Flush fitting 8 round 1911 magazines that work well.

I always used factory Colt 8 rounders in mine, and they always worked, and that was over 10 years ago now. They still work fine now too.

This is the focus of CMC mags and their design.

CAW

MecGar mags work very well.

I have four 8-round stainless Shooting Star mags - 2 each, Kimber & McCormick - from 1999 and 2000 that have always worked. I've put over 20,000 rounds through my Stainless Gold Match and they still work. There's a rumor the springs will wear out, but I've seen no evidence of it so far.

John

I have four stainless Kimber 8-rounders that work in all of my 1911s.
I also have one Wilson, but it is not flush-fitting (has the "bumper pad). Still works fine, but not as concealable.

I'm a fan of the McCormick Shooting Star. Sturdy, reliable, and not horribly expensive.

While OEM 8 round flush mags with the CMC follower work well they do not have the CMC spring which really makes a difference in the long run.

CAW

Shooting Star mags

I had very bad luck with the Wilson Combat 8 round service magazines. I do not see them currently on Wilson's website, but I would steer clear of them if you see them elsewhere.

My specific problem was a failure of all five magazines I purchased to lock the slide open after the last round on a Springfield Mil-Spec 1911, a Colt Commander, a Kimber TLE II, and a CQB...so I know it wasn't the gun.

I only use Colt 8 rounders in my Colt 1911. They work great.

Chip McCormick. You can spend twice the money and not get a better magazine. Most of the big name brands you're paying for the big name.

I'm a fan of the McCormick Shooting Star. Sturdy, reliable, and not horribly expensive.

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The Shooting Stars are ok, but there are some downsides to them IME. The mag spring has always been short-lived in the ones I've owned. Far shorter life-span than the springs in other mags I have that have seen equal use. Seems like about 500 rounds is all it takes for the ones I've owned to start giving the tell-tale failure to engage the slide stop after the last round. Also, the follower comes forward of the mag tube a little upon feeding the last round, which could gouge some aluminum frame, non steel-ramped, lightweight models. I don't have any aluminum framed guns, so I don't worry about that, but it might be a problem for some folks. IMO, after using them for a while, I decided these would be range mags, not carry mags. Again, JMHO, others may have had much better experience with them.

The best flush fitting 8 rounders I've found so far have been the Checkmates with the hybrid feed lips and the bullnose follower. Springs hold up well, the followers stay aligned with the tube because of the skirt, and the tubes are good. I've been using some of these mags pretty heavily for about four or five years now, and no issues so far. When I order more mags, they will be Checkmates.

Jason

Colt, here is a link, http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=815261

Colts and CMCs have worked fine for me.

MecGar mags work very well.

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True, but they don't fit flush.

Another happy user of the CMC "Shooting Star" mags. CDNN is the place to beat on price.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Kimpro Pro-Tac mags. They're the best magazines I've ever used, and I've used them all.

Personally I think Kimber guns are crap, but their Pro-Tac mags are stellar.