1911 Magazines 8Rnd VS 7Rnd

[The Lone Haranguer]

With all the different 1911s and magazines, sometimes it takes a bit of "mix and match" to find ones that work with each other. If it is reliable with 8-rounders there is no reason not to take advantage of it - you can never have too much ammo. If it is not, but is reliable with 7-rounders, that extra round will do you no good stuck on the feed ramp.

 

[EAJ]

Interesting article on 1911 magazines here.

 

[atomd]

Interesting article on 1911 magazines here.

I've read that article before. It's definitely worth a read. He seems to like the hybrids the best. Too bad he didn't have a better selection of mags to review like that. I would have liked to see his observations on the power mags and the cobras. Checkmate makes a good selection of hybrid mags that are priced reasonably and pretty well made (and yes, I know about their Beretta mag issues in the past already). The Wilson mags seem to be a real love/hate type of mag. For some they run like a timex and others they don't run at all. I guess the next time I order mags I'll try to get a couple of different models to try out. It's easy to talk specs and all but what really matters is if it runs in your gun.

 

[rbernie]

Too bad he didn't have a better selection of mags to review like that. I would have liked to see his observations on the power mags and the cobras.

I suspect that it would come down to the shape of their feed lips. If they use a tapered lip that elevates the rear of the round as it moves forward, they'll probably work better in more 1911s than would magazines with straight lips, and would be favorably reviewed as such.

CMC and Wilson and other non-OEM magazine manufacturers spend a lot of money on ads and in pursuing 'endorsements' from known shooters. I have no quarrel with that - it clearly helps them sell product. Read any thread on the subject and you'll see glowing references to these magazines from folk who have no idea WHY a given magazine will work and another will not - that's the power of advertising in action.

I prefer to use a magazine that is best suited to the platform from an engineering perspective. That means that I am firmly in the camp that says that tapered lips are an absolute must for a 1911, along with dimpled followers and good-quality springs. So far, the only magazines that come with both tapered lips and dimpled followers are the Colt/Checkmate 7rd stainless hybrids. I see no reason to look beyond them, and I am aware of ZERO guns that they do not run.

 

[atomd]

So far, the only magazines that come with both tapered lips and dimpled followers are the Colt/Checkmate 7rd stainless hybrids. I see no reason to look beyond them, and I am aware of ZERO guns that they do not run.

A lot of people "in the know" seem to feel the same way. I assume you're referring to the CM45-7-S-H model. They also have one with a "checkmate follower" but I don't know anything about that model. Do you know much about that one? It's a bonus that you can get them for $18 for the stainless ones too. That's almost 1/2 the price of some of the other models we're talking about here.

 

[jad0110]

That means that I am firmly in the camp that says that tapered lips are an absolute must for a 1911, along with dimpled followers and good-quality springs. So far, the only magazines that come with both tapered lips and dimpled followers are the Colt/Checkmate 7rd stainless hybrids.

I'm no 1911 expert, but I agree as well.

Interesting article on 1911 magazines here.

This article comes to the same conclusion as well. IIRC, the problem the author had with the Wilson 47D is that it very likely bypasses the controlled-feed design principle of the 1911: "Wilson mags' reputation for reliability comes from the fact that they mask feed errors by sacrificing control of the round, basically chucking it the last half inch into the chamber. I'd rather correct a predictable feed problem than exchange it for the random whims of kinetics. The former will get you as close to guaranteed feeding as any mechanical device allows; the latter may never malfunction, or it might jam at any time, but nothing you can tweak or adjust will change your chances. I know a lot of people reading this will disagree with me, and that's fine. At the end of the day, you're the one who uses the gun, and you should choose whatever magazine makes you happiest."

After studying the principles of contolled-feed, his conclusions are interesting, though I'm not 1911-smart enough to know for certain if what he suggests is true.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I like the Wilson 47C of any magazine in their line. I usually go with the Colt 7 round mags when I have a 1911.

I always thought putting an 8 round magazine into a 1911 was somewhat similar to putting up levees to hold back nature.

 

[rbernie]

They also have one with a "checkmate follower" but I don't know anything about that model. Do you know much about that one?

From the (small) pics on their web site, it looks like a polymer bullnose split-follower that suitable for use in an aluminum framed gun that does not use a ramped barrel - dunno for sure. It probably would be worth a call to them to find out...