Leaving Your Magazines Loaded? Engineers Perspective

Published on December 1, 2021
Duration: 13:01

This video, featuring a material science engineer, debunks the myth that storing magazines loaded significantly degrades their springs. The engineer explains that magazines are wear items, and practical damage from use, feed lip issues, and follower wear occur long before spring failure. Academic concepts like creep and cyclic fatigue are discussed, concluding that training wear and replacement are far more significant factors than long-term loaded storage.

Quick Summary

Storing magazines loaded does not significantly damage their springs. A material science engineer explains that magazines are wear items, and practical damage from training, feed lips, and followers occurs long before spring failure due to loaded storage. Cyclic fatigue from loading/unloading is the primary wear mechanism, not static stress from being loaded.

Chapters

  1. 00:05Introduction: Loaded vs. Unloaded Magazines
  2. 00:40Speaker's Engineering Qualifications
  3. 01:15Practical Magazine Wear and Tear
  4. 02:15TLDR: Magazines Are Consumables
  5. 02:47Academic Modes of Spring Failure
  6. 03:36Yield Strength and Deformation
  7. 06:10Springs Designed for Elasticity
  8. 06:38Cyclic Loading and Fatigue
  9. 09:25Creep and Loaded Magazines
  10. 12:08Conclusion: Training Wear Dominates

Frequently Asked Questions

Does storing magazines loaded damage the springs?

According to a material science engineer, storing magazines loaded does not significantly damage the springs. Springs are designed to operate within their elastic limits, and 'creep' at room temperature is negligible compared to wear from training cycles. Magazines are considered wear items and will fail from practical use before spring degradation from loaded storage becomes an issue.

What causes magazine springs to fail?

Magazine springs primarily fail due to cyclic fatigue from repeated loading and unloading cycles, not from being stored loaded. Most springs can withstand 15,000-20,000 cycles before noticeable degradation. Practical wear, such as damaged feed lips or worn followers, is a more common cause of magazine failure.

Are magazines a wear item that needs replacement?

Yes, magazines are considered wear items. They are designed to be used until they develop issues like feed lip damage or follower wear, at which point they should be replaced. Expect to cycle and eventually replace training magazines due to this wear.

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