Semi Auto Magazines

[Keith]

I sure all autos are different but is there a general amount of time if you keep a magazine loaded that you may want to think about replacing due to the spring getting weak? I usually swap from a 40 cal to a 45 cal every other month just to give the springs a rest. I usually carry a full mag with a spare. Im just trying to keep up on maint and prevent any problems. Thanks for any help.

[suthdj]

I have seen other post on this and from what I have read the spring will not weaken due being always compressed.

[USA1]

if anything , the springs wear out quicker from repeated compression and decompression .

[MoJo]

Coil springs wear out from cycles, compression and decompression. Kind of like bending a soda can back and forth until it breaks. The springs in modern magazines will go through hundreds if not thousands of cycles before they fail. Replacement springs are available from numerous sources and aren't too expensive. Wolff gunsprings makes a large assortment of after market springs. The flat leaf springs found in some guns should not be left under tension they will "take a set" losing their power.

[joe817]

Kind of like bending a soda can back and forth until it breaks.

Or a coat hanger. A very good analogy. It does more harm to cycle rounds through a magazine than to simply leave it either empty or loaded.

[5thGenTexan]

I have 6 mags for each of my semi's. I keep one in the gun and on spare fully charged, and rotate every 30 days. I started doing that when I figured out the springs in my Hsc had gotten so weak they won't reliably feed the last 2 rounds.

[MechAg94]

I have pistol mags both loaded and unloaded and have never noticed an issue. The only problem might come if you bought cheap knock-off mags.

My rule for pistol mags: I only buy the Original Equipment Manufacturer's magazines. The magazine is a critical part of a reliable pistol. I figure I am only going to get 6 or 8 of them at most so there is no reason to try to go cheap. Bad mags can ruin your fun with a pistol and damage your trust in that pistol. I have been disappointed with cheap magazines I bought trying to save money. The only exception might be someone like Mec-Gar, but they make the OEM mags for people like CZ.

[MechAg94]

I have 6 mags for each of my semi's. I keep one in the gun and on spare fully charged, and rotate every 30 days. I started doing that when I figured out the springs in my Hsc had gotten so weak they won't reliably feed the last 2 rounds.

Have you considered just buying some spare springs?

What is an Hsc?

[joe817]

What is an Hsc?

IMO the Mauser Hsc is one of the most beautiful pocket pistols ever made. More so than the Walther PPk, its closest rival.

It came out in 1940 in Nazi Germany. Most were .32 but a lot were made in .380, with a few .25 being made. I think Mauser still makes it, but can't swear to that.

http://www.mauserguns.com/gungalleryModelHSC.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CompVest]

Don't forget to clean your mags occasionally. The only time I ever had any issues with my mags was when they got dirty.

[USA1]

Don't forget to clean your mags occasionally. The only time I ever had any issues with my mags was when they got dirty.

its amazing how dirty they can get .
just don't use oil in them .

[CompVest]

Inside and outside.

[drjoker]

I only load my 15 round mags with 10 rounds to avoid magazine compression. I figure, that's still twice the firepower of a 5 shot snub nosed revolver, so it's O.K.