Question about wilson mags..

[mattw]

I've finally come around to laying some money down for wilson combat magazines for my 1911. My question is for those of you that have them and have used them:

I want one of the 7 round versions but which one is best?

47 - standard 7 round stainless with .350" plastic basepad
47A - same as 47, except has aluminum basepad
47C - same as 47A, except with low-profile basepad

Is one better than the other? If not, then why do they offer aluminum.. i wouldn't think its because of weight, aluminum would be just about as light as plastic.

I think I can pretty much rule out the 47C, i am not sure if it is as tall as the 47 and 47A because it has a low-profile pad and I have a lanyard loop on my gun (doesn't feel too good when you go to slap in a mag in a hurry).

What do you guys think?

 

[fastbolt]

Check out some of the Metalform magazines ...

It's not too late.

 

[mattw]

whats so great about metalform? i was set on wilson.

 

[Rockstar]

Metalform mags are great, and, I believe, somewhat less expensive than Wilsons.

 

[Seraph]

If you can get up a group buy of at least 40 mags, Metalform will give you a HUGE quantity discount. I did this last year. Got 15 Metalform 7rd mags, blued steel, with the flat, dimpled follower and locking removable floor plate, at about $8 per. These magazines have been 100% reliable through 1000's of rounds, including fully reliable slide lock on empty, which is something I can't say for CMC or Wilson mags. Next time I buy mags, I will do the same.

What do you guys think?

I think you ought to swap out your MSH for one without a lanyard loop, or even for a magwell, like the Smith & Alexander type. Or, if you really must have a lanyard loop, there are MSH's with lanyard "loops" that do not extend below the grip frame. If your 1911 is your carry weapon, the lanyard loop extending below the grip frame serves only to obstruct a hasty reload.

 

[fastbolt]

Wilson magazines are mostly undersprung (by design).

Check out the metalform FBI-spec magazines for a decent, functional 1911 magazine. There are quite a few variations offered in their various magazines, too, especially when it comes to followers. http://www.metalformmagazines.com/

I've tried the older & newer Wilson magazines over the years, in both standard & Officers lengths, and I won't use their magazines anymore.

The ACT magazines seem to have been doing fine. Only tried them in the SW1911's, so far ...

Tripp Research, Inc (Cobramag) appears interesting, reading through their website, but I inherently distrust gun magazine reviews and I haven't had the chance to order any of their magazines for T&E, yet. http://www.trippresearch.com/products/products.htm

I've tried a lot of different magazines over the years. Oddly enough, my favorites, back from the 70's, were some Vega magazines. I have no idea who actually produced them, but they reliably fed the older Speer 200gr JHP's in my Commander.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I've had very good luck with CMC magazines that have been converted with Wilson springs and followers in them. I have a half dozen set up like that -- all 8 round capacity -- and they work 100% for me.

I've also heard very good stuff about Metalform mags, and will probably try some out the next time I need to buy 1911 mags.

 

[mattw]

of the metalform followers:

22 Ace Plastic Follower
Flat Follower
Safety Orange Plastic Follower
Round Follower

are there any opinions out there as to one being more reliable and lasting longer than another?

Also, do you have any pictures of those FBI mags? whats different about them?

I think you ought to swap out your MSH for one without a lanyard loop, or even for a magwell, like the Smith & Alexander type. Or, if you really must have a lanyard loop, there are MSH's with lanyard "loops" that do not extend below the grip frame. If your 1911 is your carry weapon, the lanyard loop extending below the grip frame serves only to obstruct a hasty reload.

I don't carry that 1911 except for at the range or in the yard or outside where there is no need to conceal it. The loop is for retention, if I want or need to get rid of the lanyard loop it isn't a big deal to push out the roll pin and remove the loop from the MSH. If I need to reload so fast that i won't be able to avoid getting poked by the loop then i really think i have more important things to worry about than a sore hand, right? Isn't that wonderfully contradictory to my original post?

 

[fastbolt]

https://www.metalformmagazines.com/Magazine.asp?RID=1

The model made for the Springfield FBI specs is about halfway down the page. It appears to be a well-made, standard 7-round capacity 1911-type magazine that offers decent feeding of JHP ammunition. Imagine that ...

I don't know if these are the magazines that use one of the Extra-Power Wolff spring designs. Someone else made the call and talked to Metalform when the initial order was made for our SWAT folks to try them. They seemed to work fine, although they still require reasonable spring replacement, as routine maintenance, during the course of very frequent training & practice, especially when using 230gr +P RA45TP loads.

 

[pogo2]

Low profile for concealed carry

I've used the Wilson mags with both the .350 "thick" baseplate and the "low profile" baseplate, which is about .10 inch thick, or a quarter of an inch thinner. For concealed carry (I have a Kimber Pro CDP), I prefer the low profile because it makes the grip shorter by a quarter inch and is less likely to print on a cover garment. I have attached a picture of my Kimber with the low profile magazine inserted.

I think the thick baseplate is better if you have a magwell or lanyard ring on your gun, because those two attachments stick out and make it harder to insert the magazine with the thin baseplate.

The capacity of the magazine, be it 7 or 8, is not affected by the choice of baseplate thickness.

 

[NEtracker]

For the Range, I use the Wilson 8's with .350 base.
Fine mags.

 

[ckp_hokie]

I have all Wilson mags for my UC II and just bought one low-profile base pad for the mag that is in the gun and the back-up mags have the standard .350 base pad. Works for me! Never a FTF or FTE and I have an external extractor. Go figure!