Keeping magazines loaded

[FyreSarge]

What is your opinion on keeping magazines loaded for an extended length of time?
Should they be unloaded regularly to check the springs?
 I want to be prepared but don't want to get caught with a mag that has gotten weak from being under pressure for a long time.
Thanks

[ratcatcher55]

I keep Pmags loaded with 28 rounds and covers on for extended time ~ 1 year before I cycle them into a range/training/fun day.

I cycle my pistol magazines ~  6 months at the longest.

No real scientific reasoning for either except I think pistol magazines springs are more likely to fatigue or take a set than Pmags.

I do have some range only magazines that stay unloaded. They maybe a bit beat up or have failed a time or two on me. The are marked RANGE ONLY.

At any time I have 30 loaded AR magazines, 10 Glock 19, and 2 1911 magazines ready to go.

[Big Frank]

I load my house gun mags to 90% all the time. I believe it's not as bad for them. There are some other mags I have that are fully loaded. Some like my C-mag are supposed to be okay to keep loaded.

[Pecos Bill]

I've been told that with modern metal and spring making methods leaving your mags loaded won't hurt them. I'm more old school and rotate mine monthly.

Pecos

[Paraguy]

Follow up question, if I carry a 1911 is it OK to leave it cocked and locked for extended periods of time or does being cocked have no impact on the internal mechanics?  Am considering carring a 3 or 4" 1911 and would hopefully not have to fire except for a trip to the range every month or two.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

From other threads on this forum concerning springs and from other reading I have come to trust that a static modern spring will not lose strength.  This would be for magazines or cocked trigger mechanisms.  My understanding is that loading the spring and unloading it does more to wear it out than leaving it under tension or slack.

I believe you will see that the majority of posters on here will load their magazines one or two rounds below max and either leave them that way or rotate on a basis of months rather than daily or weekly.  Same for triggers.  Cocked and locked for a single action is the most common.

[kmitch200]

From other threads on this forum concerning springs and from other reading I have come to trust that a static modern spring will not lose strength.  This would be for magazines or cocked trigger mechanisms.  My understanding is that loading the spring and unloading it does more to wear it out than leaving it under tension or slack.

That is my understanding also - and from a lot of boards besides this one.

It isn't unusual for me to have a mag loaded to full cap for 2+ years.  Either pistol or rifle.
No problems so far with any of them regardless of brand or age.

[crusader rabbit]

If you leave your car in the garage for a dozen years or so, the springs don't sag or get weak.  You won't wake up one morning and find your car squatting on your garage floor.  But, if you bounce it down a bumpy highway for the same length of time, the springs might get a little weaker. 

Stands to reason that keeping mags loaded causes no harm to the springs involved. 

It is only through use that metal fatigue occurs.  Leave your 1911 .45 cocked, and it will be just fine.  Play with the hammer a few thousand times, and it might get a little weaker.

When the zombies come, mag spring failure will be the least of your worries.  Stay loaded.  And keep your mags loaded, too.

Crusader

[robheath]

I agree with the no spring fatigue problem but if you leave your gun in the car all while at work like I do.  You may want to check them often.  The heat down here in south Louisiana can be bad in the summer.  I leave mine 1 short in the 1911 and 2 short in a high cap.  I've kept 1911s cocked and locked for long periods for as long as i can remember and never had any issues.  As a matter of fact i've never even thought about that.

[CJS3]

I've been told that with modern metal and spring making methods leaving your mags loaded won't hurt them. I'm more old school and rotate mine monthly.
Pecos

At my house that's code for "trip to the range".