Should magazines remain loaded when not in use?

[rum_runner]

Hadn't really thought about it.
Recently was unpacking my kit and found 2 Enfield mags still topped out that I had forgotten about. Also have several HK 91 20 rounders that have been loaded for months. Same with a SD9 VE. I am not lazy, it's just I had already tossed the boxes.
Thanks

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[CINDERS]

I was always taught that mags should be left un loaded as to have a mag fully charged has the spring under max tension there for affecting its I guess spring quality or rebound I leave all my mags un loaded.

[Aragorn243]

I leave those that aren't squirreled away for self defense unloaded. Spring tension can be affected over time.

[browningautorifle]

Apparently it's the loading and unloading of a spring that kills it. Leaving a new mag loaded doesn't seem to affect it. One man had a mag that his dad brought home from WW2, a 1911A1 mag, that had been loaded since the war and worked fine. It had been loaded for 60 years.

That being said, my first trip overseas, we rotated our mags regularly. The guys that left them could later take the first two out and pour the rest out.

I leave my mags empty unless about to use them.

[Buntlineguy]

I recently tried some mags in my M1 carbine that had been sitting in the safe for 10 or more years. 13 out of 15 in the mag did not fire. Other rounds that were in boxes all fired. Surprised me, but something deteriorates.

B

[Merle]

Apparently it's the loading and unloading of a spring that kills it. Leaving a new mag loaded doesn't seem to affect it. One man had a mag that his dad brought home from WW2, a 1911A1 mag, that had been loaded since the war and worked fine. It had been loaded for 60 years.

That being said, my first trip overseas, we rotated our mags regularly. The guys that left them could later take the first two out and pour the rest out.

I leave my mags empty unless about to use them.

So that implies spring quality is a variable & is unknown, thus all bets are off.

This is one of the questions that comes up on a regular basis, but never gets resolved.

[mrclark303]

Quality varies even with the same type of firearm magazine, depending on manufacturer and if it was a wartime expedient.

Interesting regarding the 60 year old 1911A1 magazine, I have seen others were the base plates just detach and drop the rounds everywhere!

[Sarge1998]

As browningautorifle posted, it is the constant loading and unloading that wears out springs, this has been often asked and answered on the handgun forums I belong to. I spent 33+ years as a LEO and we kept out magazines loaded 24/7/365 unless we were qualifying, changing out ammo to a newly approved type or doing maintenance. You can keep AR mags topped off the same. As for 60+ year old loaded mags that is an anomaly and shouldn't be used as proof. Much of it depends on where the magazines are stored, if they have collected dust or been exposed to changes in the environment (i.e. humidity control) they can be the cause for failure or ammunition deterioration, that is why you should use periodic maintenance.

[Eaglelord17]

Wearing out of springs is caused by loading/unloading.

Leaving them under tension can cause them to take a new 'set' and make them not rebound back easily (thereby effecting reliability). Many factors in play such as the type of spring, length of time compressed, quality of materials, etc. which will all have a effect on it.

[browningautorifle]

So that implies spring quality is a variable & is unknown, thus all bets are off.

This is one of the questions that comes up on a regular basis, but never gets resolved.

I've got to agree with you there...on both. I leave mine unloaded. Besides, the law in Canada implies that...if one were found loaded by the wrong authority, it could go uphill for you.