keeping extra gun magazines loaded all the time?

[KDL]

This might be a absolutely stupid question but I have a bunch of extra magazines for my rifles and pistols and I keep them loaded all the time, is it bad for the magazines? does it effect the spring that is in the mag? The reason I ask I got a bunch of 15 round 40 cal mags and i went out shooting and a couple of the mags wouldn't feed my pistol it was like the spring wasn't strong enough to keep them feeding my pistol. I would ejected the mag and tap on the side of the mag and the bullets would then go to the top and then they would work fine for about 5 shots then do it again. Maybe just bad magazines? Anyways any info would be great.

[Jimmyc]

If you think about this, keeping a spring under tension all the time should theoretically wear it out sooner than storing it with out tension. Just a thought. The only magazine I keep loaded, is the one in my pistol. My others are not loaded for this reason. Good luck.

[KDL]

If you think about this, keeping a spring under tension all the time should theoretically wear it out sooner than storing it with out tension. Just a thought. The only magazine I keep loaded, is the one in my pistol. My others are not loaded for this reason. Good luck.

thanks for the info

[Benbrown]

I unload my magazines once or twice a month, by shooting them dry, to maintain proficiency. I have three extra magazines for my full size 1911 semi-custom and one extra for my Colt New Agent. It requires firing 40+ rounds to empty all of them and that makes for a good practice session. I would argue that everyone ought to empty their magazines at least once a month, either serious practice at paper targets or just plinking. If you're going to depend on your pistol in an emergency, you need to develop and maintain good habits.

[OpticNerd]

One year after deer season my brother unintentionally left his mag loaded in his 6mm. The mag was left loaded for about 10 months. When he finally went to shoot it again he was having trouble getting rounds chambered. I don't know if it was due to leaving the mag loaded or not but he never had any problems like this before this so there's a good chance leaving it loaded was the cause.

[KDL]

I do a good practice session every other month with my 40 cals but I dont allways run all my mags through, probly should. they are all factory mags.but I think from now on ill just leave 1 mag for each gun loaded up and keep the rest empty.It is just a habit to fill them all up once i am done. Thanks for the info keep them coming

[firstcoueswas80]

One thing that helps alot is leaving one or two bullet out of the mag. That way it isnt under full tension.

[KDL]

One thing that helps alot is leaving one or two bullet out of the mag. That way it isnt under full tension.

I will have to try that thanks again for the info

[bonecollector]

I used to keep my mags loaded but then I started thinking about the spring wearing out so I dont do it anymore. It makes sense that the spring would weaken and not push up the next round.

[cmc]

I agree that you should shoot through your magazines once a month and then put fresh ammo in them. Regarding springs themselves, you can buy almost every magazine spring out there or aftermarket magazines from Midway or other sites. Much cheaper than the entire magazine. I would only keep firearms that are intended for self defense loaded and unload magazines for others like hunting rifles that won't be seeing any action for months. Note that if your ammo sees a lot of movement, be that bouncing around in the truck/car glove box, riding around on your side CCW or other, you should shoot that ammo and replace with fresh each month. Not that it really really matters but if you're a type A personality the powder which is normally pellets or flakes will start to deteriorate to fine powder thus not the original state that the manufacture made it in and will give off different characteristics. Anyone that can see or feel that difference probably has a sponsor and shoots so much a week that they never have a bullet sit around for more than 5 days.

[Airbusdriver]

I replace my springs every couple of years. At about $10, I consider it cheap insurance.

[KDL]

awesome information thank you

[Viper]

One thing that helps alot is leaving one or two bullet out of the mag. That way it isnt under full tension.

 

+1 I have two mags loaded 2 or 3 bullets short, one in the gun and one for reload. The third I leave empty. Every couple months, rotate mags. That way each mag gets a turn at being empty for a while. When I carry the gun for travel/camping/hunting, I load 'em full up.

[mp_moody]

Magazine springs wear out with use. All of my magazines are always loaded.

 

Think about it: do your shocks/struts on a vehicle wear out when the vehicle sits in the driveway, or does it occur through normal use (driving)?

[Benbrown]

Magazine springs wear out with use. All of my magazines are always loaded.

 

Think about it: do your shocks/struts on a vehicle wear out when the vehicle sits in the driveway, or does it occur through normal use (driving)?

Well, if you load your truck with lead weights or old engine blocks and compress the springs or struts to their maximum, and then leave them stored in your garage or barn that way for indefinite periods of time, what happens then? Springs don't wear out nearly as fast by operating through extension and compression cycles within their design parameters as do when they are compressed to their maximum and left that way for extended periods. Shocks, on the other hand, do wear out from repeated cycling--that's why you have to replace them after a certain number of compressions and extensions. However, magazines have springs, not shocks. I based my response on advice that I received from Skeeter Skelton, Charles Petty and a few others whom I can't recall over the years.