Is It Bad to Store Magazines Fully Loaded?
- Thread starter Annihilator
- Start date
Bassbob
Emissary
This
HansGruber
Ronin
As I’ve stated earlier here, I personally fired a 1940’s manufacture GI 1911 magazine that had been loaded for 30-40 years.
It functioned fine.
It’s wear cycles, not simple compression, that wears out mag springs.
It functioned fine.
It’s wear cycles, not simple compression, that wears out mag springs.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
Cheap mags come with cheap parts! Low cost doesn't mean cheap, don't get confused! Brand mags of same firearm maker is best way (not 1911/2011 experience), but have had several mags fully loaded (pistol & rifle) for 5-10 years and all function fine except for fn 5.7 50 round mags. Can't leave then loaded for long periods (my experience).
1bravo9
Operator
I've always been curious about this but I guess too lazy to do the research myself.
I am glad to see that it seems you can leave them loaded indefinitely with no harm.
What really surprised me is that according to the article constant loading and unloading is more detrimental to the magazines than keeping them loaded.
I am glad to see that it seems you can leave them loaded indefinitely with no harm.
What really surprised me is that according to the article constant loading and unloading is more detrimental to the magazines than keeping them loaded.
The Night Rider
Professional
I read a similarl discussion on o another forum this is the information I got from there
Springs have a compression limit. If you compress a spring beyond that limit it will deform immediately and it will never work right again. If you compress a spring close to that limit it becomes susceptible to "creep strain" which will eventually cause it to fail.
The majority of gun manufacturers design their magazines so that even when fully loaded the load never approaches that compression limit. The problem is more with the off brand magazines like Pro Mags.
Having said that, magazines are expendable. Buy spares
Even though my research indicates that it's really not necessary, I keep enough magazines on hand for a given gun that I can put them through a long rotation cycle. 1 year loaded /5 years in the box. At that rate they should out last Methusala.
The question of "fatigue limits" and "creep strain" (which apparently is only a factor at 4X the melting point (Degrees Kelvin) of a given metal) is discussed in detail here.
www.physicsforums.com
This is from a form that no longer exists called springpedia.com
Compression Spring Set
When a custom spring is supplied longer than specified to compensate for length loss when fully compressed in assembly by customer, this is referred to as “Allow for Set”. This is usually recommended for large quantity orders to reduce cost. When a compression spring is compressed and released, it is supposed to return to its original height and, on further compressions, the load at any given point should remain constant at least within the loadlimits specified. When a spring is made and then compressed the first time, if the stress in the wire is high enough at the point the spring is compressed to, the spring will not return to its original height (i.e., it will get shorter). This is referred to as "taking a set", or "setting". Once the spring is compressed the first time and takes this set, the spring will generally not take any significant additional set on subsequent compressions.
One way to deal with this problem is to make the spring initially a little bit too long and then compress the spring all the way to solid so that after the spring takes the initial set, it is now at the correct height to meet the loadrequirement. This is referred to as "presetting", "removing the set" or sometimes "scragging". Presetting is a labor intensive and relatively costly operation due to the amount of handling of the springs involved. In most cases, the customer will also handle each spring as the springs are assembled into the product. As part of this handling, the customer could press each spring and "remove the set" so that the spring will be stable and perform satisfactorily. Another alternative would be to assemble the spring as is and allow the first operation of the mechanism into which the springhas been assembled to "remove the set". In either case, in order for the spring to be correct after removing the set, the spring would have to be received by the customer in a condition longer than the final height.
Springs have a compression limit. If you compress a spring beyond that limit it will deform immediately and it will never work right again. If you compress a spring close to that limit it becomes susceptible to "creep strain" which will eventually cause it to fail.
The majority of gun manufacturers design their magazines so that even when fully loaded the load never approaches that compression limit. The problem is more with the off brand magazines like Pro Mags.
Having said that, magazines are expendable. Buy spares
Even though my research indicates that it's really not necessary, I keep enough magazines on hand for a given gun that I can put them through a long rotation cycle. 1 year loaded /5 years in the box. At that rate they should out last Methusala.
The question of "fatigue limits" and "creep strain" (which apparently is only a factor at 4X the melting point (Degrees Kelvin) of a given metal) is discussed in detail here.
Does static tension wear out a spring?
Alright, here's the context of my question: I have a pistol for home defense, and I keep a magazine loaded with ammunition in case I ever had to use it. Otherwise, I'd have to scuffle around and load the magazine before it could be used for its intended purpose, and that would sort of...
This is from a form that no longer exists called springpedia.com
Compression Spring Set
When a custom spring is supplied longer than specified to compensate for length loss when fully compressed in assembly by customer, this is referred to as “Allow for Set”. This is usually recommended for large quantity orders to reduce cost. When a compression spring is compressed and released, it is supposed to return to its original height and, on further compressions, the load at any given point should remain constant at least within the loadlimits specified. When a spring is made and then compressed the first time, if the stress in the wire is high enough at the point the spring is compressed to, the spring will not return to its original height (i.e., it will get shorter). This is referred to as "taking a set", or "setting". Once the spring is compressed the first time and takes this set, the spring will generally not take any significant additional set on subsequent compressions.
One way to deal with this problem is to make the spring initially a little bit too long and then compress the spring all the way to solid so that after the spring takes the initial set, it is now at the correct height to meet the loadrequirement. This is referred to as "presetting", "removing the set" or sometimes "scragging". Presetting is a labor intensive and relatively costly operation due to the amount of handling of the springs involved. In most cases, the customer will also handle each spring as the springs are assembled into the product. As part of this handling, the customer could press each spring and "remove the set" so that the spring will be stable and perform satisfactorily. Another alternative would be to assemble the spring as is and allow the first operation of the mechanism into which the springhas been assembled to "remove the set". In either case, in order for the spring to be correct after removing the set, the spring would have to be received by the customer in a condition longer than the final height.
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jumpinjoe
Hellcat
Well then, just do a 39 yr test! Everything should be alright.I read somewhere - maybe here?? - that springs can be left open or under compression for years with no effect. It’s the movement that causes the spring to loose its spring strength.
I’d buy a couple identical mags and let one of the youngsters here do a 40 yr test, one mag fully loaded and one left empty, to see how they perform comparatively….but I’m afraid I’d miss knowing the result….
still scary
Jfal
Hellcat
While I'm not quite there yet, I'm close to old enough to not have to worry about such things. This reminds me of that box of .38-specials I bought new in 1991, never stored properly (at all), and all 50 fired flawlessly when I found them 3 years ago. But what the heck, this old topic got me to post a reply, so cheers to the OP for a success.