Keeping your semi auto loaded

[Atrain1]

I unloaded most all my semi auto pistols I keep all my revolvers loaded, but I unloaded my semi auto cause I have heard so many stories about springs being damaged. Does anyone have any input, at the same time I have heard of colts being stored for 40 years with a full mag and it firing just fine. So I wanted to see how many people keep there semi auto pistols and rifles loaded. Thanks.

[ChadAmberg]

Springs are worn out by compression cycles, not by being compressed or uncompressed. So if you reload your magazines every night 30-40 times just to get tired enough to sleep, then yeah, you'll be replacing 'em more often.
But a nightstand gun that you take out shooting every 3 months isn't going to be a problem at all.

[Atrain1]

Springs are worn out by compression cycles, not by being compressed or uncompressed. So if you reload your magazines every night 30-40 times just to get tired enough to sleep, then yeah, you'll be replacing 'em more often.
But a nightstand gun that you take out shooting every 3 months isn't going to be a problem at all. Some of them dont get shot at all my S&W tactical 40 has only been shot once and sits in my nightstand when I am sleeping and has not been fired in six months and I have 3 other loaded mags with it. I unloaded them all the other day swithed mags around with the gun and all seemed will. What is the longest you have had a loaded mag and had no problems?

[TFOGGER]

Some of them dont get shot at all my S&W tactical 40 has only been shot once and sits in my nightstand when I am sleeping and has not been fired in six months and I have 3 other loaded mags with it. I unloaded them all the other day swithed mags around with the gun and all seemed will. What is the longest you have had a loaded mag and had no problems?

I rotate through my ammo fairly regularly, but I found a mag for the Hi Power in some stuff that had been packed since 89 before I went to the range last time. No issues with either magazine or ammo.

[10x]

With good quality springs, no worries.

I am one of those that had a USGI 1911 mag loaded since 1976. I found it a couple of years ago and it fired fine. I have had Brownings loaded for years with no problems either.

I had a Taurus 99 that was kept loaded for years in a shop. The mag spring was dead. New Wolff springs and things were fine.

Wolff springs are inexpensive and the very best in quality. Keep some extras around if you are concerned.

[Atrain1]

With good quality springs, no worries.

I am one of those that had a USGI 1911 mag loaded since 1976. I found it a couple of years ago and it fired fine. I have had Brownings loaded for years with no problems either.

I had a Taurus 99 that was kept loaded for years in a shop. The mag spring was dead. New Wolff springs and things were fine.

Wolff springs are inexpensive and the very best in quality. Keep some extras around if you are concerned. Cool thanks guys I can see it is no big deal, any one have a good sight to get wolf springs for alot of different auto pistols and rifles.

[WBAR]

Try Brownells. WB

[Atrain1]

Try Brownells. WB I should have known that, that is were I get my 1911 parts that and midway and sometimes sarco inc if have to.

[sneakerd]

A few years back I purchased 2 WW2 German P38s from a 10th Mtn Div vet. Both were fully loaded in holsters with loaded extra mags. The vet said they had been that way since he brought them back in 1945. So they were fully loaded mags for what- over 60 years. They work just fine and feel just as strong as any other P38 mag I have ever used. That being said, I tend to rotate my mags as I shoot, keeping a mag loaded for maybe a couple of months before I do. I really don't think there is any issue with modern mags and modern spring steels.

[bchase75]

My experience has been that it all depends on the quality of the mag springs. I had some Glock 22 mags with stock springs that failed after being loaded for a few weeks....replaced them with Wolff springs and didn't have any problems after that, no matter how long I kept the mags loaded. The stock springs in my M&P mags, however, seem to hold up just fine, but I do rotate them every month just to be on the safe side.

[legaleagle]

spring quality is a big measure. HK had some issues with spring fatigue on the USP mags. Good springs are the answer. I hada neighbor in the navy that had a 1911 he brought back with him after WWII. IT was in the gun and in a foot loacker in a hot attic. We took al to range after cleaning and checking, it fired fine, as well as the old ammo.

If you need springs, Wolff springs are good. You can get many of them in +10 tension. For HK's problem many owners replaced with Wolff and nave had a problem.

[kidicarus13]

My experience has been that it all depends on the quality of the mag springs. I had some Glock 22 mags with stock springs that failed after being loaded for a few weeks...

I've never heard that before... weeks?!

[stevelkinevil]

Im not sure if it matters or not, but I have always tried to cycle my mags. 3 loaded for a month and 3 unloaded. Or if its just a nightstand gun same thing with one or two mags. Who knows if it helped or hurt but my mags always did what they were supposed to.

[bchase75]

Yep....weeks. The mags were brand new (as was the gun). Must've been a bad batch of springs, but my experiences with Glock mag springs in general have been less than stellar over the years. In addition to the G22 mags I mentioned, I had the spring in a brand new G19 mag go wonky after six months and about 400 rounds.

[DFBrews]

If there is a mag in the house at this point it is loaded right now I need to go shooting or slow down on the reloading stat

[Atrain1]

If there is a mag in the house at this point it is loaded right now I need to go shooting or slow down on the reloading stat I was more worried about my TT-33 M57 and M213 pistols but they seem like they are a quality built pistol.

[tactuppernut]

All springs fatigue/compress over time, especially mag. springs, all mag. springs! Overall breech relief at full rearward slide travel during recoil (the more,the better) is what allows a mag spring to continue functioning well(does not FTF) after it has lost tension. The lesser the relief, the more likely an FTF occurs,as the weakened mag. spring does not have enough time to force next round securely against feed lips before slide cycles forward to strip next round from mag., causing FTF's. Personally, I can feel when my mag. springs begin to get soft, and re-tension my stock mag. springs every time I service the offending mag. by stretching a little. After this is done 4-5 times to a stock spring (which should be over a period of years), replace with a Wolff, or better yet, ISMI. I agree with Bchase75, Glock mag. springs lose tension quickly. If you're a fan of Wolff, their XD springs have greater tension than Glocks, drop right in, are inexpensive, and last much longer than stock Glock factory mag. springs. I discreetly number every mag and paint a small mark on a spring every time I re-tension. Consider it preventative maintenance. I've practiced this for a decade or more with every mag fed weapon that I've owned(except 10/22 mags,as most should know why), and have never seen a re-tensioned mag. spring collapse or break. I'm certain that every old mag. spring in my spare parts box is still useable in a pinch. FYI- though aftermarket springs do retain their fully extended length longer than stock springs, this still applies. Before replacing a mag spring, re-stretch old to proper length by comparing to replacement. That way, when you service new spring, you have something to compare it to.