Leave ammo in magazine - weakened spring?

RobertSubnet · 10-19-2009, 07:35 AM

Hello all. I walk very early in the morning and carry a 1911 during those outings. Normally I will load and empty the magazine at the start and finish of the walk, but this is getting to be a real pain. Can I leave the ammo in the magazine for a few days without weakening the spring pressure? At what point does that become a problem?

Thanks!

halfbakedi420 · 10-19-2009, 07:42 AM

it depends on the gun...i dont kno of yours, but my s&w did that after awhile..had to by a new mag....i use my glock most the time now and have never had a problem with it..yet!!!!
police carry with their mags loaded and 1 in the chamber, so i would try and ask a cop or sumthin if ya see one walkin round..(hehe i usually go the other way lol)

10-19-2009, 08:08 AM

I took the advise of several machinist years ago and they said only thing that weakens a spring is compression decompression cycles. Well, after a few years, I had to buy new berretta and 1911 clips because they compressed from years of being kept loaded.

I have now learned that no matter what material, it will retain memory from compression, no matter if its wood, glass or metal.

bugsNbows · 10-19-2009, 08:31 AM

I'd leave the mags loaded, and then just buy a new mag when necessary.

statjunk · 10-19-2009, 09:09 AM

I have at least two mags. I rotate once a month. Just empty one and fill the other. Never had an issue but that doesn't mean I won't.

Tom

semi · 10-19-2009, 09:59 AM

i have heard from many that compression/decompression is worse for your mags than leaving them loaded. i have followed this all my life. My XD has never missed a beat and i keep them loaded.

A few days isn't going to hurt anything. i would say you are very safe.

halfbakedi420 · 10-19-2009, 10:13 AM

dont switch mags every month or what ever, keep 1 unused in that case, and remember to go to the range or where-ever and use that suker often, hate to have it jam when ya needed it the most!!!!!!!!!

10-19-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statjunk

I have at least two mags. I rotate once a month. Just empty one and fill the other. Never had an issue but that doesn't mean I won't.

Tom

this is a good idea. I have been following this for 18 years now and still have the same berretta 92 mag and glock mag. I rotate about once ever month and half.

RobertSubnet · 10-19-2009, 10:24 AM

Thanks guys. Right now I only have 1 magazine. It would probably help if I got a second!

skb2706 · 10-19-2009, 11:17 AM

FYI my wifes grandfather just gifted me his old service 1911 45ACP that he was issued in 1937. One of the clips that came with the gun had ammo in it that had been there for decades, not hours, decades. It functions just fine. Given that you can get mags for a 1911 pretty much anywhere for cheap I certainly wouldn't worry about it much.