Ammo stored in the magazine (extended periods)

[ChairForce]

I was curious if anyone knew if there would be any damage to my magazines if I kept them full of ammo for extended periods of time? If so, do you rotate them monthly (or some interval) to keep some at ready?

[newracer]

They will be fine, you will do more damage unloading an reloading .

[Goodburbon]

Metal fatigues as you cycle it. Keep them loaded, or unloaded. Rotating or cycling will result in more wear than just leaving them loaded.

[mutt]

No damage to the magazines. Rotating ammo isn't really necessary.

[ChairForce]

Thanks for the info. I will not worry about it.

[bobbyfairbanks]

[PizzaHut]I can see where this will go.

[rbeau30]

If you are using PMAGS, here is a bit of info for you. Don't ask me how I know but (16) 30-round pmags fit nicely in a 50 cal ammo can with enough room for a pelican 40 gram dessicant pack for long term storage.

From: Dan Hunter [mailto:dhunter@magpul.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 12:09 PM
To: RBEAU30
Subject: RE: PMAG Question (Long-Term Storage)

Thank you for your inquiry. The factor that truly wears out quality springs is compression cycles, not constant compression. However, we use a high-quality stainless steel springs in our PMAGs and if one ever does happen to wear out any USGI spec spring can be swapped out for the factory one.
Regarding the question of how long, we’ve had magazines fully loaded for over four years now with no Impact/Dust Cover on and have experienced no feed lip or spring issues. With the cover installed storage life is considered indefinite. There have also been PMAGSreportedly tested to hundreds-of-thousands of rounds (military vetting), and we know positively of ones that have gone tens-of-thousands, so usable life is quite excellent too.

[Dave]

Huh, I was always told that it would ruin the springs to leave mags loaded because it created new memory in the steel.

[spleify]

Huh, I was always told that it would ruin the springs to leave mags loaded because it created new memory in the steel.

Nope, they do only wear out from use.

[dwalker460]

What good is an unloaded mag? You gonna throw it at someone? Because I can promise you you wont have time to load one up if you need it...

[Teufelhund]

Huh, I was always told that it would ruin the springs to leave mags loaded because it created new memory in the steel.

This is what they taught in the Corps as well - that the spring would take a set if loaded too long. Since exiting the military, I've found a lot of things they taught are not the best way of doing things.

I typically keep 1/3 of my mags loaded and rotate them every couple months. About two months ago, in light of current events, I loaded them all.

As a side note, my ARs do not like having a mag loaded into them with a full 30 rounds if the bolt is closed. I load mine to 29 for this reason. Test your gear before you need it.

[spleify]

As a side note, my ARs do not like having a mag loaded into them with a full 30 rounds if the bolt is closed. I load mine to 29 for this reason. Test your gear before you need it.

Same here, I run my mags 2 rounds short, just something I have always done.

[SideShow Bob]

Same here, I run my mags 2 rounds short, just something I have always done.

So, when they regulate us to 7 round mags like NY, are you only going to load 5 ? [ROFL1]

[Rooskibar03]

So, when they regulate us to 7 round mags like NY, are you only going to load 5 ? [ROFL1]

No one needs more than 5 bullets in a gun anyway.

[Dave]

Yeah, even the M16's when I was in the Army were not fond of a full 30 round mag. Guess I'll be loading the rest of my mags tonight and tomorrow. Got 8 more AR mags, 6 AK, and about 6 more pistol that all need loading

[IFFV]

It will do no harm if you leave the magazine loaded for extended amount of time.
Example, I had two bandoliers of seven ea., twenty rounders always loaded & one more in the M-16, when I was in Vietnam. The ones I brought home are as reliable as they were over forty years ago.
I think it's a good idea to have some go-to mags.

[Honor Bound]

I'm glad I read this thread. I was a pistol shooter long before I had an AR and I learned to consistently cycle my on duty mags. I swap my Glock mags out every month. I felt pretty confident that I was doing the right thing, but now after seeing how many people who do not cycle their AR mags, maybe I'm off track.

Does anyone disagree with cycling the pistol mags?

[ray1970]

Cycling springs will wear them out more than leaving them compressed. Or so I've read.

[hatidua]

[PizzaHut]

-makes me want pizza...

[spleify]

I'm glad I read this thread. I was a pistol shooter long before I had an AR and I learned to consistently cycle my on duty mags. I swap my Glock mags out every month. I felt pretty confident that I was doing the right thing, but now after seeing how many people who do not cycle their AR mags, maybe I'm off track.

Does anyone disagree with cycling the pistol mags?

Yep, doesnt matter if they are pistol or rifle mags. Like mentioned the springs will weaken from use, not sitting static.

[CO Retriever]

Great question and good answers. Been needing to load up a few happy sticks for my bedside / carry guns.

[blm28]

Glad I came across this thread. I was always under the impression leaving them loaded was bad for the springs.

[Wulf202]

Its fine for the springs it can crack the polymer mag bodies. If anyone wants a pic of a split glock mag that was left loaded for 12 years I can post it.

[Snowman78]

^ I would like to see that

[Shootersfab]

Put it this way..........

Every night when you get home do you jack your car up off suspension? No.
spring steel does not wear from compression, it wears from motion ( compression and rebound)

Do you remove your buffer spring also? Its always under tension.........

Load your Mag's.........keep them loaded........an empty mag is worthless especially in today's world.

[Wulf202]

^ I would like to see that

http://i.imgur.com/Rcg439i.jpg

Gun purchased in 1994. Sat as a loaded spare since about 1997. Traded the owner for a new mag when I discovered it. The mag that sat in the gun was fine. Gun had 500 rounds thru total it as of last year.

[sroz]

http://i.imgur.com/Rcg439i.jpg

Gun purchased in 1994. Sat as a loaded spare since about 1997. Traded the owner for a new mag when I discovered it. The mag that sat in the gun was fine. Gun had 500 rounds thru total it as of last year.

All Glock lovers please skip this post. Do not view this link. [Coffee]

[brutal]

I am by no means whatsoever a Glock fanboy, but I have to imagine there's more to it than just being loaded.

Heat? Cold? UV Exposure?

[baglock1]

I am by no means whatsoever a Glock fanboy, but I have to imagine there's more to it than just being loaded.

Heat? Cold? UV Exposure?

I agree. The two visibles crack systems appear to be isolated. The crack at the top *could* be due to long term pressure against the feedlips. The force applied *could* have resulted in that crack. The other crack couldn't have occurred from the forces of a loaded mag. There's either more to this story or detail the picture isn't delivering. Either way, as a mechanical engineer, I'd love to get my hands on that mag for an analysis.

[mtik00]

Glad I came across this thread. I was always under the impression leaving them loaded was bad for the springs.
+1 [hammer]

[Wulf202]

I am by no means whatsoever a Glock fanboy, but I have to imagine there's more to it than just being loaded.

Heat? Cold? UV Exposure?
Lived 2 years in the console of a truck/ccw carry, the rest of it's life in the headboard.
UV, no
heat kind of but no worse than my daily carry
cold, not much.

It still runs btw.

[baglock1]

I agree. The two visibles crack systems appear to be isolated. The crack at the top *could* be due to long term pressure against the feedlips. The force applied *could* have resulted in that crack. The other crack couldn't have occurred from the forces of a loaded mag. There's either more to this story or detail the picture isn't delivering. Either way, as a mechanical engineer, I'd love to get my hands on that mag for an analysis.

After thinking about it a little longer, I'm going to refine my previous statement. Given that Glock factory mags (and the KCI mags as well if memory serves)) have a steel inner liner, I'm even more doubtful that this failure was primarily caused by nothing more than time on a loaded mag. It simply doesn't make any sense. There had to have been other forces at play. My guess is that it was due more to riding in a console for a couple years.

Do you know if it was riding in a pouch at all or was it sitting in the console unprotected?

[spleify]

Lived 2 years in the console of a truck/ccw carry, the rest of it's life in the headboard.
UV, no
heat kind of but no worse than my daily carry
cold, not much.

It still runs btw.

If it sat in your truck console for 2 years it definitely experienced extreme heat and cold. Your car can get up to like 150+ degrees in the summer.

At any rate, one mag that split after 12 YEARS of service is not enough to make me change my mind to not keep them loaded. If you dont want to that is your prerogative. Plus the original question was will the springs wear out from sitting loaded and the answer is no

[Wulf202]

After thinking about it a little longer, I'm going to refine my previous statement. Given that Glock factory mags (and the KCI mags as well if memory serves)) have a steel inner liner, I'm even more doubtful that this failure was primarily caused by nothing more than time on a loaded mag. It simply doesn't make any sense. There had to have been other forces at play. My guess is that it was due more to riding in a console for a couple years.

Do you know if it was riding in a pouch at all or was it sitting in the console unprotected?
The first gen glock mags were not fully metal lined (NFML/non drop free)

Not the first to have the same issue with 1st gen mags
http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww90/pathell/1292048958.jpg
It was in a holster in the console when not being worn.
You're reading far too much into the conditions, this mag was babied.

If it sat in your truck console for 2 years it definitely experienced extreme heat and cold. Your car can get up to like 150+ degrees in the summer.

At any rate, one mag that split after 12 YEARS of service is not enough to make me change my mind to not keep them loaded. If you dont want to that is your prerogative. Plus the original question was will the springs wear out from sitting loaded and the answer is no
Not my truck. I've only had the mag since I discovered it split. It didn't stay in the console for 2 years, it was ccw by a guy who worked at a .gov installation. Had to stay in the car during work, white suburban with tinted windows if it matters. SE WA doesn't get that cold. Heat, yes but once again, too much is being put on the conditions.

[ChairForce]

I am glad I put this question up. In the Airforce all I had to keep loaded was the snack fund. I didnt expect there would be a disconnect between the engineering behind the mags and whats being taught. Now every mag I have between my AR and 1911 is loaded up. I had taken real joy in creating different combination of ammo in the magazines. For example the "last stand" mag is a combination of penetrator and ballistic tip. This exercise really got my imagination reved up.