Best 7-Round Flat-Base Mags?

In case you missed it elsewhere...

CheckMate GI blue 7 rounders http://www.topgunsupply.com/check-mate-.45acp-7rd-blue-gi-full-size-1911-magazine.html

There are 8-round magazines with flat bases, like McCormick for example. They come in both blued and stainless. I've got a dozen or so Shooting Stars and really like them. Never liked the base pads myself.

Metalform (as shipped with Springfields) or Check-Mate (as shipped with Colts).

AZAndy said:

There are 8-round magazines with flat bases, like McCormick for example. They come in both blued and stainless. I've got a dozen or so Shooting Stars and really like them. Never liked the base pads myself.

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+1.

Thanks, I plan to stick with 7 rounds since I've heard the 8 round ones without base pads can be unreliable, and for the sake of tradition.

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OK, sake of tradition I understand, but CMC 8 rounders are very reliable-like 47D reliable.

I use mostly Chip McCormick 1911 mags and they work well for me but I think their 7 round mags are not in blue.

Colt mags work well.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/856687/colt-magazine-1911-government-commander-45-acp-steel

So do the ones from Springfield.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...ory-magazine-1911-government-commander-45-acp

Kimber also sells a flat base blue 7 round mag but I have never used them. I think I would go with the Colt if you don't want to use the Chip McCormick mags.

I carried a 1911 type pistol full time for several years. The magazines I came to prefer were the Metalform 7-rounders with the flat base and rounded steel followers. Easy to load and always fed both our ball training ammo and JHP duty ammo without fail. Years ago, I had a Metalform magazine crack. I couldn't remember if I'd bought it new or or it was one somebody had given me. I called Metalform and told them I didn't know if I had acquired it new or used, or how old it was,etc. The only question they asked was where to send the replacement magazine. Don't know if their customer service is still like that but they sure took care of me.

BTW, I bought a Wilson 8-rd. magazine several years ago. The package contained a disclaimer indicating the magazine was only guaranteed to feed ball ammo unless used in a pistol made by,or modified by, Wilson Combat. I reurned it for a refund.

9mm

47Ds could very well be the most over-hyped 8rd 1911 mag ever manufactured

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I totally agree. I never did get 47Ds to run 100% with the standard follower in it.

What does ROTL mean?

Never had a factory Springfield mag do me wrong, plus the bases are already drilled for bumpers.

I use mostly Chip McCormick 1911 mags and they work well for me but I think their 7 round mags are not in blue.

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McCormick doesn't make full size 7 rounders in any color.

rskent said:

9mm


I totally agree. I never did get 47Ds to run 100% with the standard follower in it.

What does ROTL mean?

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I think he meant ROTFL; I have both CMC Shooting Stars and Wilson 47Ds, I use them to test other's 1911s when they bring them to me with FTFs. Their guns usually work fine with both a CMC and 47D.

In a 7rd mag, I've had very good luck with mags from Metalform. I believe Ed Brown 1911s ship with them

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I think CheckMate makes the current Ed Brown mags.

My default in 8rd mags are the CMC Powermags

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We are in agreement there; I only have 1 47D-Bought about a year ago to try it out. It has been flawless in several guns besides my own, thus far. I like the price on the Shooting Stars better.

Finally!!!

Finally a thread that ISN'T telling me I absolutely must spend $40.00+ for a magazine that's been around for over 100 years to make my guns run right.

I have four 1911s, one each in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45ACP as well as a Caspian High Cap in .40 S&W.

All of the single stack guns run with any mag I shove up in them. Ed Brown 8 Pack, Shooting Stars I got from the Del Mar Gun Show in 2001 for like $7.00 each, Metalform, Mec Gar, Tripp Research, Joes1911magmania.com, CheckMate and Wilson Combat.

The only one I ever had any issues with was the Wilson Combat. It was listed as a .40 S&W mag, but was actually a 10mm mag. Could never get it to feed factory length ammo until I made a spacer for it and used Tripp Research guts. Works great now.

I am of the opinion that any in-spec 1911 should run with any in-spec magazine. If your gun needs special mags find out why and fix it. Life is so much easier when stuff works like it should.

If there's an exception it'd be the .40 S&W. In my experience to get them to feed reliably you need a slightly higher mag catch (EGW makes one). They're also more sensitive to tuning; if your extractor is too tight or loose, it will likely cause feeding issues. Mine also doesn't like dirty mags. I use it in USPSA matches, so after two or three matches of dropping the mags in dirt, I have to take them apart and clean them or they start getting finicky.

9mmepiphany said:

That really is the heart of the issue...there are no "in-spec" 1911s

There have been a lot of interpretations over the years and a lot of changes to ease manufacture. I think it would be hard to find a 1911A1 that is true to the one introduced 100 years ago.

That is why different magazines will run better in some guns than others

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While tolerances may have tightened, I think they have less to do with reliability than say, feed ramp angle, barrel setback (or whatever you call the gap from the end of the breech end of the barrel and the frame feed ramp) and various other specifications.

I have a Kimber (started life as a .45, is now .40 S&W), Springfield Armory (9mm), and Les Baer (.45ACP), all function as close to 100% as possible. When they choke, it's cause they're super dirty, or have ammo issues (my fault, not the gun's). Or something broke (it happens, you shoot enough, you're going to break something in your gun).

I think probably almost all manufacturers (or at least the major ones) produce the majority of their guns to spec (nobody's perfect, anytime you're building something, stuff can happen). There's going to be manufacturing discrepancies based on tool wear and other factors but for the most part guns made today, including those from bargain companies are built to a very high standard. We live in a good time to be gun nuts.

Most times I've seen feeding or extracting issues with these guns (1911 type), it's extractor related. Amazing how much trouble a single little part can cause. Once in a while the magazine is hitting the ejector when inserted. Both of these issues are easy to fix.

Other times it's springs (9mm 1911 with a 14lb or 15lb recoil spring will have week ejection, install a 9 or 10lb spring and it runs like a top). Again easy to fix.

Combine these issues and it may seem like your gun is a super lemon that won't ever run. 9 times out of 10 it can be made to run well with a little attention. You just gotta know what to pay attention to or know someone who knows what to pay attention to.

Seeing people sending their guns back for warranty service for extractor or spring issues is a pet peeve of mine. If there's something actually wrong, send it back. Sending them back for warranty service due to springs or extractor issues or anything else that can be easily addressed by an owner only increases operating costs for the manufacturer and when that happens, they raise prices. Yes it should work from the factory, but seriously, you don't send your car back to Ford cause the tires need air do you?

I like and use Colt 7 rounders.