Lets talk magazines...

B

Bachá

New member
Hi, so most of you know I am a newbie...

My question is... how long will a magazine last with regular use? I think the consensus is that it doesnt harm to leave them loaded right?

How many magazines do you stack up for your defensive guns? why?

So as you can see I can make a lot of questions per minute :D
 
It really varies from manufacturer to manufacturer to capacity to how it's used.

Springs are cheap to keep a few around and most failures will show with the slide not locking back initially.

Realistically you are looking at thousands of rounds on the low side.

Chris.
 
If the mag was designed and built properly, it should last almost indefinitely.
I have some Colt pistols that are 90-100+ years old, and all the springs are still working perfectly.
I've bought some modern magazines that needed new springs after two years of weekly use.
I also left a modern mag loaded for twenty years, and occasional tests revealed that it was still working.
So . . . old, as in age, doesn't mean much. Old, as in used a lot, might mean you'll need to replace a mag or a spring.
Keeping mags loaded for long periods might not cause degradation of the spring, but some mags will suffer from feedlip spreading from the constant upward pressure.
Mags that I expect to leave stored/loaded for a long time, I'll download 10%.
 
Thanks for the replies... As I have stated in my other post I am from Guatemala.

Locally I can get glock, beretta and CZ magazines... if that. Nice gunshops are a 6 hours drive from me... so I am thinking about all of this...

Obviously I dont plan to carry 60 magazines with me :-) just considering all the factors giving my circunstances.
 
I remember from one of your other threads that Glocks are crazy expensive in Guatemala, but I don't have a clue what that means for magazine prices there. You mentioned nice gun shops being 6 hours from you. Can you order them online? Is that legal?

There's considerable (and heated) debate over whether mag springs are worn out by: (a) loading and unloading; or (b) simply leaving them loaded. I'll leave that debate to folks who know considerably more about the technical side of springs than I. That said, I've never worn out a magazine myself. I did rebuild 5 that I bought used, but that's as close as I've come. Just bought new springs and followers and popped 'em in.

For a defensive pistol, I like to have ~10 magazines. If I came across a great deal on them, I might want more. I don't carry more than 1 spare at a time, but having a bunch of magazines means that I can load them at home. Since most of my local ranges charge by the hour, I don't want to waste my time at the range loading magazines. If I'm at the one that charges by the day, it's less of a concern.

If it's just a target pistol, I'm good with having 3-5 magazines. Most of the time that I shoot those, it's at the "charge by the day" range, and I can load mags while Mrs. McGee shoots. (If I go to the range alone, I usually just take my defensive pistols and practice with those.)
 
You got the Beretta compact, didn't you? Mags should have a long life. Having a few on hand is nice, and extends the life of each. In the US, we can kind of pick a couple up whenever we see them on sale. From what you have said I guess you have to be a bit more purposeful in acquiring some spares.
 
For my Defensive / Carry handguns and for running Tactical drills with them - I have 10 mags for each gun. I carry the gun with 2 of these 10 mags that I train with as well.

My primary guns are both 1911's, one in 9mm and one in .45 acp, the Wilson Combat mags I use in them have been performing well after 50,000 rds or more thru the gun.....but I will break them down and clean them at least once a month ( and I put about 1,200 - 1,500 rds thru my primary gun every month) with those mags.

Wilson has come out with some new style mags ...and I'll replace them if I see its a significant improvement...and in their new ETM mags its a good change, so I am mixing in some new mags right now.
 
I own two centerfire semi-automatic pistols which are 100 years old. They both seem to have the original magazines with the original springs. They both function perfectly.

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I own two centerfire semi-automatic pistols which are 100 years old. They both seem to have the original magazines with the original springs. They both function perfectly.
Click to expand...

Wooooow....!
 
You got the Beretta compact, didn't you? Mags should have a long life. Having a few on hand is nice, and extends the life of each. In the US, we can kind of pick a couple up whenever we see them on sale. From what you have said I guess you have to be a bit more purposeful in acquiring some spares.
Click to expand...

Yes I did... I bought also a 20 round mec gar magazine that I hear are awesome. They are $75 here :-(

Yes I need to me like you say more pueposeful both because of budget and ease of access.
 
I remember from one of your other threads that Glocks are crazy expensive in Guatemala, but I don't have a clue what that means for magazine prices there. You mentioned nice gun shops being 6 hours from you. Can you order them online? Is that legal?
Click to expand...

Expensive also.... magazines are 3 to 4 times what I see in the USA stores... this is the third world :-) no online sales here :-(

Usually you can go to the local stores and they will get you what you need... but it takes days. I am not a prepper or anything, but just checking and trying to think about anything and everything.
 
Speaking of thinking about everything... I had the oportunity to get a Sphinx SDP Compact... beautiful gun, almost at USA MSRP. But the guys where clear that they were having that special because they are not bringing sphinx into the country anymore...

I dont know if I made a mistake but I decided to pass...
 
Also, in my opinion, if you are going to keep them loaded I wouldn't keep them at maximum capacity 24/7. Could shorten the life of the spring.
 
Hi, so most of you know I am a newbie...

My question is... how long will a magazine last with regular use? I think the consensus is that it doesnt harm to leave them loaded right?

How many magazines do you stack up for your defensive guns? why?

So as you can see I can make a lot of questions per minute
Click to expand...

I keep all my magazines loaded all the time. Been doing that for 45 years of shooting and never had a magazine wear out.

On one of my guns I kept the magazines loaded for 20 years without shooting it. Took it to the range and everything was fine.

I like to have at least 5 magazines for each gun. When the Red Chinese and the Black Helicopters hit the beaches I want to be ready for them.
 
I can only say for all steel 45autos, 1911 and non-1911. The mag will last for single digit thousand rounds, usually the back would crack causing the lips to spread.
 
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