Keeping Magazines Full? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Sweendog · 07-06-2007, 06:02 AM

I would like to keep my XD's magazine fully loaded for home defense but was wondering if keeping it this way for a long period of time will weaken the magazine spring and cause feed problems? Does anyone do this or am I better off unloading it occassionally?

GFunk · 07-06-2007, 06:04 AM

Nope - should be fine. I keep my mags full all the time and keep one in the gun.

From what I've read (I really have no idea), a spring in a steady state doesn't wear. It's when it's changing states that it loses performance.

**NC Dave** · 07-06-2007, 06:06 AM

Even if it did weaken your springs (which I do not believe it does), you are not going to have time to load mags when the BGs show up. You can, however, replace your worn mags at your own leisure.

Load 'em up!

CharlieHo · 07-06-2007, 07:30 AM

I agree with the above answers.

Unloading an already loaded mag will weaken the spring, but leaving a loaded mag loaded, will not. Working the spring is what wears it out, not the actual tension stored in it.

Gunzzi · 07-06-2007, 07:36 AM

Also, if you are that worried about weakening the springs, just put about 6 rounds in the mag and keep a spare mag with the same number of rounds in them. I'll bet you won't need all of them...

USMC-8154TL/DM · 07-06-2007, 07:43 AM

the only way it will weaken is by shooting and reloading the more you do this will over time soften the spring. It might take years before it happens I have personnal seen a couple of years with the same mag and spring and shooting it twice a month for a couple of reloads each time.

If you start to notice it is getting really easy to reload and the push back it soft then start looking at a new spring.

Badshot · 07-06-2007, 08:36 AM

This is one of the great urban legends in the mag fed world. The springs don't lose strength while under pressure. For example... I've got what have to be 15 year old AR mags and a 20rnd mag that I'll swear is from the 70's. When I went to rebuild them (because I was ignorant and thought they had to be worn) I noticed that the new springs I bought had the same tension and feel that the older ones did. Sooooo, I kept the new springs in the bag and left the old ones in place. That fun little 20rnd'r has stayed loaded, in the safe for the last 5 or 6 years.. I shoot the ammo in it about every 2 years and reload it and then put it back.

Long and short there... keep em' loaded if you want to, leave em' unloaded if it makes you feel better, but there isn't a practical reason to be concerned until you not the issues USMC-8154TL/DM noted.

mudfoot · 07-06-2007, 08:40 AM

Leave em full. And worry about something else that deserves worrying.

**mvician** · 07-06-2007, 08:51 AM

An EMPTY mag is USELESS

Sweendog · 07-06-2007, 09:14 AM

I agree, an empty mag is useless. I will keep 'em loaded and ready for use. Thanks.

07-06-2007, 06:02 AM	#1
Sweendog XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10	Keeping Magazines Full? I would like to keep my XD's magazine fully loaded for home defense but was wondering if keeping it this way for a long period of time will weaken the magazine spring and cause feed problems? Does anyone do this or am I better off unloading it occassionally?

07-06-2007, 06:06 AM	#3
NC Dave XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 1,548	Even if it did weaken your springs (which I do not believe it does), you are not going to have time to load mags when the BGs show up. You can, however, replace your worn mags at your own leisure. Load 'em up! __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Instructor

07-06-2007, 07:30 AM	#4
CharlieHo XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairmont, WV Posts: 514	I agree with the above answers. Unloading an already loaded mag will weaken the spring, but leaving a loaded mag loaded, will not. Working the spring is what wears it out, not the actual tension stored in it. __________________ "The philosophy of gun control: Teenagers are roaring through town at 90 MPH, where the speed limit is 25. Your solution is to lower the speed limit to 20." - Sam Cohen, inventor of the Neutron Bomb

07-06-2007, 07:36 AM	#5
Gunzzi XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,054	Also, if you are that worried about weakening the springs, just put about 6 rounds in the mag and keep a spare mag with the same number of rounds in them. I'll bet you won't need all of them... __________________ NRA Member Warning: May contain lead.... The land of the free BECAUSE of the brave! I don't dial 911 - I use .223

07-06-2007, 07:43 AM	#6
USMC-8154TL/DM XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Louisiana Posts: 6,987	the only way it will weaken is by shooting and reloading the more you do this will over time soften the spring. It might take years before it happens I have personnal seen a couple of years with the same mag and spring and shooting it twice a month for a couple of reloads each time. If you start to notice it is getting really easy to reload and the push back it soft then start looking at a new spring. __________________ Time is neither fast nor slow - it has been the same since the begining of Time - Originally Quoted By Me Link to my bolt knobs for sale. http://www.bigrivertactical.com/cata...32/5933264.htm or http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...%20BOLT%20KNOB

07-06-2007, 06:04 AM	#2
GFunk XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 134	Nope - should be fine. I keep my mags full all the time and keep one in the gun. From what I've read (I really have no idea), a spring in a steady state doesn't wear. It's when it's changing states that it loses performance.

07-06-2007, 08:36 AM	#7
Badshot XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,433	This is one of the great urban legends in the mag fed world. The springs don't lose strength while under pressure. For example... I've got what have to be 15 year old AR mags and a 20rnd mag that I'll swear is from the 70's. When I went to rebuild them (because I was ignorant and thought they had to be worn) I noticed that the new springs I bought had the same tension and feel that the older ones did. Sooooo, I kept the new springs in the bag and left the old ones in place. That fun little 20rnd'r has stayed loaded, in the safe for the last 5 or 6 years.. I shoot the ammo in it about every 2 years and reload it and then put it back. Long and short there... keep em' loaded if you want to, leave em' unloaded if it makes you feel better, but there isn't a practical reason to be concerned until you not the issues USMC-8154TL/DM noted. __________________ --------------------- Stupidity should should be painful! On AR15's: Learn to use your Iron Sights before you go adding all that extra crap on your gun!

07-06-2007, 08:40 AM	#8
mudfoot XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 314	Leave em full. And worry about something else that deserves worrying. __________________ If you are citizen who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself..."Baa."

07-06-2007, 08:51 AM	#9
mvician XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 3,351	An EMPTY mag is USELESS

07-06-2007, 09:14 AM	#10
Sweendog XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10	I agree, an empty mag is useless. I will keep 'em loaded and ready for use. Thanks.

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