The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Semi-automatic Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 24, 2013, 12:48 PM   #1
SgtLumpy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 2, 2013
Posts: 779
Do Unused Magazine Springs Wear Out?

"Wear out" may not be the best term...

I know engineers and machinists that tell me springs don't get weak or lose their tension if held static. They only lose tension if they are used through their limits of motion. I know plenty of shooting coaches who advocate changing out magazines once a week to "exercise" the springs and keep them from taking a set.

The two opinions seem at constrast with each other.

Any engineers or other spring experts on this forum (or anyone else, of course) care to comment?

Seems to me if you park a truck and don't move it for a couple of decades, the coil or leaf springs don't "go bad" or collapse. But if you drive it hard, hit bumps, tow a lot, cause the suspension to move, THAT would tend to wear out the springs.


Sgt Lumpy - n0eq
SgtLumpy is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 01:34 PM   #2
NickySantoro
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 14, 2008
Posts: 217
It is my understanding from a post I read on another board by someone who claimed to be an engineer with knowledge in this area that is was the compression/decompression cycles that wear out a spring. His explanation seemed logical.
FWIW
YMMV
NickySantoro is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 01:44 PM   #3
AZAK
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 15, 2008
Location: the object towards which the action of the sea is directed
Posts: 2,123
You might want to read some of the recent discussion on this topic:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512240
__________________
The lowest paid college major/degree in this country after graduation...
Elementary Education.

Now, go figure...
AZAK is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 04:51 PM   #4
jonnyc
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 20, 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 1,731
Simple answer, No, they don't.
__________________
2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!!
Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance
PM or email me for 2024 show details.
jonnyc is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 04:53 PM   #5
TunnelRat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 22, 2011
Posts: 12,181
Like others I was always told it is repeated compression/decompression that wear them out.
__________________
Know the status of your weapon
Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges
Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture
Maintain situational awareness
TunnelRat is online now  
Old January 24, 2013, 05:02 PM   #6
iraiam
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2012
Location: Lakewood, CO
Posts: 1,057
It has been my experience that a properly used magazine will function just fine when it is sored full, even for years at a time, that being said; the several mags I keep loaded all the time get swapped out once a year or so, If I don't shoot that ammo up first.

By properly used I mean if you have a 30 round magazine only put 30 rounds in it, it may hold 31 or 32, but putting more than 30 in it compresses the spring too far and will damage the coils.

I have several milsurp 30 round mags dated 1989 that were stored full for a couple years at a time a few different times, they still function perfectly. Although it should be noted that the springs and followers were upgraded recently, but not because there was a problem with them, I wanted no tilt followers and they came with new springs. I still have the old ones.
__________________
NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999

"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

Last edited by iraiam; January 24, 2013 at 05:10 PM.
iraiam is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 06:50 PM   #7
treg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 26, 2006
Posts: 1,102
Quote:
Seems to me if you park a truck and don't move it for a couple of decades, the coil or leaf springs don't "go bad" or collapse. But if you drive it hard, hit bumps, tow a lot, cause the suspension to move, THAT would tend to wear out the springs.
I have a trailer made from the bed and frame of a pickup. It sits kind of high so one time I left it bottomed out with a load of dirt for about 9 months. I think it sprung up higher than it was before when it finally got unloaded. FWIW
__________________
.44 Special: For those who get it, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.
treg is offline  
Old January 25, 2013, 06:15 AM   #8
Patrice
Junior member
 
Join Date: April 4, 2009
Posts: 174
Hhmmm....I realize that I'm going against the "common wisdom"....yes they do. [Has anyone ever wondered why this question is perpetually raised, ,even when the "engineering-experts" say it doesn't happen...? Might be worth thinking about, even if it causes a crisis of confidence.]--Patrice
Patrice is offline  
Old January 25, 2013, 06:27 AM   #9
AndyWest
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2011
Posts: 627
Did you just quote yourself? That doesn't count
__________________
Shoot smart. Shoot S-Mart.
AndyWest is offline  
Old January 25, 2013, 11:12 AM   #10
Nanuk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 2, 2005
Location: Where the deer and the antelope roam.
Posts: 3,082
It depends on the springs,

If they are Glock springs those are the worse, send them to me right away for disposal.


I have used military mags that were loaded for 40 years and they still worked. Springs will take a set, some more than others.
__________________
Retired Law Enforcement
U. S. Army Veteran
Armorer
My rifle and pistol are tools, I am the weapon.
Nanuk is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.05979 seconds with 10 queries