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AR15.COM
2/17/2003 11:29:33 PM EDT
How many of you keep some mags loaded for your 9mm Beretta?  I know with the 1911's and with AR mags you can keep these loaded constantly and not fatigue the mag spring as only compression and decompression seem to fatigue the spring.  I would assume this to be true with all mags.  Any experiences with Beretta mags and a constant load fatiguing springs?
2/18/2003 7:50:46 AM EDT
[#1]
Most magazine springs seem oversprung to compensate for some storage/usage through the years.
How long before they become unservicable varies.
Best insurance would be to merely download them a few rounds, for long term readiness, never fully compressing them.
I have compared a new model 92 magazine to an older police used magazine...the tension was noticably weaker but still functioned flawlessly.
2/18/2003 6:52:49 PM EDT
[#2]
i keep my beretta 92 mag full as my primary defensive handgun (backs up a rem 870 and m-4 style carbine) and I usually shoot once a week so when I come back from the range carrying the 92 I shift the ammo into a differetn mag put back in pistol and carry on. A long winded way of saying I just rotate my magazine every 1-2 weeks
2/26/2003 9:45:08 AM EDT
[#3]
I just keep two 15s loaded with 10 for self defense.  If I can't stop a bg with 20rnds then I'm f!cked anyway...  Seems to me that only keeping the spring only 2/3 of the way compressed will help over time.  Who knows...
2/28/2003 7:53:23 AM EDT
[#4]
We only shoot our duty ammo once a year, we use practice ammo for the other qualifications.  I have been using the same mags for five years(they were well used when they were issued to me) and they have essentially been loaded constantly for that time.  Every year I use them to shoot up my duty ammo they perform flawlessly.  I think this has to do with the design, you can stuff 16 in them, even though they are meant to only hold 15.
3/29/2003 9:26:45 AM EDT
[#5]
I picked up some well-used LEO mags to use for range/instructing.  The springs were really weak, and they had obviously been used a LOT.  They ran fine with everything from Blazer ball to Winchester +P+ ammo.  I threw in some Wolff +10% springs as an insurance policy, since I'm going to use the tar out of them, but they functioned perfectly fine with the weakened springs.  I keep my duty mags fully loaded and check them twice a year when I burn up the duty ammo.  It takes a long, long time for those springs to weaken, and when it's really noticeable I throw in another $3 spring.  No need to download the mags or rotate them, IMO.  
4/6/2003 10:34:23 PM EDT
[#6]

I keep 2 20's and 4 15's fully loaded 24/7/365, the 20's have giving me a few FTF's, but I attribute it the ammo, or the loading/ packing process, not to the springs. Even though they do 'feel' weaker. I empty out the 2 20's and at least 2 15's once a month for a shoot, so they at least get to "stretch their legs" so to speak.

BTW: anybody know where to get factory 20rd springs ?