1911 Magazines

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If you don't like the stainless steel finish, CMC Power Mags come in black stainless finish as well - https://palmettostatearmory.com/cmc...pact-1911-magazine-stainless-steel-14132.html

Brownells has 3 pack 47D on sale for $77 with free shipping ($30 off on $250+ order with 2BA code) - https://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazines/1911-8rd-45acp-47d-magazine-kits-prod42979.aspx?avs|Special-Filters_1=Made+in+USA

Brownells has 3 pack Power Mags on sale for $101 with $10 off and free shipping ($30 off on $250+ order with 2BA code) - https://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazines/1911-45acp-power-magazine-3-packs-prod42580.aspx?avs|Special-Filters_1=Made+in+USA
Be aware the Palmetto State Armory link is to 8 round compact mags. I've lost count of folks on forums who have tried the wrong size mag in their 1911 with, of course little success.

Regarding Wilson's on sale at Brownell's - Wilson is also running their "Christmas in July" sale https://shopwilsoncombat.com/45-ACP/departments/363/

Also note, for whatever reason, Brownell's sells their PowerMag 3-Pack's for more than they sell three individual PowerMags.

https://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazines/1911-8rd-45acp-power-magazines-prod5515.aspx?avs|Make_3=1911
 
(Grabs popcorn to watch the melee that's about to begin.)

It's not nearly as contentious as "9mm vs. .45" or "1911 vs. Glock," but I've seen a few arguments over it.

One of my fave things at the big gun show was to go get a cup of coffee at the snack bar, look around for a likely group of folks having coffee and a chat, work my way over and in a break in their conversation ask "What's the best caliber for personal protection?" or any of a zillion other contentious questions then stand back and watch.
 
So. Which brand of aftermarket magazines work best in the 1911? (Specifically, for a USGI 1911A1 from cmp.)

Been runnin' the 7-round stainless Springfield Armory Magazine 1911 Government mags in my SA 1911-A1. $16/pop.

174459.jpg

They are quite a bit heavier and more robust than their blued steel brethren.

Been 100% GTG.




GR
 
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never had a wilson, chip mccormick, or mec gar fail yet. i own 7 and 8 round mags and have shot many thousands in them and they are both very reliable, the 7 round only theory of more reliable, i dont agree with. might have been true in old times and mags, but new springs and upgrades i trust 8 round cmc and wilson mags. now if one wants 7 just cause, have at it. nothing wrong with that.

congrats op on getting ahold of one of the cmp 1911s......hope ya got a good one
 
But I'd certainly look into some of those GI mags from CMP, I've heard they run well and last I saw them they were pretty cheap

I bought a bunch of them a couple of years ago. I think that they were $8 ea. Only problem is that they are designed for, and will only feed hardball ammo. I did replace the followers on a few to try to get them to feed SWC's. Improved reliability but the added cost defeated the "cheap" factor.
 
Nothing in the gun world is faked more than genuine, "Colt", or "GI" mags. You may end up with an actual product or some junk from a third world country that will drop the baseplate with the first loading. Buy at your own risk.


I bought two GI mags from eBay. Haven’t tried them yet but they look and feel OK. How can you tell if they’re real or not? Mine have date codes stamped on baseplate.
 
bds

I believe you're right about Check-Mate being the magazine supplier to Colt. Stocked up on them when I purchased a number of new Colts a few years back and all of them have worked great with no problems to report.
 
I bought a bunch of them a couple of years ago. I think that they were $8 ea. Only problem is that they are designed for, and will only feed hardball ammo. I did replace the followers on a few to try to get them to feed SWC's. Improved reliability but the added cost defeated the "cheap" factor.

Fair enough, OP mentioned for a CMP pistol so I assumed feeding anything other than hardball might not be what he's looking for anyway.

But very good point
 
I bought two GI mags from eBay. Haven’t tried them yet but they look and feel OK. How can you tell if they’re real or not? Mine have date codes stamped on baseplate.
Since I never buy them because it is just so easy to buy good mags from known sources, I don't pay that much attention to the fine details, but forum member Doran who is on a variety of gun forums (M1911.org and 1911Forum), I don't know if he is on this forum, is my source (and probably everybody's) for info on GI mags.

Unless you are a GI collector, there really isn't a reason to buy "GI" mags, but if you already own them, I'd just use them. If they break or don't work, well, lesson learned. If they do work, you got some usable mags for cheap.

Since mags are one of the key points to a properly functioning semi-auto pistol, buying suspect mags is never a good path to ensure reliable function. In addition, since finding known reliable options such as Tripp, Wilson, McCormick, CheckMate, Metalform, etc., is so easy, and relatively inexpensive, even for the most expensive 1911 mags, I just avoid eBay, and gun show mags for that matter, altogether.
 
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For the folks that have to have a GI mag for looks, or for whatever reason, CheckMate sells a GI mag that should be reliable, and comes with a factory warrantee if it isn't.

CheckMate http://www.checkmatemagazines.com/i...&cid=25&name=cm45-7-b-gi-magazines&Itemid=298

at Top Gun Supply (currently out of stock) https://www.topgunsupply.com/check-mate-.45acp-7rd-blue-gi-full-size-1911-magazine.html

Thunder Mountain Custom (also out of stock) https://shop.1911parts.com/Check-Mate-45ACP-7RD-Blue-GI-Full-Size-1911-Magazine-CM45-7-B-GI.htm
 
D.B. Cooper

I don't know if they would be considered aftermarket but I have never had a problem with factory Colt mags.


Factory Colt mags are made by Checkmate. I have a few dozen of these.

https://www.checkmatemagazines.com/...ting&cid=22&name=7-round-magazines&Itemid=298

Some are stamped Checkmate and some Colt, they're identical in every way. Some other 1911 mfg's also use them, I've heard Kimber but don't own any.

The Checkmate is a hybrid USGI mag. I run them in all of my Colts with 230 ball and never had a problem with any of them. Stick with 7 round mags if you want 100% reliability.

Sales pop up from time to time. I think I've bought CM mags for less than $20 on sale.

https://www.topgunsupply.com/check-mate-.45acp-7rd-blue-hybrid-full-size-1911-magazine.html
 
Factory Colt mags are made by Checkmate...l
Currently, Colt does use CheckMate mags, though they've used others in the past, and there is no guarantee they won't use a different supplier tomorrow.

The Checkmate is a hybrid USGI mag.
CheckMate doesn't just use "hybrid" feed lips. They offer GI, hybrid, and wadcutter feed lip models.

If you buy CheckMate mags, you can choose which style you want, and you can also pick your follower, and spring, typically. Colt CheckMate's in 7 round full size versions usually come with hybrid feed lips (it is a Colt design - I have Metalform "Colt" mags from the 1980's with hybrid feed lips), but their 8 rounders are usually configured with wadcutter feed lips. Some current Colt mags have the GI follower and some come with the CheckMate Patented Follower (CMF). When you order a "Colt" mag on-line, it generally doesn't specify what follower, feed lips, or spring you're going to get. When you order a CheckMate mag, you can usually choose the features you want.
 
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Only problem is that they are designed for, and will only feed hardball ammo. I did replace the followers on a few to try to get them to feed SWC's. Improved reliability but the added cost defeated the "cheap" factor.
It is the feed lips that affect the ability to reliably feed different bullet profiles and not the followers.
 
Wilson Combat has worked best for me. Metalform has functioned with no jams too, but if I load 8 rounds into their 8-round magazines they won't seat on a closed slide. Wilson Combats (specifically the 47D's) haven't had this issue.
 
I have used these in my Colt 1911 government and Kimber Tactical Pro II with no problems:

Kimber 7 round
Colt (came with the gun) 7 round

Wilson 47D 8 round
Wilson ETM 8 round

Although it is said the Wilson 8 round 47D's don't work well I've never had a problem with them. ETM's are a nicer mag but my ETM's don't work any better that the 47D's.
 
CMP (look under Accessories) has USGI mags for sale, $80 for 10 plus shiping IIRC.

Depending upon the age of the 19111, you might sho for some lanyard loop mags (or not).

If you are not worried about bumper pads, the Wilson, Pachmyr, and McCormick magazines all generallt work just fine.

But, YMMV.
 
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