View Full Version : How many rounds per life of the magazine/spring?
Mainly asking about single-stack magazines like Shields, Glock 42/43, Kimber Solo's, LCP's, single stack Beretta's, those kinds of guns.
If a magazine holds say, 8 rounds, firing 1000 rds, that's 125 times fully loading it, 125 times fully unloading it. (shooting) 250 cycles?
Or do we count by each bullet inserted and removed? That would make 2000 occurrences of partial working of the spring.
I'm asking because I have some old Beretta's I shoot regularly. I'm not sure how long mags will be available so I want to figure how many (magazines and/or springs) I should buy for the number of rounds I intend to fire them over the years.
I'm also anticipating Florida turning into New, New York in regards to firearms restrictions. I don't know how long I'll be here. But I want to get the mags and mag parts I may need now.
I'm certain I have Glock magazines with at least 1000 rds on them. But some of them sometimes don't hold the slide back on the last shot. Yea, they're numbered, but I haven't concerned myself enough to weed them out and replace the springs. (Don't shoot those guns much)
I've never found a definitive answer on "mag spring life" regarding cycles; from fully loaded to empty.
There are a number of articles addressing- full compression and life of mags. We've all read of WWll 1911 mags that functioned after being fully loaded for 70 years.
I have single stack, 1911 "range" magazines that have untold number of "cycles" and still function.
If I were concerned about future availability I'd stock up on springs and maybe followers for a worst case scenario. ISMI and Wolff have been my go to for pistol springs.
There is no set number. Typically, unless you're an extreme high volume shooter, the springs will last you a life time..... assuming good quality springs from a known quality manufacturer.
I mainly but police surplus gun and mags and have never seen a worn out spring. Even on foreign military surplus mags. My late 80s Israeli HiPower with original mag is still chugging along just fine.
If you're concerned buy as much as you feel comfortable with
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If you have the means to afford the ammo, the springs / spare mags are chump change.
There is no set number. Typically, unless you're an extreme high volume shooter, the springs will last you a life time..... assuming good quality springs from a known quality manufacturer.
This. Assume a low end estimate of 5000 cycles. Multiply this times the mag capacity. You've outlasted the mag body, and possibly the gun.
I laugh at all the guys replacing mag springs in the ban era, as though that was accomplishing anything at all. If the spring were worn out, the mag body would have been falling apart.
I've replaced springs for cause in mag bodies that were still GTG, and vice versa. Lots of variables in play.
dwhitehorne
10-03-18, 14:25
The only mags springs I’ve really had to replace on a regular basis is 1911 springs. I really think that has to do with the weight of the 1911 round. Single stack 9mm should last quite some time. We have training rifle mags at work that get used every day and last a few years. Our HK USP/P2000 Sims guns have an uncountable number of rounds through the same 15 guns and we have never replaced mag springs in 14 years of use. The sims rounds weigh nothing compared to 45FMJ rounds. I would think a 6 or 7 rounds of 9mm is not stressing the mag spring very much. David.
Doc Safari
10-03-18, 14:36
The manufacturer of the magazines matters, too. OEM Glock mags have a reputation for lasting a long time. But wait...if you're talking Asian Glock mags not so much from what I understand.
The main thing is: own enough mags that you feel comfortable in case there is another ban, and always make sure to own the best mags you can buy.
A quality mag spring, should never reach its L10 life. I would bet money, that a manufacturing defect, would kill one early in the life cycle, before wearing one out.
Improper installation would be another one, that may reduce the life as well.
As Doc said, buy has many as you can. I have 10, HK USPc 45 mags. I have more money in mags, than the gun is worth.
I have 6 Glock training mags, 3 each 19/17, I use a 19. Without stretching numbers, there are over 100k through them(6 together). They look like shit, I "shave" them if need be and here and there, take apart to clean. Yeah, fortunate that I didn't pay for the bullets, have some extra mags in the safe and don't worry. My first set of 3 17 mags, had about 75k, went with the gun-pity that guy who got a never shot cop gun
I have some Glock springs I know are weak.
But I've replaced springs in other guns because they were very rusted or noticeably shorter than a new one.
I think the bigger issue with small magazines is rust, being crushed/damaged (clothes washer/dryer incidents happen) and just getting lost.
I'll get a few extra mags for the guns that are out of production.
I think the bigger issue with small magazines is rust, being crushed/damaged
A good reason I don't run any of the Chrome Silicon springs for AR buffers or mags. Magpul stuck with SS springs in the Pmag testing due to the corrosion test failures of those silly aftermarket springs.
A good reason I don't run any of the Chrome Silicon springs for AR buffers or mags. Magpul stuck with SS springs in the Pmag testing due to the corrosion test failures of those silly aftermarket springs.
I remember hoping on that band wagon, pushed by someone here-heavily. Yeah, rusty springs, replaced by vendor and dumped mags during the "scare"
Yeah IMO damage / debris getting in the mags over the life of the mag is more of a limfac that spring cycles.
A quality mag spring, should never reach its L10 life. I would bet money, that a manufacturing defect, would kill one early in the life cycle, before wearing one out.
Improper installation would be another one, that may reduce the life as well.
As Doc said, buy has many as you can. I have 10, HK USPc 45 mags. I have more money in mags, than the gun is worth.
I am a firearms instructor at work. When my officers come to the range, I have them use the same 30 training mags to keep their carry mags from getting worn/damaged. Generally between 4 and 5 officers a day, 2 days a week every year. I started noticing a shitload of magazine related malfunctions on the line a couple months ago. That particular lot of training mags was approximately 5 years old. Mags were replaced and the stoppages have gone back to zero. HK pistol, BTW.
ETA - What does it prove/mean? No ****ing clue, but there it is!
I bought a bunch of used P226 .40 SW mags that were LE trade ins... after validating them against some newer mags at the range.... a few seemed weak... so I just replaced the entire batch of mag springs from Wolff...
On my carry guns..the mags I keep loaded function the same as my spare mags that are not loaded...
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