Leaving Your Magazines Loaded? Engineers Perspective

Published on December 1, 2021
Duration: 13:01

This video from Brass Facts, presented by a material science engineer, debunks the myth that storing loaded magazines significantly degrades springs. The engineer explains that practical wear from regular use and cyclic loading (loading/unloading) causes far more degradation than static pressure from being stored loaded. Magazines are presented as consumable wear items, with spring failure being a rare occurrence compared to feed lip or follower damage.

Quick Summary

Storing loaded magazines does not significantly damage springs. A material science engineer explains that practical wear from loading/unloading cycles and feed lip damage are far more detrimental to magazine lifespan than static compression from storage. Magazines are considered wear items and are designed to withstand this.

Chapters

  1. 00:05Introduction and Video Topic
  2. 00:40Speaker's Qualifications
  3. 01:15Practical Magazine Wear
  4. 02:15TLDR: Magazines are Consumables
  5. 02:47Academic Modes of Spring Failure
  6. 03:36Yield Strength and Elastic/Plastic Deformation
  7. 06:10Springs Designed for Elasticity
  8. 06:38Cyclic Loading (Fatigue)
  9. 09:25Creep and Loaded Magazines
  10. 12:08Conclusion: Training Wear is Dominant

Frequently Asked Questions

Does storing loaded magazines damage the springs?

No, storing loaded magazines does not significantly damage the springs. A material science engineer explains that practical wear from loading/unloading cycles and feed lip damage are far more detrimental to magazine lifespan than static compression from storage. Magazines are considered wear items and are designed to withstand this.

What causes magazine springs to fail?

Magazine springs primarily fail due to cyclic fatigue, which is caused by the repeated stress of loading and unloading the magazine over thousands of cycles. Creep, a slow deformation under stress, also occurs but is practically negligible at room temperature for magazine springs compared to wear from use.

Are magazines considered a wear item?

Yes, magazines are considered wear items. Their lifespan is typically limited by damage to feed lips or followers from repeated use, bolt drops, or environmental factors, rather than the spring losing its tension from being stored loaded. They are designed to be replaced when they become unreliable.

What is the difference between yield strength and fracture strength for springs?

Yield strength is the point where a material begins to deform permanently. Fracture strength is the point where it breaks. Springs are designed to operate well within their elastic deformation range, meaning they should not reach either yield or fracture strength under normal use, including being stored loaded.

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