1911 cheap mag question

[270Win]

A friend recently gave me five of those cheapie $6 gunshow-bargain-bin 7-rd blued mags for my 1911.

All five have some trouble seating securely in the gun without a solid palm smack on the bottom. I don't have this problem with my Wilson or Chip McCormick mags, which both 'snick' into place effortlessly.

I compared the El Cheapo against the McCormick, and they appear at first glance to be dimensionally identical, with very minor variations in the feed lips.

When ejecting a full Cheapo mag after seating it vigorously, the button is definitely a little harder to press in, as well. I oiled the mag release button and that helped somewhat, but it's still a different feel.

All five mags appear to feed properly when hand-cycled, full or otherwise; haven't been to the range since getting these five new mags. But bottom line, it's simply difficult to seat them.

Any ideas, or similar experiences? Should a "standard" 1911 mag take a little bit of muscle to seat squarely?

 

[ChuckB]

If he gave them to you, and you didn't pay for them, you still paid too much! Cheapo mags are, at best, a pain in the butt; at worst, they could cost you your life in a SHTF situation. Deep six them.

Chuck

 

[Whirlwind06]

I don't see the point in using them.
Sell em ebay for a few bucks
Even as range mags if the don't work well. What's the point?

 

[10-Ring]

Every time I give a cheapo mag a try, I am quickly reminded why I have 10 Wilsone mags - why create weak links in the system??? I like reliability over saving a few bucks especially w/ my 1911s

 

[jagdpanzer347]

I have some government contract mags I bought new in the package for six bucks apiece. So far so good. However, they have been loaded with 230-grain hardball only so far.

-jagd

 

[mljdeckard]

I'm totally with ten ring.

I brough home a handful of G.I mags from Germany, leftover from the 1911/Beretta switch out, of various manufacture, contract, and origin, and I tried them in a few different guns, including a Thompson auto-ordnance, a Colt 1991A1, and my Kimber. I could never get ANY of them to work reliably. I was just reminded of one of Murphy's laws of Combat: "Never forget that every piece of equipment you have was made by the cheapest bidder."

Spend the extra three bucks, get the better mags. If you are competing or carrying for protection, the last thing you want to have to think before you pull the trigger is "Man, I sure hope the second round makes it to the chamber." Even if you are just shooting for fun, bad mags can ruin your day.