Magazines...stored full or empty when on standby?

[Sidewinder]

I'm pretty sure many of us have guns that hardly, if ever, leave the house...as they stand sentry duty. They were strategically put in a place, or places if there's more than one, where they can be accessed in emergency situations. For months, and possibly years, they stand by with fully loaded magazines. They wouldn't be too much help with empty mags.

 

But... the delima, the quandary! Some say leaving mags fully loaded over a period of time weakens the mag springs, or causes the springs to take a permanent set. What are we to do...empty mags, or full mags, or periodically replace the magazine springs, or rotate the mags? What do all of you do? What are your beliefs, or opinions, on this subject?

[monkeylizard]

The general consensus from people that know about these things seems to be that compression cycles wear out the springs, not the compression itself. So keep 'em loaded, but don't constantly be loading/unloading them. I'm not a metalurgist or engineer and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. That's just what I've found from researching the same topic.

Edited December 12, 2013 by monkeylizard

[2.ooohhh]

I've fired several dozen USGI mags full of vintage ammo last summer that were loaded and put away sometime before my grandfather passed away in 1986. They had been stored in an un-climate controlled attic in a foot locker for at least 27 years possibly a few more. None of the mags or ammo exhibited any issues what so ever. I have since quit worrying about mag storage since mine are stored in much more favorable conditions.(sealed USGI ammo cans/pelican cases, desiccant, and climate controlled)

[GlockSpock]

Wrong thread.

Edited December 12, 2013 by CZ9MM

[rugerla1]

Full, empty is useless.

[RobertNashville]

I keep some mags loaded...the ones I intend to be ready for immediate use. Other than that mine are empty.  I suppose I could load them all but it seems a bit unnecessary.

 

I do agree, my understanding that it's the compression/decompression of the springs, etc that wears out a magazine...not whether it it or isn't loaded.

[tnguy]

If they're empty, they're not on standby.

[mikegideon]

FULL. I have some that aren't loaded, but not because I'm worried about the mags

[JohnC]

I keep all mags unloaded, except the carry gun mag and the bedside self-defense guns.

I have spare mags to replace them with if they get clapped out, too.

[E4 No More]

Full. I have done this for decades without problems.

[austin7.62]

Keep em loaded...it won't hurt them.

[Fourtyfive]

This has been discussed before , as I recall the general consensus was it don't hurt'em. This is the first time I've heard about someone firing off some loaded that long though. Edited December 12, 2013 by Threeeighty

[Monkeyman2500]

FULL. I have some that aren't loaded, but not because I'm worried about the mags

Yep, what he said.

[Guest TNSovereignty]

A go-to gun w/ an empty magazine is like keeping a go-to truck w/ an empty gas tank.  

[jacob]

Guess I'll be loading all my pmags and glock mags tonight...

[StPatrick]

Guess I'll be loading all my pmags and glock mags tonight...

 

Anybody have any insight on the PMags?  I saw on the internet where leaving them loaded could deform the feed lips over time, so you know it's true.  /s

 

Seriously, though - wasn't the rationale behind including the dust covers partly to keep rounds from contacting the lips?  Curious if anyone has real world insight.

[Tuffus]

I keep 2 mags for my FNP 45 and Glock 30 loaded with hollow points all the time. My other mags are empty which I use when target shooting. That way I don't have to unload the hollow points just to go shooting. My wheel guns all stay loaded at all times. No worries about springs with those for sure. I did hear a story about a police officer that kept his revolver loaded with the same ammo for 25 or so years and when he tried to unload it, the cartridges had expanded over time and have to be driven out. I do shoot my revolvers enough to keep that from happening.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Tuffus

[Dolomite_supafly]

I found an AR magazine that had been loaded since at least 1985. This was probably 4-5 years ago so the magazine had been loaded well over 30 years. I unloaded the rounds that were in it and loaded fresh ammo and shot it. I still have it and it still shoots great.

[Caster]

The Russians have been diggin up nazi weapons caches for years. They've found tons of loaded magazines in there. They ain't hurt.

Load them.

[173rdABN]

Every single one of mine are full. Why? Nothing worth shooting is going to wait for you to sit there and load them before you have to use them.

Keeping them stored loaded doesn't effect anything. I'm on 10 years now with some USGI mags, and I have no worry they will fail me.

Found stuff much older in the army, and they worked just fine when we shot with them.

[jacob]

[quote name="StPatrick" post="1078083" timestamp="1386900443"]Anybody have any insight on the PMags? I saw on the internet where leaving them loaded could deform the feed lips over time, so you know it's true. /s Seriously, though - wasn't the rationale behind including the dust covers partly to keep rounds from contacting the lips? Curious if anyone has real world insight.[/quote] You could always just load a couple rounds under 30 in each mag...may help with that "deformation"...also supposed to help the mag seat more reliably on a closed bolt...

[bersaguy]

I have at least 5 magazines for every gun I own and they are all fully loaded and stored right next to the gun they are for. I would rather throw hot lead down range at target then throw an empty magazine at a bad guy trying to come in my door.  Have been doing this for many years and never had an issue at the range yet using Mags that have been loaded for a year or longer...............jmho

[tartanphantom]

Frothing-at-the-mouth rabid Gun-control freaks just LOVE empty "clips" because they're less scary and all that...

 

Don't give 'em the satisfaction-- keep those mags loaded and ready-- especially those "hi-cap" mags! :tough:

Edited December 13, 2013 by tartanphantom

[KKing]

If I intend to ever use it, it's full . So I guess all of mine stay loaded. I got no use for an empty magazine

[monkeylizard]

Mine are empty when I come back from the range and I'm too lazy to relaod them. Otherwise, they stay full.