Metalform 1911 mags?

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Real metalform mags are supposed to be top notch. I'm not sure if the 8 and 9 dollar metalform mags from CDNN (or the 10 rounders I ordered) are actual metalform mags. They've worked okay for me (one jam so far), but they don't feel like really high quality. I wonder if they're chinese copies or something. I don't have any certified gen-yoo-wine metalform mags to compare them against so I can't say for sure.
 
hmm....I read the metal followers were prone to cracking/splitting and the welds were spotty. I guess I'll have to wait and see how these new ones are when I have it in hand.
 
I can provide some real-world information on Metalform magazines.

Back in 1999, I ordered a hundred of'em...evenly split between stainless and carbon. All of them are 7 round with the standard flat follower with the speed bump...as per original design.

At the same time, I ordered 50 Wolff 11-pound springs for the carbon mags. The stainless versions were available with the Wolff spring upgrade for an extra buck a copy.

I kept 72 of the magazines for my own use, plus a couple spares in each version just for a backup...and I've used'em hard. At one time, I carried all of them to the range an average of twice a week...preloaded...and emptied them all. I wasn't gentle with them. I slammed'em home and let'em bounce on the ground when they were jettisoned. I take them apart for thorough cleaning once a year.

Last month, the welds gave up on the floorplate on one magazine. One magazine failed in 11 years. I salvaged the follower and spring.

In 11 years of hard use, none of the Wolff springs have failed. Not one. None of the followers have failed. None of the magazine tubes have dented or sprung. They're starting to looka little rough, but they're still on the job.

I'e never had a feed failure in any of my guns unless it was due to a bad round of ammunition. Shooting my own cast bullets almost exclusively...once in every great while, I run into a bad one that doesn't want to chamber...but those are few and far between.

None of the magazines has failed to lock the slide on empty except in the case of a broken slidestop lug...and that's happened twice in two Colts...once per gun...that have seen hard use since 1991 and 1992 respectively. Not the fault of the magazines.

Would I recommend Metalform 7-round magazines? Absolutely. As far as the one that failed...If I send it back, they'll send me another one...but I probably won't bother to do it.

Disclaimer:

I have no vested interest in The Metalform Company, nor do they send me free goodies for my endorsement of their products. I'm a customer like any other. No more and no less.
 
That's great news 1911 tuner. I have nothing to report problem-wise on the few $15 Metalform mags I've used in my Kimber. But then again I haven't ridden them as hard as 1911tuner has.
 
MikePain

"hmm....I read the metal followers were prone to cracking/splitting and the welds were spotty. I guess I'll have to wait and see how these new ones are when I have it in hand. "

Mike I am curious where you heard this. Do you have a link?
 
2 months ago I bought 10 of the Metalform 7 round blued mags from CDNN... they all work great in my Gold Cup National Match.

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/19457rdblmag2.html

The mags I got are COLT factory style. They have hybrid feed lips and flat, dimple followers.

I don't know about their 8rnd mags. I saw them advertised but I went with the 7nd OEM style because I knew they would work.
Will
 
Real metalform mags are supposed to be top notch. I'm not sure if the 8 and 9 dollar metalform mags from CDNN
Click to expand...

huh?

CDNN sells real metalforms. they always work, and are all i use. never tried the orange follower ones though, i only use the standard metal follower 7rounder ones for $9.
 
I got some Metalform's made specifically for the Detonics Combat Master and they work as well as the original Combat Master Magazine. I wouldn't hesitate to buy more.
 
^^^not quite. this is what the guy in your link is whining about, which is nothing at all. find me a "GI" 1911 mag that doesn't look like that.

Upon closer examination of the magazines, I noticed that the quality left something to be desired. The bases were not welded uniformly to the body, as can be seen in the picture above and ....
Click to expand...
Pict2240.jpg


&


... while the rear body weld looked quite pronounced in two of the purchased magazines, it was relatively smooth on the other two.
Pict2241.jpg
Click to expand...



he broke this one with his screwdriver, while attempting kitchen table gunsmithing:

Pict2519.jpg

is that a "crack"....or a scratch?:
Pict2536.jpg

give me a break. i would be quite displeased to read such nonsense about my product if i were metalform. "E-zine" does some horrible reviews.
 
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give me a break. i would be quite displeased to read such nonsense about my product if i were metalform. "E-zine" does some horrible reviews.
Click to expand...

Without a doubt.

You can clearly see in the last photo where someone has been bending the lower follower leg.... More kitchen table gunsmithing.

I wonder how much "gunsmithing" he's been done to his slide stop to require the lower follower leg of the mag to be bent around like that.
Will
 
I really like the metalform magazines in my gun for ball ammunition.


However, with my carry loads, Cor Bon DPX 185 grain, the round follower would cause the hollow point to slam into the feed ramp, stopping the gun from being chambered.
After noticing this, and testing it, I'd nearly crushed the mouths of those rounds. :(
 
Sorry this post poked a nerve for some of you.
I've not heard of Metalform mags before seeing them on CDNN, so I did a quick look up and what I found is what I found...Then I made this post to talk with you all about them, to find out if what I read in that review was typical.

So I take it Metalform mags are generally quality stuff?
I hope these new ones with the orange followers are decent, at $11.99 I'll get twice as many ;)
 
Sorry this post poked a nerve for some of you.
I've not heard of Metalform mags before seeing them on CDNN, so I did a quick look up and what I found is what I found...Then I made this post to talk with you all about them, to find out if what I read in that review was typical.

So I take it Metalform mags are generally quality stuff?
I hope these new ones with the orange followers are decent, at $11.99 I'll get twice as many
Click to expand...

Nerve is right. I don't like the nerve of some folks bashing a product that they clearly screwed up by bending and prying on it.

Metalform is a production metal/machine shop. They build magazines for a number of firearms maufactures. COLT, Springfield Armory, Kimber for examples.

Metalform builds mags to a spec supplied by the specific manufacture. COLT spec mags are different than Kimber spec mags, ect.... Here comes the problem with those 8rnd orange follower Metalform mags. I don't know what spec those mags were built to....

1911's were not desgined with 8rnd mags in mind. Flush fitting 8rnd mags over compress the mag spring and generally are not as reliable as 7rnd mags. You need an extended mag tube (like Wilson builds) to have a reliable 8rnd mag. I would suggest you buy the 7rnd COLT spec mags I linked in my first post. I KNOW those mags will work and will be of high quality.
Will
 
You need an extended mag tube (like Wilson builds) to have a reliable 8rnd mag.
Click to expand...

Any proof behind that statemnt? At the very least, any reason based on measurable, recorded differences behind that statement?
 
This is an old thread, but I thought I would throw my 2cents in since I have recent experience.

In the review above the author was attempting to modify the mag because it didn't lock back his slide. At $12.99 a mag, why not?

I just got 4 Metalform Mags from CDNN. The follower is the same as pictured in the review. Two work perfectly in 3 1911's (all stock slide stops). One didn't lock back the slide in ANY. That one went back which CDNN replaced at no charge. The replacement mag they sent locks back in two 1911's but not in the all stock 2010 manufactured Colt (DW and SA are the other two). So, individual mileage may vary.
 
The orange follower is junk.
Make do with 7 shots and the GI follower. I have always had good feeding with the Metalform rounded follower although it does not have the pimple.
If you want 8 shots, they make a true 8 shot that protrudes about 3/8" to make room for a steel follower and strong spring.
 
The proper way to spread the lower shelf to properly lock back a slide is to support the vertical leg of the shelf below where the top bend is and twist the vertical leg to the left, (viewed from the top) at the bottom near the lower bend to get the ledge wide enough. I use needle nose pliers so the leg isn't stressed at the split which is a natural stress riser.
Joe
 
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