1911 Magazines

[FL-NC]

I have had good luck with Wilson and McCormick magazines. Our GI mags with the NSN on the floorplate when I was in the military left a lot to be desired in terms of reliability.

 

[JTQ]

If you are not worried about bumper pads, the Wilson, Pachmyr, and McCormick magazines all generallt work just fine.

When was the last time you bought new Pachmayr mags?

 

[9mmepiphany]

So. Which brand of aftermarket magazines work best in the 1911?

While not the least expensive option, I've never heard anyone really report issues with the Tripp Cobramag. They were a bit pricey for me, so I chose the CMC PowerMag over the Wilson 47D. I've since had a chance to run the newer Wilson ETM and found them a large improvement over the 47D...about on par with the PowerMag

(Specifically, for a USGI 1911A1 from cmp.)

My default in a 7-rd 1911 mag is the Metaform with the curved follower

 

[Homerboy]

Since I never buy them because it is just so easy to buy good mags from known sources, I don't pay that much attention to the fine details, but forum member Doran who is on a variety of gun forums (M1911.org and 1911Forum), I don't know if he is on this forum, is my source (and probably everybody's) for info on GI mags.

Unless you are a GI collector, there really isn't a reason to buy "GI" mags, but if you already own them, I'd just use them. If they break or don't work, well, lesson learned. If they do work, you got some usable mags for cheap.

Since mags are one of the key points to a properly functioning semi-auto pistol, buying suspect mags is never a good path to ensure reliable function. In addition, since finding known reliable options such as Tripp, Wilson, McCormick, CheckMate, Metalform, etc., is so easy, and relatively inexpensive, even for the most expensive 1911 mags, I just avoid eBay, and gun show mags for that matter, altogether.

Thanks. They’re probably fake. The date code in the bottom is identical on both. Haven’t shot them yet. I was looking for something that looked correct for a WWII pistol. The one that came with my CMP gun worked fine, but I only fired like 100 rounds through it. If I ever buy more I’ll twke the suggestions here.

 

[Robbins290]

Chip McCormick mags, been using them for 15 years. Never had a issue with a USGI 1911A1. I also have some Wilcon combat and kimber mags that have been flawless.

 

[mljdeckard]

I find the gun matters at least as much as the magazine. I have a grab bag of magazines, McCormacks with added base pads, G.I. mags I brought home from Germany. Different guns have liked different magazines. My Kimber Custom II, which I carried for about years, ran fine with all of them, any kind of ammo. But I carry it with 47Ds.