View Full Version : Keeping Magazines Loaded?
I've always been of the thought that keeping your magazines loaded is not a good idea as the magazine spring wears out and can cause misfeeds. For this reason I've always kept a revolver for my home defense weapon since I don't think even my magazine speedloaders would help me in a pinch :).
That being said, I have noticed quite a few folks keep their AR mags fully loaded and "at the ready". One guy I talked to had over 100 magazines loaded and in ammo cans in case he had to "bug out".
What are your thoughts on this?
Batteriesnare
08-15-2009, 08:54
With recent political ongoings, I've been keeping most of my mags loaded all the time. I use a cycling system, where I keep some loaded for three weeks or so with the same number unloaded, and switch them every three weeks. While this does mean I have a grand collection of mags, it seems to allow the springs to rejuvenate to the point where I've never had a jam. Just be sure if you have PMAGS that you use the feed lip cover to take the stress off the feed lips!
Personally I have always kept my on stripper clips so I can fit more in a can (big pointy bullets rattling around other pointy bullets with primers never seems a good idea). Stripper clips can be loaded fast enough, but obviously having ready magazines would be ideal.
Leaving magazines loaded does not fatigue the springs. Being cycled fatigues the springs. It is perfectly OK to leave magazines loaded.
HOWEVER there is one caveat when you are dealing with thin-bodied aluminum AR15/M16 magazines. Leaving those loaded for long periods of time can cause the feed lips to slowly start to spread. This of course results in an increased chance of double feeds.
All that being said, I don't think the political situation is so precarious that you need to keep loaded AR mags at the ready. This isn't some volatile place like downtown Mosul or anything.
Rampart Runner
08-15-2009, 10:46
I always keep mine loaded but the 20 rounders I only load to 19. I have never had a problem.
always keep mine loaded as well...
I have googled around and not been able to find a cover to protect the feed lip, any suggestions?
all the magazines (rifle and pistol) at my place are loaded all the time.
Always loaded. Pistol and rifle both have a loaded mag on an empty chamber.
Always loaded. Tests have been done and function was fine even after 10+ years of loaded storage.
If you are that concerned, but extra springs for all your mags, and replace the old ones after 5 years if you don't use them.
Batteriesnare
08-15-2009, 14:04
All that being said, I don't think the political situation is so precarious that you need to keep loaded AR mags at the ready. This isn't some volatile place like downtown Mosul or anything.
Sorry let me clarify. Even in Perfectville, USA, I would keep half of my mags loaded at all times. I was saying that due to recent events, I've been keeping more than half loaded. Should the call ever go out, I don't want to waste time trying to load mags, and usually if I go to the range I will take the ones in surplus of the half that are loaded and use them.
StagLefty
08-15-2009, 18:00
I have googled around and not been able to find a cover to protect the feed lip, any suggestions?
Pmags come with them but I'm not aware that any other brands do.
pickenup
08-15-2009, 20:08
Leaving magazines loaded does not fatigue the springs. Being cycled fatigues the springs. It is perfectly OK to leave magazines loaded.
+1
Saved me some typing.
SSChameleon
08-15-2009, 21:21
Grandma kept a 32acp loaded in the drawer for 30 years. Magazine feeds without any problems. I say keep it loaded.
Hey, for anyone interested, I did find what I think I need:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MAG118-7.html
Okay a little twist on the loaded mag thing. what ammo do you keep in those mags? FMJ,AP,SP, A-max?
Okay a little twist on the loaded mag thing. what ammo do you keep in those mags? FMJ,AP,SP, A-max?
.223 FMJ
Okay a little twist on the loaded mag thing. what ammo do you keep in those mags? FMJ,AP,SP, A-max?
2 30's with .223 55g ballistic tip (one mag in rifle empty chamber), ~25 30's with .223 fmj. 2 mags for each handgun with HP's (all other handgun mags loaded with fmj), 10 30's 7.62x39 FMJ.
MichiganMilitia
08-16-2009, 13:26
Okay a little twist on the loaded mag thing. what ammo do you keep in those mags? FMJ,AP,SP, A-max?
6.8x43mm 85gr Barnes TSX Tactical Loads from Silver State Armory in 4 mags:
http://www.ssarmory.com/6.8_spc_ammo-2-1-1-2-1.aspx
6.8x43mm 110gr Sierra ProHunters from Silver State Armory in the rest:
http://www.ssarmory.com/6.8_spc_ammo-2-1-1-1-1.aspx
That's enough zombie-stopping power until i can get to a hole-up site. [Tooth]
Okay a little twist on the loaded mag thing. what ammo do you keep in those mags? FMJ,AP,SP, A-max?
MK262's that I make.
StagLefty
08-16-2009, 14:09
Hey, for anyone interested, I did find what I think I need:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MAG118-7.html
Those are dust covers and will not protect the feed lips.
DD977GM2
08-21-2009, 00:36
FWIW, I keep all my magazines loaded. I do not leave one or 2 out as this was a problem solved many years ago my the manufacturers (if I recall correctly). I even keep rounds in all my rifles so I can grab ANY of them in a pinch.
My understanding is that the constant unloading and reloading of mags is what causes the wear and tear on the springs and followers.
MichiganMilitia
08-21-2009, 01:35
My understanding is that the constant unloading and reloading of mags is what causes the wear and tear on the springs and followers.
This is correct. Keeping a spring under tension will not affect its life. It is the constant compressing and releasing that causes the spring to wear out.
Don’t shoot the messenger….
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Metroliner/MagSpringII.jpg
StagLefty
08-21-2009, 06:16
Don’t shoot the messenger….
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Metroliner/MagSpringII.jpg
Yay-We got Quibtoons !!! [Beer]
I keep some magazines loaded.
I recently found a WWII 1911 mag that I loaded in 1974. It worked fine when I fired the rounds from it.
Poor quality magazines like Triple K and Promag and unknown makes, I wouldn't trust at all.
As long as you have good quality springs they don't fatique under constant load. I keep some replacement springs around just in case.
Some aftermarket springs are too strong (Wolff 11 lb 1911 springs) and will spread feed lips. Aluminum mags can also have this problem as previously mentioned.
Wish I hadn't lost all my mags and AR's in that tragic boating accident earlier this summer. Probably didn't help that all of the mags were loaded, thus adding weight... sigh.. they sank soooooo quickly [Rant1]
Wish I hadn't lost all my mags and AR's in that tragic boating accident earlier this summer. Probably didn't help that all of the mags were loaded, thus adding weight... sigh.. they sank soooooo quickly [Rant1]
How tragic, it's probably a REALLY good thing you don't have that stuff sitting around anymore though :).
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