Rotating magazines & mag springs - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**speednut** · 05-14-2007, 07:13 PM

Just curious about something...

I have 4-16rd mags for my XD9 service. Is it bad to keep them loaded full all the time? Currently, I have 2 loaded with hollow points for home defense and 2 loaded with WWB for plinking.
Should I mark them somehow and rotate occassionaly?
Should I maybe put less ammo in them so the spring is not so compressed? (I been keeping about 12-15 in each.)
Please share your thoughts.

ChessRat · 05-14-2007, 07:17 PM

It was explained to me this way... a spring gets worn by repeatedly compressing and releasing it. If it is compressed without being released, you are not putting the "wear and tear" on it. So you don't have to rotate them, just load and let sit.

But I think it is always funner to load and then unload them at the range

propellerhead · 05-14-2007, 07:19 PM

There are lots of posts in threads that say it's ok to leave them loaded.

As far as marking, some people do and track which ones they use and when. I chose to not mark them and just grab them at random. It will all even out statistically. Less effort too.

Sk0t24 · 05-14-2007, 07:19 PM

I've seen a few threads on this on several different forums, consensus seems to be that springs wear when cycled. So the more you load and unload your mags the quicker they will wear out.

mboehlen · 05-14-2007, 08:16 PM

I have 8 mags and use all of them the same amount. They hold 100 rounds for when I go to the range, I also keep at least one of the hi caps loaded for home self defense.

jeepinbanditrider · 05-14-2007, 08:20 PM

Well if it makes you feel any better you might as well leave the range mags unloaded. If you keep them next to your gun at night there is also less chance that you will grab a stick full of hardball ammo in the heat of a breakin or what not.

GrovenSpringer · 05-14-2007, 08:22 PM

Here is the definitive answer: It simply doesn't matter. Use them any way you like and when they wear out, replace the springs or the complete magazines. Most people won't live long enough or own the gun/magazines long enough to wear them out. This is not true for competitive shooters of course.

LTC-USA · 05-15-2007, 01:31 PM

Everyone is right. I found an article by an engineer with a search some time ago. Leave the mags loaded. It does not hurt them. I was rotating them all the time before that.

**speednut** · 05-15-2007, 02:41 PM

Makes sense to me.
Thanks for your help.

hatingthesuck · 05-16-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTC-USA

Everyone is right. I found an article by an engineer with a search some time ago. Leave the mags loaded. It does not hurt them. I was rotating them all the time before that.

any chance you got a link?

05-14-2007, 07:13 PM	#1
speednut XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: East Central Indiana Posts: 154	Rotating magazines & mag springs Just curious about something... I have 4-16rd mags for my XD9 service. Is it bad to keep them loaded full all the time? Currently, I have 2 loaded with hollow points for home defense and 2 loaded with WWB for plinking. Should I mark them somehow and rotate occassionaly? Should I maybe put less ammo in them so the spring is not so compressed? (I been keeping about 12-15 in each.) Please share your thoughts. __________________ The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

05-14-2007, 07:19 PM	#3
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,476	There are lots of posts in threads that say it's ok to leave them loaded. As far as marking, some people do and track which ones they use and when. I chose to not mark them and just grab them at random. It will all even out statistically. Less effort too. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for practice & IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three purposes, three calibers, three models. One gun.

05-14-2007, 07:19 PM	#4
Sk0t24 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 170	I've seen a few threads on this on several different forums, consensus seems to be that springs wear when cycled. So the more you load and unload your mags the quicker they will wear out. __________________ Kimber Custom TLE-II .45ACP Kimber Pro Carry II .45ACP RRA M4gery .223/5.56 XD-40sc blk/blk (Wifey) Browning Buck Mark Bull .22lr (the boy)

05-14-2007, 08:16 PM	#5
mboehlen XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Carbondale/Naperville IL Posts: 304	I have 8 mags and use all of them the same amount. They hold 100 rounds for when I go to the range, I also keep at least one of the hi caps loaded for home self defense. __________________ Doing an ordinary thing, unordinarily well, brings success.

05-14-2007, 08:20 PM	#6
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,756	Well if it makes you feel any better you might as well leave the range mags unloaded. If you keep them next to your gun at night there is also less chance that you will grab a stick full of hardball ammo in the heat of a breakin or what not. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

05-14-2007, 07:17 PM	#2
ChessRat XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 37	It was explained to me this way... a spring gets worn by repeatedly compressing and releasing it. If it is compressed without being released, you are not putting the "wear and tear" on it. So you don't have to rotate them, just load and let sit. But I think it is always funner to load and then unload them at the range

05-14-2007, 08:22 PM	#7
GrovenSpringer XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 154	Here is the definitive answer: It simply doesn't matter. Use them any way you like and when they wear out, replace the springs or the complete magazines. Most people won't live long enough or own the gun/magazines long enough to wear them out. This is not true for competitive shooters of course. __________________ You really should take me seriously, I have eleven reasons why you should! Ron Paul for president!

05-15-2007, 01:31 PM	#8
LTC-USA XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UT Posts: 937	Everyone is right. I found an article by an engineer with a search some time ago. Leave the mags loaded. It does not hurt them. I was rotating them all the time before that. __________________ Springfield XD 9mm subcompact-Tripp chrome (2005) Browning Hi-Power (1966) Browning .25 (1966) 1903 A3 .30-06 Jack Russell Terrier

05-15-2007, 02:41 PM	#9
speednut XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: East Central Indiana Posts: 154	Makes sense to me. Thanks for your help. __________________ The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

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