Poll: magazine storage- bullets in or out?

[titsonritz]

Some opt to short one(or two) cartridges on stiff springs as to not create a potential bind when it's time to feed. Whether this is a worthy concern, is up for debate.

One thing that does deserves note is that people often train with ball ammo(for obvious cost reasons) and then switch back to their carry ammo(JHP) after range time. The repeated chambering/unchambering of a cartridge may affect the seating of the bullet in the cartridge. This may affect pressures; in turn affecting accuracy; or worse, a potential malfunction.

It's important to rotate one's carry rounds regularly. It also gives one an opportunity to actually train with the rounds that would be used in a SD situation.

A more important reason to download mags is so they more easily and reliably lock on place on a closed bolt.

That is why I do not store my long guns with a round in the chamber. If I do chamber and remove a self defense round it go in "burn it up" pile and I shoot it along with my training ammo.

 

[Tony617]

The thing to keep in mind also in that AR magazines cannot be loaded on a closed bolt sometimes with 30 rounds. I have a variety of magazines and load my AR magazines to 25 only. PMags tend to be more forgiving and I can load 30 in my AR but YMMV.

 

[Alexx1401]

I have too many of some kinds of mags to keep them all loaded as it would be a HUGE amount of ammo. I do tend to keep a LOT of loaded mags though since as mentioned the springs do not wear out from being compressed. I keep enough that when I head out to the range I normally do not have to load the common calibers at the range. I like being able to spend the time there shooting rather than stuffing mags while I stand there.

 

[CRBMoA]

I keep my magazines full. Modern springs don't mind, and I for the life of me cannot think of a scenario in which I would say to myself, "Sure wish I had some more mags to load up!".

 

[thorborg]

Old Springs / new springs and their opines aside, In the real world, but still likely not the last word; I have a Remington model 51 in .380 that other than a few months here and there has two mags (one in, and the spare) that have been continuously loaded since at least 1944. according to the original (friend) owner, and then myself, I have yet to have any issues with them other a bent feed lip from when the spare mag was dropped once 30 years ago.
That said, It's your decision so if yours weaken, its not my fault.

 

[OutwardHound]

I keep a few spare mags loaded for "grab and go". I have new mags on standby , packages never opened, so those are obviously unloaded.

 

[Member 34319]

Empty in wrapper or package.

Buy low sell high!

 

[CountryGent]

Stored load and in individual containers for each weapon type (e.g., STANAG, vz61, Mac-10, M1, 10/22, et al.) (Though I am not going to bother denying that half the time I don't bother reloading expended magazines, and they float around in a range bag for a while or get tossed empty back in the appropriate container. Not that it matters, because it doesn't.)

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I keep my magazines on my book shelf....

For most firearms of the modern type...I would say that it don't matter none.
For older firearms...with original magazines...it might.
Andy

 

[PORSCHE928S4]

I keep 50-60ish loaded and have a unopened box of 100 Magpuls . I load a few when I am board so no need to spend time at the range loading up mags just focus on trigger control .

 

[dmmv]

If it's an HK, "bullets in"