How long before loaded mags' springs fail?

[fizik]

I've always heard not to leave magazines loaded for extended periods of time, because the springs will eventually stay somewhat compressed and not have the force to feed properly. I keep at least one of my handguns always loaded for home defense, as well as a shotgun. I think the shotgun shouldn't be as much of a problem, but how long can I keep a mag loaded without risking it not feeding when I need it to? Right now I've been alternating mags, keeping one or two loaded for a couple or three days at a time, then unloading and swithing to other mags for a few days. I'm sure that different mags' springs behave differently, but is there a general rule to follow?

[DWARREN123]

The wear and tear on magazine springs is done during compression and release not very much during compression and none if left extended. When one mag starts giving problems that is the time to start replacing springs.

I have left pistol magazines loaded for 13 months with no problems what so ever.

[enfield]

The springs in good quality magazines will last forever. Don't worry about it.

It's compression/decompression cycles that cause springs to fail, and their lifetime is measured in millions of cycles. Loading and then emptying the magazine is one cycle.

[Marswolf]

I have magazines for my Beretta 92 that have been loaded pretty much constantly for over 20 years. No problems.

[fizik]

Wow, i guess I was getting erroneous advice then. thanks for clearing that up guys.

[Guest Grout]

Yep,one of the biggest myths around.Most likely started by spring makers to sell more product.

[TnShooter83]

Like the rest said.

If it's a good mag it will last a LONG time.

[Guest Linoge]

Well, this is good news. Left my Baby Eagle's and M1A's magazines loaded during my last deployment, and came back all manner of concerned for their lifespan.

Of course, springs were the one thing I never fully grasped in physics or statics and dynamics...

[141FE]

Depends on the spring.

When I took care of the weapons for our unit, I found several M9 mags springs that had set.

I also have a 1911 mag that was loaded in 1943 and remained that way for 55 years. The widow of the person to which it was issued gave it to me along with the 43 Colt 1911A1 and holster. I put in fresh ammo and it worked fine!

Best bet - unload and check them every so often.

[Guest gsbell]

I also have a 1911 mag that was loaded in 1943 and remained that way for 55 years. The widow of the person to which it was issued gave it to me along with the 43 Colt 1911A1 and holster. I put in fresh ammo and it worked fine!

I read that story several years ago in some gun rag, was that you?

[Guest Grout]

Depends on the spring.

When I took care of the weapons for our unit, I found several M9 mags springs that had set.

I also have a 1911 mag that was loaded in 1943 and remained that way for 55 years. The widow of the person to which it was issued gave it to me along with the 43 Colt 1911A1 and holster. I put in fresh ammo and it worked fine!

Best bet - unload and check them every so often.

Did the mags still work though?.Any spring will shorten or "set" once installed in something and used for a bit.Take a recoil spring out of a pistol that has been fired a few thousand rds and it will be shorter than a new spring but will still work fine.

[enfield]

Any spring will shorten or "set" once installed in something and used for a bit.

Not true. For plastic deformation to occur in a spring in "a bit", the spring and/or the spring system have to be incorrectly designed or be of low quality.

That is, unless 10 to 20 million cycles is "a bit" to you.

[Guest Grout]

Perhaps it depends on the spring then.However as I stated recoil springs do shorten with use regardless of who makes them.

Edited August 12, 2008 by Grout

[Guest Mugster]

With good mag springs, usually the mag body itself or the follower will fail before the spring does. My double stack mags tend to get cracks in them and separate from the strain, or the followers just fall apart. Plastic followers tend to suck, but some are better than others.

[Guest gcrookston]

I bought a luger a few years ago from an estate. the magazine had been loaded since 1945...60 years under compression. It worked just fine... so did the ammo.

[fizik]

Mugster, how long did you leave the plastic mags loaded before the bodies cracked? I'm keeping Glock mags loaded, and since they're lined with metal i'm not too worried except about the bottom. it's just plastic and taking half or more of the pressure from the spring. I'm still leaving them loaded after hearing all this, and finding out the idea is just a myth. Thanks.

[Guest Mugster]

Mugster, how long did you leave the plastic mags loaded before the bodies cracked? I'm keeping Glock mags loaded, and since they're lined with metal i'm not too worried except about the bottom. it's just plastic and taking half or more of the pressure from the spring. I'm still leaving them loaded after hearing all this, and finding out the idea is just a myth. Thanks.

They were steel mag bodies from a browning high power. They have a traditional metal floorplate. At times, I had the pistol loaded in the house for extended periods. At times, I carried on duty loaded for extended periods. Factory browning mags...they split on the exact 6 o'clock position. I changed the springs/followers several times, but i kept the old ones. They are almost as good as the new ones. I got the pistol in 1988, and have 2 original mags left out of 6. The replacements, 6 FN milsurps, i didn't like them that much, so I shot them and picked up a dozen mecgars. They make a real good mag, imo.

I also had some double stacks that were factory SA crack in the same spot. They were 10 round double stacks for a V-10 compact in .45 acp. I had several of those also completely fail on the crimp (that limits the mag to 10). I also had a couple of those that were chronic jammers because the crimp pinched the spring too much and the slide would fail to pick up the new round. I got rid of that pistol...if that tells you anything. Only handgun I ever got rid of. I spent about $500 on mags for it over the years and was never very happy. I did get great satisfaction crushing them all in a vice before i sold the pistol. I knew if that pistol jammed one more time I'd take a torch to it.

In terms of plastic followers, I bought 2 wilson combat 8 round mags for the .45's to try out about 2 years ago. The followers pop out of the mag about half the time now after the last round fires, and they only hold back the slide after the last round about 50% of the time. The plastic or delrin or whatever the material is just wears faster than steel. I shot both of them my last range session, and good riddance.

I've never seen a crack in a glock mag, FWIW, but I don't own any glocks. My buddy has one in .40, some type of compact, that he must have owned for 10 years. It seems well engineered, but I can't live with the trigger. And neither can he...he doesn't shoot it...he just keeps it to spite me because I told him not to buy it, lol.

[Guest 2HOW]

The springs in good quality magazines will last forever. Don't worry about it.

It's compression/decompression cycles that cause springs to fail, and their lifetime is measured in millions of cycles. Loading and then emptying the magazine is one cycle.

Correctomundo, I have left 3 Glock mags loaded continuously for 17 years with no failures.

[fizik]

Thanks for the detailed post mugster. One other question, what do you mean about the trigger? Is it the break? Where it pulls back nicely then stops and cracks at the break point so that it's not spuer smooth?

[Guest Mugster]

Thanks for the detailed post mugster. One other question, what do you mean about the trigger? Is it the break? Where it pulls back nicely then stops and cracks at the break point so that it's not spuer smooth?

Basically, I "grew up" shooting single stage triggers and in handguns, single action triggers. To hit anything, I fire a handgun like i fire a rifle...holding the sights on target and being surprised when it goes off. When I shoot a glock, i'm annoyed by how far i have to move the trigger to reset for a 2nd shot. I could probably get around that, but the death blow is that I can anticipate the trigger position for it going off after a couple of mags worth of shooting. The 2 or 3 times I shot a glock, I got frustrated with it very quickly.

To someone that starts out on a glock though and mostly shoots handguns of that type, I can see the appeal. Looks like a well engineered/economical package and the trigger, though I dislike it personally, is DA all the time. Anything that's consistent, you can train yourself to shoot well, imo. Given enough practice and a desire to learn. I guess thats true of most anything.

My only gripe about glock's design is the shorter than 5" barrel on most service sized models and I don't think they weigh enough. I like a nice heavy pistol to soak up recoil and a longer barrel to keep the velocity up. The accuracy level could be better.

[fizik]

Yeah, I see what you mean. I've never shot a pistol with a break I couldn't anticipate after putting a few mags through it. I just keep it as smooth and even as I can with the glock, and it outshoots me every day. as for barrel length, the model I've got has a 4.6" barrel which is as good as the one with a 5" and way better than the 3-4.5" ones I've got. But it's good to hear, that gives me an idea of what to notice carefully when shooting a new gun. Thanks