fretout 3 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 ...keep your mags loaded? I usually leave my mags unloaded and load them up before hitting the range. I figured that if I loaded up the mag, it would weaken the spring in the mags, thus making the springs an item that needs to be replaced when needed. Personally, I would like to load up my mags to have them on standby, but I didn't want to sacrifice reliability... What ye say? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) The "weakened springs" things is a common misconception. Repeated loading and unloading causes more damage than leaving the springs compressed. I'd be more worried about polymer feed lips deforming under continuous strain, but I don't even know if that is a reasonable fear. If you're inclined toward emergency preparedness, an empty mag is a decent bottle opener but not much help for its intended purpose. Edited March 14, 2012 by DrThunder88 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tatonic 159 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 All loaded, all the time. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vulcan16 971 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Zombies wont wait for you to load them. . I Keep them loaded in this city. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dad2142Dad 6,559 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Loaded all of the time, makes no sense to have a empty mag. Except for the person coming to do you in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armory 142 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Loaded. Zombies don't wait. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shandlanos 1,470 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Steel mags. Keep 'em loaded. I loaded six mags in 2007, I think September, not sure, got it written down somewhere. Been emptying one magazine about one year later, each year. I have two of those mags still left, loaded. I'll be dumping the 5-year mag this fall. The 1- 2- 3- and 4-year mags have all worked flawlessly. I think I'll save the sixth mag for 2017. Polymer mags might have a problem with deformation, dunno - I don't keep any polymer/plastic/bakelite AK mags loaded, as I have very few and they're collectibles. I have a few AR-15 Pmags I keep loaded, I have one mag that's been loaded for a year and a half or so, originally loaded 30 rounds, 25 left now after a slightly aggressive possum caught some lead on an acquaintance's land. Waste of M855, that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
datrowl 111 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Steel AK mags loaded day and night, poly mags left unloaded, all drums other than open back key wind AK drums unloaded 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hutchsaiga 93 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I have one poly tapco that I got just try out and I don't leave that loaded because the feed lips do seem easily deformed Now all my steel mags? Well, those are filled to the brim my friend. and I've been shooting them for years with no issues. Have you seen the thickness of the lips on these things? Overbuilt to the maximum And like someone else said. Springs wear from use,not static tension Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fretout 3 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Thanks for the responses. I wanted so desperately to load my 12 steel mags up, but a friend told me used to leave his loaded and the springs lost their tension. I will be loading in 5 minutes. Zombies won't be taking me anytime soon! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jamesavery22 54 Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Do you guys... make sure the Saiga's get some luvin too?!? oh wait... Mags loaded? Absolutely. If you have a mag old enough that the spring fatigues from being under constant pressure(not compressing and decompressing just staying compressed) then you have some super old mags. Like WWII old mags. So post pics! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dayofruin 425 Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) All metal AR and AK mags stay loaded. My s-12 mags are loaded as well. My bulgy AK mags I just got won't because they're polymer. Even with steel reinforcement, I don't trust the tension on the feed lips. Edited March 15, 2012 by dayofruin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BpS12 512 Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 12 30rndrs, 3 10rndrs, all steel,1 20rndr, loaded all the time, saves space in the safe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hutchsaiga 93 Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Do you guys... make sure the Saiga's get some luvin too?!? oh wait... Mags loaded? Absolutely. If you have a mag old enough that the spring fatigues from being under constant pressure(not compressing and decompressing just staying compressed) then you have some super old mags. Like WWII old mags. So post pics! Mooorree!! Haha! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 7,071 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 As many times on this forum, and on other forums, that this question has been posed, it should be considered trolling. All my mags are loaded and accessible... Worthless in any other condition. "WAIT! Let me load this mag before you kill me and rape my wife." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigtwin 219 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 As many times on this forum, and on other forums, that this question has been posed, it should be considered trolling. All my mags are loaded and accessible... Worthless in any other condition. "WAIT! Let me load this mag before you kill me and rape my wife." You are right in your thoughts 100%! BUT, some new folks don't know or have no understanding/education about this crap! Springs do not wear from being compressed or not....it is the back and forth that wears on them. Even then it takes quite a bit of time to wear them out.....needless to say all loaded all the time! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike U. 51 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 All loaded, all the time. Even da drum. An unloaded mag is only good for throwing in case of emergency. And, only steel mags for that, since they'd make bigger dents than polymer mags. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shandlanos 1,470 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 It's not quite that simple... GOOD springs don't wear from compression. Shitty, improperly tempered springs do. I have had problems with leaving some mags loaded in the past - first-gen AGP 10-round S-12 mags, but AGP replaced the springs with good ones when they failed. I had problems with those Korean Glock magazines - I left a few 33-rounders loaded for several months, when I went to empty them the springs couldn't keep up with the cyclic rate of a Glock 19. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 Steel feed lips are OK to leave loaded all the time. They like to be full. Polymer feed lips are good at unloading themselves if you leave them loaded.They have been know to get indigestion when left with a full belly. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leadchucker 12 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 The springs in a mag are under compression even when the mag is empty. If you are that worried about weakening the springs, store the mags disassembled. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fretout 3 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 Sorry if I asked a question that has come up in the past, but after. It finding any info about this one topic, I figured I would start a thread. I always kept a few steel mags loaded up, just not all of them, after hearing of issues with some shooter's mags. I never kept my Bulgy Polymer mags loaded, out of concern for the feeds. Thanks Jamesavery22 for your contribution. For those that were upset by my topic, you've given us all something we can appreciate! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shankspony 40 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 I'm glad you asked your question, fretout. Prior to my infatuation with Saigas, my experience has been with steel pistol mags and single shot rifles. Even after I bought my Saiga 12, I had no idea that polymer feed lips in rifle mags would deform/slip as the shell detent is different. The thought just never came to mind. I learned something today - and I wouldn't known/thought to search the forum first on this topic for education. I keep all my Ruger 9mm and S-12 mags loaded, but only have a silly 5 round 7.62x39 mag at this time (unloaded). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saigabob 4 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 I keep my 7 steel ak mags loaded, my dad keeps his beretta 92 15rd mags loaded. he didnt shoot the gun for 10years and had the mags loaded. In the past few months hes put almost 1k rds through it with no issues at all Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon P. 1 Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 (edited) Have you seen THE WALKING DEAD.... Loaded all the time all the way everyday ..... now back to those pics jamesavery posted hahaha Edited March 28, 2012 by Jon P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
semper299 284 Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 I keep all mags loaded. Steel AK mags, AR mags (pmags, SS, alum), pistol mags, ect. If the mag fails, I will replace it or some part of it. Better than trying to fix or replace my family because my mag was unloaded. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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