Magazine Question

[Original Ken]

I have heard everything on loaded magazines from leaving them loaded forever to changing them out once a week.  I have a Ruger automatic as well as a 1911.  My general rule of thumb is that I change to different mags about every 10 days or so.  Having 4 mags for each will give the spring "a rest" if that is really necessary.  I did have a guy tell me his spring in his mag went to the happy hunting ground from not being changed or rested.  I asked him how long it had been since the mag had been touched and he told me 3 years!!!  I would think that would be excessive for any magazine spring.  I think that if you change them once a month you should be fine.   :-D

[R. Tillery]

I carry an auto on duty and off. I rotate my mags every 3-4 MONTHS. This has been my standard practice for the past 20 years.

I also rotate my duty/carry ammo at the same time.

[Mikey]

ck:  I'm a bad boy in this regard and even moreso since the Original Ken responded as to how much of a good boy he is in this regard.  

I have used magazines for 1911s tht have been loaded and left in desk drawers, glove boxes, tool boxes or fishing kits, for years.  I 'try' to take all my different magazines to the range about once every 6 months when I go out to blast off ammo, kick cans or re-establish my 'skills' - and shoot the ammo I have had loaded into them for that time.  I have never had a 45 magazine go south on me with that practice.  The same applies to the magazines in my Tokarev, Berettas or Walthers.  None have failed on me.  But, I also make certain each one of them works properly before I start carrying the gun.  I have seen and shot magazines full of ammunition that have been laying around for years.  About 15 years ago I purchased a bunch of loose 45 ammo from a friend who said his Dad had picked it up years before - I thought it was WWII steel cased stuff but it turned out to be WWI cupro-nickled bulleted ammo.  The box also contained two magazines that were fully loaded.  They functioned perfectly - can't say the same for the ammo, but the mags worked just fine.  

I wouldn't worry too much about leaving a mag full of ammo around for a while - just make certain it continues to work for you before you need it.  Hope this helps.  Mikey.

[TopGun]

I shoot a M92FS competetively. From April through September the magazines are loaded and used once per week. From September through end of March, it is usually loaded and I empty the loaded mags at least once per month. I have used these same mags since purchasing the gun in early '94. The only problem I ever encountered was the lips get worn paper thin from being used so much. I replaced 2 over the years. I have about 6 hi-caps and 2 factory 10rds. The only time my 92 misfed was due to teh worn lips. I also use a Kimber Custom Combat as much, and the mags do not wear the same. Anyway, my magazines can sit as much as a month idle. My 45's are idle at least that long, cuz sometimes I use my S&W 625 Mountain gun and full-moons. I vote to keep em loaded. I'll bet Law enforcement are kept at least a month or two without getting changed.
Good luck.