How often do you change your conceal mags, or springs?

[UncleBob]

I own a XD .45 and keep 10 rounds in my 13 round mags. Reason being, and knowone told me to do this, but I don't want to ware out the spring over non usage. It stays in the weapon and the spares on my belt.

In this situation how often would you change out the springs, or buy new mags where the weapon gets used at the range at least once a month, but most of the time the mags are loaded but not used? Just for my Conceal Carry.

In the middle of a bad situation is the wrong time to find out your mags have failed, so I would like your educated opinion. So basically its a maitenance, care and replace question.

Thanks for your experienced and educated answers.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have magazines that are the same age as my 1943 vintage Ithaca 1911A1 that my father carried in WW2. I have never changed out the springs; and I have stored them loaded to full (7 rounds) for a year at a time with no ill effect. They still work fine today. I've never changed out a magazine spring in any of my 1911s, and I've never experienced an issue because of it. They do get cycled during range practice, but when I'm done at the range, they get loaded right up again with carry ammo and go right back into the carry rotation. To my mind, an unloaded gun is a useless piece of mechanical art.

You'll get answers that differ from mine, and that's fine, but my advice would be to not get to obsessive about it. Do what you're comfortable with, but don't worry too much about it. Modern springs, made using modern metallurgy, are pretty resilient.

[seniorshooteress]

I had been told something along the lines of: don't fully load the mag cause it will wear out the spring. I keep all my mags fully loaded an 1 chambered. Hope I don't find out the hard way that the person giving me this info was correct. I have several mags for each gun I own. All except for an AG 25 auto that I can't find spare mags for. I have had that 25 auto for so long I don't even have the owner manual. So if anyone know where I can get some mags for that little jewel, please post.

[fm2]

I would recomend getting some range use mags and some carry mags. Mark them so you can tell the difference. Run the range mags at the range and ocasionally the carry mags to check for funtionability. I like to keep my carry mags filled to capacity. Generally if the spring weakens over time you'll notice it during your range sessions.

[MoJo]

Coil springs wear out from cycles not compression. Down loading a mag does nothing to prolong spring life. Before the advent of the M 16 rifle down loading magazines was never considered. The reason for downloading an M 16/AR15 magazine is to relieve stress on the soft aluminum magazine feed lips. It was found that fully loaded magazines would malfunction due to the feed lips spreading. The easiest fix was to down load by two rounds problem solved.

There is no need to download a steel or polymer magazine for any firearm just load 'em and shoot 'em. If you are concerned about spring performance then change them after about 10,000 cycles.

[RECIT]

I seem to agree with TAM. I keep most of my mags loaded full. I don't think it is wearing the spring one way or another. If they are loaded then you are ready to rock when you need them and not when you have time to get ready.

[UncleBob]

Thank you all for the responses. I will not worry so much ;) - Back in the 80's my drill instructor always told us that carrying full 30 round loads in our M16's would ware out the spring. Other then that reference I really didn't have much info to go on. I've had no problems with any of my mags, I keep them in rotation from range to carry - and I have different loads for my AR but we won't cover that here.

Anyways, much appreciated - this is the best forum for any gun issues or questions I've come across.

Thanks!

[Mastodon]

I've also heard about not keeping a magazine completely loaded for long periods of time. I've never really bought into it too much. I keep my mags fully loaded(why not?, seems silly, right..)

I try not to worry or be too obsessive about every mechanical molecule in my semi-auto's; all the while certainly maintaining them.

I do cycle the cartridges from time to time. That also tends to happen going to the range, anyhow. I.e., emptying SD rounds for target/range rounds and back again.

Edit**: Looking at your sig, Congrats on getting your plastic, Marine.

[UncleBob]

Edit**: Looking at your sig, Congrats on getting your plastic, Marine.

Thanks! Semper Fi!

[CompVest]

Nothing gets more wear and tear than my competition M&P 9. I keep my mags for this gun loaded all the time and have from the day I got it and started shooting it three years ago. The gun has over 51,000 rounds through it and other than mags getting dirty and needing cleaning they have never caused any problems.

[Weg]

For what it's worth, I have had my Glock 21 mags fully loaded ( original mags. that came with gun ) since 1992. I shoot a couple clips through it every 6 months or so, I have never had a feeding issue. As for the 30 rds. in a M16 30 rd. mag., I think that actually spread the feed lips apart causing them to malfuntion, it was'nt the spring loosing it's tension, at least that's what I read in a pretty recent edition of American Rifleman.

[MojoTexas]

Not much else to add...except that I'd MUCH rather have my weapon fully loaded if I needed it most, rather than worry about wearing out a spring in something that costs maybe $30 tops to replace. If you're worried about the spring being worn out in the magazine when you need to defend yourself, just make sure you use the magazines when you go to the range. I don't believe in having separate range and self-defense magazines...I use the same magazines at the range that I use in my daily concealed carry. If I ever detected a problem (I have never had any issues with my magazines) then I'd just replace the magazine immediately.

Another thing I do is try to always use the best magazines I can find for my pistols. Since buying my Kimber 1911, I have bought a bunch of Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick magazines. I like them a LOT better than the "stock" Kimber 1911 magazine that came with my pistol.

MojoTexas

[shootthesheet]

I have never had an issue with fully loading my mags and keeping them that way. The only concern that I have had is welds on a few cheaper AR mags. Springs wear from being pressed and released and not from being pressed and left. It is the nature of the metals we use today to not bend and lose their shape easily. There is a lot of info out there about this and most people have come to the realization that changing mags for any reason other than known issues is not necessary. If mine wear out I will buy new ones but I am not going to worry.

[Embalmo]

Guys,

I use what I like to call "range time". If you go to the range a bare minimum of once a month, you'll know what is and ain't working with your guns.

Embalmo

[Dusty Harry]

I have about a dozen high quality .45 ACP mags (1911) and each one is numbered. I rotate through them for carry with each range visit and then buy a bunch of replacement springs about every 5 years.