One of the most asked questions I receive is about storing firearm magazines loaded with ammunition for extended periods of time. Well here is my answer:

DON'T DO IT !!!

First of let's clarify that the magazine spring is one of the most used parts in a firearm and as with any moving part it will break down, and eventually will have to be replaced. Some of you have heard that the magazines you buy do not have memory and they can be fully loaded for years without any adverse effect, but it is simply not true. Anytime time a spring is compressed it loses life, whether the magazine is loaded for long term storage or for immediate use. Think of your magazine like a muscle, except the lifetime of your magazine is equivalent to 1 day in the gym. 

When you are maxing out of weight for your lifts, you are not going to be able to get as many reps out of set, same goes for your magazine. 

For those of you that don't know what I just said, join a gym. Physical training should be the foundation for any training program that you are doing. Once you know these terms come back a reread this article. 

Now don't get confused, the springs in your guns will never ever become stronger from using them. This is why it is comparable to 1 day in the gym, not 1 month. The spring in the magazine is only one muscle being used in your firearm to make it function properly, if you over work it you will need replacements on hand to take its place when it fails.

If you want to get maximum life out of your magazines I would suggest never loading past 70% maximum capacity. So, if you have a 100 round magazine, don't load past 70 rounds. If you have a 20 round magazine don't load past 14 rounds. Personally I do not adhere to this rule when I go out shooting and I do not expect any of you to either, but if you have a firearm in your collection that has been discontinued and magazines cannot be easily replaced then I would recommend adhering to the 70% rule. 

As far as any training, practice, and self-defense goes I would say load your magazines to their full capacity, but do so in a responsible manner. Here are some tips for getting maximum life out of your magazines.

•  Load your magazines right before you shoot, not the week before, not a few days before, right before. To help with this I recommend getting some kind of loader to assist you so that you can spend more time shooting instead of loading.

•  For your self defense weapon or any firearm that you feel needs to be ready at a moments notice, cycle the magazines as often as possible (minimum once every 2 weeks). Test the magazines every time you go out shooting, preferably with the ammunition that you normally have is loaded with. If you cannot use that ammo, then try to find something with a similar grain and shape. 

**Tip** If you do not want to "waste" ammunition do not shoot every round out of the magazine. Failures due to weak magazine springs typically happen the with the last few rounds that are in the magazine. Insert the fully loaded magazine and cycle the rounds by racking the slide/charging handle until the magazine is about 50% full, then shoot the rest. If you get a failure by manually cycling the magazines, reload it to maximum capacity and test.

•  When plinking (leisure shooting), do not load your magazines to full capacity, try to stick to the 70% rule.