Keeping mags loaded, does it matter? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

TheDave87 · 01-16-2005, 05:59 PM

Does it affect the life of the magazine to leave it loaded all the time? The magazines in question are the factory 10-shot mags for a Ruger 10/22 and for a Ruger MKII.

Slims · 01-16-2005, 06:25 PM

No

You do more damage cycling the magazine spring than by leaving it compressed. Your mags will wear out faster if you unload them when you go home and then reload them before going shooting again.

There are many examples of all kinds of magazines being left loaded since WWII/Vietnam/Gulf War, etc. and performing just fine when someone finally gets around to using them.

The_Dunedan · 01-16-2005, 06:37 PM

Ideally, you should rotate your mags every 6 months, to keep the springs from weakening or "taking a set." However, as Greg said, it's hardly a requirement.

ziadel · 01-16-2005, 07:04 PM

Greg hit the nail on the head, while I wouldnt be as nonchallant about keeping a WWII vintage mag loaded indefinately, the advances in metallurgy have made it pretty much a non-issue nowadays...

TheDave87 · 01-16-2005, 07:27 PM

sounds good, thanks for the info

01-16-2005, 05:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheDave87 Psycho Location: The Amish Wastelands of Ohio	Keeping mags loaded, does it matter? Does it affect the life of the magazine to leave it loaded all the time? The magazines in question are the factory 10-shot mags for a Ruger 10/22 and for a Ruger MKII. __________________ Honk if you've never seen an uzi fired from a car window!

01-16-2005, 06:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	No You do more damage cycling the magazine spring than by leaving it compressed. Your mags will wear out faster if you unload them when you go home and then reload them before going shooting again. There are many examples of all kinds of magazines being left loaded since WWII/Vietnam/Gulf War, etc. and performing just fine when someone finally gets around to using them. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

01-16-2005, 07:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
ziadel Myrmidon Location: In the twilight and mist.	Greg hit the nail on the head, while I wouldnt be as nonchallant about keeping a WWII vintage mag loaded indefinately, the advances in metallurgy have made it pretty much a non-issue nowadays... __________________ Ron Paul '08 Vote for Freedom Go ahead and google Dr. Ron Paul. You'll like what you read.

01-16-2005, 07:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheDave87 Psycho Location: The Amish Wastelands of Ohio	sounds good, thanks for the info __________________ Honk if you've never seen an uzi fired from a car window!

01-16-2005, 06:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Ideally, you should rotate your mags every 6 months, to keep the springs from weakening or "taking a set." However, as Greg said, it's hardly a requirement.