Anyone else take their spring out of their CA M249 for storage?

[Wesman]

Originally Posted by W.K.Shuridys

Ahh right, now that makes a lot more sense. I hadn't considered the lack of a spring release.

Though one must wonder, what kind of lousy spring steel are manufacturers using that their product can't stay compressed without losing tension? Springs are supposed to wear out from being cycled, not compressed.

I'm not 100% sure but I think the spring weakens a bit because of creep. Constant loading of the metal, even when it's only undergoing elastic deformation, can lead to an eventual plastic deformation.

But feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[CDN_Stalker]

Originally Posted by Hillslam

I haven't left the spring in and compressed for a long period of time in order to test spring weakening personally (as measured by my chrono). I may try that though. But it does seem to be the expected behavior for airsoft gun springs (I've seen what Stalker mentioned also: people leaving guns compressed thru the morning skirmishs to chrono under limits in the afternoon). Not that I think I'm safe anyway - the saw cycles the spring ALOT, heh.

Eh. Regardless I like the fact that the gears and whatnot are not under load while stored, helps me sleep better.

Actually, one of them used a velocity reducer during the day since they were over the limit (or would borrow a gun and leave the hot gun at home) keeping the spring compressed for a few weeks, and he ran a few thousand BBs through it when he had the chance and it went from around 426fps down to average 10 shots 396fps (couple were just over 400, as in one at 404fps).I noticed this when i had his gun at my place for a tweak, so I shot a 10 shot string. Anyways, it's over the period of time the spring will weaken, very slightly, be it use or leaving it compressed. Besides, we keep our mags unloaded between game days anyways to keep the springs fresh, right? ;-)

[Hillslam]

I'm not sure to what extent AEG springs weaken due to plastic deformation or metal fatigue from cycling, but the SAW's not safe on either count anyway - since I easily go through 2,000 rounds on the average skirmish. Or in other words, one day's skirmish for the SAW is like a short-burst AEG's entire year's worth of usage. Ugh. (Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining )

[MMMiles!]

Originally Posted by Wesman

I'm not 100% sure but I think the spring weakens a bit because of creep. Constant loading of the metal, even when it's only undergoing elastic deformation, can lead to an eventual plastic deformation.

But feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

It does, but a few of the most extreme examples I've seen were never more than 20ish fps loss (although there are a few flukes out there, in general it's not more than that - and that includes wear from 10's of 1000's of cycles).

However, with no proper spring release - yes, I would absolutely find a way to decompress (all you need to do) or remove (for long periods, may as well) the the spring. Your internals aren't that tough, and they don't need that kind of load on them.