Leaving the Magazine Tube Loaded

[samsi]

I'll admit that I've been known to leave detachable magazines loaded for years and not had a problem with them, but I'm leery of leaving the tube loaded on a levergun. At most I've probably only left one fully loaded for a few days, maybe a week.

What's the consensus here? Jeff Cooper recommended leaving no more than one round in the tube of a defensive shotgun lest the spring take a set (probably where I became wary of it to begin with). One round, half full, full-up? Interested to hear actual experiences positive or negative.

[jkbrea]

I have a Winchester .357 Trapper that I've left continuously loaded over 10 years and it's never given me a problem.
In L.E. we had our Remington 870s loaded for several years at a time. Most were fired twice a year and then reloaded and put in the rack. I never saw one malfunction.

[Scott Tschirhart]

My Winchester 94 Trapper has been continuously loaded for a bit over 40 years. I occasionally shoot it and top it off. It rides under the back seat of my pickup and it has never given me any trouble.

[Griff]

I have one mdl 94 Trapper in .30-30 that stays loaded, another carbine that's the same... my carry 1911 is carried for months on end... but then I've long since switched out all my old VN vintage mags to Chip McCormicks.

[Pisgah]

A new spring will take a set within a few minutes of being fully compressed, and that set will not change even if it remains compressed for years. What eventually wears a spring out is repeated cycles of compression and release.

[jeepnik]

My HD long gun is a 20 ga Franchi. It pretty much stays loaded at all times. I bought it overseas 50 years ago. No problems so far. I can't comment on handguns because I switch those up as the spirit moves me. Usually what I do is open the safe in the morning and look around and pick one. I keep that one as my HD handgun until I pick something different. Nothing in the safe stays loaded. Some of the magazines are, however.

[gcs]

Just don't load up with the Hornaday LE's gummy tips, they'll deform in a couple days. Don't know how, or if it affects accuracy,.

[ikocher]

I would think the same principles that apply to box mag springs apply in a tube being its a spring. Everything I've ever been told about springs is more concerning use and heat. They eventually wear down over use so keeping one compressed isn't an issue and don't let them get hot since that kills the tempering.

[Grizz]

I would think the same principles that apply to box mag springs apply in a tube being its a spring. Everything I've ever been told about springs is more concerning use and heat. They eventually wear down over use so keeping one compressed isn't an issue and don't let them get hot since that kills the tempering.

how hot are you thinking?? a temperature that would affect tempering would be something above 350F, so 180 or 200 should not phase the temper.

here is an article with TMI, but it 'splains it well . . .

https://springsandthings.me.uk/wp-conte ... _E_104.pdf
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[Malamute]

Most of the leverguns Ive had over time have been loaded since I got them, two in particular that Ive had since the early-mid 80s. The only mag spring failure has been a Browning 92 about 25 years ago, I replaced it with a Winchester 94 spring I had, its been fine since.

One old 94 was made in 1927, it was a very hard used and severely abused ranch gun from Arizona. Besides the other issues, the mag tube had been damaged and shortened about 3 inches. When I took it apart to check it out and do a deep clean, no doubt the first one in many decades if not the first in its lifetime, I found the mag spring had worn through in two places, they had overlapped the ends and wrapped them with sewing thread. It still worked.

The 1927 gun forging on valiantly with its new (1985) magazine spring.

[Scott Tschirhart]

It looks like a magazine spring only costs $10 or so for a Winchester 94. Might make sense to replace mine.

[marlinman93]

I've got lots of detachable magazines, and tube magazines that remain loaded for too many years to recall. Never had any cycling issues with any of them yet.

[samsi]

Thanks for all the replies, seems I had concerns over something that's largely a non-issue. Guess I'll load up the Rossi .44 to replace the AR I usually throw in the truck.

Just in case anyone's looking for a fresh one, here's a link to Wolff's tube magazine springs. $5.99 is pretty cheap insurance.

https://www.gunsprings.com/MAGAZINE+SPR ... 137/dID411

[Malamute]

There used to be a guy that showed up at the local collectors show with lots of factory Winchester parts, between him, other shows and ordering basic parts, Im good on most basic fixes for most stuff I use much or have concerns about parts availability over time. its a good feeling knowing you can keep your stuff running if need be.

I dont recall exactly where I saw it, but it was in reference to an early print ad or basic instructions for Winchester 1873s. The magazine capacity was mentioned, but noted that Winchester suggested downloading by a couple rounds to avoid cramping the spring unnecessarily. Probably not bad advice, despite having so little trouble over many years.

[Bill in Oregon]

Dang that's a handsome shortened 94 you have there, Malamute. Somehow it seems both much-used and greatly appreciated.

[LeverGunner]

It's not as simple as springs get weak with use/being compressed vs not. You have to also consider the application. Many of the high capacity magazine springs are right at their limit for compression and will go bad with both use and being left loaded.

Most leverguns and similar mag tube designs do not go bad because the springs are overly long to ensure function.

Shotgun magazine springs go bad with use. The springs are less stiff to begin with, and when a shotgun is fired, oftentimes the shells move in the magazine under inertia and then reseat against the stop. Shotguns also get shot a lot. So it's not uncommon to find a shotgun that's been used a lot but that hasn't been left loaded, but with a spring that can't keep up with fast cycling.

I keep my Winchester 30-30 loaded and have for several years. Nothing compared to the 30-40 years or more mentioned here.

[ESisk]

A new spring will take a set within a few minutes of being fully compressed, and that set will not change even if it remains compressed for years. What eventually wears a spring out is repeated cycles of compression and release.

What Pisgah said.

[Slick]

I know that it's not the same thing, but I've got a Winchester 1200 riot gun that has remained loaded for well past 30 years. Every time I give her an inspection / cleaning, there has never been any indication that the spring is weakening in any way.

What I've learned is that QUALITY springs last pretty much forever. Cheap springs will generally degrade in short order. If your magazine spring lasts a few years, then odds are that it will continue to do so. At least that's how it's worked out for me.