OT - Loaded Magazine

[f-x-d-w-g]

Just curious - is there a problem with keeping a pistol magazine partially or fully loaded all the time?  Would the spring take a set over time and then not feed reliably?

[slo-poke 03]

not in your life time I shot a 1911 that had been loaded for decades... bang bang bang no prblem

[Dennis The Menace]

I've had a couple mags have the spring pressure noticeably reduced, but it still fired fine in the gun.  I am talking about 12 years with one mag, probably 8-9 years the other.  Still works.  It was a lowly 22 kept at bedside, not a target/fun handgun....those see rounds emptying on a fairly regular basis.

menace

[Phu Cat]

Depends.  Are you going to be betting your life on this weapon?  Unless it is stored under sterile conditions, the spring may atleast get dirty, possibly rusty.

PC

[xxxflhrci]

I carry one mag in my gun at two on my belt at work.  The only time they get "unloaded" is at our bi-annual qualifications.  My mags are now going on ten years old.  I have yet to have a malfunction.  This is with a Glock.  However, it was the same back when I carried a S&W, which I had for 7 years.

[2003flht]

Depends.  Are you going to be betting your life on this weapon?  Unless it is stored under sterile conditions, the spring may atleast get dirty, possibly rusty.

PC

I own 'several' auto-loaders.  All my magazines stay fully loaded.  Some for the last 20+ years.  When i go the the range, i usually cycle through the mags several times.  Never had a problem with any of them. 

Rust, filth, dirt?   Nope,  I always clean after i am shooting them.  Spray the mags and springs with WD-40, wipe 'em down, and back in the safe they go, fully loaded.  Cleanlines is your friend with firearms.  Do this and they'll last a lifetime and more.

[76shuvlinoff]

I was always told what wears out any spring is loading and unloading, maintaining a compressed state does not. However if you add moisture that's a different problem.

[f-x-d-w-g]

Thanks for the good replies!  It's a Beretta 92FS and, in the past, it's only been loaded in the woods or on the range.  I was just curious but, yes, it's very clean, lubricated, and kept in a case.

[Diggs223]

to repeat, generally no problems, modern materials and methods in manufacture. whether its guns or oils, worries that were necessary at the turn of the century have carried over as old habits, handed down through the generations.

[Phu Cat]

Rust, filth, dirt?   Nope,  I always clean after i am shooting them. Smart man.

PC

[2003flht]

Rust, filth, dirt?   Nope,  I always clean after i am shooting them. Smart man.

PC

My life may depend on these...     I treat them better than my OL sometimes...

Short story:  Went to the range several months ago with a friend.  He carries a S&W 4506.  Pulls the thind out, pulls the trigger, CLICK, CLICK...  nothing!   I take a look at it and the thing is so dirty I had a hard time pulling the slide back!  The firing pin has all gunked up you couldnt even see thru the hole on the breech face.  He told me that he has shot it "several" times and hasnt cleaned it since, and that it was under the seat of his truck all winter!

Not a good way to treat something that may save your life someday........   

[Sportsterboy]

Sounds like he need to "carry" it somewhere besides under the seat of his truck.  I know under the truck seat of trucks I have owned were not exactly the cleanest places in the world......

[2003flht]

I've been in trucks that i was AFRAID to put my hands underneath the seat!   

[slo-poke 03]

If you are not going to mantain them/check them and pratice clearing problems, then you are better off with a revolver. Revolvers will give you the best chance of hearing a bang when you need it if you are going to treat the item you might be trusting your life to like crap. Thats just my opinion every one is free to disagree, it won't make me feel bad, I'am not going to change my mind.

[texaskatfish]

I've been in trucks that i was AFRAID to put my hands underneath the seat!   

Hehehehehehee - I've OWNED trucks I was afraid to reach under the seat of!

[4DWUDS]

I've seen trucks I was afraid to even SIT IN. much less reach under the seat. 

[harborjohn]

If you are not going to mantain them/check them and pratice clearing problems, then you are better off with a revolver. Revolvers will give you the best chance of hearing a bang when you need it if you are going to treat the item you might be trusting your life to like crap. Thats just my opinion every one is free to disagree, it won't make me feel bad, I'am not going to change my mind.

[Scurvy]

Good info! I have 3 magazines that I would cycle through, keeping one loaded, every so often. I just won't give it a second thought now. They get emptied at the range several times a year anyways.