question about storing loaded magazines for zombies day :-)

[surplus mike]

how many rounds of ammo can you keep in a 30 round mag (long term) and the mag still operate smoothly , anyone know ? i have a few that i store in ammo cans with 20 rounds in each one. just wanted to make sure that was'nt to much pressure on the spring for a long term storage. i like to be prepared to just grab and go if the time comes and didnt want to worry about magazine failure. my mags are the new improved brown follower steel mags us issue thanks.

[Pooprocket]

According to Patrick Sweeney author of the "Gun Digest Book of the AR15" springs do not wear out from being compressed. He states that they wear from cycling, so if you unload your mags to allow the spring to rest you are wearing the spring more then if you just left it loaded. The service life of magazines springs is rated in the 10s to 100s of thousands of cycles.

That being said I know of one shotgun that had the fixed magazine spring wear out with little use, but years of compression. Though, this could be considered a material defect.

Another worry is the lips spreading from the constant force of a loaded mag, but I doubt this is an issue with steel mags.

[KAC-SR-25-EMCARBINE]

In my experience, I keep mags fully loaded. No adverse affects I've observed on my platforms YET...

Not much use if you have to tell the BG " Hold on, lemme top these off really quick."


If it really bothers you, keep the magazines loaded and replace the springs on a schedule annually/ bi-annually. <<< Just an idea...

Don't throw those springs away. I'm sure others here would gladly offer to "recycle" them for you.

Hope this helps...

[surplus mike]

thanks for the replies. i also found info by doing a search here. and it came up the same, that only cycling wears out the springs.

[MP_OHIO]

Yep, I was told that "modern" mag springs are fine, and older mag springs(not sure how much older) won't hold up over time. I would say any mag made in the last decade would be A-OK

[surplus mike]

thanks, it also helps me that i sell them for $10.00 each. brand new. lol