1911 magazines and upgrades

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Jim PHL

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First off, I know I'm committing the ultimate but most common mistake with a 1911: fixing something that ain't broke! But hear me out:....

It seems to me a lot of the 1911 problems I hear about stem from guys who get their new gun, watch a youtube video on how to do a detail strip, and then start trying to 'smiff it for themselves, polishing this or that, trying to drop-in this cool thumb-safety or that magwell or MSH, changing guide-rods and plunger tubes et al because they saw this cool new one online. Many experts say that you have to be a disciple of the design to carry and shoot a 1911 but I think there's also a lot of people who need to buy a good one and just leave it alone! (So far I've done that with a Springfield, a Colt and a Sig and been well satisfied!)

Most experts WILL agree that magazines are extremely important to the reliability you will encounter with a 1911. Even our own 1911Tuner has stated that he has "solved" many 1911 issues just by changing to better mags. With that in mind I'd like to post two questions:

#1 - Can I expect better performance from an existing mag by changing the springs and/or followers in the same tube? If so, what brands do you have experience with and recommend or not recommend? This is the 'not broke' part I am thinking about fixing. My Colt has functioned 100% reliably with Colt and Springfield mags but the mags I got with the (then new) Colt last year have springs that just feel weak to me. They feel lighter than the springs in my 11 year-old Springfield mags and I've never changed the springs in those. I had problems with the Colt when they were new with not holding the slide back on empty. (My Colt has fired 100% with this exception.) Colt sent me a couple additional mags that also feel weak. When I load them and tap them against the back of my hand it feels like the top round could just slide out. (This actually happened once or twice when new, but not since, but the springs still feel light to me.) Anyway I am thinking of changing the springs in my existing mags and just looking for recommendations. To me, this is just good maintenance anyway so I shouldn't refer to it as fixing something that's not broken. I'm guessing most experts would agree with changing mags springs before you "have to". (In other words, before the existing ones fail!) It just seems these springs maybe need to be changed more often than mags springs for a lot of other guns.

In addition I will likely be buying a few new mags so

#2 - what brand/model # 1911 magazines do you recommend either generally speaking or that have specifically worked 100% in your Colt or Springfield? Any replies welcome but I am specifically looking for info on full-size and am fine with 7-rounders.
 
Does your gun run 100% with the colt and/or Springfield mags? If so, buy more of those. And if it is running well with those mags, switching mags won't make it run better.
 
The Mags that came with my S&W 1911
have a badly designed follower, last round out of them
and it will FTF remaining in the mag. So, they got put
back in the Blue Box and I bought Wilson Combat
Elite Tactical Mags aka EIM Pusing down on them in
comparison to the stock mags are stronger.

I looked at Wilson's Mags and Accessories online and
they offer replacement follower/springs, and choices of
what size part at the base. buttplate?
priced that and thought about having the stock mags
coated and it would be about the same price as just
buying two more ETM mags.

Randall
 
I really like my Ruger magazines that came with my SR1911. After some research, I found that they're made by Checkmate, and that's who makes a lot of the Colt mags. Now, I don't know if both Colt and Ruger each send their owns specs and Checkmate builds to suit, or they order a standard mag.
 
I use McCormick mags and am VERY satisfied.
I understand he makes mags for other companies too
 
I highly recommend the Tripp Research mags. They also offer replacement springs and followers. The follower design they use seems to eliminate some of the problems associated with 1911 mags.
 
All of my mags are at least twenty-five years old. Some from Colt; most are old GI mags. They all work just fine.

I've modified some GI mags to be eight-rounders. Part of the mod requires cutting a "Zee" from the spring. Reliable feeding, even with the much-lighter spring. No problems in IPSC shooting.

IMO, if the feed lips are righteous and the empty mag falls freely when released, it's as good as any.
 
I find it slightly amusing that folks are listing gun manufacturers as magazine manufacturers.

Most manufacturers don't manufacture the magazines that they supply with their guns...Colt, Kimber and Springfield Armory certainly don't.

The nice thing about being willing to go with a 7-rd mag is that availability is much broader for a reliable magazine. My personal choice in a 7-rd mag is one from Metalform, with the convex follower
 
When I buy additional mags I usually go with Tripp or Wilson ETM. I have also had good luck with Checkmate bodies and Tripp guts.
 
If you're wanting new magazines I'd suggest buying 1 of each that interests you. Try as many as you can, borrow if you can. If the pistol is reliable and the brand known for reliability, they should all work fine. When you find what works well and is priced right then you can order a dozen.

I like ACT magazines for ease of maintenance in an 8-round, ETMs with steel replacement bases are nice too but benefit from a magwell. The Wilson 47Ds are decent but the ETM for a few dollars more is the better buy. Metalforms and Checkmates are a solid bargain and don't lengthen the overall package which is why I choose CMs for carry. Tried the Chips but never bought, they also functioned fine.
 
Posted by Art Eatman: All of my mags are at least twenty-five years old. Some from Colt; most are old GI mags. They all work just fine.

I've modified some GI mags to be eight-rounders. Part of the mod requires cutting a "Zee" from the spring. Reliable feeding, even with the much-lighter spring. No problems in IPSC shooting.

IMO, if the feed lips are righteous and the empty mag falls freely when released, it's as good as any.

Art; I agree regarding feed lips and 'fall-free' and see no reason to mess with tubes or followers if they are working but I am also curious whether you are running the original springs in your mags or if they get changed either within a certain period of time, certain number of rounds fired or just when they get "tired"?
 
I also have old Colt and USGI magazines for my 38 year old Colt. I have replaced springs but that's all. Recently I bought 4 Colt/Checkmates, 1 Mec-Gar, 1 Chip McCormick and 2 Metalform (8rd). All seem fine but a few old ones are now range mags. I haven't loaded 8 yet in the Metalforms.

I recently discovered one "USGI" is a fake with telltale misplaced witness holes. Funny, it is well made, feeds fine, locks back the slide and drops free but now is a range mag.
 
The ones that I have cleaned out. Seriously.

You don't need to buy a kit or buy "upgrades" to the $25-40 mags.. Just pull off the bottom, remove the guts of the spring, followers, etc., and clean out the crap. Put a very light coat of oil on the mag spring itself and reassemble. 9x out of 10 it's just a bind problem related to dirt/brass chunks/grime....even on new mags-take em apart and clean them.
 
Chip McCormicks run in my Kimber, whereas the Kimber mags and Wilsons are prone to feedway jams.
 
I most definitely agree keeping your magazines clean - as clean as your gun. I spent some years shooting IPSC/USPSA with the wife and after every match or practice session I would haul all of our gear out to the shop and spend a couple of hours cleaning all the guns and all the magazines. It makes a difference. Another thing to be aware of since so many people are determined to run heavier than stock recoil springs in their 1911s is to keep up the magazine's springs. When the mag spring starts to weaken the slide can outrun the magazines spring's ability to get the next round up in time for pickup. Wolff sells extra power mag springs and they help a lot, especially if you leave your extra/high capacity magazines fully loaded 24/7. As soon as you see a feed problem on the last 1 or 2 rounds the magazine spring is probably dying. Buy a bunch and keep them on your bench. And keep them clean. A lot of fouling ends up inside your mags.
 
In reference to changing out the guts of a magazine, I've changed out the springs and follower on an occasional mag with Wilson Combat springs and followers and have been extremely happy with the results. It is a easy and inexpensive way to make a crappy mag reliable as long as the feed lips are in good shape.

In my Colt I've used Chip McCormick Shooting Star mags with great result. In my RIA Compact I primarily use Wilson Combat but also have a MetalForm mag with the Wilson Combat internals.
 
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