I've always wondered this.
How many people here have numerous clips that they store full?
I've always been leary about it, because I cant help but to think it weakens the springs.
Is it possible?
Anyone keep their clips full and eventually have feed problems?
Jim I am a lazy man as you know so I leave my clips loaded pretty much all the time :innocentwhistle:. I shoot such junk guns that noticing a feed problem because of a weakened spring just ain't gonna happen.
QuoteJim I am a lazy man as you know so I leave my clips loaded pretty much all the time innocentwhistle. I shoot such junk guns that noticing a feed problem because of a weakened spring just ain't gonna happen.
I am even lazier than this guy I usually leave them not completely full like short a few rounds. :laf:
I take it that your talking about magazines? :innocentwhistle: I leave a bunch loaded all the time and haven't had a problem I could honestly say was the result of that. IMHO if ya have quality mags you shouldn't have a problem.
Quote from: straycat on August 19, 2009, 06:24:41 PM
I take it that your talking about magazines? :innocentwhistle: I leave a bunch loaded all the time and haven't had a problem I could honestly say was the result of that. IMHO if ya have quality mags you shouldn't have a problem.
I agree with Straycat. The only time the magazines for my duty pistol are unloaded is when I go to the range. They stay fully loaded all of the time and I have never had a failure to feed caused by a weakened spring, that I am aware of.
Pat
I've never had a problem with a weak spring in a Glock magazine and I keep two or three loaded all the time. Springs are pretty easy and cheap to replace. But I've never had to replace one yet.
I got a picture somewhere that would fit this post so perfectley...
found it
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q84/slagmaker/preparedness.jpg)
Yeah clip magazine :doh2:
Luckily you dont have to be total rookie to misinterpret those two.
These are Ruger magazines. Factory made. I'm looking into picking up more, but like I said, always wondered how hard it was on them to be stored full.
Should be ok.Jim. There have been documented accounts of mags loaded for years with no ill effects.
My ruger pistols have there mags loaded always "except for range time" and I have never had a problem in the 12 years I have had them
If not on me beside me most of the time my .45 mags stay loaded year round and have been for years...
Only once did I have a feed problem and it was due to a poorly reloaded round...... :innocentwhistle: ....By Me... :madd:
My rifle ones are unloaded.....No reason I just have always done that.....
I have not had any feeding problems, but I usually only keep the magazines aka clips half full. I figure it I can't hit someone in the hallway with five shots I will drop the mag and feed another. I did watch a Glock armorer stretching and replacing springs. I believe he said that you can usually stretch them out a couple of times before they need to be replaced. What I don't know is what kind of shooting the people that had the replacements were doing. I would think that if they were a competition shooter it might take a toll a little quicker.
Jerry
Thats interesting Jerry. Why might I ask that you only keep them half full though?
It's funny, because when I first bought this pistol years ago, it was on my headboard loaded 24/7. But I only kept three rounds in it. My theory was if it gets taken away from me at any point, I know where I stand.
Or even better, where NOT to stand :laf:
Quote from: FinsnFur on August 19, 2009, 10:20:56 PM
Thats interesting Jerry. Why might I ask that you only keep them half full though?
It's funny, because when I first bought this pistol years ago, it was on my headboard loaded 24/7. But I only kept three rounds in it. My theory was if it gets taken away from me at any point, I know where I stand.
Or even better, where NOT to stand :laf:
Jim, leave an empty gun close to the door they come in, and keep the fully loaded one on the headboard by you. :biggrin:
Mine are always loaded.
Hey that's a clever idea. :laf:
"C'mon in Charlie...what'cha got there? Oh boy...you do not to want to point that at me" :nono:
Jim,
I actually have four that are half loaded. If I open the gun safe there is one gun in there with one in the chamber and 5 in the mag. Right beside the gun are the other mags so it is pretty simple to grab the gun and an extra mag or two. As for the reason, I just don't want to run the risk of needing a spring with pressure and not having one. In the small hallway I am pretty sure I could hit a person sized target with a couple of rounds out of 6, but if I am limited to only 1 who knows. I also have a couple of loaded revolvers in there that if I really heard someone in the house would probably take along for the walk to the hall.
Jerry
Ahhhhhh so the spring theory HAS crossed your mind :eyebrownod:
All my mag's are loaded to max and ready to go if need be, never had a problem.
Quote from: JohnP on August 20, 2009, 05:49:27 PM
All my mag's are loaded to max and ready to go if need be, never had a problem.
Same here.
Quote from: CCP on August 19, 2009, 06:13:34 PM
QuoteJim I am a lazy man as you know so I leave my clips loaded pretty much all the time innocentwhistle. I shoot such junk guns that noticing a feed problem because of a weakened spring just ain't gonna happen.
I am even lazier than this guy I usually leave them not completely full like short a few rounds. :laf:
I might be able to do one better. I only put in 2 rds when I'm out groundhoggin. :eyebrownod: :eyebrownod:
I do have a Ruger MKII tho & I keep one mag full & the chamber empty. It's just a matter of flipping off the safety. Hopefully the bolt closing will give them the idea they've been seen/heard. I really don't WANT to shoot anybody but I will if need be.
Interesting post Jim, I actually thought the answers would go the other way. :shrug:
My CZ American spring was so tight the spring would barely collapse enough to get the 4th rd in. So I just loaded it full & left it set all winter whilst the groundhogs slept. She loads a bit easier now yet still feeds extremely smooth.
Quote from: HaMeR on August 21, 2009, 10:38:08 AM
My CZ American spring was so tight the spring would barely collapse enough to get the 4th rd in. So I just loaded it full & left it set all winter whilst the groundhogs slept. She loads a bit easier now yet still feeds extremely smooth.
This would lead me to believe that there IS a change in spring tension when left fully compressed. :whew: Before the spring compression flames start, I did review quite a few different places and there doesn't seem to be a definite yes or no answer. Some said that it depended on the type of material that was used to make the spring, etc. There were some that felt "Yes" and others that felt "No" so I don't see it as a major problem. I would say that everyone should just make up their own mind or buy a revolver so you don't have the magazine spring worry at all.
Jerry
That by no means was a scientific approach or finding. The reason I tried it was on the advice from several posters on another Forum that own CZ Americans. It could very well be the spring material or even the spring style that CZ uses. At any rate it worked on that one clip for me & a few others had success with it as well. YMMV
I have 5 Wilson magazines for my 1911s. I keep one fully loaded in the pistol and the others empty. I rotate the fully loaded one every two months. I have several other 1911 magazines. I always keep one of them fully loaded as a spare close the pistol. Rotate it as well. My AR magazines also rotated.
Jim
Clip rotation. :wo:
That also leads me to believe your concerned about spring tension over time.
Definitely some interesting input here.
Jim,
Yes, I know the Wilson mag springs will loose some tension over time. When I was shooting IDPA a lot I would buy new springs every couple of years for my match magaziines. I also replaced the recoil spring in my 1911 every 5000 rounds or so.
Don't want any problems at a match or when someone is breaking down the door!!!
Jim
Probably what will do the most damage to the magazine spring is loading & unloading as this causes fatigue in the metal. Ever take a wire or strap of metal & bend it back & forth till it broke?
In my way of thinking, like Frogger said above, if you're shooting match & loading & unloading quite a bit then you'll loose spring tension.
Ever notice revolver shooters don't have so much crap to worry about? :shrug:
Try reading this,kinda interesting.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_163_27/ai_99130369 (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_163_27/ai_99130369)
Whew! :whew: I just got done reading that and now I'm late for work. That sucker was long :huh:
Nice article. It pretty much sums it all up.
But now I'm wondering if that's just the authors opinion, and I'm going to agree with him cause it's the last thing I read.
I think I'm getting paranoid :huh: :sad3:
Thanks for that link. I learned something thanks to it and you straycat!!
Jim
Very nice article. Thanks!