What happens when you leave your AR15 mags loaded for a long time? How long can you leave AR15 mags loaded? This question comes up and many wonder what happens over time, do the lips spread, springs compress, will the mag still function? Dave found some mags that were loaded in 2005 and decided to put them to the test.
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As long as you want. Springs moving back and forth dicipate their tensile strength. You will not have a malfunction
Had a pmag loaded for 8 yeas and it worked fine.
It's a shame people don't know that springs only get worn out during use meaning compressing and decompressing. NOT STAYING COMPRESSED OR STAYING DECOMPRESSED…. It can all be answered by looking at vehicle suspensions. If a car sit suspension fine when you use it regularly you eventually have to replace it
Was told either keep them loaded or unloaded .But loading them and unloading them causes the spring to wearout.But you throwing your mag down is not good
Wonder if its the same with pistol mags. Tend to leave those loaded for home invasions.
Thank god someone busted fudd lore
good to know
Great video, thanks for the share.
I have had an ak drum mag loaded since 2012, it feeds with zero issues
I have two 40 rd p mags one of which has a crack in the feed lip, they got left loaded for about 4 years and still function perfectly
the new mags dont change. load them leave them and be ready!!!
Thank you. That fudd spring myth needs to finally end
i think they worked hahaha
In my experience, these standard m4/m16 magazines break long before you would ever have a problem with the spring. Just a little bit of sand getting in them could bring about their end. I tried cleaning them thoroughly, but they would always induce jams.
And I’ve been changing out my duty mags every month or two 🤦🏻♂️
Nice
1:54 you're welcome
1:30 These magazines where loaded WAY before I was even born… 😭😭😭
Would be interesting to see if the P mags with the dust covers stop feedlip expansion.
Potential energy stored in the spring doesn’t damage anything.
Re: polymer mags like Magpul mags there may be some "relaxing" of the feedlips from pressure over time, but it shouldn't cause any issues. IIRC even cracked feedlips get "corrected" once the magazine is inserted into the firearm, the magwell will help hold them in the correct geometry. Plus as the mags are double-stack/double-feed if the feed lip gets worn out just download the mags by one round and now you're pushing on the opposite feed lip.
Just to be sure I store my PMags with the covers installed, wouldn't be an issue for something like Lancer mags.
Great real life test of mags that have been loaded for many years! Now I feel better about leaving my mags loaded.
About $3.50 worth of ammo in each mag. God those were the days
How long can you store them loaded?
Indefinitely if they're good magazines. Springs only weaken when they move. If they are compressed or expanded, they do not wear out enough to cause feed issues. And it takes so many compressions/expansions that .. realistically, the magazine itself will break before the spring becomes unusable.
Yeah I am sure they are better quality back then the only thing I worry about is rust and then I should be able to clean it
Answer: No
I had pmags loaded with 300 blackout for 2 years…went to the range with them and i had no issues…
30 years max then rotate them!
I've got some 10 year old lancers that were loaded to 30 & sat like that…. for 10 years.
Some steel mags that were in the same boat for 7 years,
& Pmag Window Gen 3 for 2 years…
All of them had a noticeable spring compression to them, however…. they all functioned 100% and locked open.
This guy left these mags loaded for 17 years for this video. RESPECT
I bought an car once and a new one years later… for some reason the old car is still driving and the new one quit breathing almost right off the lot.. just sayin.
Those magazines are more cultured than the entirety of post 2019 human civilization
The constant loading and unloading is what wears out the springs.