LubeckTech
Member
Any recommendations for RELIABLE yet inexpensive 1911 mags??
1911 Magazines
- Thread starter LubeckTech
- Start date
- Status
10X
Member
Your question was reliable and inexpensive magazines and I will assume for a full sized government type model.
If your gun is not particular, you can get away with a number of mags. If your gun has any sensitivity at all, that puts you in the high dollar mags, such as, Wilson 47 series, genuine Colt (from Brownells) or Tripp Research Cobra mags.
The best choice is Check Mate Industries. Checkmate is a gov't contractor for 1911 and M14 mags and makes mags for Colt to Colt specs. Their quality is very good. You have to call Joe DeBello at Check Mate. Don't use email. With 7 or more mags purchased the cost for a blue 7 round with hybrid or GI feed lips would be about $17 each. Note: that I specifically mentioned hybrid or GI feed lips. The feed lips make a huge difference in reliability.
I will tell you that 7 rounders are more reliable than 8 rounders.
For the cheapest reliable mags I would suggest Chip McCormick (CMC) Shooting Stars. These are $12-$15 each at Midwayusa.com. An upgrade to these are the CMC Power Mags, about $17 at Midway on sale or Natchezz Shooting Supply the last time I looked. The Power Mags are noticably better. Both are 8 rounders. These mags have wad cutter feed lips.
Whatever you do don't get "gov't type", USA, Triple K or Promag mags. All are junk.
Mags have to be tried in the particular gun to see if they work. I have some where the Shooting Stars work fine and others where the Shooting Stars are jam city.
If your gun is not particular, you can get away with a number of mags. If your gun has any sensitivity at all, that puts you in the high dollar mags, such as, Wilson 47 series, genuine Colt (from Brownells) or Tripp Research Cobra mags.
The best choice is Check Mate Industries. Checkmate is a gov't contractor for 1911 and M14 mags and makes mags for Colt to Colt specs. Their quality is very good. You have to call Joe DeBello at Check Mate. Don't use email. With 7 or more mags purchased the cost for a blue 7 round with hybrid or GI feed lips would be about $17 each. Note: that I specifically mentioned hybrid or GI feed lips. The feed lips make a huge difference in reliability.
I will tell you that 7 rounders are more reliable than 8 rounders.
For the cheapest reliable mags I would suggest Chip McCormick (CMC) Shooting Stars. These are $12-$15 each at Midwayusa.com. An upgrade to these are the CMC Power Mags, about $17 at Midway on sale or Natchezz Shooting Supply the last time I looked. The Power Mags are noticably better. Both are 8 rounders. These mags have wad cutter feed lips.
Whatever you do don't get "gov't type", USA, Triple K or Promag mags. All are junk.
Mags have to be tried in the particular gun to see if they work. I have some where the Shooting Stars work fine and others where the Shooting Stars are jam city.
Last edited:
HM2PAC
Member
The Springfield mags are simple and effective. I believe they are made by Metal Form. They can be bought from Midway for $13-$14.
10-Ring
Member
Inexpensive? ...my question to you is, "can you put a price on your firearm's reliabity?" I exclusively use Wilson mags in my 1911s
Chief-7700
Member
Wilson 47D
The only mag that I will use is the Wilson 8 round 47D. Expensive yes, but what are my family's lives worth?
Chief-7700
The only mag that I will use is the Wilson 8 round 47D. Expensive yes, but what are my family's lives worth?
Chief-7700
kd7nqb
Member
Yes, I understand your argument if we are talking about the mag you put in to carry or use for HD. BUT for range/ plinking a mag that costs considerably less with a marginally higher "problem" rate might be ok.
Perfect example is some of the "mega mags" (30+ rounds) we see for glocks or even 1911's. My boss has a 40 round drum for his 1911 that although is not 100 reliable is a blast to shoot.
steelyblue
Member
I've got the shooting stars. They are cheap and my Kimber feeds well with them. I also have a magtech. It was cheaper and has a wilson type plastic follower with a CM type body. It has fed really well too. The magtech is a lot easier to load, but it has a really ugly base pad that nothing can be done about. I took it off to go look for a base pad and none of them were compatible.
You may have to try a few brands out to see which one your gun likes the best. 1911's can tend to be really picky. I had a kimber that would only cycle Chip McCormicks and a Springfield that preferred wilsons. Luckily, this one Likes them all!
You may have to try a few brands out to see which one your gun likes the best. 1911's can tend to be really picky. I had a kimber that would only cycle Chip McCormicks and a Springfield that preferred wilsons. Luckily, this one Likes them all!
SEMO Shooter
Member
I don't want cheap mags even for range/plinking. If they don't function well it would make me wonder if the gun is trust worthy even with better mags. I want to have confidence in my weapon. Buy good stuff, it just works better.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
I like the mags by Chip McCormick.
skinewmexico
Member
The joy of owning a 1911.
stevereno1
Member
I like wilson combat mags. I get them for about $25
possum
Member
i agree, i have great succes with them in the past and have no complaints.
Nitrogen
Member
One of the best treatments of 1911 magazines is in this article here:
http://how-i-did-it.org/magazines/
http://how-i-did-it.org/magazines/
Yes please follow the above advice and keep the demand "and the prices" for those promags low .
I hate spending $20+ on a mag when I need dozens of them for my multiple 1911's .
I have around a dozen Promags and they work great picked em up when Midway was selling them for $9 each and yes I own Wilson 47D's also funny thing the guns don't know the difference as to what magazine is in them .
ulflyer
Member
How does the McCormick Shooting Star differ from the Powermag? Not familiar with the latter.
LubeckTech
Member
Anyone have experience with Novak Mags? They are not cheap in price nor are they extermely expensive plus I live in Parkersburg, WV so I can walk-in and pick them up without shipping charges. I have had good luck with Mitchell Stainless Mags which look like some of the Chip McCormick mags and are probably made by the same vendor.
I guess someone has to say why Wilson is the best mag to own in 1911. Good material to make the tube and strong feedlips. The most important part though is the follower. Wilson doesn't make a steel follower that bends or breaks, it is a smooth polymer that holds the shape you need. The follower fits the tube well and slides like glass on the stainless steel
I have had the McCormicks followers break and make the gun not work. I have shot alot at the club doing all the gun games and never had a wilson jam.
jj
I have had the McCormicks followers break and make the gun not work. I have shot alot at the club doing all the gun games and never had a wilson jam.
jj
HM2PAC
Member
LubeckTech,
My RIA came with an 8rd Novak mag. It feeds well, and is very smooth. I have no complaints with it.
My RIA came with an 8rd Novak mag. It feeds well, and is very smooth. I have no complaints with it.
bluestarlizzard
Member
intresting, i get on looking to ask about the same thing and volia, already going. we have CMC shooting star mags (8 rd. and 7 rd.) and one wilson combat, so i was looking to see if the CMC powermags were worth the extra few bucks.
i would buy some more wilson mags, but the check book won't allow for it.
i would buy some more wilson mags, but the check book won't allow for it.
Black Majik
Member
The Wilson 47D is still my favorite 1911 magazine followed closely by the CMC Powermags. They both work great in all my 1911s, and aren't as prone to gumming up from dumping on the ground.
There's one magazine I've come to not like, those are the factory Les Baer magazines. They feel cheap and even with the plastic follower gum up easier than the other two previously mentioned.
There's one magazine I've come to not like, those are the factory Les Baer magazines. They feel cheap and even with the plastic follower gum up easier than the other two previously mentioned.
- Status
