magazines: leave loaded or not?

[HD Springer]

I have the good fortune to live in a small mtn. town, and don't have the need to carry every day. Sometimes only once or twice a week. My summer carry is a cm9. Should I unload the mag. and let it "rest", or is it ok to leave loaded at all times?

[Ikeo74]

I load mine 1 short and leave them loaded for years. There is no need to unload the mags that I know of.

[Bawanna]

I used to rotate my mags once a month or so to let them rest but I think with modern spring technology there really is no need to do so.

I think loading and unloading actually puts more wear on the spring than leaving it.

This was reinforced in my own mind a couple years ago when I was gifted with a GI 1911 still loaded from WWII. I cleaned and lubed the gun since it was in a duffel bag all those years but did nothing to the mag.
Took it to the range and everyone of those GI original issued bullets left the station on time and ran flawlessly.

I quite honestly was flabergasted.

[wyntrout]

Unless I unload the carry ammo to shoot just FMJ at the range, my carry and spare mags stay loaded. I infrequently take them apart and clean them after long range sessions... then, maybe just a wipe down. I have no worries about the springs weakening... ANY springs. I have spares for recoil and mags, but I'll wait until I perceive a problem before I replace them.

Wynn :)

[ripley16]

I do not leave unused mags loaded. There is no reason to leave a mag loaded if it will not see use in the near future. Mags in my two carry guns stay loaded until I shoot them, weekly, monthly or anually makes no difference to me. The longest I've gone without shooting is about 6 months. I do try to rotate carry mags just to keep wear and tear even amongst them.

[Bawanna]

I do not leave unused mags loaded. There is nom reason to leave a mag loaded if it will not see use in the near future. Mags in my two carry guns stay loaded until I shoot them, weekly, monthly or anually makes no difference to me. The longest I've gone without shooting is about 6 months. I do try to rotate carry mags just to keep wear and tear even amongst them.

Ditto me. Carry guns and spare mags stay loaded. I still rotate from time to time from habit. Spare mags for stuff in the safe stay empty.

Usually I'm switching from one 1911 to another 1911 when I switch so the mags pretty much stay the same anyhow.

I was going to load up my Thompson mags but decided against it. I loaded the50 round drum but didn't wind it. That should buy me time to load the 10 stick mags to hold off the storm troopers.

[ilivas]

Keeping a mag fully loaded does not put wear on the spring, unloading and loading does. It's the movement of the spring that causes the wear, not the constant tension.


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[Nimrod]

I agree with all of the above. My carry guns and their spare mags stay loaded.