1911 Magazine Advice

[gotboostvr]

So I recently got my first alloy framed 1911, and I've seen and heard horror stories about some magazines chewing up the feed ramp.

I've got mostly Checkmate and Chip McCormick shooting star and a number of various ones and twos.

What I'm planning on doing is just changing followers and springs in ALL of them. My Checkmates would be fine, but the CMC's are pretty notorious for this issue. I'm planning on even converting my various seven rounders.

Who's got a suggestion for an economical, high quality follower and spring kit?

 

[JTQ]

I don't know what you consider "economical", but you could just buy the Power+ followers from Chip McCormick for your Shooting Star mags.

McCormick Power+ follower http://www.chipmccormickmags.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=12002

CheckMate's patented follower (CMF) should be available from CheckMate, but they seem to be tough to order from, but then they are a manufacturer and not really in the retail business. However, Tripp's "flex follower" is the same thing and Tripp has a pretty good reputation. There is also Tripp's hybrid follower that is pretty popular.

Tripp https://www.trippresearch.com/store/store_1911.html

Brownell's has the Pachmayr and Metalform GI follower http://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazine-parts/magazine-followers/index.htm?avs|Make_3=1911

Here's Wilson's spring/follower set for standard 7 round full size tubes. http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Spring_...Size-7rd-Compact-6rd-Magazine/productinfo/19/

Depending on how many McComick Shooting Stars I had, and how much I rely on them, I'd probably just keep my Shooting Stars for my steel guns, and buy some different mags for my aluminum frame guns. If I really liked the Shooting Stars and needed to use them with my aluminum gun, I'd probably go with the Power+ follower.

 

[gotboostvr]

Thanks for the information JTQ.
I'm just gonna go ahead and swap all of them. The way I look at it I want all of my mags to be safe in any gun they fit in.

Plus I'll get my seven rounders up to 8 rounds and I'll probably actually get some use out of them.

The Wilson combat one at brownells looks like what I'm looking for at around 12 bucks that's not too bad.

 

[JTQ]

This one? http://www.brownells.com/magazines/...ampaign=itwine&utm_medium=affiliate&source=ir

Note Wilson's ETM has a longer tube than your McCormick Shooting Stars. If that Wilson follower/spring combo even fits, you will most likely turn your 8 round Shooting Stars into 7 rounders. Other than the CheckMate CMF/Tripp "flex follower" nearly any other follower will most likely turn your Shooting Stars into 7 round mags.

McCormick's follower would most likely turn your 7 rounders into 8 rounders, though. The McCormick follower has a shorter rear leg, and the front compresses, which allows you to squeeze 8 rounds into a tube designed for 7.

 

[gotboostvr]

Will that CMC follower slide forward and ding my feed ramp though?

I'd prefer to have 8 rounds in the magazine if I can.

I figured out that I'd lose a round with the Wilson follower after I posted that.

 

[JTQ]

Will that CMC follower slide forward and ding my feed ramp though?

With the Power+ follower, theoretically no. Even if it did, the leading edge is rounded rather than pointy like their standard follower.

http://www.cmcmags.com/FAQ2.html

CMC designed the Power Mag+ follower to eliminate any possibility of the follower coming in contact with the receiver. The Power Mag+ follower is designed so that it remains within the confines of the magazine tube even when the last round is fired. It is stabilized in the magazine tube so that it cannot come in contact with the frame of the 1911-style pistol. This means if the empty magazine is still in the pistol and the slide is released forward over the follower it cannot come in contact with the receiver. Thus, if you have a 1911-style pistol with an aluminum alloy frame, we recommend that Power Mag+ magazines be used in your firearm.

 

[JTQ]

I'd prefer to have 8 rounds in the magazine if I can..

Just a data point from the late Stephen A. Camp regarding 7 vs 8 round 1911 mags. Admittedly, this article was probably written before the longer tube 8 rounders such as Tripp and Wilston ETM's were common.

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-best-7-or-8-shot-1911-45-acp.html

 

[gotboostvr]

I'm aware of that 8 rounders in some guns cause issues.
Mine have a wonderful track record though as far as reliability is concerned.
I may in the future start to transition to ETM's or something similar, but for now I'd rather just get my current mags to play nice.

Ok, the power+ looks like it will be what I end up with. I'll order a couple, try them in at least one of each type of magazine and if all goes well order a truck load more.

 

[JTQ]

I may in the future start to transition to ETM's or something similar, but for now I'd rather just get my current mags to play nice.

If you like McCormick's products, be aware of their new Railed Power Mag (RPM). http://cmcmags.homestead.com/RPM2.html?_=1453760142897

It has the longer tube (though I don't know if it is actually as long as the other makers, but it is longer than the regular Power Mag, which in turn is longer than the Shooting Star) like the Tripp and Wilson ETM and and uses theoretically stronger feed lips and a follower that looks exactly like the Power Mag+ follower, though I haven't handled both together.

Just so you don't think I'm a McCormick fan-boy, my full size 1911 mag of choice is Wilson's 7 round 47 mag.

 

[stoky]

I've been running McCormick springs and followers in no name housings in a Series 70 with a Clark (ramped) barrel for years with no feed ramp issues.
They do make them eight rounders btw.

 

[gotboostvr]

Those RPM's look intresting.
Going forward, if I but new mags I'll probably buy ETM's

But I'd like to keep my flush fit magazines for carry, and I'd like them to hold 8. If they start malfunctioning I'll reevaluate.

Thanks for the advice JTQ!

 

[BSA1]

Will that CMC follower slide forward and ding my feed ramp though?

I'd prefer to have 8 rounds in the magazine if I can.

I figured out that I'd lose a round with the Wilson follower after I posted that.

How does the magazine follower slide forward to ding the feed ramp?

Take a look at the 1911 magazine. The follower fits inside the body and can only go up and down.

 

[JTQ]

How does the magazine follower slide forward to ding the feed ramp?

Take a look at the 1911 magazine. The follower fits inside the body and can only go up and down.

When the last round is fired, the Devel follower, that has no front leg, and a short back leg, can tip out of the front of the tube. In addition, McCormick mags have a slightly lower front cut at the top of the tube that can allow the follower out the front.

 

[gotboostvr]

How does the magazine follower slide forward to ding the feed ramp?

Take a look at the 1911 magazine. The follower fits inside the body and can only go up and down.

Not all magazine followers are made equal.
Here's some pictures of the CMC shooting star 8rd followers compared to some Checkmate followers.

The top left one is the CMC. There's nothing to stop that pointy bit from following the last round up the feed ramp. That's when it pecks at the feed ramp.

The Checkmate follower can't, see how much that front leg goes into the body?

Here's another view

Checkmate on the left, CMC on the right.

Interestingly enough, I just closely looked at a 8rd KimPro magazine I got in a trade. It's the exact same as my Checkmates. Even had the same patent number (in the same font) and same dimensions. Just slightly different viewing port holes in the side.

Come to think of it, with as goods service as I've had from my Checkmates. I think I'll just order a batch off their followers and extra springs.

 

[Drail]

If you make a frame from a material such as aluminum that is softer than the magazine follower - the ramp can get chewed up by the follower. But the follower is only going to be able to hit the ramp below where bullet nose strikes it so it's primarily just a cosmetic issue. The CMC/Devel folded steel follower was an attempt to cram one more round into a magazine and little or no concern was given to feed ramp damage. I have been using McCormick mags and followers for over 25 years and have never had any problems with them but I only load 7 .45 ACP rounds into a magazine because I refuse to give up ANY reliability just to gain one more round - and springs give longer service if they are not wadded up in the bottom of the magazine.

 

[berettaprofessor]

OKay, could someone please summarize...I've never heard of magazines causing damage to the feed ramp of a 1911. Is it a real problem? What specific magazines and what kind of damage should I be looking for? What about proprietary mags; one of my 1911's is a Taurus PT1911, which had its own mags?

 

[gotboostvr]

OKay, could someone please summarize...I've never heard of magazines causing damage to the feed ramp of a 1911. Is it a real problem? What specific magazines and what kind of damage should I be looking for? What about proprietary mags; one of my 1911's is a Taurus PT1911, which had its own mags?

It's only an issue with aluminum framed 1911, and some types of magazines. Not an issue for the vast majority of 1911's

If you look at the pictures I posted above, the smaller follower is the issue. The one with the front leg shouldn't cause any problems and still gets 8 rounds into a magazine.

 

[JTQ]

It really is just the Devel follower as pictured above. The follower was also chosen by Ruger when they upped their .45 ACP P90/P97/P345 guns capacity to 8 rounds. Those Ruger's all had either aluminum or polymer frames and they got dinged also. However, all of those Ruger's had integral barrel feed ramps and the dinging was really only cosmetic, and as cosmetic as something can be on the inside of the gun.

What about proprietary mags; one of my 1911's is a Taurus PT1911, which had its own mags?

Unlikely to be a problem. I don't think Taurus makes an aluminum framed 1911, and second, I think their mags are ACT-Mag that uses a follower with a long front leg that isn't going to tip out of the tube, and if it ever did (which I don't know how it could) the front is blunt shaped and would not cause a problem.

 

[Drail]

It's essentially a cosmetic issue. To me, as long as the gun runs runs 100% I wouldn't care about the bottom of the ramp. If it bothers you then just buy magazines with a skirt on the front of the follower so it cannot tilt forward. Brownells has a good one for the money.