GHinNH
Member
I have some 1911 mags with awful plastic followers and looking to replace them. I found regular steel followers at Apex, but I came across these at the GMW and know nothing of them. Any insight?
1911 mag follower
- Thread starter GHinNH
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railroader
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What brand of mag? I don't think all followers interchange. Also the follower from Apex looks like it needs a spring from a Chip McCormick mag. The spring needs to go around the downward hook in the middle. That keeps the follower from moving forward.
SSN Vet
Member
The Trip Research Hybrid Follower is the very best 1911 mag follower out there.
Chip McCormick mags are actually private label sales of the Trip Research mag.
Chip McCormick mags are actually private label sales of the Trip Research mag.
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GHinNH
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I don't remember what they are, but follower is too skinny and narrow. and they keep getting tilted out of shape, jams up the last shot or two. I have 8 or 10 of them and just now trying to use them.
JTQ
Member
I think that's probably unlikely. They don't share any common features, and Wilson Combat now owns Chip McCormick products.
JTQ
Member
They are similar, if not exactly the same as the CheckMate Patented Follower (CMF)
Thunder Mountain Custom carries the CMF https://shop.1911parts.com/CMI-Patented-Follower-For-7-8-Round-Magazines-CM45-F-S-T.htm
Tripp Research offers the CMF as their "Flex" follower https://www.trippresearchinc.com/follower/
JTQ
Member
Just so I know who and what you're talking about ...
this Apex? https://www.apextactical.com
Who is GMW?
JTQ
Member
Here's the CheckMate Industries home page, but I can't currently get to their on-line store to give you a link http://www.checkmateindustries.com
I can now get to their on-line store. Here is their CMF
https://checkmatemagazines.com/product/1911-follower/
I can now get to their on-line store. Here is their CMF
https://checkmatemagazines.com/product/1911-follower/
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JTQ
Member
I got this from the CheckMate rep on another forum regarding spring compatibility for GI and the CMF followers.
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GHinNH
Member
I do wish I could remember what they are, but I bought a whole stack for all of my pistols a while back. If I could find something with the shield with wings in it, that would be a good help.
https://www.apexgunparts.com/colt-1911-magazine-follower-7rd.html
https://www.apexgunparts.com/colt-1911-magazine-follower-7rd.html
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GHinNH
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JTQ
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I suspect your mag above is an 8 rounder, those GI followers will probably make your mags 7 rounders.
I also suspect the Tripp hybrid follower above will make them 7 rounders.
I don't have a problem with 7 rounders, I actually prefer them, since you generally get a better follower and spring than the same size 8 round mag. The probable reason for your problem is your mags are using a follower that allows the 8th round, but isn't long enough to stabilize in the tube.
The tube resembles a Wilson 47D, but that doesn't look like a 47D follower, and it isn't the Wilson logo, or Wilson bumper pad.
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SSN Vet
Member
The pic I showed is a screen shot of the Tripp Hybrid.
I believe the Shooting Star follower (also on the Tripp web site) was a Tripp Design. Tripps been around a loooooong time, is a top 1911 Pistol Smith and was the founder of STI. These guys were all big names in the competitive shooting scene in Texas. I think Virgil may have worked guns for and sponsored Chip in the early days and later, after Chip became a big name top competitor, he branded some of Tripp's stuff.
No matter how you slice it... both sell the identical shooting Star follower. I believe Colt may also be buying (licensing) the follower, as their newer (>Y2K) factory 8 round mags have the identical follower in it.
SSN Vet
Member
If you put the Tripp Hybrid into a factory (welded metal flat bottom) 8 round mag, it will indeed turn it into a 7 round mag. (a very, very reliable and durable 7 round mag)
The Wilson follower and the Tripp Hybrid are very, very similar geometry, but the Wilson is all plastic and will ware at the point of contact with the slide hold open.
The Tripp Hybrid is metal at this point of contact (where it should be) and slippery smooth contoured plastic on top (where it should be).
To make the Tripp Hybrid into a 8 rounder, you need to have an extended bottom that provides room for the spring (not just a bumper pad) They sell this as the Cobra Mag.
The Cobra Mag is considered by many of the top pistol smiths as the absolute best 8 round 1911 (.45 acp) mag. Guys like John Harrison sell them on their web site and put them in their custom builds.
From my experience, the Colt 8 round mag (basically a Shooting Star follower in a welded steel flush bottom with a shortened spring) will cycle 100% reliably in a full size 1911, but will often fail to feed the last round in a Commander length.
The only mags I've seen cycle 100% reliably in a Commander length are the Wilson Combat and Tripp Cobra mags. I think the Cobra mags are superior as they have the Hybrid (metal / plastic) follower.
The Wilson follower and the Tripp Hybrid are very, very similar geometry, but the Wilson is all plastic and will ware at the point of contact with the slide hold open.
The Tripp Hybrid is metal at this point of contact (where it should be) and slippery smooth contoured plastic on top (where it should be).
To make the Tripp Hybrid into a 8 rounder, you need to have an extended bottom that provides room for the spring (not just a bumper pad) They sell this as the Cobra Mag.
The Cobra Mag is considered by many of the top pistol smiths as the absolute best 8 round 1911 (.45 acp) mag. Guys like John Harrison sell them on their web site and put them in their custom builds.
From my experience, the Colt 8 round mag (basically a Shooting Star follower in a welded steel flush bottom with a shortened spring) will cycle 100% reliably in a full size 1911, but will often fail to feed the last round in a Commander length.
The only mags I've seen cycle 100% reliably in a Commander length are the Wilson Combat and Tripp Cobra mags. I think the Cobra mags are superior as they have the Hybrid (metal / plastic) follower.
JTQ
Member
I think you're confusing the Devel follower with the CheckMate Patented Follower (CMF).
The Devel follower was developed by Charlie Kelsey, back in the 1980's. It is currently a design owned by Chip McCormick (CMC)/Wilson Combat. It is often referred to as the Shooting Star follower and is currently used in CMC Match Grade and PowerMags, and perhaps a few other models in the CMC line-up. It was also used in the 8 round .45 Auto mags used in Ruger P90/P97/P345 guns.
The CMF is from CheckMate and probably dates from between 2005 - 2010, and while it has design features similar to the Devel follower, it incorporates a front leg, often called a bullnose, that is not used by the Devel follower. Tripp research uses the CMF and calls it the "Flex" follower in their litterature. They do not use the Devel follower in any of their products.
Colt has used a variety of magazine suppliers over the years. They have used the Devel follower to get 8 rounds in some flush mags in the past, and currently use CheckMate mags as their OEM mag supplier, and they prominently use the CMF in their mags.
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JTQ
Member
Chip McCormick (CMC) Devel follower from the CMC FAQ page https://www.cmproducts.com/FAQ_ep_42-1.html
Tripp Research CobraMags from the Tripp Research history page https://www.trippresearchinc.com/about-us/
I have had issues with the followers in Wilson Mags, the 47D mostly, but occasionally the ETM, failing to lock back after the last round on my Commander. I use CM Powermags and Tripp Cobra and don't have that issue. The Wilsons all work fine on my 5" pistols.
I've not tried the followers you show, but am very happy with everything else I have acquired from Apex.
I've not tried the followers you show, but am very happy with everything else I have acquired from Apex.
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GHinNH
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The biggest problem is the height of the next round to be chambered. While I had the pistol apart I inserted a 7 round GI mag with a couple rounds in it, into the frame and looked at the height of the case rim. I did the same with the "new" 8 round mags, and the rim is a good 1/8" lower. The feed lips are also closer together to hold the follower from coming out, so I cannot open them slightly with those followers.
Most of the time, the approach angle is so steep, that it jams plain ol ball ammo. I think when I get a few minutes away from the flurry of spring projects I will get one each of the GI follower and Tripp to see if I can solve my dilemma. If not I will probably just look for a deal on plain vanilla 7 round mags.I don't really have to have the extra round.
I just wish I could remember what they were, so I could contact the manufacturer about it.
Most of the time, the approach angle is so steep, that it jams plain ol ball ammo. I think when I get a few minutes away from the flurry of spring projects I will get one each of the GI follower and Tripp to see if I can solve my dilemma. If not I will probably just look for a deal on plain vanilla 7 round mags.I don't really have to have the extra round.
I just wish I could remember what they were, so I could contact the manufacturer about it.
JTQ
Member
The magazine is one of the key function pieces of an auto pistol. Going cheap on magazines is generally not a good path to follow for reliable function.
JTQ
Member
Hilton Yam often comments magazines are consumable items. Don't develop an emotional attachment to your mags. When they stop working, get rid of them.
Watching material by 10-8 Performance.
Really, just buy some new mags.
As others have said, I also like Tripp Research products & mags, found here:
https://www.trippresearchinc.com/navigator-pistols/
Maybe they can be found less expensive somewhere else, I don't know.
Later, in your spare time, consider the "Super 7 Upgrade Kit" also from Tripp Research which consists of its hybrid follower and mag spring. If you go this route, watch that video, above, again. Examine and measure your mag bodies' feed lips. If those feed lips are stretched out of spec (I think the max. was .375", but watch that video to make sure); cracking at the rear; or bent out of shape or belled-out, put 'em in the recycling. There's no reliable way to bend feed lips back into shape and remain reliable.
The latest thing is to have removable bases on 1911 mags, but a lot of folks like the classic welded-on mag bottom. Tripp makes those too should anybody insist on the classic look. The welded-on bottom does make replacing springs & followers a bit more work.
Tripp also has those spring-type followers, but I've been very happy with their hybrid type as someone above already posted. I like how smoothly they slide and don't wear out in the slide-stop-lobe area due to the metal insert.
SSN Vet
Member
I (think) I stand corrected.....
JTQ
Member
Here is the Tripp "Flex" follower you were probably thinking about that is CheckMate's CMF
https://www.trippresearchinc.com/fol-flx-45acp/
Note the front leg of the CMF in the Tripp link, that is missing in the Devel (McCormick Shooting Star) follower pictured bottom right in your collection of followers picture. You can't see it in the picture at Tripp link, but CheckMate puts their patent number on all of those followers.
https://www.trippresearchinc.com/fol-flx-45acp/
Note the front leg of the CMF in the Tripp link, that is missing in the Devel (McCormick Shooting Star) follower pictured bottom right in your collection of followers picture. You can't see it in the picture at Tripp link, but CheckMate puts their patent number on all of those followers.
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GHinNH
Member
Well, some hours of interweb investigation and closer inspection has me thinking I had somehow bought the "wrong" mags. I don't know what they are intended for, but the feed lip geometry is entirely different in a number of ways, also the OD width is .015 narrower than the "GI" mags I have that do work.
The "GI" mags I have, allow the round to sit higher in the frame, and stage at a slightly steeper angle, so they point in the direction of the chamber, instead of the feed ramp.
Like I said, I have not even tried them until now, and do not remember where I got them or what brand they are, but they do have made in USA printed on them. I don't know what the intended use was, but they do not work for me.
At this point I'm about tired of it, and just going to cut my losses and order plain Jane 7 round "GI" mags. This time, I will carefully inspect them as well as manually chamber some rounds before deciding to give them a forever home. I guess at least I know what to look for now, so it won't happen again.
The "GI" mags I have, allow the round to sit higher in the frame, and stage at a slightly steeper angle, so they point in the direction of the chamber, instead of the feed ramp.
Like I said, I have not even tried them until now, and do not remember where I got them or what brand they are, but they do have made in USA printed on them. I don't know what the intended use was, but they do not work for me.
At this point I'm about tired of it, and just going to cut my losses and order plain Jane 7 round "GI" mags. This time, I will carefully inspect them as well as manually chamber some rounds before deciding to give them a forever home. I guess at least I know what to look for now, so it won't happen again.
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