mags at full cap

[gunner52]

i was just curious as to if it were bad to leave mags at full capasity for long periods of time?

[S&W 10mm]

ive heard bad stories about doing that and it makes perfect since. the longer you leave them at full capacity the higher likelihood the springs will break down and in return you will have either 1 shot, if there was not one in the chamber, or 2 shots if there was one in the chamber. the 2nd shot will be the last round loaded in the magazine. after the 2nd or first shot the spring would have been completely broke down and would not apply the upward force to put the bullets where they can be loaded into the chamber...so unless you want bad news and a bad magazine its probably not the best decision.

[bripro]

this has come up like a thousand times........its fine.

[RoyJackson]

Nope..it's the cycling of the magazine springs that wears them out.
I leave some of my Glock mags loaded all the time. However, I leave them 1 down from full capacity...not for any good reason, but that's what I do.

[gf45acp]

I have 1911 mags that have been loaded almost continuously since 1979. They are fine.

[Feddog82]

Load them up and leave them. Anyone who tells you different is just expressing "hear say" that they choose to believe as truth. All other posts that say they personally have left mags full for long periods of time with no problem are expressing truths. If someone says they have left a mag full and had problems then I choose not to believe that statement but that is my person opinion and not a fact.

Do as you please and you can't go wrong. That's the truth!

[Lycanthrope]

Cycles kill the springs, not being loaded to capacity.

Lycanfearnotthrope

[230HB]

I leave 2 of my handgun mags fully loaded and have done so for the last 6 yrs. Sometimes up to a year and have no problems when taking them to the range and firing.

[eells]

i think it would depend on the mags and the length of storage. under normal circumstances, with good quality mags, itll be fine. but with a shitty plastic mag, over a long enough time frame, eventually the plastic might fail. the springs themselfs shouldnt deteriorate, but something else might fail

[synergy]

You CAN get some feedlip spread, but that's about it.
Nothing beats them up faster than using them.

My carry mags stay loaded ALL the time, except when I use them on the range with range ammo. I'll replace springs when I see a reason to....all my mags are numbered to make it easier to track mag wear and issues.

In short, don't worry about it. Use them, and replace them as needed.