Keeping mags loaded, does it matter?
 

Does it affect the life of the magazine to leave it loaded all the time? The magazines in question are the factory 10-shot mags for a Ruger 10/22 and for a Ruger MKII.

No

You do more damage cycling the magazine spring than by leaving it compressed. Your mags will wear out faster if you unload them when you go home and then reload them before going shooting again.

There are many examples of all kinds of magazines being left loaded since WWII/Vietnam/Gulf War, etc. and performing just fine when someone finally gets around to using them.

Ideally, you should rotate your mags every 6 months, to keep the springs from weakening or "taking a set." However, as Greg said, it's hardly a requirement.

Greg hit the nail on the head, while I wouldnt be as nonchallant about keeping a WWII vintage mag loaded indefinately, the advances in metallurgy have made it pretty much a non-issue nowadays...

sounds good, thanks for the info