time frame for a loaded mag

[texcaliber]

Howdy yall, I would like to find out the longevity of a loaded mag. Every and all kinds, AR, AK, pistol mags of single stack, double stack, Shotgun tubes, and all the others i missed. If you have any opinion or info I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

tex

[Diplomat]

I've wondered the same thing. I remember hearing a pro say its when the spring see's use is when it wears out. There is know wear when you load a mag and not use is for a long time. Said if it's kept clean and dry it will not fail. I remember feeling very comforted after hearing his comments. I was always afraid the gun i keep in a drawer would fail to cycle the second round when i needed it. But I don't worry about it anymore.

[texcaliber]

thanks Diplomat, i wonder if there are any test on that or just an opinion. My gunsmith at the shop had the same opinion without any proof. And by the way he is the first person to blame mags when his gun jams in competition. Just saying man, it would be cool not to have that issue. Also i have herd but never seen crazy stuff like "loaded mags for WWII working without failure" or" AR and/or AK mags loaded since the whole Y2K hysteria being problematic and others turning the barrel red from lack of jams.  TOO many stories and not enough proof-in-pudding if you know what i mean.

thanks again Diplomat

[Bidah]

Cycles is what wears out a spring.  I leave mags loaded for years, or at the very least months and months, and then shoot them.  After that I load them back up and let them sit.  In all that time I have only had one mag hiccup, and that turned out to be an old mag that I had used for years.  It fed fine, but would not lock the slide back.  New spring and off we go.

Bad mags can happen for various reasons, one of which can be the springs worn out from cycling.

-Bidah

[texcaliber]

thanks Bidah

[Sponsor]

[cookie62]

I've had 3 glock 22 mags loaded to full capacity for over 10 years now. I will shoot them and reload them when that session is over. Never had a problem with them. They are factory glock mags. Hope that helps answer your question.

Cookie

[texcaliber]

I've had 3 glock 22 mags loaded to full capacity for over 10 years now. I will shoot them and reload them when that session is over. Never had a problem with them. They are factory glock mags. Hope that helps answer your question.

Cookie

let me know about any problems(or lack of) Cookie.

thanks tex

[cookie62]

Never had any problems yet. They sit for a couple months every winter (cold and snow), and work fine every spring. I shoot that gun about every 2 to 3 weeks, about 200 rounds per session.

[texcaliber]

Never had any problems yet. They sit for a couple months every winter (cold and snow), and work fine every spring. I shoot that gun about every 2 to 3 weeks, about 200 rounds per session.

how often do you clean them?

[someguy]

Two comments:

1) I've heard recommendations in several AR-related forums that loading 30-round magazines to 90% capacity will lengthen the life of the springs dramatically.  Never tested that, as I can't afford to go burn through the 5.56 ammo I've got.   

2) Springs fail.  I'm sure that there are many spare parts I should have on hand in order to be really prepared, but I've got spare mag springs for every semi-auto gun I own.  Think of them as cheap insurance.  (Recommend Wolff springs - good stuff.)