Which 1911 mags?

[Howland937]

It worked well for that

I used a loaded SIG factory 1911 mag to help shim my car door when I locked the keys in it. Thought leaving it loaded might keep from smooshing the sides in. It worked well for that too, but it also works fine in my carry gun (still).

I've had good luck out of most all the name brand mags except Kimber in most every 1911 I've owned except Kimber. They just seemed to be the most picky and they usually didn't pick the mags that came with them.

 

[Jim Watson]

I like the CMC Power Mag and RPM.
But I am not the best source, I got tired of wrestling with SWC OAL, magazine choice, barrel "throating" etc. and just load roundnose. I can even get 200 gr RN so the ballistics are the same.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Only one 1911-A1, and it dotes on the McCormick "Shooting Star', 7 rounder. Before 2018, probably around 2014-15. No complaints at all.

 

[DeepSouth]

Personally, I would recommend more 7 round mags.

 

[Tinman357]

I ran the magazine gamut myself for many years, never came across any that were terrible, other than some very old USGI mags. I suspect they only needed new springs.

Others have had followers replaced, feed lips tweaked and polished.

All that said. I just recently bought 10 Wilson ETM's. With shipping the cost was more than many new pistols on the market today.

I obviously found them to be the best I've ever tried. They all fit and function perfectly and no issues with any load I've run through them.

Every other 1911 magazine I own got Wilson springs and followers. I don't expect any problems with any of them in the future.

JMHO, for what its worth.

I guess I have a lifetime supply of good magazines for my 1911's. One is a recently aquired (Sept) Wilson XTAC in .45, the other is a mid 90's Kimber Custom Classic that has an unrealistic number of rounds fired without serious issue.

That old Kimber is currently at a respected 'smith getting rebuilt with Wilson bulletproof parts. Everything but the frame & slide are being fitted as we speak.

A nice shiny DLC refinish and new grips and it'll be ready for the next 30 years.


I guess I probably should've just tossed it in the recycling bin, the internet has been telling me for years that a Kimber will shoot itself apart in a short time.

The Wilson is more accurate, by about an inch. The Kimber cost me $543.00 OTD. The Wilson was considerbly more, by a lot. But hey! I got an extra inch.

 

[Zerodefect]

I use Dawson/Wilson comp ready mags, and Checkmate mags.

 

[styles]

47D have never let me down. I know they ‘improved’ them, but I still like the 47D.

 

[Alaskamike]

I'm surprised I haven't seen mention here yet of Checkmate mags. I have 10 of the 8 rounders, and love them

I know everyone seems to really like the Wilson Combat 47Ds, but they're the only ones I've ever had consistent problems with.

The Springfield and Mecgar mags I've used have mostly been good.

 

[LiveLife]

definitely NOT Wilson, especially 47D

Wilson Combat 47Ds, but they're the only ones I've ever had consistent problems with

Those that have issues/problems with Wilson Combat 47D magazines, have you contacted Customer Service as they come with lifetime warranty on tubes with service policy? https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Magazi...ze-8-Round-Standard-Base-Pad/productinfo/47D/

• No-Risk Service Policy - If It Breaks from Normal Use, We Replace It!
• Our magazine tubes have a lifetime satisfaction policy. Wilson Combat will replace any magazine tube that spreads, cracks or becomes unusable during normal use. Wilson Combat magazine springs and followers are considered consumable items and may require replacing after extensive use.

 

[trigga]

I'm in the same boat. Finally bought my first 1911 on cyber mondey. I had originally wanted a "GI" model and was looking at the Tisas but their GI model was out of stock at the time and I went with the next model up, the service model. I got a good deal on it so I can't complain. I'll definitely buy the GI model again when I find a good deal. It just has the flat mainspring housing, ejection port cut, polished barrel, black grips and different finish. I order some wood grips off amazon coming on a week now and still not here. Other than that it's the same gun.

It said it comes with 7 round mags but it actually came with two 8 round mags. I was looking around and found some Checkmate 8 rounders for $16 with welded base plates because I wanted it flush. Don't know why they would weld them but are these any good? They're like almost half the cost of name brand mags.

Finally got a chance to shoot it today. As much guns as I own and have shot, I've never really shot a 1911 before or much 45 acp. Kinda snappy and you can definitely feel it in the web of your hand. Good accuracy but the trigger is a little stiff.

 

[Russ57]

Metalform worked well for me when I had problems feeding some really short/light SWC.

 

[nettlle]

I have Wilson 47D's and Wilson ETM's. Also OEM Kimber's and Colt mags. All run fine. I like Wilson's because it's easy to get the internals for rebuilding them. Of all I like the ETM's best and that's all I have bought for many years. They don't run any better than the others listed here but they are nicer looking mag.

 

[JDGray]

Best mags I ever bought were 7rd Springfield mags, that I bought with my Loaded discount sheet! 10 mags for like $80, never a failure

 

[NC9mm]

Tripp cobra

 

[JR24]

For any serious use I go for Wilson all the time. 47d or ETM.

I have had, however, good luck with Metalform mags for my 9mm, much cheaper.

But as suggested, you’ll probably need to try a few to see what works.

 

[JR24]

Those that have issues/problems with Wilson Combat 47D magazines, have you contacted Customer Service as they come with lifetime warranty on tubes with service policy? https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Magazi...ze-8-Round-Standard-Base-Pad/productinfo/47D/

• No-Risk Service Policy - If It Breaks from Normal Use, We Replace It!
• Our magazine tubes have a lifetime satisfaction policy. Wilson Combat will replace any magazine tube that spreads, cracks or becomes unusable during normal use. Wilson Combat magazine springs and followers are considered consumable items and may require replacing after extensive use.

Been using 47ds for a long time and have never had an issue.

 

[DrDeFab]

Those that have issues/problems with Wilson Combat 47D magazines, have you contacted Customer Service as they come with lifetime warranty on tubes with service policy? https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Magazi...ze-8-Round-Standard-Base-Pad/productinfo/47D/

• No-Risk Service Policy - If It Breaks from Normal Use, We Replace It!
• Our magazine tubes have a lifetime satisfaction policy. Wilson Combat will replace any magazine tube that spreads, cracks or becomes unusable during normal use. Wilson Combat magazine springs and followers are considered consumable items and may require replacing after extensive use.

No, I didn't feel like messing around with it, and fortunately didn't have to. The story is that I bought three new 47Ds that wouldn't run in any 1911 I tried (several different brands, including Colt and SA) The followers would bind up, and slide hold-open rarely worked. Probably just a bad batch or something, but I sold them to someone who was convinced they were the best and bought five MecGars for the same price, which have run flawlessly for a decade.

 

[EMC45]

I like Chip McCormick Shooting Star 8rd mags.

 

[Slamfire]

Back in the 1990's the no name 1911 magazines I purchased were garbage: the lips spread, rounds jumped out, they were horrible. Today I have been buying no name "OEM" magazines and they are much better. Back in the 1980's and early 1990's Colt magazines were the standard for reliability.

In so far as self defense magazines, I think using a bullet that reliably feeds in everything (think round nose) is the better way to go than searching for a magazine that works well with a particular bullet. The second situation is, shall we say, "unstable". If the gun is picky about bullets and requires a special magazine for feed a special bullet, than the slightest change in a dimension will create unreliability.

For 2700 Bullseye Pistol, I am using high quality magazines, and I don't remember whose make, because I am shooting H&G 200 LSWC's and don't want magazine caused failures to feed. But it is only a game.

 

[Alaskamike]

Those that have issues/problems with Wilson Combat 47D magazines, have you contacted Customer Service as they come with lifetime warranty on tubes with service policy? https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Magazi...ze-8-Round-Standard-Base-Pad/productinfo/47D/

• No-Risk Service Policy - If It Breaks from Normal Use, We Replace It!
• Our magazine tubes have a lifetime satisfaction policy. Wilson Combat will replace any magazine tube that spreads, cracks or becomes unusable during normal use. Wilson Combat magazine springs and followers are considered consumable items and may require replacing after extensive use.

Nope, didn't even bother with it. I junked them and went with the Checkmate mags.

 

[LiveLife]

Those that have issues/problems with Wilson Combat 47D magazines, have you contacted Customer Service as they come with lifetime warranty on tubes with service policy?

Nope, didn't even bother.

Why not?

No, I didn't feel like messing around with it, and fortunately didn't have to ... I sold them to someone who was convinced they were the best

Maybe that "someone" bought them knowing Wilson Combat would provide lifetime warranty with service policy?

bought five MecGars for the same price, which have run flawlessly for a decade.

I agree and have been impressed by Mec-Gar magazines who also make OEM magazines.

 

[Alaskamike]

Not worth the time and frustration.

 

[Jim Watson]

In so far as self defense magazines, I think using a bullet that reliably feeds in everything (think round nose) is the better way to go than searching for a magazine that works well with a particular bullet. The second situation is, shall we say, "unstable". If the gun is picky about bullets and requires a special magazine for feed a special bullet, than the slightest change in a dimension will create unreliability.

I apply that in all cases. I used to be a "#68" loader - after I lost my source of 452460s - but I got tired of the tinkering with OAL, magazine choice, and barrel "throating", so when I found some 200 gr roundnose bullets, I went over to them and have been quite content. I wonder if part of the fussiness is due to so-called #68 bullets deviating from the original Crawford design by Hensley and Gibbs and from each other.

My only .45 doing defensive duty at present has a hollow point in the chamber and hardball in the magazine.
Shades of 50+ years ago when my only centerfire was a surplus 1911 which had no notion of feeding Norma or Super Vel.
I have had promising results with Hornady XTPs in my old Commander, but it doesn't get out much any more.

My 9mms are a bit different. M. Ayoob recommended Federal 9BP JHPs a long time ago and I have only run up on one pistol that would not feed them and it got FIXED.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

I was looking around and found some Checkmate 8 rounders for $16 with welded base plates because I wanted it flush. Don't know why they would weld them but are these any good? They're like almost half the cost of name brand mags.

For long term durability I suggest not loading flush fit magazines with more than 7 rounds. Read this link for more info.

My personal favorite 8 round mags are Check-Mate 8 round, extended tube, hybrid feed lip mags the best of which are sold by Mike at Thunder Mountain here and here.

 

[Anchorite]

Back in the 1990's the no name 1911 magazines I purchased were garbage: the lips spread, rounds jumped out, they were horrible. Today I have been buying no name "OEM" magazines and they are much better. Back in the 1980's and early 1990's Colt magazines were the standard for reliability.

In so far as self defense magazines, I think using a bullet that reliably feeds in everything (think round nose) is the better way to go than searching for a magazine that works well with a particular bullet. The second situation is, shall we say, "unstable". If the gun is picky about bullets and requires a special magazine for feed a special bullet, than the slightest change in a dimension will create unreliability.

For 2700 Bullseye Pistol, I am using high quality magazines, and I don't remember whose make, because I am shooting H&G 200 LSWC's and don't want magazine caused failures to feed. But it is only a game.

I still have a bunch of Colt magazines for range use. Those years they were good.