1918 BAR Magazines Loaded Longterm

[Ernest T. Bass]

I hope I have this in the right place.

A long time ago I read something about not being able to store loaded BAR magazines longterm as the spring would be damaged. This being due to these magazines having a spring made of flat-stock wire.
I may have this wrong, but that is the way that I remember it.

Does anyone have any experiance with this, or know of a source of good information?
I have been all over the internet and read every U.S. military manual I can find. Info about a BAR is pretty scarce, and BAR magazine info is even more scarce.

What little info I have found leads me to believe that many of my magazines are late production, Vietnam era magazines. They may have a different spring than the earlier version? I have never disassembled one, and I am away from home now. When I get back i will look at all of my magazine springs.

Any help is much appreciated.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

There is much ado about this one. I had FN springs go punk after leaving them loaded for some weeks. Others insist that it's loading and unloading that does them in. Just try it and see what happens. You can get replacement springs.

[Sarge]

In theory it is not wise to leave any mag loaded for an extended period of time. That said, my response, based on years of use, is B.S.!!! I have left a wide variety of magazines fully loaded for years without any problem with any of them. However, I have never done so with my BAR mags simply because when I load them they get shot dry before they are brought home. Based on my experience with other mags i would not expect a problem with BAR mags left loaded for an extended period of time.
You mentioned late production BAR mags for Viet Nam. I have never heard of BAR mag production for use in VN. What few I saw in country were the normal WW 2/Korean War mags.
Sarge

[Ernest T. Bass]

I appreciate the info guys.
I may put this idea on the back burner.
I don't recollect the source of info about the Vietnam era magazines. It may not be true. When I get home I will look at the markings on my magazines.
Thanks again.

[emmagee1917]

Because of the generally tight fit of the BAR mags and the closeness of the split action bar , I usually don't leave BAR mags loaded more to sidewall bulging than to spring life. I , too , have found the occasional misplaced mag that has been left loaded for decades before being refound . They all worked perfectly and still do.
Chris