How long to leave ammo in mag? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

theanswriz42 · 07-12-2005, 06:06 PM

I was wondering how long I can leave ammo in a particular magazine of my XD without the spring getting weak. I've talked to some people and they say no longer than 2 weeks but I'd be curious to know what you guys think.

Cheers

TheWillis · 07-12-2005, 06:22 PM

I have also been wondering the same thing. I leave my 40 loaded and ready on the nightstand every night, then lock it up during the day when no one is home(still loaded). I try to shoot once a week, but it has been
2 or 3 weeks since my last range trip. springs need a break? I don't know, but would like to! I leave my extras unloaded unless shooting, just in case.

tec · 07-12-2005, 06:27 PM

Per previous posts on this subject:

1.)
Q: Can the magazine be left loaded for extended periods of time?
A: yes, it will not hurt the magazine or the spring. Actually makes loading a full magazine easier.

FatMatt1981 · 07-12-2005, 06:31 PM

I think this question came up o of time shon the Ar-15 forum also. Extended period shouldn't weaken the springs any.....rather the constant loading, then reloading over and over will cause it to loose spring tension.
Somethin like that.

ZBoater · 07-12-2005, 08:01 PM

I had a Glock 22 and a Romanian AK-47 with 5 mags each fully loaded for 2yrs without shooting either of them (yes, I know, sacrilege). They worked fine when I traded both those weapons in.

JimLongley · 07-12-2005, 08:23 PM

I used to shoot almost weekly so I rotated my carry mags as a routine. I had surgery in April and haven't been shooting since. Other then a little load/reload practice (mostly to be sure I could do it) I haven't even really handled my guns since then, and I am not at all worried that my mags will give me problems.

Snake-eater 1 · 07-12-2005, 08:27 PM

There are records of 1911 magazines having been left loaded for over 50 years and then functioning ok. Magazine springs will take a set after being left loaded for awhile (the two weeks), but they function fine afterwards. Magazine springs are "worn out" by the process of compressing/uncompressing, not by compressing alone.

TheWillis · 07-12-2005, 09:16 PM

What exactly do you mean by "take a set" if you dont mind?

theanswriz42 · 07-12-2005, 09:50 PM

Thanks for the info guys. It's a lot easier to have loaded mags than to have to load them all up before going to the range.

Cheers

ajamesp51 · 07-12-2005, 10:52 PM

If your that paranoid (not a bad thing) then just buy new springs once a year and use the mags that you have. The mag springs are worn out when you start getting unexpected problems with feeding. And since you keep track of your magazines you will be able to find the bad mag quickly.

I have mags from my gen 1 that are over 5 yrs old and the springs still work fine even though they have countless rounds through them.

07-12-2005, 06:06 PM	#1
theanswriz42 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: St. Pete, FL Posts: 338	How long to leave ammo in mag? I was wondering how long I can leave ammo in a particular magazine of my XD without the spring getting weak. I've talked to some people and they say no longer than 2 weeks but I'd be curious to know what you guys think. Cheers __________________ XD45LE Tactical (XD9505) http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoti...t/sterb065.gif

07-12-2005, 06:22 PM	#2
TheWillis XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 354	ammo in mag I have also been wondering the same thing. I leave my 40 loaded and ready on the nightstand every night, then lock it up during the day when no one is home(still loaded). I try to shoot once a week, but it has been 2 or 3 weeks since my last range trip. springs need a break? I don't know, but would like to! I leave my extras unloaded unless shooting, just in case. __________________ enjoy the earth, enjoy your life, you only get one.

07-12-2005, 06:31 PM	#4
FatMatt1981 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,467	I think this question came up o of time shon the Ar-15 forum also. Extended period shouldn't weaken the springs any.....rather the constant loading, then reloading over and over will cause it to loose spring tension. Somethin like that. __________________ \"Through strength, we deter tyranny\" ICVM OD XD-40 4\" Black on black XD-9 4\"

07-12-2005, 08:01 PM	#5
ZBoater XDTalk Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 70	I had a Glock 22 and a Romanian AK-47 with 5 mags each fully loaded for 2yrs without shooting either of them (yes, I know, sacrilege). They worked fine when I traded both those weapons in. __________________ *NAA Guardian 380 Sig P232 Walther P99C AS * Glock 26 * Glock 19** Beretta M9 * H&K USP compact .40S&W Mossberg M590A1 12 gauge

07-12-2005, 08:23 PM	#6
JimLongley XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 822	I used to shoot almost weekly so I rotated my carry mags as a routine. I had surgery in April and haven't been shooting since. Other then a little load/reload practice (mostly to be sure I could do it) I haven't even really handled my guns since then, and I am not at all worried that my mags will give me problems. __________________ Gun control is very small groups - OFFHAND.

07-12-2005, 06:27 PM	#3
tec XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Holland Ohio Posts: 8,721 Blog Entries: 1	Per previous posts on this subject: 1.) Q: Can the magazine be left loaded for extended periods of time? A: yes, it will not hurt the magazine or the spring. Actually makes loading a full magazine easier.

07-12-2005, 08:27 PM	#7
Snake-eater 1 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Quinque, VA Posts: 2,653	There are records of 1911 magazines having been left loaded for over 50 years and then functioning ok. Magazine springs will take a set after being left loaded for awhile (the two weeks), but they function fine afterwards. Magazine springs are "worn out" by the process of compressing/uncompressing, not by compressing alone. __________________ ----------------------------------------------- "Too soon, old. Too late, smart" anon

07-12-2005, 09:16 PM	#8
TheWillis XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 354	What exactly do you mean by "take a set" if you dont mind? __________________ enjoy the earth, enjoy your life, you only get one.

07-12-2005, 09:50 PM	#9
theanswriz42 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: St. Pete, FL Posts: 338	Thanks for the info guys. It's a lot easier to have loaded mags than to have to load them all up before going to the range. Cheers __________________ XD45LE Tactical (XD9505) http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoti...t/sterb065.gif

07-12-2005, 10:52 PM	#10
ajamesp51 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, Al Posts: 5,026	If your that paranoid (not a bad thing) then just buy new springs once a year and use the mags that you have. The mag springs are worn out when you start getting unexpected problems with feeding. And since you keep track of your magazines you will be able to find the bad mag quickly. I have mags from my gen 1 that are over 5 yrs old and the springs still work fine even though they have countless rounds through them. __________________ "God shall not have his word made manifest by cowards" RWE www.xd-hs2000.com

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