Do Magazines Wear Out?
 

Millions made it through a century, including 2 World Wars. I never hear it mentioned! Does it decrease its spring force over time? When did we switch from wood to medal? Is there any special care that should be given? I'm sure there are some readers who don't know all the answers because after seventeen years I don't know all the answers! Eric

Yes. WWII. Don't store with ammo in the mag.

Thank You Ron.

Yes.
Keep them unloaded, clean, lubricate well, and wipe down the out side to prevent rust.

Wood was used until the mid to late 1920s; when aluminum started to be used for new manufacture and replacement bases.

When the spring gets weak you will have function problems in loading and hold open.
Springs can be replaced.

Thank You Don!~!

As a machinist, the experts I've consulted regarding springs of any type all concurred that a quality spring only wears when it goes through many compression and relaxation cycles. A spring under constant compression should not lose it's force.

The pressure on the mag "Lips" is another story. The greater pressure of a full load on the spring creates great force, enough to bend sheet metal over time. That's the reason I don't keep mags loaded for storage.

YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

The damage done to the magazine lips and the rest of the tube is quite substantial. Those that got proper heat treating survivef a lot longer.

George Andersons' Shooter Mag!
 

George Put this pretty together when I told him I shot our 1914 DWM Artillery! The Mag is much heavier! Tks for your input!!

Eric, I noticed that the magazine tube has a dent in it... GT can iron out that dent so you won't even know it was there...

I would concur with calibrator, FWIK

a quality spring only wears when it goes through many compression and relaxation cycles. A spring under constant compression should not lose it's force.

Probably also depends on how long the spring remains compressed, anyway I can't remember where I read about a WWII pistol found in the sands of North Africa with a mag still loaded and perfectly working.

Here's anecdotal evidence that compressed springs do deteriorate over time:

My late father purchased a new 1963 1 ton GMC truck with extra heavy duty rear springs which jacked the back end up pretty high, until a cab-over camper was loaded onto it, then it was "about right". In 1976, the camper came off to enable the truck to pull a 5th wheel trailer - but the height of the rear end remained "just right", it didn't spring back up.

YMMV...