Is Bad to keep your extra magazines full?

Hi, I was just wondering about keeping my extra mags all full. I hear that its ok it wont hurt, then I hear you should rotate the mags.. Glock mags are what I have. I'm sure this question has been asked and answered a million times, but I only have been on this forum a few days and would like to hear your opinions, seems we have a lot of knowledge here...Thanks! Mike

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Is Bad to keep your extra magazines full?

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No.

Magazine springs can hold their set for a long long time. I wouldn't worry about it.

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Originally Posted by mg27

Hi, I was just wondering about keeping my extra mags all full. I hear that its ok it wont hurt, then I hear you should rotate the mags.. Glock mags are what I have. I'm sure this question has been asked and answered a million times, but I only have been on this forum a few days and would like to hear your opinions, seems we have a lot of knowledge here...Thanks! Mike

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No

Check out the :search: function.

Welcome to the forum!

I actually load one less than max into my mags just to make sure I fatigue the mags less. It's probably useless to do, but I sleep better.

In his defense, the search on this forum is nearly useless.

And no, leaving them compressed is fine. What wears out springs is constant compression-decompression-compression-decompression....

no it isn't

At 20 bux (or so) for a new one I wouldn't be too concerned.

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Originally Posted by mg27

Hi, I was just wondering about keeping my extra mags all full. I hear that its ok it wont hurt, then I hear you should rotate the mags..

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I was taught that keeping them full was not harmful to the springs.

I was also taught that rotating the ammo in magazines occasionally helped to ensure fresher ammo and that it was not harmful to springs.

That's pretty much the way I've done it. On a couple of pistols, I've had a handful of spare magazines fully loaded for years (with occasional rotation to 'duty'). No ill effects so far. Of course, these have both been full-sized pistols, not compacts or mouse guns. Unknown whether the effect would be similar on those, but I don't see why it would be much different.

One thing I've found is that several different pistols have responded favorably with softening up the slide pull after experiencing several hundred instances of racking the slide. I've particularly noticed this on tiny mouse guns. Can't imagine magazine springs would be much different, unless they're made significantly tougher to withstand more usage. The point being, I'm betting that even with hundreds of cycles, which I've done on a handful of pistols, no ill effects should surface. That said, I'm pretty much a stickler for general maintenance on my pistols, including replacement of basic springs. So, where the weakening point is, I have no idea. Never been there, given the maintenance regimen.

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Originally Posted by ccw9mm

I was taught that keeping them full was not harmful to the springs.

I was also taught that rotating the ammo in magazines occasionally helped to ensure fresher ammo and also was not harmful to springs.

That's pretty much the way I've done it. On a couple of pistols, I've had a handful of spare magazines fully loaded for years (with occasional rotation to 'duty'). No ill effects so far. Of course, these have both been full-sized pistols, not compacts or mouse guns. Unknown whether the effect would be similar on those, but I don't see why it would be much different.

One thing I've found is that several different pistols have responded favorably via softening up the slide pull after experiencing several hundred instances of racking the slide. I've particularly noticed this on tiny mouse guns. Can't imagine magazine springs would be much different, unless they're made significantly tougher to withstand more usage. The point being, I'm betting that even with hundreds of cycles, which I've done on a handful of pistols, no ill effects should surface. That said, I'm pretty much a stickler for general maintenance on my pistols, including replacement of basic springs. So, where the weakening point is, I have no idea. Never been there, given the maintenance regimen.

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I do this.

I keep them full, and when I go to the range shoot them empty, then fill them again, just to feel like I'm rotating the ammo a little bit. Kind of the cook in me I guess, using the older goods first and running through the inventory.

I just started to use one less also because it seems like when I have them at capacity its hard to get in, though I used to always keep 9 plus 1.

Wolfe Springs says not to, they will take more of a set; the latest issue of American Rifleman Technical Answers and Questions section says no for the same reason, it can weaken the spring more than sitting in its extended position, and to rotate from time to time.

I can understand the compressed spring taking a set; that loading/reloading weakens the springs faster. My thoughts are to keep a few loaded, rotating on occasion, and let the long-term extras sit at "rest." I keep the one in my gun full, my spares a round or two short. when I carry, they're full.

If you only have a couple of mags, keep them loaded and look to buying a few extras. If you've got a shelf full of mags, you should have time to load as needed. Mag springs are cheap; in in doubt-change them out. But your mags, do as you feel best.

My CCL instructor told the class to rotate mag's every month, so, that is what I am doing. I am not an expert so I surely don't know if that is correct or not but since in the habit I do it. He also said practice each month and use one year old ammo up and replace. Don't know if that is necessary or not either. I have to say I look forward to my monthly range time however. :blink:

I've never noticed a problem leaving a magazine loader, and I've been doing it for many years.

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Originally Posted by archer51

I've never noticed a problem leaving a magazine loader, and I've been doing it for many years.

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Ditto. The only good magazine is one that is loaded.