Bought my first 1911

[CapnMac]

Mec-Gar magazines for my Super

Those are some of the best aftermarket super mags I've found. Not as many cheapo knockoffs in 38 super--probably from it being a smaller market (and a pickier one, too).

I’d really like one in 38 Super.

Caution, like potato chips, they are addictive. Ammo is neither plentiful nor cheap (and twice as much here of late) Yesterday at the gunshow I was seeing $70 & $80 prices on 50 round boxes--which is flat out absurd with PMC available at $25-26 (if on AmmoSeek).

RIA/Armscor does both black oxide and stainless versions for a decent price. Mind, the classic version is still a Colt Commercial in Royal Blue. (Although there is also a special place for an Astra or Star, too.)

 

[md7]

Mec Gar and Metalform have been good. The couple of OEM’s I have from Springfield have been trouble free also

Wilson 47D and/or Wilson ETM are good 8 round options, if you’re so inclined.

 

[nettlle]

For my 45acp/9mm 1911's I have Wilson 47D's and ETM's. ETM's are a little nicer mag than 47D's but both run equally well.

 

[tuckerdog1]

Congratulations on your 1st 1911. I think RIA makes very good 1911s at a very good price. Just added my 1st RIA to my 1911 count a few months ago. FINALLY had a chance to take it to the range a couple weeks ago. Zero issues and accurate. They do tend to multiply.

 

[mjsdwash]

if not mentioned earlier, pull the slide back slightly to loosen the bushing. 95% reduced force needed.

 

[thunderbyrd]

I only own 4 at present. Must add 38 super at some point.

 

[JTQ]

It's true I've been focussed on looking at 8 rd. mags rather than 7. Maybe I'll get a couple of each.

The original mag capacity for the .45 Auto 1911 was 7 and is my personal choice for mags, but the 8 round capacity has become the more common mag in recent years. You need to pay attention to what you are buying, when choosing 7 rounders, since the most commonly marketed 7 rounders these days are for Officer/Compact size 1911's and they won't fit in your Government/Full Size gun. Be aware of what you are buying.

Another thing to realize is there are basically three lengths of 8 round 1911 mags. All things being equal, the longer tube will work better than the shorter tube.

Using the Chip McCormick (CMC) line-up as an example, since they have three different length 8 rounders.

1. Match Grade M-MG-45FS8-Match Grade | Full-Size 1911, .45 ACP, 8 Round, S
- this is a flush fit 8 rounder. Flush mags were originally designed as 7 rounders, but with modified springs and followers, manufacturers were able to squeeze 8 rounds in a tube length designed for 7. Some work, some don't.
- these mags will likely be difficult to seat with 8 rounds in the tube and the slide forward.
- my personal opinion is if you want a flush fit 8 rounder, the only follower that reasonably allows that is the Devel (Shooting Star) follower primarily used in the CMC line-up of mags.

2. PowerMag M-PM-45FS8-Power Mag | Full-Size 1911, .45 ACP, 8 Round, Sta
- a slightly extended tube length. The PowerMag and Wilson's 47D are the same length. They are a little longer than a flush mag, but still are 7 round mag tube length mags modified to hold 8 rounds. Wilson uses the same length tube in both their 7 round 47 and their 8 round 47D.
- these mags are also often difficult seat with 8 rounds and the slide forward, especially when new. They usually loosen up and allow comfortable seating with 8 and the slide forward.

3. Railed PowerMag (RPM) M-RPM-45FS8-Railed Power Mag (RPM) | Full-Size 1911, .45 ACP
- This is an actual extended tube 8 rounder, designed as an 8 round mag and not a converted 7 round mag. The RPM is longer than the PowerMag. Wilson's ETM, Tripp's CobraMag, ACT-Mag, and a few others are of this length. If you want a reliable 8 round mag, you should probably choose a mag of this tube length.
- these mags usually seat with 8 in the tube and the slide forward as easy as a 7 rounder.

 

[Stefan A]

Thanks JTQ. Very helpful.

 

[Master Blaster]

The so called "idiot" mark which I did not call it that BTW is completely avoidable. There is not reason to spin the lever down or up. I push it straight out and then straight back in. And I do this on my Kimbers the same way

The reason for the slight rotation as you insert the stop is to avoid damaging the plunger sticking out of the plunger spring tube. Pushing it straight in can damage the plunger.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I started my 1911 with a full blown STI, then another STI then a Colt. I was saving for a Les Baer. but got distracted with SAA Clones and Winchester 1873

 

[3Crows]

The reason for the slight rotation as you insert the stop is to avoid damaging the plunger sticking out of the plunger spring tube. Pushing it straight in can damage the plunger.

Yes sir, some say that, I have not found it to be so. I rock my thumb over it pushing in. The plunger assembly is sub $7 at WC. A serial numbered frame is the pistol and is irreplaceable. If there is a sacrificial part I prefer it be the plunger. I have seen the internet guys rotating the slide release in and out and they can do that and sooner or later a slip of attention coupled with the loss of dexterity that comes with getting older is going to result in that infamous semi-circular scratch, whatever it be called, it only takes one slip to join that club.

James

 

[Master Blaster]

Yes sir, some say that, I have not found it to be so. I rock my thumb over it pushing in. The plunger assembly is sub $7 at WC. A serial numbered frame is the pistol and is irreplaceable. If there is a sacrificial part I prefer it be the plunger. I have seen the internet guys rotating the slide release in and out and they can do that and sooner or later a slip of attention coupled with the loss of dexterity that comes with getting older is going to result in that infamous semi-circular scratch, whatever it be called, it only takes one slip to join that club.

James

The OP is NEW to 1911s. He is not an expert like yourself so if he just pushes the slide stop straight in he could break off, or damage the plunger. So that is why I mentioned it.

 

[Coyote3855]

I like that your new 1911 has vertical rear slide serrations and none on the front. That's how they are supposed to look, in my opinion.

 

[Lo-Profile]

Congratulations

I have 12 in 5 different calibers, expensive ones and cheap ones.
They can be quite addicting.

 

[Lo-Profile]

Congratulations

I have 12 in 5 different calibers, expensive ones and cheap ones.
They can be quite addicting.
I've had good luck with Mec-Gar, Wilson and McCormick magazines

 

[SSN Vet]

Don't know what the OP is used to, but I've always been impressed by the heft and feel of a full size 1911 in the hand. I'd really hate to be pistol whipped with one.

 

[Ramone]

For Magazines, I've used nothing but Mec-Gar for years now, both 8 and 10 rounds in the full size, 7s in the officers model.

Get a dowel that just fits inside the recoil spring plug, and use a automatic center punch to put a dimple in the plug about 3/16 inch from the inner end. This will keep it from launching across the room. The spring goes in with the ' closed' end ( the more tightly coiled end ) on the guide. It should fit tightly enough to keep it from flying out. If it doesn't, tweak it with a pliers till it does.

Similarly, the detent spring for the Slide Stop/Thumb Safety should grip the plungers at either end, and have a slight kink in the middle to keep it from flying out.

I'd also look into a Reduced Radius Firing Pin Stop. There's a pretty good Thread here on THR from a few years back.

 

[Stefan A]

Don't know what the OP is used to, but I've always been impressed by the heft and feel of a full size 1911 in the hand. I'd really hate to be pistol whipped with one.

Yes, this is part of the appeal. All my other semi-autos are polymer. I love the feel of the 1911.

 

[JTQ]

All my other semi-autos are polymer. I love the feel of the 1911.

Aside from weight (it's good you like it), the thing that bothers the typical "poly-pistol" shooter that moves to the 1911 is lack of capacity.

For Magazines, ... both 8 and 10 rounds in the full size, ...

You'll often get comments from guys new to the 1911 such as, "hey, I see there are these 15 rounders available and they are only $15 each, so I thought I'd buy a bunch." Sure, you can get 30 round mags for Glock/Beretta/SIG and they probably work just as well as a 15/17 rounder. A single column mag is different.

The .45 Auto single stack 1911 is a 7/8 rounder. If you need a .45 Auto pistol with more rounds than 7/8, you should probably choose a different firearm.

The more rounds you stack in a single column mag, the more nosedive you'll get. Certainly, there are folks that have success with 10 rounders, but I'd rather not have to count on them.

https://americanhandgunner.com/gear/nosedive-and-feed-angle-in-the-1911-45-acp/

 

[3Crows]

Aside from weight (it's good you like it), the thing that bothers the typical "poly-pistol" shooter that moves to the 1911 is lack of capacity.

You'll often get comments from guys new to the 1911 such as, "hey, I see there are these 15 rounders available and they are only $15 each, so I thought I'd buy a bunch." Sure, you can get 30 round mags for Glock/Beretta/SIG and they probably work just as well as a 15/17 rounder. A single column mag is different.

The .45 Auto single stack 1911 is a 7/8 rounder. If you need a .45 Auto pistol with more rounds than 7/8, you should probably choose a different firearm.

The more rounds you stack in a single column mag, the more nosedive you'll get. Certainly, there are folks that have success with 10 rounders, but I'd rather not have to count on them.

https://americanhandgunner.com/gear/nosedive-and-feed-angle-in-the-1911-45-acp/

The poly pistol 9mm bullet typically weighs 115 grains and there are about 16+1 of them. The typical .45ACP bullet weighs 230 grains and there are typically 8+1 of them. So, the math, 230/115 = 2. So it takes 16 of the 9mm to equal 8 of the .45ACP. Seems about fair.

3C

 

[AZAndy]

The poly pistol 9mm bullet typically weighs 115 grains and there are about 16+1 of them. The typical .45ACP bullet weighs 230 grains and there are typically 8+1 of them. So, the math, 230/115 = 2. So it takes 16 of the 9mm to equal 8 of the .45ACP. Seems about fair.

3C

I like the way you think. That makes my 12-round .32ACP the equivalent of a bit less than 4 rounds of .45, or about half a 1911-full, which works out carry-weight-wise as well. My Cheetah is about half the weight of my usual carry 1911, so if I carry both of my Berettas in .32, it all evens out! Now I gotta find me a TV-style double harness rig...

 

[Stefan A]

Aside from weight (it's good you like it), the thing that bothers the typical "poly-pistol" shooter that moves to the 1911 is lack of capacity.

I don't mind the capacity difference - after all, I love shooting my revolvers. I appreciate that I am shooting a 1911 and another part of the appeal is learning about the differences between various guns, manufacturers, actions, historical perspectives, calibers, etc. If I want to blast away at targets, I'll just grab my 33 rd glock mag and shoot my 17 or 19 or my AR.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Never had a bit of luck with even Colt-marked 8 round mags, tho' I'm told Wilsons are good.
Otherwise, stick to 7.
As regards a moon shot with the recoil spring plunger, a late buddy (who had forgotten more about guns than I know, and who killed a Nork in Korea with a 1911) launched his in his bachelor dining room. He had spares, but it was 6 months before he found it on top of the hutch.
Moon

 

[3Crows]

I like the way you think. That makes my 12-round .32ACP the equivalent of a bit less than 4 rounds of .45, or about half a 1911-full, which works out carry-weight-wise as well. My Cheetah is about half the weight of my usual carry 1911, so if I carry both of my Berettas in .32, it all evens out! Now I gotta find me a TV-style double harness rig...

I was just funning, mostly, ha .

 

[Reloadron]

Kinda hard for me to remove the barrel bushing.

The 1911s I got new all had tight bushings. The last was a Kahr Arms which actually had me looking for my bushing tools.

Enjoy the gun and as to magazines? I have mostly Colt and also like the Wilson flavors.

Ron