TexasCHLforum.com

To be clear, when I said earlier that my magazines stay loaded, I also meant that I have a round chambered and my M&P is ready to fire. It stays in this condition with only short breaks for cleaning. Three years, 5000+ rounds. Yes, metals can change over time. However, the springs in a modern autoloader will last long enough that most of us will not see the difference. There are exceptions, of course. Contact your pistol's manufacturer if you have questions.

Sorry to revive an old thread, but this video seems to lay out clearly the science behind what many had already stated, but in video from with charts & stuff to articulate the same conclusion: modern springs will likely outlast the other components in a consumable item.

https://youtu.be/lNnrguN7nUM?si=RDmuud7quXJxstHw

I had an AR that sat in the gun case for about 4 years with a round in the chamber, cocked and locked. When I was shooting it later, I started getting misfires. Tried with different makes of ammo, same issue. It wasn't hitting the primer hard enough. I put in a Wolf Extra Power hammer spring. Problem solved. Since then, I've stored the gun uncocked with an empty chamber.

Ruark wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 3:18 pm I had an AR that sat in the gun case for about 4 years with a round in the chamber, cocked and locked. When I was shooting it later, I started getting misfires. Tried with different makes of ammo, same issue. It wasn't hitting the primer hard enough. I put in a Wolf Extra Power hammer spring. Problem solved. Since then, I've stored the gun uncocked with an empty chamber.

I am thinking it may have been more of a dried out/non-lubrication issue than weakened spring. However, unless you need to be locked and loaded with a firearm, there’s no reason to have the springs compressed and under tension.

Mike S wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:59 am Sorry to revive an old thread, but this video seems to lay out clearly the science behind what many had already stated, but in video from with charts & stuff to articulate the same conclusion: modern springs will likely outlast the other components in a consumable item.

https://youtu.be/lNnrguN7nUM?si=RDmuud7quXJxstHw

Very interesting video and a good job by the young fellow. Thank you for sharing it. I had a police officer friend dating back to the late 60's that carried a 1911, which was a rarity back then as most carried revolvers; mainly Model 19 S&W's. He was convinced he had to unload his mags every month or so to let them rest and rotate to the ones he had "rested". I ran into him a couple of years ago and gun talk came up and he brought up the fact he always told any rookies he trained who carried semi-autos to do the same. Knowing him as I do this video would fall on deaf ears.