First, I am a "mag whore" in that I have 10+ mags for my most-used pistols, and I keep them loaded so that when I get to the range they are ready to go. I don't make range trips as often as I'd like, so when I'm there I do not like to spend time loading or reloading mags.

A few years back I had a bad experience with a few GSG-522 rifle mags busting open at the seams after I left them loaded for some time. Clearly that's a cheap gun and cheap mags, but since that happened I have not kept any .22lr pistol or rifle mags loaded except the Ruger 10/22 mags as I feel they're higher quality.

Lately I've been shooting my .22 pistols more often (Ruger SR22 and Walter PPQ, both excellent btw), and I find loading at the range really annoying. I do sometimes load them at home while packing them in the range bag, but that doesn't help if I get a free hour and make a last minute decision to make a quick range trip.


So... do you keep your .22lr pistol and/or rifle mags loaded when not in use? Why or why not? Have you ever had any issues?

I keep them loaded.
Haven't noticed a problem.

I load mine the night before I plan a range visit.

I keep mine loaded. For my Walter P22. Never had an issue.

Nope. Don't regard it as a defensive weapon, so no need to keep loaded.

Can't imagine .22LR mags are any different than CF mags. There is more stress on the mag springs when loading/unloading than in static storage mode.

I have always been a guy 5,10,15 mags for my 22lr pistols type of guy. I like to be able to load a whole box of 50 at one sitting. Well, 2 or even 3 boxes at one sitting. I currently have 15 p226 22lr, 15 Smith and Wesson victory, 10 Beretta 87t, 10 Smith 41, 6 sig trailside. All are kept loaded.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Nope. Don't regard it as a defensive weapon, so no need to keep loaded.

Exactly the same here.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Nope. Don't regard it as a defensive weapon, so no need to keep loaded.

Same. .22LR is recreational ammo to me. Shoot for shits and giggles. The only mags I keep loaded are 9mm and 5.56. But one of these days, I will keep .308 mags loaded

quote:

Originally posted by timbermart:
I keep them loaded.
Haven't noticed a problem.

Yup. Not because it's a 'defensive weapon', it's because I hate loading at the range. I go there to shoot, then go home. So I load 22LR mags and training mags for other weapons beforehand - often days or weeks before - then leave them that way.

Often after shooting, I will load them with ammo as I store weapons / magazines / stuff after that trip. I usually stage my range bag at the same time, so next time around it's simply a need to check I have the correct training magazines in the bag, put the correct weapons in, and then go. Everything else is already set up - re-stocked - stapler, targets, tools, etc, etc.

I keep my range 22LR pistols magazines loaded for the range.

Yes; I have several of the Ruger 25-rounders loaded up and stashed in the bag of my 10/22 Takedown. Haven’t noticed any problems yet.

The Takedown in its provided backpack style case just lends itself to being ready-to-go.

My other .22’s I don’t keep loaded.

I recently found a half dozen loaded Ruger 10-.22 mags that were untouched for over 15 years. They shot perfectly.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Nope. Don't regard it as a defensive weapon, so no need to keep loaded.

Ditto.