1911 Mag. Question - Tuner, help please?

[SlabSlinger]

After my recent 1911 purchase, I have been looking to buy magazines and researching old threads to see what was recommended. I have a "loaded coupon" that came with my Springer and am going to pick up some of the 7-round Metalforms from Springfield and get the 11 pound spring upgrade from Wolff as an economical way to get started. However, I was wondering, after all of the talk and experimenting I have seen from old threads on THR, whether there has been a consensus on what is best in terms of configuration and cost.

What is the best 7 rounder - stainless bodies w/flat, dimpled followers, nickel-plated bodies w/flat, dimpled followers? What is the most economical way to get the best configuration - group buying, purchasing mag. components from different sources? Tell me how, please? Which brands have the "early release" lips to avoid?

What is the best 8 rounder (I know, I know... no such thing as a good one - call'em "range mags") - stainless Metalforms w/flat dimpled followers and spring upgrade, CMC bodies with flat, dimpled followers or Metalform round followers? What seems to be the best configuration?

Finally, does anyone know whether the steel, Wilson mag. bases will fit on CMC mags? Thanks to Tuner and all who are willing to help a new guy get a 1911 education!

 

[SlabSlinger]

Anyone?

 

[Cazach]

You will get as many answers as there are brands.

Unfortunately due to the difference in tolerances and parts quality between different manufacturers, there probably isn't a single "best" magazine for all guns.

Beg, borrow or steal different types and try for yourself, with your gun and your ammo of choice.

 

[Dale Taylor]

I agree. Try them all. My Sistema likes only old 7rd government.mags or new Wilson. My Series 1 Kimber Conpact likes anything. Mostly use CMC for Kimber. Try them all. 1911 magazines are an engineering science all its own. [email protected]

 

[1911Tuner]

Mags

Howdy SlabSlinger,

7-round Metalform, Springfield 7-round mags...factory 7-round Colt with the "M" on the baseplate are all the same, and with the correct follower angle and spring tension will come as close to 100% trouble-free operation in a given pistol as you can hope for. For Officer's Model-length mags, stick with 6-rounders. Those use the same follower and spring as the GM and COmmander-length 7-rounders. Stick with a dimpled follower. That dimple is critical to control and correct release timing on the last round.

I avoid 8 and 10-round magazines like the plague. I don't even use'em in my range beaters...I like for my extractors to outlast the guns. Just addressed some issues with a THR member's 10-round McCormick mags by installing the standard 7-round dimpled followers and standard 7-round Wolff 11-pound springs. This turned'em into 9-round magazines, but the problems went away... Ditto for the McCormick Shooting Star, which is now a 7-round mag.

Metalform's stainless magazines and followers are a little harder and tougher than the carbon mags...plus the stainless numbers are available with the Wolff spring upgrade if you opt for it. Don't know why they don't offer it with the blued mags. No reason for it...It's just policy.

 

[SlabSlinger]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your responses. I appreciate all the input I can get and believe that there is wisdom in having a multitude of counselors.

Thanks,

Slabslinger