To store cocked or uncocked?

[Autumn Daze]

[QUOTE=Dave Suponski;199207]Music wire springs such
as Parker main springs will lose 15 percent of their rated pressure soon after being installed. After that the rated pressure will remain fairly constant. Any designer worth his salt will always use springs with a 15/20 higher rate to compensate for this.[/QUOTE

[Fishtail]

"From a practical point, I don't believe anyone has ever proven that Parker hammerless coil springs suffer significantly from long-term compression. Do you jack up your car and put it on blocks when you go on vacation?"

Well...putting your car on blocks is a lot of trouble. Clicking your triggers is super easy.

Things sag over time. Some more than others. Insert your favorite famous actress joke here.

There are bunches of old cars - let's say from the 50's/60's etc. that sit lower than they did new on account of saggy springs. Theoretically...I don't wanna get into a theoretical argument but rather the 'reality' is coil springs lose their 'boingyness' over time when left under compression. How much is another whole topic.

[edgarspencer]

Boingyness? I like that.

No doubt springs, coil or otherwise loose a certain amount strength, either tension or compression, but this will come with normal use early on, cocking and firing, bouncing down the road, whatever. Beyond that initial "creep", remaining under tension or compression won't contribute further to it. One whole semester in the dynamics lab was a lot of fun trying to do what wasn't supposed to happen.

[C.O.B.]

I leave mine cocked. I have both ejector and non ejector guns. If the hammer is tripped and you take the forearm off an ejector gun then the fun really begins

[charlie cleveland]

i too leave mine cocked...but i m sure they do lose a little of there tension in time... charlie

[Paul Harm]

We're playing with 100+ year old guns. I don't think for a minute that through the years previous owners gave much thought to the springs and left the guns cocked. They're still working today. The magazines in semi-auto pistols are the weak link. A friend received some that had been fully loaded and put away for 30 years. They still worked just fine.

[Phil Yearout]

So why do the guns in fancy trunk cases always have snap caps with them ?

[C.O.B.]

Originally Posted by Phil Yearout

So why do the guns in fancy trunk cases always have snap caps with them ?

They need to fill the space with something. Ever see anyone taking the oild bottle from their trunk case and adding a dab here and there?? It's all in the accuterments

[Phil Yearout]