Magazine Rotation

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject: Magazine Rotation

Just curious...

What is your preferred method of rotating magazines in your handguns?

I haven't been shooting as much as I would like (work and the price of ammo is killin' me) so my magazines have not been getting enough exercise lately. I keep two for loaded for each gun and "rest" the others. How often should they be rotated?

Also, a so called "expert" recommended I download hi-cap magazines by one round (15 rounds in my XD-M 16 round mags) in order to prolong the life of the magazine spring. Sounded like it made sense, but I thought I would ask the folks here their opinion of this practice.

Any thoughts or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

Here's what a gun spring company, Wolff, says:
www.gunsprings.com/faq#Faq5

I've got a 17 round Ruger SR9 spring that has probably been loaded for 18-24 months. Next time I get to go to the range I'll try it.

inthedark · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:13 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

On my duty sidearm S&W 5946 9mm with 15 round mags, I found that after a month of having them loaded that when I went to the range and fired that the last 2 or 3 rounds wouldn't get picked up properly because of spring compression. Keeping one round less than what the capacity is will relieve a good amount of stress on the spring. And I believe you are on the right track with rotating your mags every couple of weeks will extend the life of your mags IMHO.

Elvis · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:14 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

I have a standing joke with my brother in law when we go hunting. I always ask if his magazine is loaded and the scope is clear when we reach the hunting area, and ask if its unloaded when we leave. with a single shot break open rifle with open sights he sees the funny side of it.
I always unload my magazines and dont leave any rounds in them other than when in use. 24-36hrs would probably be the longest they stay full.I guess for home defence firearms you could use a s/s shotty but you will eventually be asking the same question about firing springs, which I let off on my bolts when in storage too.

Vince · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:18 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

Any firearm spring is liable to loose tension over time if put under constant load...magazine spring or firing pin spring.

I always ensure that my magazines are unloaded, and actually remove the bolts from my rifles (that's how they got left at home one hunt Embarassed

) and I also fire the actions on my shotgun (using snap caps of course) before dismantling it and putting it away.

As for carry pistols...I would suggest rotating magazines on a monthly basis, leaving those not being carried at the time empty, allowing the spring to "rest".

Cheers, Vince

lesterg3 · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:08 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

Well how about that you can teach an old dog a new trick.

Yep, on my rifles I never leave the firing pin spring compressed, but I am not really a handgun guy. Lots of them around here and in the cars but never gave a thought to the magazine. I will remedy that situation.

Thanks.

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:42 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

The only "magazine rotation" I practice is to remove the magazine from my belt pouch and remove the one from my carry piece and trade them. The last time I unloaded and reloaded them was because I was practicing (which I do often). Otherwise then that they never are unloaded.

No spring problems. The only time you might have a weak spring develope is if you are constantly loading and unloading spring tension. Constantly loaded springs don't develope a "set" or weaken. Only those that are continually flexed. That's what kills springs.

Joe Boleo · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

I usually switch off magazines every month or so. I have a 1911A1 as a carry gun and do not worry too much about it. I once saw a 1911 magazine that was loaded since WWII and it functioned perfectly. My other carry gun is a revolver so magazine rotation is not an issue. Take care...
Joe

Ominivision1 · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

I also never unload my magazines from my autos except at the range, never had a problem and like Bushy says, you cause wear by unloading and loading.

inthedark · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

Bushmaster wrote:

The only "magazine rotation" I practice is to remove the magazine from my belt pouch and remove the one from my carry piece and trade them. The last time I unloaded and reloaded them was because I was practicing (which I do often). Otherwise then that they never are unloaded.

No spring problems. The only time you might have a weak spring develope is if you are constantly loading and unloading spring tension. Constantly loaded springs don't develope a "set" or weaken. Only those that are continually flexed. That's what kills springs.

Bushy, Is that work hardening the springs and making them brittle?

Coil springs will loose their springyness when compressed for a long period of time and that is usually from poor steel processing. So says my wife who used to work in a spring factory in southern ontario. She said that QA/QC would sometimes come and condemn entire lots of springs and SWMBO would be loading them up to be re smelted again.

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

Quality spring steel will only weaken and develope a "set" if it is flexed many times over a period of time. A loaded magazine that remains loaded (full) will not develope a "set". It has been noted many times and once on this thread, that WW-II .45 ACP magazines that have been left loaded all these years function as new. I have two of the WW-II magazines and They works perfectly in my Colt Series 80 1911.

Elvis · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

they sure knew how to build them back then.
very nice looking gun Bushy I am green with envy as we arent allowed them over here without a whole heap of BS.

slimjim · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

Elvis wrote:

I have a standing joke with my brother in law

Elvis, I didn't know you have a brother in law enforcement.

Like the Wolff FOQ that Pkslinger posted said, magazine springs are critical in hi-capacity semi-autos. Bushy, 7-shot 1911s aren't in this category. There needs to be enough spring force remaining on the last few rounds to keep the bullet nose elevated to the proper angle to enter the chamber. Regardless if you leave your mags loaded, partially loaded, or unloaded, I would recommend checking the mags once a year for proper function. A sign of a weak spring is a bullet jam several rounds into the mag's capacity and it won't feed until empty. I have Glocks for 15 years. I have learned to check every mag once a year to ensure flawless funtioning to the last round. If a mag won't do that, it needs a new spring. I have probably changed out the springs on every mag and I know I've done it twice on one mag.

Elvis · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

ok slim please enlighten me as to my Embarassed

incorrect grammer???
and by the way how do you" leaver your mags loaded"?? wtf

does that have some reference to the 30/30??? Very Happy

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: Magazine Rotation

slimjim...There are people [that I know] who have half their gun safe filled with 30 round magazines loaded for their AK's and AR's. They don't seem to have a problem.

And Elvis...Keep the trusty .30-30 out of this... Very Happy