Is it a bad idea...
 

To keep bbs loaded in my mags when their not in use. I kindove figured having the spring bent for a long period of time would ruin it but I'd just like to make sure.

Doing so will weaken the springs in your mags, don't do it. Just empty them after every game.

Also, you don't need to shoot them. (this might be obvious but just making sure you know) You can just pull back on the little tab on the top of the mags and they all fly out. You can collect them back into a bag.

Thats my secondary weapon.

However it is ok to keep the mag loaded for short periods of time like overnight or 24 hrs but ya i wouldnt suggest keeping em in there for long periods of time..

LOL@ Specs......Secondary? i just yell grenade and whip a handfull of bb's at em, Works great in CQB too....(banghead)

LOL! Better than some springers!

You laugh until I kill you with it...

I think that'd be the equivalent of in "Shoot-Em-Up" when he fires the bullets from his fingers with the fireplace.

Okay thanks. This may be a stupid question aswell, but should I empty out the propane from my mags aswell?

Really good question, has been answered before many times but you should keep a little bit of gas in them. It keeps the valve closed preventing important shit from drying out at least that what everyone tells me. I don't usually leave gas in mine though, just make sure they are always well lubed. I have had my mags for 3 years and I have had no leaks.

It's actually a good idea to leave some in as it keeps the seals in place. I usually don't keep a full amount in but I don't think it'll hurt it.

It doesn't really, not significantly anyways. I've left mags fully or partially loaded with BBs for months on end with no consequence. If the mag springs are actually compressed to the point of permanently yeilding with the amount of BBs you can put in there, well, that's a pretty poorly designed mag.

If anything, I'd still recommend unloading your mags just from a safety perspective. I think it's pretty much accepted that the act of loading and unloading your mags deteriorates the springs more than just storing them loaded.

As for gas, definitely keep at least a little gas in them to keep the seals properly formed. Every time I've left a mag without gas, it has ended up leaking. There shouldn't be any issue with leaving your mags fully gassed either, provided they're not going to be overheated or something. Because the gas in the mag is typically a liquid/vapour, the pressure in the mag is pretty similar no matter how full it is, at any given temperature. (somewhere around the vapour pressure for the gas)

I completely Disagree(about AEG mags), At least with something like an MP5 mag where some of the mid caps have pretty steep curves in them and leaving them loaded can cause binding issues in my experience. In a lot of mags I've worked on it seems like they're isn't much of an issue if they are more than half empty. This is mostly with Mid Caps as opposed to Real Caps

Thanks alot guys

Has anyone else ever noticed that a lot of inquiries starting with "Is it a bad idea..." usually is a bad idea? I'm not referring to this particular thread's topic, but life in general. Always found it kind of humourous, myself.

Things are always better when they're well lubed :P

Last time I played was November 2009, and after that game I left my mags loaded (that were still loaded). Be heading home next week for mail, maybe will give them a check and see if any spring weakening or not to prove/disprove this legend. ;)

@Mitchell
Yeah, my experience is pretty much AUG, STANAG, and gas pistol style (straight spring) mags. I can see how it could be a problem for smaller midcaps, but I'm still inclined to believe that the binding is probably an issue innate to the midcap itself rather than caused by leaving mag loaded and spring compressed.

@Stalker
For an even more conclusive look, pull the mag springs out and see if they've taken on any shape changes compared to an unloaded mag.

Everyone knows that Stalker's mag springs are in the shape of Bear Cavalry. They never wear out, they just keep charging foreward.

In any case, if he pulls on the bb retainer rod, it wont eject BB's. Itll eject home forged stalker knives from a hidden compartment in the mag. I heard he converted his pistol mags to shoot out machettes

I thought it was rabid gremlins...