When you have your auto loader mag inserted into firearm and it will be left that way for a while do you want to fill mag to capacity or only 4 or 5 rounds. Does it damage the mag spring to be stowed away full for a bit? Keeping safety on, Does it hurt to keep safety on at all times when again stowed away..I keep thinking it might be putting pressure on a spring?
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Stowed mags and safety question
- Thread starter JamesA
- Start date
If you are storing the pistol loaded, it must be that you want it to be ready for immediate use. That being the case, I'd have at least the magazine fully loaded.
Springs do not fail because they are stored under stress. They fail primarily by fatigue (being cycled). Even so, a well designed and properly heat treated spring has a fairly long life. Springs are inexpensive and their periodic replacement is as much a normal maintenance item as is cleaning the mag itself.
As to the safety position and possible stresses on springs, that probably depends upon the model. I'd leave the safety "off" unless the chamber were loaded. The first thing you are going to do in a defensive situation with an unloaded chamber is to rack the slide and probably reposition the safety to "on". Having to place the safety "off" first is just another thing to do in a potentially stressful situation ... and you don't need that any more than you need a half-loaded mag.
Springs do not fail because they are stored under stress. They fail primarily by fatigue (being cycled). Even so, a well designed and properly heat treated spring has a fairly long life. Springs are inexpensive and their periodic replacement is as much a normal maintenance item as is cleaning the mag itself.
As to the safety position and possible stresses on springs, that probably depends upon the model. I'd leave the safety "off" unless the chamber were loaded. The first thing you are going to do in a defensive situation with an unloaded chamber is to rack the slide and probably reposition the safety to "on". Having to place the safety "off" first is just another thing to do in a potentially stressful situation ... and you don't need that any more than you need a half-loaded mag.