Hey there, shooters!
Today, we’re diving into a topic that has fueled many debates around the gun range: Does keeping your magazines loaded reduce their lifespan? There’s a lot of fuddlore around this topic, but it’s time to put those myths to bed with some solid facts and science.
The Heart of the Matter: Springs
To understand the impact of keeping magazines loaded, we need to first talk about springs. Springs are the unsung heroes of your magazines, responsible for pushing rounds up into the chamber of your firearm. The concern many have is that leaving these springs compressed for long periods will weaken them, leading to failures. But is this concern valid?
Disassembled AR-15 military magazine with old style green follower
The Science Behind Springs
Springs are designed to handle repeated compression and decompression cycles. This is known as the spring’s duty cycle. For those of you who are into the nitty-gritty, there’s a significant amount of research on this. The duty cycle of a spring determines how many times it can be compressed and released before it starts to lose its effectiveness.
Here’s a crucial point: The degradation of a spring comes from the number of cycles (loading and unloading) rather than the duration it stays compressed. Studies, such as those conducted by MIT and other engineering institutions, have shown that springs wear out from being worked, not from remaining static.
Key Studies and Findings
MIT Research
Research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) explored the fatigue life of springs under different conditions. The findings were clear: a spring’s lifespan is affected by the number of compression cycles rather than the length of time it remains compressed. In simpler terms, keeping a magazine loaded isn’t going to degrade the spring significantly unless you’re constantly loading and unloading it.
Wolff Gunsprings Study
Wolff Gunsprings, a respected name in the industry, conducted tests on magazine springs by keeping them compressed for extended periods. Their study revealed that high-quality springs are engineered to handle being compressed without losing their tension. Their conclusion? Keeping your magazines loaded won’t negatively impact the spring’s function.
Glock’s Testing
Glock, known for its robust and reliable firearms, has conducted extensive testing on their magazines. Their results align with the aforementioned studies: leaving magazines loaded for long periods does not adversely affect the spring’s performance. Glock’s own magazines are designed to remain loaded, ready for use, without suffering from decreased reliability.
Practical Experience and Anecdotal Evidence
Beyond the lab, let’s talk practical experience. As someone who has spent a lot of time in both competitive shooting and real-world combat scenarios, I’ve kept magazines loaded for months, sometimes years. Whether in the hot, dusty climates of Afghanistan or during intense competitive shooting seasons, my magazines have remained reliable.
I almost ended up getting an Article 15 on my first trip to Afghanistan because I had a senior leader insist that I should have my soldiers unload their magazines once a week to let the springs decompress so they wouldn’t “take a set” and fail in combat. At that point, I had more experience in combat than that leader which still meant something in the Army back then so when he pushed on the issue after I refused to make my guys do that cooler heads fortunately prevailed. Which has created an extremely passionate desire in me ever since then to help kill this myth. The individual who attempted to create an issue over the topic was an Army Infantry SSG with a previous tour to Iraq at that time. On its face, the dude should have known what he was talking about which is why some people were surprised when I explained that he didn’t and if they wanted me to I could produce actual studies showing that what he was advising would in fact shorten the spring life faster than just leaving them loaded.
Many law enforcement agencies also keep their magazines loaded for extended periods. The feedback from officers is consistent: their magazines function flawlessly when called upon, whether they’ve been loaded for a week or a year.
Good ol SSG Stevens here to slay some more bad firearms advice for you!
Why the Myth Persists
So, why does the myth persist? It likely stems from a time when spring technology wasn’t as advanced. Older springs, made with inferior materials and manufacturing processes, were more prone to fatigue from being kept compressed. Modern springs, however, are made with advanced alloys and precision engineering, making them far more durable.
Understanding Stress Relaxation
Another factor to consider is stress relaxation, a phenomenon where materials slowly deform under a constant load. While this does occur with springs, it’s important to note that the degree of relaxation is minimal in high-quality springs designed for magazines. The rate of relaxation is slow enough that it doesn’t affect the functionality of the magazine over reasonable periods.
Maintenance Tips for Longevity
While keeping your magazines loaded won’t harm them, there are still best practices to ensure they remain in top condition:
- Use Quality Magazines: Invest in high-quality magazines from reputable manufacturers. Companies like Magpul, Glock, and Wilson Combat produce magazines designed to withstand prolonged compression.
- Rotate Magazines: If you’re concerned about spring fatigue, consider rotating your magazines periodically. This isn’t strictly necessary but can give you peace of mind.
- Regular Inspection: Periodically inspect your magazines for signs of wear and tear. Look for any deformities in the feed lips and ensure the spring tension feels consistent.
- Clean Your Magazines: Dirt and debris can cause issues regardless of how the spring is performing. Keep your magazines clean, especially if you’ve been in environments where sand, dust, or mud could have infiltrated them.
- Number your Magazines: You’ll notice many high-end competitive shooters, military shooters, Law Enforcement Officers in particular number their magazines. A simple paint marker will do and manufacturers like Magpul offer their Gen 3 magazines with little dimples desigend to make paint markers work even better. Numbered magazines allow you to keep track of magazines when they start to have problems and remove them from duty use to range or dry fire use.
One of the many services we offer is laser marking to number mags for the OCD like myself that need to have it perfect
Real-World Implications
For those of us who carry for self-defense or rely on our firearms for duty, having a reliable magazine is non-negotiable. The reassurance that your loaded magazines will perform flawlessly, regardless of how long they’ve been loaded, is invaluable. Knowing that the science backs this up allows us to focus on other critical aspects of preparedness and training.
Conclusion
In the world of firearms, myths and misconceptions can lead to unnecessary worries and improper maintenance practices occasionally exasperating issues. The belief that keeping your magazines loaded will shorten their lifespan is one such myth. Thanks to advancements in spring technology and extensive research, we now know that it’s the cycling of springs, not the duration they remain compressed, that affects their longevity.
Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently keep your magazines loaded and ready for action. Whether you’re a competitive shooter, a law enforcement officer, or someone who carries for personal defense, your magazines will be there when you need them, loaded and reliable. That being said even the best magazines should be viewed as consumables with a life span on them the more you use them the more likely they are to fail. That is why I personally like to have lots of magazines and why I generally have separate magazines for training, carry/duty use, and for competing.
Remember, the key to maintaining your gear is understanding how it works and relying on proven facts over outdated myths. So keep those magazines loaded, stay prepared, and as always, shoot straight and stay safe.
Joshua Stevens
