1911 Custom Magwell

[MoreIsLess]

I am thinking of buying a custom mag well for my Colt 1911 Government Model.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1070138050/wilson-combat-custom-magazine-well-1911

Some of the reviews I have read indicate that some custom fitting to the frame or grips is sometimes needed. I don't want to have to "make them fit" if you know what I mean. I've also read that some magazines may not work well with this and I don't want to have to buy new magazines.

Any thoughts, experiences?

 

[tark]

I've put on a lot of magwells in the years I worked for Les, but never a Wilson. (Les and Bill don't get along all that well) It mentions that a slight modification to the grip panels is required. What they mean is this: you will have to remove a bit of wood from the inside of each grip to make room for the metal legs on the magwell, which wrap around the bushings to hold the thing in place. Once done, the magwell covers the relieved area so it isn't visable.

Does your gun have a slightly beveled magwell opening now? If it does, the new magwell will have to be blended, (with a file or a dremel. Yes! a dremel!) to match. Failure to do so will place the stamp of Bubba all over that gun.

I would advise against the whole thing. Most of the magwells we put on customer's guns ended up being later removed, anyway.

 

[Drail]

Put it this way - they rarely if ever just drop right on and fit. At least I have never seen one that didn't need some fitting work. If it is not fitted and blended in smoothly there is a very good chance that an edge will catch the lip of the magazine and slow you down more than if you didn't have a "custom" magwell. As Tark stated - I used to run with magwells and they have all been removed from my 1911s a long time ago. (along with extended safeties and mag releases and FLGRs). You will also have to install extended base pads on your magazines to be able to lock the magazine in. I used to love building and competing with race guns - but I would not carry one on the street.

 

[tarosean]

I wouldnt give 5 bucks for that thing... I dont care whos name is stamped on it..

Want a magwell get a one piece from Smith & Alexander, want something for competition go to Dawson Precision etc. etc.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Given your concerns about modifying your grips, I'd advise against going the Wilson route.

If you must have a magwell, I'd look into the ones attached via a replacement MSH

I'm personally partial to the magwell offered by Stan Chen

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...but I don't think you'd want to cut and weld your frame

 

[justin22885]

is it really worth it?

 

[9mmepiphany]

is it really worth it?

Are you referring to my post or the OP?

 

[Drail]

Is it really worth it? It is if you compete against a clock and it "may" shave a couple hundredths of a second off your reload. If not, then no, it's probably not really worth it. It simply allows for a hurried (maybe sloppy) reload. And it doesn't really matter what brand you buy or who's name is on it - it will still need fitting for smooth insertion of the magazine. In my experience even with a one piece well the hole for the MSH pin almost never lines up with the holes in the frame. Neither will the angled surfaces on the chute. Skilled work with a Dremel and a file will make it fit perfectly - but it ain't gonna drop in. Dedicated practice will make your reloads fast enough - without a well.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Yes, it isn't a cure for bad magazine change technique.

Many folks add a magwell thinking it will be the answer to a lack of practice, it isn't. Functionally what it does is make up for those times when you are just a bit off in your alignment of magazine and magwell...psychologically it does offer a little peace of mind

 

[Drail]

^^^what he said.........

 

[MoreIsLess]

I was leaning against doing it before posting this. Based on all these posts, I think I will forego it. Having to put extended base pads on all my magazines is enough reason to not do it.

I was planning on ordering some VZ grips and you can get them with profile standard, standard with beveled bottom, or magwell bottom

So I figured I better decide magwell yes or magwell no before getting anynew grips.

Thanks for the insight

 

[Drail]

Practice makes perfect. Just make it part of your dry fire practice time. You don't dry fire? Shame on you...... Just kidding - it really does help though.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Having to put extended base pads on all my magazines is enough reason to not do it.

You don't have base pads on your magazines

My current 1911 has a S&A magwell installed and the basepads that came with my McCormick PowerMags work fine with it

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[justin22885]

Are you referring to my post or the OP?

i was referring to the OP, it seems the cost (even though its only about $30) plus the labor to fit and the weight added, it doesnt seem worth any marginal benefit it may offer.. at least for a non-competition pistol

 

[9mmepiphany]

Thanks...I was just confused

 

[Drail]

Personally I much prefer even a slim base pad on my magazines even for a gun with no mag well installed. They make sure you get the magazine fully seated and keep your hand from getting pinched if some flesh creeps around the edge of the magazine.

 

[MoreIsLess]

You don't have base pads on your magazines

My current 1911 has a S&A magwell installed and the basepads that came with my McCormick PowerMags work fine with it

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My McCormick power mag does, the others are the standard ones that came with the gun.

 

[Quentin]

I'm very pleased with the Nighthawk 2-piece mainspring housing/magwell I recently got for my Springfield Range Officer Compact. The fit is almost perfect, certainly no extra fitting necessary, at least on the ROC. Can't say on other 1911s. The price was only $79 also.

Its MSH got rid of the cursed Springfield mainspring lock and its magwell added a welcome 1/4" to the grip. At the time I got the ROC I was torn between the Compact and Champion and finally went small with the Compact and its shorter Officer's frame. As time went on I regretted that since the grip was slightly too small plus the magazine held one less round. Now I use a standard magazine that almost fits flush in the Nighthawk magwell. I can use the shorter magazine as well but you have to force it in with your fingertips to get it deep enough to engage the magazine catch. You can't slap the short mag home now because of the magwell.

Anyway, I really like the Nighthawk design, it's a quality product. I'm glad I took a chance on it. It really improved an already fine 1911.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Dedicated practice will make your reloads fast enough - without a well

Bingo we have a winner . Just more I want you money to junk up a 1911

 

[Urban_Redneck]

I went with the EGW magwell/mainspring housing, top quality easy install.

 

[RainDodger]

The first thing I did with a brand new Springfield TRP was to remove the magwell. It only adds weight and size, and serves no purpose for me.

 

[bannockburn]

RainDodger

I came to the same conclusion when I tried one (briefly), on my Colt Combat Commander.

 

[BSA1]

I altered the magwells on my 1911's simply by contouring the inside of grip frame with a flat file. I do not want to add bumper pads to all of my magazines.

Cold bluing has proven to work well enough for rust protection and of course is unnecessary on stainless steel.

 

[WC145]

Those screw on things suck but if anyone just has to have one Numrich's is selling them for $6.50.

I believe mag wells have a use but if you want one on a carry piece, IMO, the Heinie XX mag well is the only way to go. It works like it should, looks good, and doesn't add any length to the grip frame. It does take some 'smithing to install. Oh, and it works with flat base mags, too. My Krebs Custom Colt Commander has one on it-