Leaving magazines loaded for extended periods of time

[gharleydude]

Hi, question for all of you; I have a Springfield XDM my wife bought for me, last October, I think it was if memory serves me correct. A short while after bringing it home, I loaded the high capacity magazine (as some of you may well know, the XDM comes with two magazines, one holding nine I believe, and one holding thirteen rounds) So, in anycase I loaded the high capacity magazine at that time, and I have not yet removed the bullets from the magazine, in all this time. Is there a danger by doing so, I am weakening the spring within the magazine, and or, do I need to remove the bullets so as to give the spring relief from the tension brought about by being full up and loaded? Thanks people

 

[eagleeyes]

no i don't think it matters the spring will still spring ....i've left loaded mags for years in my old browning and they work fine or you can fill it half or empty it even for long term storage .
but you could call the manufacturer and see what they say if it concerns you

 

[Andrew17]

You shouldn't have to worry, those springs are manufactured to keep retention almost indefinitely unless they rust/corrode or are exposed to (very) extreme temperatures, where their temper could be affected. So be sure that you don't throw your magazines in liquid nitrogen, fire, or a bucked of water and you should have nothing to worry about.

 

[beachbum17]

My buddy owns a firearm Company (Hightowerarmory.com) and has talked to some spring experts about the topic when designing his kit. It's the loading and unloading that weakens the spring. He said leave them load all u want and they'll work fine for years and years. Recommended maybe one or two shy of a full clip but a full clip would work just fine

 

[celt902]

My understanding is that keeping them loaded doesn't effect the springs, cycling them (loading them and unloading them) does.

 

[eagleeyes]

even still springs can't be that expensive to replace .......well perhaps if you like the gun and want to keep them a while buy some extra mags or springs so when one does wear you have another handy before it gets more expensive to replace

 

[wolf_fire]

Hi, question for all of you; I have a Springfield XDM my wife bought for me, last October, I think it was if memory serves me correct. A short while after bringing it home, I loaded the high capacity magazine (as some of you may well know, the XDM comes with two magazines, one holding nine I believe, and one holding thirteen rounds) So, in anycase I loaded the high capacity magazine at that time, and I have not yet removed the bullets from the magazine, in all this time. Is there a danger by doing so, I am weakening the spring within the magazine, and or, do I need to remove the bullets so as to give the spring relief from the tension brought about by being full up and loaded? Thanks people

Every time time this question raises its head, someone will come on here with some "tests" and "experiments" that show that it does affect the spring. Then, someone else will come on here with some "test" and "experiments" that shows it does not affect it. The real simple advice is springs will wear eventually... you should be testing your mags at least once a month at the range. You want your equipment to fail at the range, not when you need it. Springs are dirt cheap. Have a couple extra with your firearm supplies. This way if you start getting failures to load from one magazine, you can replace its spring and be done. Invest a couple of bucks on a new spring for both mags.... keep it handy.... but more importantly, SHOOT from both mags once in awhile.

Hope this helps.

 

[kelcarry]

Repliers have mentioned the "weakening" if you load and unload the mag--this is true--it is like taking a narrow piece of metal and bending it back and forth--eventually it fails. The only problem that I am aware of is the fact that you can have a loaded mag with your best ammo and when you take the pistol to the range you may use a separate mag with range ammo. If the pistol with the best ammo was fully loaded with one in the chamber you have to eject the cartridge in the chamber, remove the mag and replace it with the other mag containing your range ammo. When you come back from the range, you reverse the process by replacing the range mag with the mag loaded with best ammo, load the chamber from the mag and then replace the empty space in the mag with the original cartridge that you had ejected to begin this whole process. You now have subjected those two cartridges to a routing thru the mag into the chamber and this can cause some wear and tear on those two cartridges especially if you do this say once a week or once every two weeks for a long period of time. Advice I have received is replace those two cartridges say every other time you go thru this exchange from best to range ammo and avoid any possibility that those cartridges have become "worn" and subject to a potential problem.

 

[CharlesMorrison]

Spring weakening by being loaded for an extended period of time is a myth. It has been a question posted here before but I can't find it at the moment, sorry. I post on my iTouch and my options are limited but I assure you, leaving mags loaded for long periods does no harm.
I will look to find the related post which had some very good answers.

 

[Treo]

Every time time this question raises its head, someone will come on here with some "tests" and "experiments" that show that it does affect the spring. Then, someone else will come on here with some "test" and "experiments" that shows it does not affect it. The real simple advice is springs will wear eventually... you should be testing your mags at least once a month at the range. You want your equipment to fail at the range, not when you need it. Springs are dirt cheap. Have a couple extra with your firearm supplies. This way if you start getting failures to load from one magazine, you can replace its spring and be done. Invest a couple of bucks on a new spring for both mags.... keep it handy.... but more importantly, SHOOT from both mags once in awhile.

Hope this helps.

Someone needs to book mark this post and drag it out every time this topic comes up.

 

[TlWheatley]

I shoot to much to even worry about keeping ammo in a mag too long.

 

[Nightmare45]

I shoot to much to even worry about keeping ammo in a mag too long.

Myself, but just for fun when my dad passed away many years ago he left me a 1911 that at that time I knew had mags loaded, unloaded gun was kept in safe for a few years then went to range took the old 1911 with the still loaded mags, at firing they had been loaded over 15 years did not miss a lick.

 

[MPO Southy]

The springs will be fine.Just test them at the range from time to time.If the spring has sprung,then it's time to fling the spring !

 

[Treo]

Myself, but just for fun when my dad passed away many years ago he left me a 1911 that at that time I knew had mags loaded, unloaded gun was kept in safe for a few years then went to range took the old 1911 with the still loaded mags, at firing they had been loaded over 15 years did not miss a lick.

Ummm, why were you licking a 1911?

 

[gharleydude]

I would like to thank all of you who responded to my post, regarding leaving ammo in a pistol magazine over an extended period of time. Good feedback and great information to know. This is exactly what makes this site the place to be for those who have a strong love and passion for firearms. Y'all are the best!