Magazine spring question

Combat Auto · Post by **Combat Auto** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:02 am

Folks, I recieved my TLR2 yesterday and am ready to comission my 870 tactical as my primary HD weapon...

Question, If I keep 6 rounds in the mag-tube all the time, do I have to replace the spring periodicolly (just like in a carry pistol magazine)? And if so how often?

Thanks,

Zebra62 · Post by **Zebra62** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:04 pm

I don't know that there is a definate time interval for a mag spring life. I have heard anything form a year to never. It makes sense that if you keep the mag loaded the continuous compression on the spring will cause it to lose tension.

I will use my Tactical the same way you have discribed yours, six rounds in the mag and ready to go. What I will do is this:
Check the tension of the spring periodically - once a month for me - and ensure all six rounds cycle through. This will usually coincide with a trip to the range. I will also order sometime in the near future a replacement spring from Remington. As my Tactical is still new (only a month old) I do not expect to have a feed problem due to mag spring tension for a L O N G time.

My advice, take your HD to the range and put a few rounds though it. If you don't like how it feeds, change the spring and follower. Simple enough.

MStarmer · Post by **MStarmer** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:57 pm

I think pump shotguns are pretty forgiving as far as magazine springs go, you can only pump so fast... In an autoloader then you do have timing issues with your recoil spring and such just like on a pistol. I don't think there is anything wrong with keeping 6 loaded but it will be a significant amount of pressure on the rounds. If you live where it's hot you may want to make sure they aren't swelling up over time. I don't think you see it much with quality HD loads but I would still keep an eye on it.

JBall · Post by **JBall** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:26 pm

Springs don't loose tension from staying compressed. Spring life cycles are based or "rated" on compressions. When you compress the spring then decompress it that's a cycle. I'm guessing your average spring is rated somewhere from 8k-12k compressions like an average AR buffer spring. Now find your self a chrome silicon spring on the other hand and bump up to a newer spring metal that's rated at 150,000 cycles! Plus the CS manages to maintain much more even pressures around the entire circumference of the spring as it applies pressure on your follower, buffer, etc... In conclusion, GO AHEAD AND KEEP THAT BABY FULLY LOADED w/NO WORRIES! LoL

Combat Auto · Post by **Combat Auto** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:37 pm

Thanks Guys for the great insight....

Looks like I don't have much to be concerned with, but as suggested check it so often.

mercman · Post by **mercman** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 2:53 am

My duty 870 has been loaded with 7 rounds in the tube for over 25 years with no issues. Once evey month or so I shoot the mag tube dry and reload it.

Kentactic · Post by **Kentactic** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:05 am

The spring will lose a few inches right away as it breaks in. After that its 2 years and counting on mine being loaded to the max. Only unloaded for transportation to and from the range. No noticeable tension loss or function issues. Similar to bending metal back and fourth until it breaks it takes cycles of the spring to wear it out as i understand it. Im sure eventually even a compressed spring will go bad but its in the years.

Website · Post by **Synchronizor** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:30 pm

JBall nailed it. Under normal conditions, it's not compression time itself that wears out magazine springs, it's the number of compression-relaxation cycles that do it. This also goes for handgun & rifle magazines. For shotguns, it's the shells themselves that tend to deform after extended time in a fully-loaded magazine. Deformed shells are more likely to miss-feed or jam, so those should be replaced occasionally (though tube magazines like the 870's tend to be more gentle on shells than box magazines like those on the Saiga-12 or M26 MASS).

MStarmer is also correct that "weak" magazine springs are less of a problem than many people think. There's a lot of marketing out there pushing extra-heavy-weight gun springs of all kinds these days, which probably contributes to this perception; but you really don't need ultra-stiff springs to ensure function. My stock 870 4-round mag spring has never failed to feed shells in any situation, and I've actually cut a couple coils off that spring for some testing. Even shortened, that spring is about twice as strong as the one in my dad's Ithaca 37 (being used to my 870, it feels like it takes no effort at all to load it), but that old gun will still feed shells 100% reliably no matter how fast I pump it.

Magazine springs, like any other springs, are wear items, and will wear out eventually, but don't be afraid to keep the gun fully loaded. A 6-round magazine is designed to hold 6 rounds, plain and simple. Just test the gun's feeding when you're practicing with it by pumping the action as fast as you possibly can (but please don't use live ammo if you're doing this anywhere but at a range). If you start seeing it cause malfunctions during practice sessions, go ahead and replace it, but unless it's the only way you can trust the gun, you really don't need to be obsessive about changing the spring frequently.

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