Longevity of magizine springs

REDCELL · April 25, 2005, 06:21 PM

I keeps 2 Springfield .45 mag and 4 Hk 9mm mags loaded in my safe. I don't take them to the range, cause i bought chip mccormick mags(.45). Do the springs loose their tension if they are always loaded.
Also i was told and read that its good to leave one off of the full capacity of the magizine to ensure guarenteed loading. Its not like they won't load with max capc.

**JohnKSa** · April 25, 2005, 10:49 PM

Single column magazines seem to handle being fully loaded for ages with just about zero problems.

Some double column magazine springs seem to weaken as a result of being left fully loaded for long periods of time.

jonathon · April 25, 2005, 10:55 PM

Pretty much what John said... my dad changes out mags every 6 months just to be easy on them.

Don't leave 10/22 factory mags loaded for to long, I found that out the hard way(well I forget about 2 of them in my back pack for about 3 months, had a hell of a time unloading them).

gudel · April 25, 2005, 11:04 PM

I was wondering the same thing about shotgun spring in the tube.

**JohnKSa** · April 25, 2005, 11:08 PM

I've seen people advocate leaving a shotgun tube mag half empty to prevent the spring from weakening. I don't have any experience in that area, but I do know that it's not uncommon for .22 tubular mag springs to get weak enough that they won't feed the last round reliably.

big daddy 9mm · May 17, 2005, 05:31 AM

I always leave my mags 75% loaded most of the the time. if you ever take apart a double stack clip you will see that when loaded they crunch the spring alllllll the way down which in tern dramiticly reduces its useful life. I would never leave a double stack mag loaded all the way for more than a week max. BUt I do know that I am a freak about my springs. I wont leave my bolt open either on my riflle.

Duxman · May 17, 2005, 03:15 PM

Gentlemen,

I was wondering about this issue many moons ago, and got so many different opinions on it - I went deep into research. Right into metals and tensile strength etc.

In the end, the answer is it depends: Not on the type of magazine, but the composition of the spring. Some inferior springs that are not made to Mil-Spec standards have a tendancy to wear out when fully loaded to capacity: Circa: 1960's, 1970's M16 magazine springs used in Vietnam.

The QUALITY springs of any reputable manufacturer today was built to go back to its original form regardless of its current state: Whether its fully compressed or partially compressed or no compression at all (natural - unloaded state).

Some magazines are rated ammo capacity or shelf life - Beretta 92 Factory magazines are rated for 8,000 rounds. (for example)

While you can purchase titanum springs that are lifetime warrantied by expensive - my general thought is that magazines are expendable. You will end up buying new ones in the full life cycle of your weapon.

Personally I fully load my magazines full capacity, and the 3 (out of the 30 or so that I have) have issues with the last round in the magazine, I am in the process of replacing those springs. All of them except one are cheap aftermarket mags.

With the rest of the magazines - no issues fully loaded. I encourage you to do your own experiments and give us the results. But don't be afraid to put them mags to the test - thats what they are there for:

Whats the use of your hi-cap 9mm mag if you only load 6?

Moe Mentum · May 17, 2005, 06:50 PM

Load them and leave them.

unclestu · May 17, 2005, 09:00 PM

The springs in my Glock 22 magazines are so strong it's hard for me to believe they'll suffer any ill effects from being left loaded. Of course I could be wrong!

Gettin' #15 in there is a real experience.

I've also left a factory Ruger Mk II mag loaded full for several years- it shot all 10 just fine.

As far as older guns: back in 1962 or 63, my aunt had had a pistol for many years that she wanted my Dad(her little brother) to get rid of for her. It was a strange looking .32 auto, maybe a Savage.(hey, gimme a break, I was 9 or 10 yrs old!) She had fired one clip through it when she first got it, I think that would have been 1943 or 1944. She then reloaded it, & kept it in a drawer, wrapped in a slightly oily rag, for all those years in between. So, when Dad took it(& me!) out to the dump to try it, it had been loaded full for 18-20 yrs. It fired the full magazine without a bobble. He reloaded, I got to shoot a coupla shots, & he later sold it to a local constable. And remember, that gun was old when my Aunt first got it. Dad always said he thought it was a little older than he was, which would put it pre-1927.

So, because of these experiences, I just don't worry very much about magazine springs.

pistolpete · May 17, 2005, 09:14 PM

I think they wear out, but read this. What do you think?

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...27/ai_99130369

IZinterrogator · May 17, 2005, 11:16 PM

After reading that article, I have a theory about spring set. My springs definitely set when I was in Iraq. I replaced the springs twice while I was there and replaced them when I got home. I was using the Wolff +5% springs. I think that these extra-power springs may be more susceptible to spring set since they are stiffer and less elastic. Mine shrunk an inch over six months. I thought I was doing the right thing by replacing the factory-strength springs, but I now believe I was wrong. Do yourself a favor and use factory-strength springs unless you have tricked out your gun with a recoil spring that causes the ammo to need to rise into feeding position faster.

tanto · May 18, 2005, 05:45 AM

Good mags (good springs I should say) don't suffer at all being left loaded, because they are well within thier elastic limit of deformation. All my mags are kept loaded to their fullest capacity and never have any issue.
On the contrary, I can tall you it's extremely dangerous, at least on the beretta 92 but perhaps on other guns as well, to fill the mag to max capacity minus one round: if the gun falls, the mass of the rounds compresses the spring further and the upper round can rotate inside the clip, so that the gun will jam after the first round (the one in the chamber) is fired.
I have first hand experience on this.
Get good mags with state of the art springs and don't worry about them.

HSMITH · May 18, 2005, 07:38 AM

I have had 3 Para P14 mags loaded since the early 90's, I'll unload them and go to the range and load them up as soon as I get home. Nearly 15 years of being loaded to full capacity and they are flawless today.

I am not worried about spring set when using quality springs.

April 25, 2005, 10:55 PM	#3
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,872	Pretty much what John said... my dad changes out mags every 6 months just to be easy on them. Don't leave 10/22 factory mags loaded for to long, I found that out the hard way(well I forget about 2 of them in my back pack for about 3 months, had a hell of a time unloading them). __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

May 17, 2005, 05:31 AM	#6
big daddy 9mm Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2005 Posts: 451	hey guys I always leave my mags 75% loaded most of the the time. if you ever take apart a double stack clip you will see that when loaded they crunch the spring alllllll the way down which in tern dramiticly reduces its useful life. I would never leave a double stack mag loaded all the way for more than a week max. BUt I do know that I am a freak about my springs. I wont leave my bolt open either on my riflle.

May 17, 2005, 03:15 PM	#7
Duxman Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2005 Location: VA Posts: 1,294	Research on Mag springs etc. Gentlemen, I was wondering about this issue many moons ago, and got so many different opinions on it - I went deep into research. Right into metals and tensile strength etc. In the end, the answer is it depends: Not on the type of magazine, but the composition of the spring. Some inferior springs that are not made to Mil-Spec standards have a tendancy to wear out when fully loaded to capacity: Circa: 1960's, 1970's M16 magazine springs used in Vietnam. The QUALITY springs of any reputable manufacturer today was built to go back to its original form regardless of its current state: Whether its fully compressed or partially compressed or no compression at all (natural - unloaded state). Some magazines are rated ammo capacity or shelf life - Beretta 92 Factory magazines are rated for 8,000 rounds. (for example) While you can purchase titanum springs that are lifetime warrantied by expensive - my general thought is that magazines are expendable. You will end up buying new ones in the full life cycle of your weapon. Personally I fully load my magazines full capacity, and the 3 (out of the 30 or so that I have) have issues with the last round in the magazine, I am in the process of replacing those springs. All of them except one are cheap aftermarket mags. With the rest of the magazines - no issues fully loaded. I encourage you to do your own experiments and give us the results. But don't be afraid to put them mags to the test - thats what they are there for: Whats the use of your hi-cap 9mm mag if you only load 6?

May 17, 2005, 09:14 PM	#10
pistolpete Member Join Date: April 16, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 51	I think they wear out, but read this. What do you think? http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...27/ai_99130369 __________________ I have never met a liberal who wouldn't give you the shirt off of someone else's back.

May 17, 2005, 11:16 PM	#11
IZinterrogator Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2004 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Posts: 2,457	After reading that article, I have a theory about spring set. My springs definitely set when I was in Iraq. I replaced the springs twice while I was there and replaced them when I got home. I was using the Wolff +5% springs. I think that these extra-power springs may be more susceptible to spring set since they are stiffer and less elastic. Mine shrunk an inch over six months. I thought I was doing the right thing by replacing the factory-strength springs, but I now believe I was wrong. Do yourself a favor and use factory-strength springs unless you have tricked out your gun with a recoil spring that causes the ammo to need to rise into feeding position faster. __________________ "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!” - Samuel Adams

April 25, 2005, 06:21 PM	#1
REDCELL Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 174	Longevity of magizine springs I keeps 2 Springfield .45 mag and 4 Hk 9mm mags loaded in my safe. I don't take them to the range, cause i bought chip mccormick mags(.45). Do the springs loose their tension if they are always loaded. Also i was told and read that its good to leave one off of the full capacity of the magizine to ensure guarenteed loading. Its not like they won't load with max capc. __________________ HK: No Compromise Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war

April 25, 2005, 10:49 PM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,018	Single column magazines seem to handle being fully loaded for ages with just about zero problems. Some double column magazine springs seem to weaken as a result of being left fully loaded for long periods of time.

April 25, 2005, 11:04 PM	#4
gudel Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2004 Location: Golden State Posts: 589	I was wondering the same thing about shotgun spring in the tube.

April 25, 2005, 11:08 PM	#5
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,018	I've seen people advocate leaving a shotgun tube mag half empty to prevent the spring from weakening. I don't have any experience in that area, but I do know that it's not uncommon for .22 tubular mag springs to get weak enough that they won't feed the last round reliably.

May 17, 2005, 06:50 PM	#8
Moe Mentum Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2005 Posts: 158	Load them and leave them.

May 17, 2005, 09:00 PM	#9
unclestu Member Join Date: April 1, 2005 Location: Far NE Texas Posts: 98	The springs in my Glock 22 magazines are so strong it's hard for me to believe they'll suffer any ill effects from being left loaded. Of course I could be wrong! Gettin' #15 in there is a real experience. I've also left a factory Ruger Mk II mag loaded full for several years- it shot all 10 just fine. As far as older guns: back in 1962 or 63, my aunt had had a pistol for many years that she wanted my Dad(her little brother) to get rid of for her. It was a strange looking .32 auto, maybe a Savage.(hey, gimme a break, I was 9 or 10 yrs old!) She had fired one clip through it when she first got it, I think that would have been 1943 or 1944. She then reloaded it, & kept it in a drawer, wrapped in a slightly oily rag, for all those years in between. So, when Dad took it(& me!) out to the dump to try it, it had been loaded full for 18-20 yrs. It fired the full magazine without a bobble. He reloaded, I got to shoot a coupla shots, & he later sold it to a local constable. And remember, that gun was old when my Aunt first got it. Dad always said he thought it was a little older than he was, which would put it pre-1927. So, because of these experiences, I just don't worry very much about magazine springs.

May 18, 2005, 05:45 AM	#12
tanto Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Posts: 30	Good mags (good springs I should say) don't suffer at all being left loaded, because they are well within thier elastic limit of deformation. All my mags are kept loaded to their fullest capacity and never have any issue. On the contrary, I can tall you it's extremely dangerous, at least on the beretta 92 but perhaps on other guns as well, to fill the mag to max capacity minus one round: if the gun falls, the mass of the rounds compresses the spring further and the upper round can rotate inside the clip, so that the gun will jam after the first round (the one in the chamber) is fired. I have first hand experience on this. Get good mags with state of the art springs and don't worry about them.

May 18, 2005, 07:38 AM	#13
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I have had 3 Para P14 mags loaded since the early 90's, I'll unload them and go to the range and load them up as soon as I get home. Nearly 15 years of being loaded to full capacity and they are flawless today. I am not worried about spring set when using quality springs.