Stupid FAL magazine question

C

Coronach

New member
Its a stupid question, not a stupid mag:

I am a firm believer that pistol mag springs are NOT hurt by leaving them loaded full-up for long periods of time. However, there is a tendency for people to advise others to either not load a rifle magazine to full capacity, or to leave it loaded for long periods. I'm talking, of course, about standard-capacity metric FAL magazines.

What gives? Is this just an old wives...err, old gunsmith's tale, or is there a basis in fact? My gut instinct is to load it up and use it like a pistol mag, but keystrokes are cheap, and I thought I'd ask here first.

Mike
 
I rotate mine every week or so. . .

The FAL mag springs will lose their tension if left loaded for extended periods. . . FWIW.
 
They WILL NOT wear quicker if left loaded. They WILL wear with use (cycling them), just like every other spring in the world. They WILL be damaged if you over-compress them, jut like every other spring in the world.
 
The debate rages on

Okay, kinda what I thought.

Next question: overcompression?

I know that Some People load their 20 round mags up to only 16 or 18, and their thirties up to 25 or 28. The theory is that loaded to capacity, mags will not feed reliably. More Old Gunsmith's Tales?

Yes, these are the same people who claim it kills the springs to keep them loaded. ;)

Mike

PS I seem to remember reading/hearing that when the m-16 was first issued, such 'underloading' was commonplace and needed. Dunno if there is truth to that or not.
 
I've had 2 FAL mags (Steyr alloys) and two AR mags (Thermold) fully loaded since 1997. I'll shoot 'em this weekend at let you know:)
 
I heard that someone found a 1911 pistol that their grandpa left behind after he passed away. It had been buried in the bottom of a chest with a loaded magazine for many years (since the 30's or something). The magazine spring still worked.
 
As long as the magazine spring does not exceed its elastic load limit (and it should NEVER be able to, as the magazine itself limits over-extending the spring), its useful life is not affected by the full load of rounds. Cycling or repeated working of the spring more likely shortens its life but only barely (not at all in theory!). Steel used in these springs is selected so that the S-N curve (stess vs. number of cycles) is virtually infinite (over its designed excursion or compression range.) This means that they have infinite fatigue life (or an infinite number of cycles before failure). Wearing or fatiguing your springs by loading a full complement of rounds is, in fact, a myth. The truth can be found in a 1st or 2nd year college primer on engineering materials. Cheers, Cryoman

A useful analogy is that of a paperclip. Does holding two sheets of paper in a paper clip for 30 years wear or diminish its ability to hold the papers together? NO. A 30 year old paper clip is as new (it terms of its strenth or springiness) as the 1st day it held them together. If you try to clip it to a pencil, you exceed the elastic limit of the metal (a permanent or inelastic deformation occurs). Now the paperclip can NEVER again hold two sheets of paper as it did when new.
 
OK,

in other words, rifle mags are the same as pistol mags, only larger. :D

As I said in my post, thats what I assumed, but, we all know about assumptions... ;)

Thanks, guys

Mike
 
All the foregoing is true...

for a good quality magazine by a reputable manufacturer. Then you have Kimber mags... ;)
 
Ye gods!

ICryoman, that was quite possibly the best, most straightforward explanation of spring stress that I have ever seen! Thank you!

I feel that I must point out that this is a nearly moot point in practice, as FAL springs are available from DSA for $1 each, and used OEM mags for $5.
 
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