiles. A cartridge is what is loaded into the magazine. I'm not picking on you. I had to have the same things explained to me once. Have fun with that new rifle. |
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Yeah, buffer springs are $4-$5. Pick up a few now. Does it hurt the spring in the magazine to leave it loaded with bullets for an extended period of time? No. I just loaded two of my new clips last night, 30 rounds each, and left them in the gun case. Is this alright, Yes, fine. or will it reduce the lifespan of the spring in each mag? Not a problem. The chrome silicon springs from CMMG, or the Wolff Extra Power springs are what I use for replacement mag springs, and will probably last the lifetime of the mag. The feedlips will wear out, or crack before these springs wear out. This used to not be an issue when USGI mags were available New In Wrapper for $8, or nice used ones for $3. No one worried about replacement floorplates, followers, or springs before the AWB. You tossed the mag and bought another one. (Warning-Referring to a magazine as a "clip" around here will get your @$$ kicked. Even my wife knows better, when I asked her to pick up a few magazines at the store, asked if I wanted 20's or 30's, and I had to say no, the kind you READ. We'll let you slide this one time since you are a newbie.  )
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I have a Wolff XP Action Spring. It isn't going to wear out. As for mag springs... I bought some new LEO 20rd mags (brand new, 2003 made) and the springs were SHIT. I bought a bunch of 'Nam Era 20rd mags with sand and mud caked inside, but the springs were working great. Go figure. |
My guess would be that that was a failure related to the quality of the spring rather than the time kept fully loaded. High quality springs take on very little set, while low quality springs take on an irreversible set very quickly. I have read elsewhere that the low quality springs are highly weakened right at the first full loading. I am not an engineer, but my understanding is that the time factor itself is not a real consideration and hardly calculable in determining the life of a spring, as opposed to the number of compressions the spring undergoes. I have often heard that eg. Bren magazines should be loaded with 28 rounds etc. but wonder whether these admonishments were more to do with inconsistent wartime quality control. |
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All springs take a set, no matter what. The difference is that cheap ones take a massive set, sometimes to such an extent that they will not feed properly when almost fully extended. They will also get weaker more quickly for the same number of compression cycles vs. a good spring. Good springs will take their set like a man, yet still provide enough force at maximum extension to work as designed. That said, I haven't had much of a problem with standard USGI springs, either 20 or 30. They will still need to be replaced after a certain number of cycles, like any other spring, but it'll take a while unless you find a bad one occasionally; it happens. I put 20s in 20s and 30s in 30s. I put 15 in my 15rd pistol mags. However, I put 9 rounds in my 10rd californicated mags. Why? Because californicated mags have to be designed with zero room left to insert an extra 11th round, so springs typically get bottomed out (aka overcompressed) and it messes them up faster. I just compensate by putting one in the pipe and leaving 9 in the mag. Regular mags leave extra room so they don't overcompress the spring, which is why you can squeeze 31 rounds in a 30rd mag, but you're not supposed to. This is also why people think that 70rd Suomi drums (drum 'm/Koskinen') are 72rd drums; they're not. Even the fat three-necked guy on the Hitler channel thinks they're 72rd drums. Sheesh. |
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