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how long to keep a mag loaded (Read 576 times)

nastycobra YaBB Newbies I Love YaBB 2! Posts: 16 Gender:	how long to keep a mag loaded 07/30/10 at 16:56:36 Are the factory magazine lips that strong to keep fully loaded for a while? I have AR15 and I know the USGI mags are prone to the lips bending under the spring pressure loaded so I dont keep them loaded at the house.
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CJP32 Grand Poobah P32, PF-9, P3AT G27, G23, G22 Taurus 85 Posts: 1160 Gender:	Re: how long to keep a mag loaded Reply #1 - 07/30/10 at 17:00:00 I've had my PF9 for almost 2 years and the mags have been loaded pretty much the whole time. The only time I unload them is when I go to the range. Both magazines work as they should. If they do bend or fail in some way I'm sure KT would replace them. CJ
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gremlinmt Senior Member Aggression is the key, violence is your friend. Posts: 251 Gender:	Re: how long to keep a mag loaded Reply #2 - 07/30/10 at 17:17:21 +1 Load em until you shoot em. Can't think of anything more dangerous than an unloaded gun.
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PgunneR

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Re: how long to keep a mag loaded
Reply #3 - 07/31/10 at 14:34:17

Leaving the mags loaded for long periods of time should not hurt the mags at all, and the springs will be fine. They probably should, however, be "unloaded" occasionally at the range when you go for practice. This just ensures that the cartridges are used before they can get any corrosion or dirt build up, etc which might cause chambering or extraction problems (though this is unlikely unless they are left in a humid area for long periods, or otherwise subjected to unusually dirty conditions, etc). I like to make a practice of using my loaded mags once a month and then refilling with fresh ammo just for the sake of it.

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RobzRV

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Re: how long to keep a mag loaded
Reply #4 - 07/31/10 at 15:38:49

As the others said... Should be no problem keeping the mag loaded for extended periods of time. I went through a several YEAR "Dry Spell" from shooting and didn't unload my mags. When I started back shooting, I unloaded the mags to check (expecting to need new mag springs for all my pistols) and All the various mag springs were Fine.

I have spare mags for the range and keep one loaded with my JHP for carry. I only fire off my JHPs once every 2-3 Months, just to "rotate stock".

Kel-Tecs: P-11, PF-9
Other 9mm: G-19, XD-9sub, Walther P-38 (Nazi Issue)
Wheel Guns: S&W Model 19, Colt New Frontier, NAA Mini-Mag
Shotgun: Winchester Defender

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coachg Junior Member I Love YaBB 2! Posts: 27	Re: how long to keep a mag loaded Reply #5 - 09/03/10 at 20:56:02 Shouldn't be a problem leaving them loaded. The wear comes from loading and unloading, but even that will take what i imagine is a very long time.
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MitchellB Junior Member Goes bang everytime. Posts: 26 Gender:	Re: how long to keep a mag loaded Reply #6 - 09/04/10 at 08:58:09 I have always heard it is OK to leave magazines fully loaded for as long as you want. Most of the spring metal fatigue comes from flexing (loading and unloading) not leaving it stored under compression. I imagine the magazine lips would be fine as they do not flex.
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erm035

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Re: how long to keep a mag loaded
Reply #7 - 09/05/10 at 14:56:00

Massad Ayoob (a well known gun article writer and former LEA) recommends NOT to keep a magazine loaded for an indefinite period of time. He says it will weaken the spring. As an engineer, this makes sense to me. Therefore what I do, is to follow Ayoob's recommendation of magazine rotation. Every month, I rotate a different magazine to carry with, unloading the previous one and transferring the rounds. When I go to practice, I make sure to use them all.

Ayoob does not say how long he thinks leaving a magazine loaded would cause damage to the spring so the choice of one month is really subjective. Keep in mind that this is as far as I know, an unproven theory. Perhaps Kel-tec support would have a comment?

Excellent question MitchellB!

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RobzRV

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Re: how long to keep a mag loaded
Reply #8 - 09/05/10 at 15:09:06

You do need to look at the dates some of Ayoob's articles were written (as well as going from his 1st Hand work, as opposed to 2nd hand information that's passed off as his), as some of his information is considered to be dated and many so called quotes are not actually his.

Although his Case Law articles are good guidelines for conceal carry/use of deadly force, some of his other information can't always be taken as Gospel.

I've known many that have had absolutely NO weakening in springs left for over a Year and I myself went Several Years with no adverse effects on my 1989 Glock, 1984 Beretta, 1982 HK4, or 1945 Walther springs (I had forgotten to unload them before storage). I had a few shells with minor corrosion at the Jacket/Brass interface, but no corrosion, or loss of function in the springs.
Jus' sayin'

Kel-Tecs: P-11, PF-9
Other 9mm: G-19, XD-9sub, Walther P-38 (Nazi Issue)
Wheel Guns: S&W Model 19, Colt New Frontier, NAA Mini-Mag
Shotgun: Winchester Defender

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rcmodel

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Re: how long to keep a mag loaded
Reply #9 - 09/05/10 at 15:51:27

Quote from nastycobra on 07/30/10 at 16:56:36:

I have AR15 and I know the USGI mags are prone to the lips bending under the spring pressure loaded so I dont keep them loaded at the house.

Really?

Then you think I should unload my GI issue M16 mags that have been kept loaded since I "acquired" them from Uncle Sam in 1970? I do down-load by two rounds, but still, no cracked feed lips in 40 years so far.

It might be of interest to know that Gene Stoner designed the aluminum M16 mag for one time use.

They were to be loaded at the factory, packed, and stored or shipped to the battlefield loaded. It didn't turn out to work that way, as the military quickly decided they didn't want to buy new mags every time they were used once.

But still, it won't hurt them to leave them loaded for long periods of time as designed.

rc

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poppo Senior Member I Love YaBB 2! Posts: 300 Gender:	Re: how long to keep a mag loaded Reply #10 - 09/06/10 at 09:24:41 There was an article in one of the gun magazines recently talking about how long does ammo last. It said someone had gotten some mags that had been loaded for at least 17 years (that was how long the wife had them stored after her husband passed away) and they all went bang just fine.
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YankeeInFlorida YaBB Newbies New Kel Tec Owner Posts: 12 Gender:	Re: how long to keep a mag loaded Reply #11 - Yesterday at 10:50:38 Glad I saw this thread!The first thing I did after I broke it in a bit at the range was load up a mag and pop it in.Figure Im going to keep on my night stand a majority of the time.Good to know im not going to have a failure to feed if I ever need to use it (God forbid).
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