Kimber Pro Carry II...what size mags???

[Farnham]

I've got a recently acquired Kimber Pro Carry II, and since I can't stand only having one magazine for any firearm, I researched around a bit and found that a lot of people prefer the Wilson Combat magazines in Kimbers. I strolled down to my local purveyor of pistolas today to pick up a couple of Wilson Combat magazines, and he asked me "Commander or Full Size?"

I was stumped. I said, "The 7 round one, whichever that is." He pulls out the Commander mag, I went through a couple gasping seconds of sticker shock (30 bucks for a 7 round magazine?!?!?), and bought it anyway, since it seemed to be very well put together (compared to the Kimber mag), and the guy didn't have any other Commander sized mags.

I got it home, feeling all giddy and tacticool, tried to put it in the Kimber, and $@##!*#*!, it don't fit!?! It's very close to fitting, but the plastic floorplate hits the frame in the front. I assume I could whittle the plastic down and make it fit, but you know what they say about assumptions...besides, if I got the wrong thing, I want to be able to return it and get my 30 bones back.

So the question from this 1911 newb is: Why are there 10 rd mags, 8 rd mags, and 7 rd mags? What is the difference between a Commander pistol and a Full-size pistol, besides barrel length? Is the Kimber Pro Carry considered a Commander or Full-size 1911?

Thanks,

S/F

Farnham

 

[Lone_Gunman]

The gun dealer you talked to doesn't know his mags very well.

Commander and Full Size 1911 magazines are identical. The gripe size is the same with these two pistols, so magazines are the same. The traditional magazine (ie, GI) held 7 rounds, but Wilson, McCormick,and others now make 8 round magazines.

Officer's sized 1911 have a shortened grip frame and thus use a shortened magazine. Traditionally, the is has been a 6 round magazines, but 7 round magazines are readily available by the manufacturers noted above.

I had the good fortune of getting rid of my Kimber Pro Carry a few years ago, but I believe it had a full sized grip on it, and would thus accept full size 1911 magazines. The Kimber Pro Carry is basically the same as a Commander sized 1911, but the barrel and slide and 0.25 inch shorter.

10 round magazines are available for 1911s, but the extend beyond the grip frame, unless you are talking about a high capacity 1911 grip frame.

I believe your gun dealer sold you an Officer sized 1911 mag.

 

[bratch]

I'm betting he meant Government or Officers. As far as I know the Commander and fullsize take the same magazine as they have the same frame just a different length dust cover. The Officers has a frame that is .5" shorter and takes a shorter magazine. You can use a full size mag in an officers if your gentle.

The Kimber isn't really anything. Commanders have a 4.25" barrel where your Kimber has a 4".

There are different mags because people like variety. 7 and 8 rounds are the most common.

 

[Farnham]

So a full size mag (7-8 rounds) should fit?

Lone_Gunman, why do you say "I had the good fortune of getting rid of my Kimber Pro Carry"? Something I should know about?

Like I said, I'm a newb to the 1911, my experience 'til now was limited to staring and drooling at the gun show. I've taken the Kimber to the range once so far, and was very impressed. Shoots to POA, and the only malf was when the wife was shooting and "limp wristed" it (many thanks to High Roaders for describing what occurs and how to fix limp wristing, the wife was muy impressed that I diagnosed the problem quickly ).

Thanks for your quick replies, gents,

S/F

Farnham

 

[bratch]

A full size mag will fit.

Some people have had issues with Kimbers just like some people have had issues with Colts. I carry a Kimber compact and love it I also have a TLEII haven't had problems with either.

 

[M2 Carbine]

The Kimber "pro" takes the full size 7/8 round magazine. That's what you want.
The Kimber "Ultras" have the short grip and use the Officer's short 6/7 round magazines.

I've got a Kimber Compact Carry and three Ultras which all take the short magazines, plus two government models that take the full size magazines, plus several 10 round magazines.

BTW, I've got a lot of fine handguns and my Kimbers are the best of the lot.
A good friend that owns 5 Kimbers and also owns a $2,000 Wilson, said the other day he wished he had the $2,000 back so he could buy a couple more Kimbers.

 

[Zach S]

You need a wilson 47, the 47Ds hold eight rounds, and the 47OX, which is what I'm guessing you have, is for the officer's model. If my 47s are confusing you, sorry. Those are the wilson part numbers, they should be towards the upper right corner of the blue paper in the bag.

Wilson mags are some of the best on the market, although some guys prefer the CobraMags from Tripp Research (which run about the same price). I prefer the wilson's. More shops stock them, and Tripp doesn't make seven round government mags.

$25-$30 is normal for a Wilson mag, $30 being the high side of normal, unless you're rounding up from the $26.95 I usually pay, or got one with a steel base bad and/or an armor tuffed tube, those are a few bucks more.

I think I've edited my post enough to finally get it right...

 

[Farnham]

...the 47OX, which is what I'm guessing you have, is for the officer's model.

That's what it says on the packaging alright. It was $29.95, I'd read the Wilson mags were worth the extra money, I just didn't know how much "extra" meant.

Thanks for that model number, I know what to look for now.

S/F

Farnham

 

[Lennyjoe]

I use Wilson Combat 47D's in my Pro Carry II. The picture has one of them along with the Kimber factory mag which I retired.

Be advised that the metal followers will beat your frame up inside the grip. Use only plastic followers in your Pro Carry II. The aluminum doesnt like getting beat by steel. Check out the sticky on the Kimber forum at www.1911forum.com for info.

Here's the link. http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=61318

 

[petrel800]

Since your in the 1911 Mag market, let me suggest Novak's line of 1911 mags. I have recently switched from my 2 wilsons now exclusively to the Novaks. The wilson 47Ds that I have will occasionally bind up and cause a FTE between the 3rd and 4th shot. This happens maybe once every 10th or 11th mag, but in my opinion that is not acceptable for a defensive pistol.

Give the novak's a try. I believe CDNN had some recently at a steal of a deal. They were branded Armscor. I also belive S&W has gone to novak's when selling a new 1911.

 

[M2 Carbine]

petrel800, did you give Wilson a call?
A friend had a bad follower, called Wilson and they sent him a new follower.

Lennyjoe, thanks for the link.
I just checked out my older Ultra Carry and it's got a few dings under the feed ramp.
My newer Tactical Ultra has one small ding under the steel feed ramp but I mostly use Wilson mags in it.
I guess I'll save my other mags for the steel Compact Custom and Ultra Eclipse.

 

[petrel800]

No, I haven't gotten around to it. The mag itself is sitting on my workbench. Visually there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it. I really want to try it in my RIA to see if it has the same problem, but I haven't been able to get to the range in a few weeks. Problem has occured in my Kimber Tac Pro II.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Lone_Gunman, why do you say "I had the good fortune of getting rid of my Kimber Pro Carry"? Something I should know about?

Mine jammed all the time. I havent had good luck with Kimbers, but some people claim they have.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Mine jammed all the time

Try new mags? Mine did the same thing with the factory Kimber mag. Even changed the spring and follower to no avail. Purchased Wilson 47D's and had no problem since.