How long can you keep a mag filled?

[JE3146]

For security purposes / home defense .. how long can you keep a magazine filled before the spring goes dead?

Or is it just better off to buy like a 30 rounder and keep it half full?

[MsCav]

Not sure, I have had 30 rounders full for at least a year and they still function. I do rotate yearly at least.

[Circuits]

Leaving a mag loaded or empty generally does not adversely affect the spring.

Fatigue/failure comes from repeated loading and unloading over time.

Over time, the spring will take a slight 'set' - but should still feed and fire just fine, and there are instances of mags left loaded 50 or more years being inserted and fired til empty with no problems.

This presumes quality mags and quality tempered springs... if you wind your own mag springs from chicken wire, you might have a different experience.

[Klutz347]

Like Circuits said, it is the repeated loading and unloading over time that causes springs to fail.

If you are worried about it, why not rotate mags? When you go shooting (which you should to keep familuar with the gun and keep in practice) make the loaded mag the first to be shot. Then when you are finished for the day, load up another mag until you go shooting again.

[JE3146]

Don't really have the gun or the mags to do that yet.. but... with the gun I do have.. I normally got shooting with people about twice to 3 times a month.. so... framiliarization wouldn't be a problem.. thanx though for all those that replied.. good info to know