[simigreg]

What is the best way to store magazines? I wish to have them ready for self-defense, but also do not want to shorten the spring life. Will storing them full shorten the life of the magazine spring?

 

[Shotgun Shooter]

By having a magazine full and stored, it wont reduce the spring life.

S.S.

 

[dnthmn2004]

The thing that shortens the mag spring life is constant loading and unloading. Simple principle of metal fatigue. I wouldn't worry about keeping your mags fully loaded all the time.

 

[WDB]

Keep them loaded it will have no effect on the spring.

 

[canebrake]

What is the best way to store magazines? I wish to have them ready for self-defense, but also do not want to shorten the spring life. Will storing them full shorten the life of the magazine spring?

Extended storage of fully loaded mags is not a problem with modern era springs.

Not so much with WWII vintage mags. If you have some old surplus mags you may want to re-spring them. The older springs were produced with quantity as job 1, no quality or modern science involvement!

 

[Franciscomv]

You need a revolver...

Seriously though, most quality modern magazines will work perfectly even after long periods fully loaded. Just to be on the safe side, you can buy new springs every two years or so.

 

[choctaw]

Hold on BG, I've got to load my mag, didn't want to compress my springs ya know.......OK, you ready now, lets go.

 

[cpttango30]

All my mags stay loaded 24/7 untill I go to the range then I unload them and reload them when I get to the range and they have worked fine for 8 years.

 

[stalkingbear]

What I do is keep them loaded with 1 less than full capacity. It might not be the same as what everybody else does, but is just MY screwy ways. I also have several magazines loaded in this way too.

 

[SGT-MILLER]

I'm the same way with my magazines.

 

[paul]

magazine storage

A partial loaded mag. say 4rds in a 7rd mag, is harder on the spring than loaded full, so I'm told by the gunsmith where I go. Also, other IPSC members have said the same. I load mine full, minus 1 rd, it's chambered, and secure handgun for use. I don't like leaving a mag full and forgeting about it. I check mine everyweek if using for homeprotection and leaving rounds in it. Always have a spare mag (full) beside it. Just precautions using a autolader. A revolver, and you won't need to be concerned about those magazine issues. That's what I prefer for home protection anyhow. Just a good 'ole .38
charter arms. I have 2 with speedloaders, no springs there,

 

[NGIB]

This has been covered a zillion times but I'll do it again.

Mag springs only wear from compression AND decompression cycles.

Mags can be left loaded or unloaded for as long as you want with no harm done...

 

[canebrake]

What is the best way to store magazines? I wish to have them ready for self-defense, but also do not want to shorten the spring life. Will storing them full shorten the life of the magazine spring?

No........

 

[paul]

magazine storage/ full or partial?

A zillion and one times now. A little redundancy is good, that's how lessons are taught in the military right, right? We've been refering to stack magazines so far, was tubular magazines, they use springs, an issue too?

 

[Cory2]

hmmm.. I remember reading on hear a year or 2 ago (it seems) about people talking about some study that was done that showed that a magazine stored in full capacity will have a significantly shorter lifespan than one stored with 1 or 2 less than full cap. Yet now everyone is saying that is incorrect... maybe i dreamed it.

 

[orangello]

I keep a half dozen mags loaded for my XD45, but i only load to 12 rather than 13. I guess i'm paranoid.

 

[IGETEVEN]

hmmm.. I remember reading on hear a year or 2 ago (it seems) about people talking about some study that was done that showed that a magazine stored in full capacity will have a significantly shorter lifespan than one stored with 1 or 2 less than full cap. Yet now everyone is saying that is incorrect... maybe i dreamed it.

I think you are referring to mags that hold more capacity, the train of thought and has been witnessed by myself, it is better to leave out 1-3 rounds, instead of loading to full capacity, so as to curtail any misfeeds or FTF's. Usually applies to high capacity rifle mags and some handgun mags.

 

[JonM]

hmmm.. I remember reading on hear a year or 2 ago (it seems) about people talking about some study that was done that showed that a magazine stored in full capacity will have a significantly shorter lifespan than one stored with 1 or 2 less than full cap. Yet now everyone is saying that is incorrect... maybe i dreamed it.

springs dont care how far they are compressed. if your magazine has trouble feeding rounds when loaded to its designed capacity you have a bad magazine. it is the proccess of compression decrompression that wears out springs not keeping them in a compressed state. the only time ive seen magazine springs go bad while in a fully compressed state are ones that got wet and corroded the spring.

 

[paul]

magazine storage

Well Semigreg, looks like you've gotton your answer, same response basically just worded differently. A little redundancy never hurt though.

 

[nwrednk]

"Cheap guns have Cheap springs!

My Makarov is the .380 version that I stake my life on as the Russians tend
to "overbuild things"! My personal weapon of choice for concealed carry is the
Russian Makarov! sure, you could "go one better" with a Whalter ppk, but it
will cost a lot more! Even if you purchased one in 9mm Mak, it was designed
to use .380 captured ammo ,"in a pinch"!The German .380 can fire .32
auto & the Russian .380 can do so as well! I do not recomend this, but "If
your life is on the line"... you might be the one that survives the firefight!!!