Maintaining and Storing Rimfire Magazines for Reliable Feeding
A rimfire magazine is the most-overlooked part of a reliable .22 — and the most common cause of feeding trouble. The good news is that keeping one running is simple: a little cleaning, correct storage, and knowing which "maintenance" habits actually matter. This guide covers how to care for and store your Marlin .22 magazines so they feed reliably for years.
Quick answer
Keep rimfire magazines clean and dry, wipe them down with a lightly oiled cloth, and store them unloaded in a dry place. Don't over-oil (it attracts grit), and don't worry about "spring fatigue" from short-term loading — it's cycling and grit, not resting, that wears a magazine out.
What's in this guide
- Why rimfire magazines need care
- How to clean a magazine
- How to store magazines
- Spring myths, cleared up
- Frequently asked questions
Why rimfire magazines need care
Rimfire ammo is dirty. The .22's exposed lubricant and soft lead leave wax, powder residue, and lead shavings behind — and a lot of that ends up inside the magazine. Over time it cakes on the follower rails and under the feed lips, slowing the follower and changing how rounds present. Most "my .22 won't feed" problems trace back to a gummed-up magazine, not the rifle.
How to clean a magazine
- Unload it and confirm it's empty.
- Wipe the body and feed lips with a dry or lightly solvent-dampened cloth to remove wax and residue.
- Clean the follower and rails — this is where grit slows things down. A cotton swab or soft brush reaches the corners.
- If your magazine disassembles, take it apart only as far as the design intends, clean inside, and reassemble. If it isn't designed to come apart, clean what you can reach — don't force it.
- Apply a very light film of oil to the steel and wipe off the excess. The goal is corrosion protection, not a wet magazine.
How to store magazines
- Store unloaded when a magazine will sit for a long time — it keeps the follower and lips relaxed and makes it easy to spot corrosion.
- Keep them dry. Moisture is the enemy of steel; a dry drawer, case, or cabinet with a desiccant pack is ideal.
- Keep them organized so you can grab the right one and rotate through them. Our guide to organizing and storing magazines has more on that.
Spring myths, cleared up
The most common worry is that leaving a magazine loaded "wears out the spring." In practice, a quality magazine spring is designed to handle being compressed; short- and medium-term loading doesn't meaningfully fatigue it. What actually wears a magazine out is repeated loading and unloading cycles and grit and corrosion — which is exactly why cleaning and dry storage matter more than how long it sits loaded. If a spring ever does weaken or the feed lips spread, that's the point to replace the magazine rather than fight it.
Key takeaways
- Most .22 feeding problems come from a dirty magazine, not the rifle.
- Clean the follower, rails, and feed lips; oil lightly and wipe off excess.
- Store unloaded and dry for the long term.
- Cycling and grit wear magazines out — not short-term resting under load.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean a .22 rifle magazine?
Unload it, wipe the body and feed lips, clean the follower and rails to remove wax and lead residue, then apply a very light film of oil and wipe off the excess.
Does leaving a magazine loaded wear out the spring?
Not meaningfully for short or medium terms. Quality springs handle being compressed; it's repeated loading cycles, grit, and corrosion that wear a magazine out — not resting under load.
Should I store rifle magazines loaded or unloaded?
For long-term storage, unloaded is best. It relaxes the follower and lips and makes it easy to inspect for corrosion. Keep them dry either way.
Why won't my .22 feed reliably?
The most common cause is a dirty magazine — wax and lead residue on the follower and feed lips. Clean it first. If feeding problems continue after cleaning, the magazine may be worn and due for replacement.
Time for a replacement?
If cleaning doesn't fix the feeding, a fresh factory-pattern magazine will. Browse Marlin and Remington magazines, or visit the Rifle Care & Maintenance guide for more.
About the author. Rob Haversat is the founder of American Rifle Magazines in Naugatuck, Connecticut, which manufactures OEM-pattern replacement magazines for Marlin and Remington rifles in the USA.