AR Sponsor
Posted: 4/29/2009 8:40:11 AM EDT
|
I tested several spring types over the past few days.
2 Chrome Silicon, and 1 Stainless. Spring #1 - Chrome Silicon, No Coating Spring #2 - Stainless, USGI type Spring #3 - Chrome Silicon, Moly Coated I tested them by placing them over a pot of boiling salt water. Each spring was placed over the boiling water for 4 hours, then left over the water for 12 hours. Like this. 
Here is what Spring #1 looked like. Note that the portions of the spring which were not directly above the salt water were not affected. 
Here is what the Spring #2 looked like. 
Here is what Spring #3 looked like. It did so well that it was left over the pot of boiling salt water, which was refilled several times, for over 10 hours - 2 1/2 times what the other springs were exposed to. 
In conclusion, it would appear that moly coated CS springs have excellent corrosion resistance, based on the results of this test. |
|
From the description I found online, I would say no.
However, if you check the spring every once in a while, and wipe it down after you take it in a salty sauna, it shouldn't give you any problems. I put that super-rusty spring in a mag and it still functions 100%. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Does a MagPul springs count as USGI? They're both stainless... but MagPul springs look different. If it ain't made for issue by a company with a contract to supply to the US military, it ain't "USGI." Our stainless steel springs come from an offical USGI contract vendor and the springs are spec'ed in offical US govement contract in ALU mags that require a stainless steel spring. |
|
Quoted:
I tested several spring types over the past few days. 2 Chrome Silicon, and 1 Stainless. Spring #1 - Chrome Silicon, No Coating Spring #2 - Stainless, USGI type Spring #3 - Chrome Silicon, Moly Coated I tested them by placing them over a pot of boiling salt water. Each spring was placed over the boiling water for 4 hours, then left over the water for 12 hours. Like this. http://azbattlerifles.com/images/saltspring.jpg Here is what Spring #1 looked like. Note that the portions of the spring which were not directly above the salt water were not affected. http://www.azbattlerifles.com/images/rustspring.jpg Here is what the Spring #2 looked like. http://www.azbattlerifles.com/images/stainlesssalt.jpg Here is what Spring #3 looked like. It did so well that it was left over the pot of boiling salt water, which was refilled several times, for over 10 hours - 2 1/2 times what the other springs were exposed to. http://www.azbattlerifles.com/images/molyspring.jpg In conclusion, it would appear that moly coated CS springs have excellent corrosion resistance, based on the results of this test. Very early on in the PMag development, we did an official simulated 500 hour salt spray lab test with two assembled PMags. One used the stock stainless steel spring and the other used a high end coated CS spring that we were considering using. We also documented wire gauge, coatings, post processing on the springs, which is important if any solid conclusions are intended to be drawn from the results. Both springs on the whole held up well visually but the in the magazine a build up of corrosion caused the CS spring to fail ONLY right at the junction where it meets the follower, causing the CS magazine to be non functional. The stainless steel version ran like a champ. After that we settled on the stainless steel spring as the stock version we sell. Some CS springs might offer advantages in terms of life span but if that is important to you a CS spring (patterned after the stock USGI) can be switched into most magazines in under a minute. 
Again this was official lab testing to a US Gov spec. which included controls and the spring stored in the environment it would be found in (partly compressed in the mag body). |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Boiling above saltwater is an odd test. the salt does not escape in the steam. Father mentioned that... I didn't think of it at first. You should dip them in the salt when you start... or something like that. Well, I'm far from a chemist, but there was salt caked on the springs when they were done... I'll take what you guys say at face value, though. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I tested several spring types over the past few days. 2 Chrome Silicon, and 1 Stainless. Spring #1 - Chrome Silicon, No Coating Spring #2 - Stainless, USGI type Spring #3 - Chrome Silicon, Moly Coated I tested them by placing them over a pot of boiling salt water. Each spring was placed over the boiling water for 4 hours, then left over the water for 12 hours. Like this. http://azbattlerifles.com/images/saltspring.jpg Here is what Spring #1 looked like. Note that the portions of the spring which were not directly above the salt water were not affected. http://www.azbattlerifles.com/images/rustspring.jpg Here is what the Spring #2 looked like. http://www.azbattlerifles.com/images/stainlesssalt.jpg Here is what Spring #3 looked like. It did so well that it was left over the pot of boiling salt water, which was refilled several times, for over 10 hours - 2 1/2 times what the other springs were exposed to. http://www.azbattlerifles.com/images/molyspring.jpg In conclusion, it would appear that moly coated CS springs have excellent corrosion resistance, based on the results of this test. Very early on in the PMag development, we did an official simulated 500 hour salt spray lab test with two assembled PMags. One used the stock stainless steel spring and the other used a high end coated CS spring that we were considering using. We also documented wire gauge, coatings, post processing on the springs, which is important if any solid conclusions are intended to be drawn from the results. Both springs on the whole held up well visually but the in the magazine a build up of corrosion caused the CS spring to fail ONLY right at the junction where it meets the follower, causing the CS magazine to be non functional. The stainless steel version ran like a champ. After that we settled on the stainless steel spring as the stock version we sell. Some CS springs might offer advantages in terms of life span but if that is important to you a CS spring (patterned after the stock USGI) can be switched into most magazines in under a minute. http://www.magpul.com/pics/salt-spray.jpg Again this was official lab testing to a US Gov spec. which included controls and the spring stored in the environment it would be found in (partly compressed in the mag body). Well, I'm far from a test lab, and I think if I did it for 500 hours, my better half would ban me from ever using the stove and pots and pans again. 
|
|
Quoted:
Well, I'm far from a test lab, and I think if I did it for 500 hours, my better half would ban me from ever using the stove and pots and pans again. Please do not let me put you off testing stuff. Many a time my wife has been angry at me over what I was "cooking" in her oven. I would just be careful of the conclusions you draw from the results. Engineers can be annoying but there is a reason why they are the ones building rockets for NASA. |
|
I shot the assembled mag with rusty spring in the POF IAR entry on full auto without issues, and other rifles suppressed, no problems.
Also shot it in 5 other ARs without any problems. It did not like one SBR, rounds hung up on the left feed ramp only. Was going to shoot it in the SAW but I broke the SAW before I got the chance. See text by avatar. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Boiling above saltwater is an odd test. the salt does not escape in the steam. Father mentioned that... I didn't think of it at first. You should dip them in the salt when you start... or something like that. Well, I'm far from a chemist, but there was salt caked on the springs when they were done... I'll take what you guys say at face value, though. Depending on how violently the water was boiling saltwater was probably spattered upward onto the spring. |
|
87GN-thank you for risking the wrath of your spouse for the sake of furthering knowledge
I can identify intimately with the risks you are taking. Just before the AWB sunset I refinished several dozen Vietnam era Colt 20 rounders. All went well, except that I destroyed four of my wife's expensive cookie sheets in the process. Almost five years later I still haven't heard the end of it. It was worth it though... 
Thanks again for your hard work 
|
|
Quoted:
Well, I'm far from a chemist, but there was salt caked on the springs when they were done... I'll take what you guys say at face value, though. The salt you saw was probably from the boiling action of the water. Salt does not evaporate, hence no salty rain 
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00492.htm |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, I'm far from a chemist, but there was salt caked on the springs when they were done... I'll take what you guys say at face value, though. The salt you saw was probably from the boiling action of the water. Salt does not evaporate, hence no salty rain
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00492.htm Perhaps I should have invested in salt futures, it would have been the one part of my portfolio that did not evaporate... 
ok, sorry, bad joke. Mateba, the springs I boiled were CProducts, Tango Down, and a moly coated Tango Down. The one I tested in the various ARs was the non-coated Tango Down spring in a Tango Down magazine. Quoted:
87GN-thank you for risking the wrath of your spouse for the sake of furthering knowledge
I can identify intimately with the risks you are taking. Just before the AWB sunset I refinished several dozen Vietnam era Colt 20 rounders. All went well, except that I destroyed four of my wife's expensive cookie sheets in the process. Almost five years later I still haven't heard the end of it. It was worth it though... http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/Refurbed_Mags.JPG Thanks again for your hard work You're welcome...but your stuff looks nice. Mine would probably have understood if I was making items look nice - but I made about a dozen magazine springs rusty - she didn't "get it." |
|
Quoted:
You see the extremes us Arizonans have to go through to get something to rust.
Yeah, but you guys have scorpions! |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
You see the extremes us Arizonans have to go through to get something to rust.
Yeah, but you guys have scorpions! Scorpions? My wife wants us to sell our home and to move to Tempe or Chandler Arizona. I think I'll pass. I'd rather deal with the bears, skunks, and coyotes. |
AR Sponsor