gas mag maintenance

[Assault Pioneer]

alright I've been playing with aeg's for enough years and this past month I've been branching into the gas world.

I bought a WE/AWSS KAC PDW open bolt system with markings

and a Tanaka Kar98k

my main thing is after I'm done with the guns and go to store them away, I knew for aeg's its bad to keep bb's still in the mag, so I empty both, but I don't know about keeping gas in the mag's of these weapons, is it bad to keep propane in gas mags after your done? if not how do I vent them? I figured it out on the gbbr but the Tanaka's mags are weird I can't find any moving parts that are related to gas flow

[ex]

I store my GBBR mags with no rounds in them..but thats just a habit of mine. I also store them with "Oily Gas" . I put more than normal silicone oil in the propane mix at the end of a day of shooting. I also put a drop on the Fill valve just to be sure.

[Assault Pioneer]

okay and what does that do? (not sarcastic even though it sounds like it)

I don't keep any rounds in my mags either, my main concern is storing gas mags with gas in them, the constant pressure would wear on a seal and cause them to leak.
does adding silicone keep the seal? if so where do I apply it? where it comes out or where it goes in? what about the pin the hammer hits to use the gas?

[ShelledPants]

Pressure on a seal prevents the "dry" air from robbing the seals of moisture, so an empty mag will crack and ruin if left without the gas in mag. The oily gas is just a preventative measure by the paranoid, but it works the same as shooting oil'd gas (the same amount you put in to shoot regularly).

Personally: I dump the rounds from the mag a day or two after the game (when I remember, otherwise I do it on the way home in the car or when I unpack at home). But I make sure my mags ALWAYS have gas in them, this is something to be paranoid about, and takes two seconds to do before you PACK your gear when you leave the field, or after you shoot at home. Never leave mags empty on gas.

Also something I never thought about, because I don't do it: DO NOT store mags in a hot environment (car in direct sun) or in direct sunlight. This has caused mags to over pressurize and release the gas (not explode... this is why we have seals etc... they act as a safety on the mag from explosion). After the mag is finished releasing gas... depending on what did what... You may have a mag, empty, sitting in the sun, with destroyed seals. :\

Edit: Leaving silicone oil on the seals WITHOUT pressurizing the mag could also ruin them. The pressure from the mag prevents the seals from over expanding from the excess oil... An over expanded seal may be compromised and not seal properly when the mag is filled with gas next.

[Assault Pioneer]

thank you very much shelled pants.

should I fill the mags right up with gas or just fill it for 2 seconds or something?

[dpvu]

I just leave the mag with whatever amount of gas it had in it. If it's empty a 2-3 second shot is enough but if it's full, don't bother emptying it then putting a 2 second shot in it. As a side-note, avoid venting a ton of gas all at once by pushing the valve in with your finger, that can also damage seals.