Explore Magazine Springs: When to Replace and How to Do It

Introduction

Magazine springs play an essential role in firearms, ensuring reliable ammunition feeding into the chamber. Over time, however, these springs may wear down or weaken, potentially leading to malfunctions or failure. Understanding when it’s time to replace one is imperative to ensuring both firearm safety and performance; we will discuss signs that a worn-out magazine spring exists, as well as provide instructions for returning it in this guide.

Signs of a Worn Out Magazine Spring

• Failing to Feed Properly:

One of the telltale signs that a magazine spring needs replacing is when its rounds fail to feed into its chambers consistently, suggesting it has lost tension and can no longer move upwards effectively.

•  Inconsistent Feeding:

One telltale sign is inconsistent feeding of ammunition from your firearm. If any rounds stop feeding correctly while others continue, this could be an indicator that its magazine spring could soon give out and need replacing.

•  Reduced Capacity:

As magazine springs age, they may lose the ability to keep your magazine at total capacity when loaded to capacity. You may notice that when loaded up to capacity, it doesn’t hold as many rounds as before; this indicates a loss of tension in its spring.

•  Visual Inspection:

A careful visual examination of your magazine spring can reveal its state. Pay particular attention to signs of corrosion, deformation, or wear that suggest replacement is imminent. When stretched, twisted, or shows corrosion-induced corrosion, it’s likely time for a replacement spring.

How to Change a Magazine Spring: Steps

Before beginning, ensure that you are in a safe and controlled environment and your firearm has been unloaded of ammunition and is transparent.

Steps Needed for Repair of Magazine Spring 

1. Obtain Tools (if required ) 
2. Install Replacement Magazine Spring (optional )
3. Gloves (optional)

Step 1. Disassemble Magazine

Start by disassembling the magazine. Most models feature a removable baseplate to access its internal components; if your magazine features any mechanism, such as retaining pins or locking devices, referring to the manufacturer’s instructions will ensure proper disassembly.

Step 2: Uninstall an Old Spring

Carefully unbolt the old magazine spring from its place within the magazine body, taking note of its orientation before installing a new spring. You will need to recreate this when fitting a replacement spring.

Step 3: Inspect and Clean 

Now is an opportune time to inspect and clean your magazine body thoroughly to remove any debris, rust, or foreign material that might impede smooth functioning once a new spring is installed.

Step 4: Install the New Spring

Set the new magazine spring in its usual position. Make sure that it sits securely within the magazine body, with any grooves or guides designed to keep it secure in place.

Step 5: Reassemble the Magazine

Reassemble the magazine carefully, taking care to align and secure all components according to manufacturer instructions. If there are retaining pins or screws present, guarantee them accordingly.

Step 6: Function Test

Once the new spring has been installed, load up your magazine with dummy rounds to capacity and conduct a function test. Be mindful that rounds move smoothly from the magazine into the chamber.

Step 7: Range Testing 

Once your replacement magazine spring is installed successfully, take your firearm to a controlled environment like a shooting range for further evaluation and testing. Firing several rounds should allow you to confirm its function reliably.

Ensuring the Longevity of Magazine Springs

Knowing when and why to replace magazine springs is, of course, essential, but equally as crucial is knowing how to ensure their long life span. Here are a few tips to ensure the durability of your springs:

•  Rotate Your Magazines:

 It is wise to rotate the usage of multiple magazines for any firearm to prevent one magazine from bearing the brunt of constant use, which may result in premature wear on its spring and cause premature fatigue of its mechanism.

• Avoid Overloading: 

Though it may be tempting to load magazines to capacity, leaving some room for spring action and use may help the spring last longer and be less stressed out by overstuffing can put unnecessary strain on its internal parts, potentially shortening its lifespan and shortening its lifecycle.

•  Regular Cleaning and Inspection: 

For mags that have been stored for an extended period, periodic checks should include cleaning out debris or residue and inspecting springs for signs of wear, rust, or other damages.

•  Use High-Quality Ammunition:

 Low-quality or cheap ammunition can place undue strain on magazine springs due to irregular manufacturing. When purchasing ammo, choose reliable brands to lessen the strain on your magazines and ensure optimal performance.

• Store Appropriately: 

When not in use, store magazines in a cool, dry place away from extreme temperatures or humidity to help avoid corrosion that accelerates spring wear. Doing this helps prevent rust and corrosion that could accelerate spring wear.

•  Avoid Unnecessary Disassembly: 

While cleaning and inspecting magazines are essential tasks, excessive disassembly could damage springs and other components in your magazine and lead to unnecessary wear and tear.

• Replace As A Set: 

If you own multiple magazines for the same firearm, replacing all their magazine springs at once to ensure consistent performance will help ensure optimal results. This ensures efficient functioning for each of them.

When should Professional Advice Be Seen?

Replacing a magazine spring can often be completed quickly; however, in certain situations, it is wiser to seek professional gunsmith advice for assistance. This may include when:

1. You need to be more particular about disassembling or reassembling. 
2. The firearm is a rare or valuable collectible, and you must ensure its care during disassembly/reassembly is executed safely and carefully. 
3. There may be other issues with its performance that need attention.

Gunsmiths possess the expertise and tools required for more complex firearm maintenance and may provide additional guidance regarding magazine spring replacement.

Conclusion

Maintaining your firearms continuously, with particular consideration for critical components like magazine springs, is vital for safety and performance. By recognizing signs of worn-out springs and following these step-by-step instructions for replacing them, you can help ensure your firearm continues operating reliably and safely for many years. However, always follow proper firearm safety practices before performing this maintenance yourself and seek professional guidance if any concerns arise about doing it on your own. For more information connect with numrich gun parts.