If I cock and load my pcp, how long is too long before I fire that round? Basically, I'm asking how long can I leave my rifle cocked?
Time period?
- Thread starter SimpleGuy
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I don't think there is a limit but my practice is to not store the rifle cocked or with a pellet in the barrel. The only risk from it being cocked is perhaps the hammer spring could have less force. But I don't see any risk from having the gun cocked and loaded all day while hunting. I just empty the barrel before putting the gun away.
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I do the same load and cock whole hunting time then empty the barrel remove the mag and uncock before storing
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Fire off before storing I assume there is a pellet in barrel
Never a good idea to leave it loaded for storing
Never a good idea to leave it loaded for storing
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I also wonder about leaving spring loaded magazines loaded for extended periods. I have been getting some airguns ready for a move and decided to unload all of my aea mags. No idea if I need to or not!
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Springs, good springs, don't wear from being being compressed and holding compression, they age from cycling. There was a story, years ago, about cases of loaded magazines found that were in storage for 70 years from WWII, 1911 I think, and they still functioned as new. I was dubious about it and someone on that forum that was a spring maker backed it up. Never checked the source but this topic pops up all the time and usually someone in the industry chimes in. Makes for interesting reading either way.
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Also keep in mind most airgun shooters (pcp) have the hammer spring under a certain amount of preload at all times.
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DON'T be concerned...
Been talked about a few times on these pages.
Leaving a "quality" coil spring "loaded" will NOT hurt them ! Even all the way to coil bind, you "might" loose a pound or two, but with a cycle or two, it will be RIGHT rack to where it belongs.
Not only has my mostly-expensive, coil spring (for testing my race engine valve springs) tester said this, and my work at work said this, and the WWII Browning Hi Power, magazine that I bought (MANY years ago), FULL of 9mm ammo, that still fed well, the spring designers also say so !
As fa as leaving a gun loaded over time (hours)...doesn't sound all that safe to me ! Doesn't take but a split second to cock a gun !!
Mike
Been talked about a few times on these pages.
Leaving a "quality" coil spring "loaded" will NOT hurt them ! Even all the way to coil bind, you "might" loose a pound or two, but with a cycle or two, it will be RIGHT rack to where it belongs.
Not only has my mostly-expensive, coil spring (for testing my race engine valve springs) tester said this, and my work at work said this, and the WWII Browning Hi Power, magazine that I bought (MANY years ago), FULL of 9mm ammo, that still fed well, the spring designers also say so !
As fa as leaving a gun loaded over time (hours)...doesn't sound all that safe to me ! Doesn't take but a split second to cock a gun !!
Mike
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