Keeping them loaded?

I have a few military left overs and was wondering what the general consensus (sp?) was on keeping a them loaded for "just in case" situations?

everything i've read says that loading and unloading is far worse than leaving them loaded.

Hi

How long are you keeping them loaded?

I wouldn't trust any that had been loaded for many years. Weeks or months should be just fine.

Bob

It is my understanding that springs wear by being compressed and released. Keeping mags loaded does not wear out the spring. I read somewhere that a guy had loaded mags that had been stored since viet nam and they ran fine...

that is correct.

compress/decompress cycles is what wears out your magazine springs, NOT leaving them loaded.

I leave a basic load of 8-12 mags loaded and on the shelf all the time. Haven't had any issues with any of them. Though they don't usually sit for more than a month or two before being cycled through.