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Posted: 4/23/2010 12:14:02 PM EDT
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Alright so i've heard it both ways but thought i'll check with the hive about this one, some argue keeping full mags loaded wears the springs out by simply keeping them loaded thus, one should only keep a SHTF clip available and nothing more leaving other mags empty/thus no stress to save the mag springs, other say its not the load but the loading and unloading of the mag which causes the wear and tear, and thus by keeping mags loaded but dormant the springs should be fine.
So what does everyone think, loaded, unloaded? |
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You can leave a quality modern magazine spring (SS or CS) loaded with no damage to the spring for decades. Modern magazines are weakened by the process of compression and decompression for instance if you loaded and fired a USGI magazine 2000 times. It is actually better to leave a loaded magazine loaded than to load and unload it as some people do erroniously thinking they are saving the magazine by relaxing the spring when they are actually weakening it by through repeated compression/decompression.
Personally I have a few proven mags which have been shot in carbine classes or tactical shoots about 8-10 full loadings each with no problems, those have become my Loaded SHTF mags. Six 30 round USGI mags loaded to 28 rounds in a chest rig. 2 more 30's in a grab and go bag. One 20 round mag in my rifle and another 2 loaded mags in the Rifle bag. These magazines are left alone as they are for serious use and I know that they are reliable after running 3k rounds or so through the lot of them with no problems. If a mag has a problem it gets thrown out or designated a range/beater magazine. I know a lot of people load all their mags, Personally I have some range mags that get used for target shooting or classes I know will be hard the mags such as group building clearing where the mags are going to get dropped on concrete or stepped on by team members. I then stockpile my other new unused mags because they are easier to move around empty. I have a bunch of Pmags. I have one rifle that has a loaded pmag 30 in it. I have some others that have been loaded out since they first came on scene so far they look good but I am not ready to switch to them yet for my first choice. I know they work great for a lot of people and I shoot them a lot. I guess I am not ready to trust them sitting ready to go with the dust covers off for 20 years. I have shot some mags that were loaded since Vietnam and they worked just fine if that awnsers your question. |
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I have seen many an old mag fully loaded go off with out a hitch and lock the slide back. We found a bunch (14) of Colt 1911 mags loaded at a garage sale in 2000. Once we unloaded one of them and examined the mag and ammo we determined they were o.k. to shoot. We shot the remaining ones in my Colt commander. The 3rd mag failed to lock the mag back but fed all its ammo. No other malfunctions. The son at the garage sale says he knows they were loaded in 1980 when he saw his grandpa take them out of the box and clean the gun then put them all back in. I picked up the gun 200 rounds of ammo the mags plus the ammo in the mags for $200.
I also witnessed 4 Glock 17 mags that were loaded (Full)for 10 years all go bang and lock the slide back each time. Load em up and leave them. |
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