Ammo storage for a BOB?

[Cpl Punishment]

Believe what you want.I worked in a busy gun range for 4 years.Spring set is real and well known.Now a days with Glock,Wilson, Sig mags and others the problem is largely solved,that still leaves many others where it is a problem.
Try leaving a aftermarket Glock mag loaded for a year and see what happens.

Spring set has not been an issue since the perfection of the spring tempering process -- late 19th century. What is a problem is people buying cheap, sh*tty mags from makers who are known for cutting corners. The problem, if you really looked into it, is those manufacturers often use springs that are not rated for that application and are too weak to begin with. The other problem is people wanting the maximum number of rounds int he smallest package. The cheap manufacturers will often just sell the same old magazine with the same old spring, but cut the followers down. This allows the spring to over compress, which will drastically shorten its life. If people can't afford good mag,s save up until they can, they only screw themselves buying the cheapies.

 

[koyote]

I'm not positive about magazines, but I know that springs left under tension for long periods of time in other applications will weaken - even VERY high quality springs. It's a known factor and can easily be calculated into designs.

I know that there are verified numbers for this with airgun mainsprings, and is one reason the gas spring system has been developed.

I've never had a situation where a magazine left loaded weakened enough to cause a feeding problem.

 

[CaptInsano]

Again,having worked in a range where part of my job was evaluating why a particular gun wasn't working, improperly made mags or springs were the first thing you look at.
Everyone doesn't have modern service grade guns even if they should.

So don't use low quality crappy magazines. WWII era 1911 mags are fine. I would imagine that most milspec stuff would be, if an earlier firearm is being used.

 

[Infi-del]

I highly suggest not leaving a gun in your vehicle full time. If it were to be broken into, not only will you have lost a gun but a criminal will now have a firearm. Not to mention in many cases a firearm that is titled to you. In many states there is no gun registration, however we all have to fill out paperwork on them when we buy them legally and if used in a crime they will eventually track the firearm to you and have questions. Leaving it in a car in some states could be seen as neglegence. I used to leave my Glock in my truck all the time and one year it got broken into and the guy took my gun. They caught him shortly after and I got back my gun. But it could have been a lot worse. He could have killed someone with my gun, or even decided to come in my house now that I'd armed him. I was young a stupid but I learned my lesson. There's an awful feeling about someone else having YOUR gun.

As for ammo, I just store it in military ammo cans. The ones with rubber gaskets keep it moisture free. I just put the ammo in a crown royal bag to keep it away from the metal walls of the can so that if it get's too hot it won't cook a round off. But it's gotta get REALLY hot to do that so the CR bag is really overkill. Plus I toss in a few of the silicone packets that you see in brand new bags sometimes to keep moisture down. FME normal car heat (100 to 180) doesn't really hurt ammo. Moisture is what will kill it. But most modern ammo is sealed so well it takes a lot.

As far as mag spring set, I've read a lot about the metalurgy of mag springs and from what I've found a spring will take a set when you push it beyond it's load capacity. Much like our knives, if you bend them within spec they return to true. You bend them further, they take a set or snap. A quality mag spring will be made with it's load capacity in mind. So that when full loaded it's still beneath it's max load capacity. In this case, leaving it loaded, unloading, loading it, none of that will harm it. If it's not designed properly and loading it fully exceeds it's load capacity, it'll take a set no matter what you do. So the best thing to do is test your mags often. If one has taken a set and introduces feeding problems, change the spring and start over. The ones that don't take a set, are working within their load capacity and shouldn't ever really give you a problem unless damaged. Older single stacks are bad about taking a set becuase a lot of them just have springs in them. Not really calibrated with a load in mind. Most modern mags will let you know within a year or two if they're gonna become a problem.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't think you need to worry about storage much. But if you are concerned, just keep the ammo and firearm in a small tight ammo can (plastic or metal) and put some absorbent material in it just in case. In the event, you need to take it somewhere, it is available in the container which you can transfer into whatever you might carry.

 

[texasred66]

I took the springs out of a two cheap mags and replaced them with Wolf springs and they are working fine now. I keep them loaded to capacity to test them. That was 6 mo ago so will not really know for another 6 mo if this is a good fix.

 

[DWK2]

The factory mag spring in my Mossberg 590 weakened pretty quickly. A Wolff solved the problem. I'll bet your "fix" works.

DancesWithKnives

 

[nifrand]

Any ammo that I store for a period of time,I vacuum pack it.Leave a gun in all my cars and trucks all the time.Of course I live in a state where we never get hassled about loaded guns in a car
Randy

 

[akula83]

I am not as knowledgable as some of you guys about mag spring tech, but I rotate My loaded Glock mags every few months thinking it would help them from setting. Maybe I don't need to do this after all.

 

[JD Mandrell]

I keep my car rifle in a bag made especially for it, and carry it in and out.

The more I think about it, you may have a point. My dry box has a decent handle on it, so it would just be a case of getting in the habit of grabbing it as I go from house to car and back, that way it's not left out there over night.

 

[wingslevel]

well i keep a supply of ammo in one of my bags in the car all the time but not a firearm. works for me as i choose a .357 as my ccw and a lever action in the same as my grab rifle. that way on days that not bringing a long arm while running a short erand the ammo in the bag could still feed my ccw. if i choose to take the rifle the ammos already in the car. but no firearms left in the car

 

[DennisStrickland]

modern ammo is very waterproof, brass corrosion is the problem. once i experimented with a 44. special revovver by wading in chest deep water for over 2 hrs. ammo worked perfect. disaasembled gun which was stainless alloy, only found one part [leaf spring] carbon steel Wiped & lubed it still working fine after 15 yrs. revolvers are certainly easier to clean up than autos. my carry in vehicle is an auto but B.O.B. & trail i go with a light rev.incidently wiping lightly with rem oil on each round insures good function & weatherproofing.20 yrs. back an old civil war ship was found to have a waterproffed container of blackpowder. powder worked good after 130 or so yrs.