[Stinkyshoe]

What brand of 1911 mags. are the most reliable, inexpensive and trouble free? Does anyone have any experience with Promag?
Thanks
Ss

[James Bondrock]

While not cheap, Wilson Combat (aka Wilson-Rogers) magazines have the best reputation, based on what I have read in the gun press and on Internet forums. Also getting high marks are Chip McCormick and Metalform; these are slightly less expensive. Mec-Gar, an Italian manufacturer that produces original equipment mags for many makes of guns, makes 1911 mags. I am not going to condemn Pro-Mag, but one I used in a SIG P228 a few years ago caused the only weapon-related malfunction it ever had.

[10-Ring]

The most reliable ones I"ve come across are the Wilson mags. They may not be the least expensive, but why buy a bunch of mags to find ones that work reliably when you know for the get-go Wilsons work.

[Robert Farrar]

Stinky,
While not inexpensive....the Wilson Combat are the best at
~$25 each. My preference tends torwards the 7 round version.
I've dinked with many brands in the past...the aforementioned have held up.
Good Luck!
Bob

[Rob96]

So far in my Colt I have good luck with the factory mags, CMC Shooting Stars and Power Mags and also the surplus mags Midway USA is selling for $4.95.

[Lone_Gunman]

I prefer Chip McCormick mags to Wilson because the McCormicks last longer. The nylon follower on the Wilson mags wears out too quick.

[Matthew_Q]

I'd have to say the Wilson mags have a good rep, but I use Chip McCormick... The shooting star 8 round mags I have have worked flawlessly for me in three different 1911s so far, and they keep working. Not bad for about $13 each.

[shadow 1]

I really like my Wilson 8 rounders alot, I just bought another few from Cheaper Than Dirt for 20.81 and I also picked up some Chip McCormicks for like 14.00..so not a bad price for some great mags. I just started getting into 1911's so I will see which ones I like better. I currently have 4 Chip McCormicks and two of them will not fully ejest, the 4 Wilson Ten Rounders I have, (Thanks Skunk) ejct and feed flawlessy!

[BigG]

The factory Colts work well for me and don't have that clunky plastic bumper on the bottom. CDNN and other sites in SGN have em on sale quite often. YMMV

[Rebel Gunman HK]

CMC 8rd Power mags are the way to go.

[Tamara]

I prefer Wilsons. Chip McCormicks work swell for me, as do MecGars. In .38 Super and 10mm, most of what I have are Colt factory mags, but they haven't burped yet.

Who makes Les Baer mags? They seem to be pretty durn good, too...

[CWL]

I use Shooting Star (McCormick) and Wilson mags in that order.

[Mike Irwin]

I paid I believe $16.50 for some Shooting Stars a few months ago.

So far they've been MUCH more reliable than the magazine that came with my Sprinfield Mil Spec, or the cheapy that I bought at a gunshow some months later.

[MrPink]

I've settled on Wilson and Metalform mags - 7 round. Very reliable in my guns. I've heard good things about Tripp Research's Cobra mags, but at $44 per, I'll wait until the price comes down.

[Jim V]

I haven't been here in a while, so first - HI FOLKS.


My take on magazines for the Government model "O" frame pistol and it's clones of whatever size.

Wilson- Rogers magazines have a good reputation and are often highly recommended by gun writers and others. However, they don't always work in all pistols. And I don't subscribe to the idea that if your pistol doen't like W-R magazines there is something wrong with it.

What I suggest is that you borrow a few different makes of magazines, take them and your pistol with a buncha ammo to the range and test them in your pistol. Find the ones that work the best. Buy a couple of them an just to make sure that they have not changed take them to the range and test them. If they work well, buy several more.

Magazines that have worked in all my shootin' 1911s:

Randall (not made any more)
Wolff
CMC Shooting Star
Real honest to Uncle Sam USGI

[DMK]

I've got a bunch of Chip McCormick Shooting Star mags that have never bobbled on me. I also have two MecGars that have been 100% and plan to get more of them, they look very nicely made. I carry and shoot my defensive HPs in both brands.

I also have maybe 30 or so cheap G.I. mags from various sources. I use them as range mags with ball ammo only and 99% have been completely reliable. The one or two that have jammed up did so right away and have been removed from the rotation. Since then, my 1911s never jam.

www.aspitactical.com has some new GI mags cheap.

[MichaelJay]

I picked up four – 7 rounders from the surplus bin at the last gun show for $5 a piece. Shot so well, I retired the two factory mags from my SA. No more FTF with these! Before that I was squeezing the gun so hard 'cuz everyone said “limp wrist” hold it tighter. Now a light, firm grip and shoots every time. I'll be getting some more at the next show.

Michael.

[B27]

Eric will sell you ten GI 1911 mags still in their govt wrapping for $80.

http://www.ammoman.com/

[Avery Goodschott]

MetalForm deserves a serious look.

Buy in bulk and you can save a bundle on a stash of high quality, reliable mags.

[denfoote]

MetalForm deserves a serious look.

I agree!!

I have one Wilson mag. The follower sticks if you leave the mag in the gun more than a couple of hours. I have experienced this almost every time I seat the mag!!

I also have two CMC mags. They intermittently fail to lock the slide back.

I found out that Metalform is the OEM for Springfield.
Soooo, I now have four Metalform and the two (Metalform) mags that came with my pistol. The others will go into the old mag drawer!

[webley455]

The least expensive that have never given me trouble in many,many rounds are the blue, 7 round MecGars.

[BluesBear]

I just received several blued 8 round Mec-Gar 45 magazines from CDNN.
They're the kind with the little PPK looking pinky extension.
They work great in both the Government and the Commander.

I already had 3 just like them.



But the best part is ....



These were only $7.99 each ! :neener:

[E=MC^2]

I have around a dozen CMC Power Mags and all have performed great over the years.

I have 2 Wilsons that were part of my Colt Gunsite package. About 50% of the time they fail to lock the slide back after the last round is fired. This is with both my Gunsite and original Series 70 1911's. The Wisons have seen an early retirement.

Although all my magazines are capable of holding 8 rounds they have never been loaded with more than 7 during carry.

[Jammer Six]

The nylon follower on the Wilson mags wears out too quick.

I had exactly the same experience, and I called Wilson and told them so. I told them that $28 is too much money for a mag that wears out in less than five thousand rounds.

They sent me a new follower and spring, no charge.

Priority mail, elapsed time, 72 hours, phone call to range. :what:

Wilson mags are cheap when you consider that they will never wear out. That is, they will, but they'll replace the pieces that do, forever and ever.

I'll never buy anything else. There's no reason to.

[sm]

-Les Baer, well at one time they sure appeared to be clones of Wilson's, more recent appear to be Metalform, same with Ed Brown.

I checked my older Wilsons (6-10 yrs old) against newer ones...I'll stay with mine and when time comes use Wolff Spring and install GI follower and not use warranty, yep,that much of a difference.