loaded magazines

firebird45331 · 02-10-2008, 08:43 AM

Do you all keep your mags loaded or unloaded?

Bookman · 02-10-2008, 08:57 AM

Unloaded, for safety reasons. NOT because I'm worried about that "the springs will weaken" nonsense.

Cyrano · 02-10-2008, 09:03 AM

If you're talking about my Grab & Go bag, all but one. I'm not comfortable storing my AR-7 broken down with the bolt closed on an empty chamber and a magazine of live .22LR rounds in it, which is how one of the two issue magazines for the AR-7 must be stored when it's broken down into its stock. The other five magazines, including the No. 2 mag in the stock, are stored loaded.

I've heard you should not store magazines loaded for extended periods and in fact I do unload and reload all the magazines once every 6 months just to be safe. But the way I figure it, the way I have my magazines stored in the bag they are easily accessed, and it's the work of a second to drop the No. 1 mag out of the rifle and replace it with the No. 2 anyway, so it's not a big deal.

The magazines for my other guns are stored unloaded. I load them only when I'm about to go to the range. Different situation.

mos19k · 02-10-2008, 02:52 PM

I've had my GLOCK loaded since the day I bought it in '95. Only time it gets unloaded is when I fire it and then it gets reloaded right away, I've never had a problem with any of my springs. There is an exception to my claim, the after market magazines for my Mini-14 did stretch out and lose their tension but that was due to cheap springs.

win39 · 02-10-2008, 02:59 PM

I never keep then loaded. For safety reasons

DWARREN123 · 02-10-2008, 03:12 PM

Loaded and ready.

smokey · 02-10-2008, 04:04 PM

An unloaded gun is just a stick!!! All of mine are loaded

270wsm · 02-10-2008, 04:40 PM

Home defense stays loaded.Everything else: unloaded!

Big Dog · 02-10-2008, 06:07 PM

All mags loaded! They take too long to load if/when the hammer drops. The GUNS are stored unloaded, except the 'ready defense' guns.

two-70 · 02-10-2008, 06:15 PM

i leave em loaded with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 rounds

meatloaf · 02-11-2008, 01:08 AM

I leave my mags loaded with the exception of one roun, I was raised on the spring weakening idea. I dont know if its true or not its just what I have been told.

GlockMeister · 02-11-2008, 01:26 AM

When I asked the question, I was told, leaving them loaded doesn't weaken the spring or cause it to fail. It is the loading and unloading of a magazine that tends to wear out a spring or cause it to fail.

The only caution about a loaded magazine would be the same as having a loaded gun, it's a safety issue. If a child were to find the gun, and the magazine is there loaded also, well, you know the rest. The same as the loaded revolver or any gun for that matter, safety or common sense or responsible gun handling.

If you have no children, or no kids that could have access, then no worries I guess, other then if someone breaks in, and finds them, and can get to them or has, and you walk in on it, well, again, you know the rest.

I have a child, and for the time being, I've decided to not keep any magazines loaded. As for the revolver or shotgun, if I'm home, they're there, if I'm not,they're in the safe and it's locked along with everything else. And all my other ammo is kept in a separate safe. When the child is out of the house, I may change habits?

I figure, rather then have all my mags or some loaded, for the SHTF scenario or home protection, I'd wait until it happened. I'd rather keep a revolver or shot gun loaded for home protection if that's the case or reason of asking. If it is a SHTF scenario, and I don't have time to load, or the shot gun or revolver won't stave off whatever long enough to load them, it probably wouldn't have mattered that much to start with then.

It's one of those, do what you think,feel or want to things I guess. It isn't like you can't buy new mag springs if needed.

G-Meister

Otter · 02-11-2008, 11:42 AM

I keep all my mags loaded. I've seen 1911A1 mags loaded with WD head stamped ammo from WW2 fire without a flaw after 50 years.

Beans · 02-22-2008, 10:45 PM

For the revolver fans, each empty revolver is kept in a handgun case with several loaded speed loaders.

Doesn't matter which case you grab, ammo goes with the gun

ouch · 02-22-2008, 11:51 PM

I keep mine loaded.... for safety reasons.

pball942 · 02-23-2008, 01:00 AM

2 loaded revolvers. Also keep a couple of rounds sitting in the cabnit next to the 30-30. For when I need to get at a yote near the house.

sell33 · 02-23-2008, 01:13 AM

I keep only three or four rounds in my rifle mag, dont have a handgun right now, dont think it would be loaded if i did

damage855 · 02-23-2008, 07:17 AM

I keep mine loaded for the same reason my Fire exstiqusiher is loaded.

VATX Hunter · 02-23-2008, 10:00 PM

All of my guns are locked in a Gun cabinet except one revolver. The revolver is loaded 24/7 without one in the chamber. I go to bed it is right next to me out of sight,
As soon as I wake up I put my pants on I put my gun on.
I Dont have to worry about kids, Or getting to it if I need it Or any of the other things.

MrsS · 02-23-2008, 10:07 PM

Rifle and handguns loaded but locked up for my childs' sake; very quick to access for home defense, though.

02-10-2008, 08:43 AM	#1
firebird45331 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 84	loaded magazines Do you all keep your mags loaded or unloaded?

02-10-2008, 02:59 PM	#5
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	I never keep then loaded. For safety reasons __________________ Benny

02-10-2008, 03:12 PM	#6
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 774	Loaded and ready. __________________ Have a nice day!

02-10-2008, 04:40 PM	#8
270wsm Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 326 Images: 2	Home defense stays loaded.Everything else: unloaded! __________________ THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT,THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER,AS I HAVE LOVED YOU-Jesus Christ(John15:12)

02-10-2008, 06:07 PM	#9
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,216	All mags loaded! They take too long to load if/when the hammer drops. The GUNS are stored unloaded, except the 'ready defense' guns. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

02-10-2008, 08:57 AM	#2
Bookman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 10 paces south of Canada Posts: 738	Unloaded, for safety reasons. NOT because I'm worried about that "the springs will weaken" nonsense.

02-10-2008, 09:03 AM	#3
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,356	If you're talking about my Grab & Go bag, all but one. I'm not comfortable storing my AR-7 broken down with the bolt closed on an empty chamber and a magazine of live .22LR rounds in it, which is how one of the two issue magazines for the AR-7 must be stored when it's broken down into its stock. The other five magazines, including the No. 2 mag in the stock, are stored loaded. I've heard you should not store magazines loaded for extended periods and in fact I do unload and reload all the magazines once every 6 months just to be safe. But the way I figure it, the way I have my magazines stored in the bag they are easily accessed, and it's the work of a second to drop the No. 1 mag out of the rifle and replace it with the No. 2 anyway, so it's not a big deal. The magazines for my other guns are stored unloaded. I load them only when I'm about to go to the range. Different situation.

02-10-2008, 02:52 PM	#4
mos19k Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 314	I've had my GLOCK loaded since the day I bought it in '95. Only time it gets unloaded is when I fire it and then it gets reloaded right away, I've never had a problem with any of my springs. There is an exception to my claim, the after market magazines for my Mini-14 did stretch out and lose their tension but that was due to cheap springs.

02-10-2008, 04:04 PM	#7
smokey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 100	An unloaded gun is just a stick!!! All of mine are loaded

02-10-2008, 06:15 PM	#10
two-70 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ponca city, oklahoma Posts: 1,778	i leave em loaded with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 rounds __________________ What Would Jesus Do ????? Just Ask Him.

02-11-2008, 01:08 AM	#11
meatloaf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: lakewood CO Posts: 904 Images: 3	I leave my mags loaded with the exception of one roun, I was raised on the spring weakening idea. I dont know if its true or not its just what I have been told.

02-11-2008, 01:26 AM	#12
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 5,500	When I asked the question, I was told, leaving them loaded doesn't weaken the spring or cause it to fail. It is the loading and unloading of a magazine that tends to wear out a spring or cause it to fail. The only caution about a loaded magazine would be the same as having a loaded gun, it's a safety issue. If a child were to find the gun, and the magazine is there loaded also, well, you know the rest. The same as the loaded revolver or any gun for that matter, safety or common sense or responsible gun handling. If you have no children, or no kids that could have access, then no worries I guess, other then if someone breaks in, and finds them, and can get to them or has, and you walk in on it, well, again, you know the rest. I have a child, and for the time being, I've decided to not keep any magazines loaded. As for the revolver or shotgun, if I'm home, they're there, if I'm not,they're in the safe and it's locked along with everything else. And all my other ammo is kept in a separate safe. When the child is out of the house, I may change habits? I figure, rather then have all my mags or some loaded, for the SHTF scenario or home protection, I'd wait until it happened. I'd rather keep a revolver or shot gun loaded for home protection if that's the case or reason of asking. If it is a SHTF scenario, and I don't have time to load, or the shot gun or revolver won't stave off whatever long enough to load them, it probably wouldn't have mattered that much to start with then. It's one of those, do what you think,feel or want to things I guess. It isn't like you can't buy new mag springs if needed. G-Meister __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

02-11-2008, 11:42 AM	#13
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 955 Images: 6	I keep all my mags loaded. I've seen 1911A1 mags loaded with WD head stamped ammo from WW2 fire without a flaw after 50 years. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously. Last edited by Otter; 02-11-2008 at 11:46 AM.

02-22-2008, 10:45 PM	#14
Beans Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 30	For the revolver fans, each empty revolver is kept in a handgun case with several loaded speed loaders. Doesn't matter which case you grab, ammo goes with the gun

02-22-2008, 11:51 PM	#15
ouch Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ridgerun, Mo Posts: 184	I keep mine loaded.... for safety reasons. __________________ Banned from gunandgame

02-23-2008, 01:00 AM	#16
pball942 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 256	2 loaded revolvers. Also keep a couple of rounds sitting in the cabnit next to the 30-30. For when I need to get at a yote near the house. __________________ Running is not a plan. Running is what you do when your plan fails.

02-23-2008, 01:13 AM	#17
sell33 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,194	I keep only three or four rounds in my rifle mag, dont have a handgun right now, dont think it would be loaded if i did

02-23-2008, 07:17 AM	#18
damage855 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina / Lake Norman Posts: 931 Blog Entries: 1	I keep mine loaded for the same reason my Fire exstiqusiher is loaded. __________________ If total goverment control will make us all safer, then why are prisons so dangerous?

02-23-2008, 10:00 PM	#19
VATX Hunter Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Texas Posts: 18	All of my guns are locked in a Gun cabinet except one revolver. The revolver is loaded 24/7 without one in the chamber. I go to bed it is right next to me out of sight, As soon as I wake up I put my pants on I put my gun on. I Dont have to worry about kids, Or getting to it if I need it Or any of the other things.

02-23-2008, 10:07 PM	#20
MrsS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Originally from the 26th state of the union; now living in the 16th. Posts: 1,420	Rifle and handguns loaded but locked up for my childs' sake; very quick to access for home defense, though.