1911 Mags: 7 vs. 8 Round

[thump_rrr]

I voted 8 rounders because when I bought my 1911 I bought 4 Wilson Combat ET500 mags at the same time.
They have been flawless and my only frame of reference.

 

[Tallball]

I have had zero problems with either.

 

[rbernie]

The good eight round magazines all have extended bodies, which is a large part of what makes them good. The bad eight round magazines just cut down the follower leg to fit in the extra round, which is part of what makes them unreliable.

So it's not a clear choice, unless you asked '7 or eight round flush fitting'. In that case, the correct answer is seven.

 

[GBExpat]

I only tried one type of 8-rd 1911 mags. I bought 2 of the Brownells-brand units several years ago, and used them (tried to) while testing loads across the CHRONY.

I quickly retired these mags because of persistent feed problems. As I recall, prior to trying them, I had to mod/polish one of them so that it would properly fit in my pistols. <sigh>

I went back to using only proven-reliable-by-me USGI mags. I have accumulated a bunch of those over the years ... still have a number still in paper that I have yet to test.

 

[glove]

on line I see a lot of nose dive problems with the 8 round mags. when feeding the first round. Use a 7 round mag. the nose dive problem goes away.

 

[rbernie]

on line I see a lot of nose dive problems with the 8 round mags. when feeding the first round. Use a 7 round mag. the nose dive problem goes away.

That's generally a function of a weakened magazine spring that's not controlling the heavier eight round stack. The spring gets overly weakened because its too compressed, and it's too compressed because its been crammed into a 7rd body.

If you want to use reliable 8rd magazines, get the ones that have extended bodies to match the extended capacity. Checkmate (Extended), Metalform (Elite), and CMC (PowerMag) all represent good quality eight round magazines with slightly extended bodies to ensure proper performance over time.

 

[JTQ]

Checkmate (Extended), Metalform (Elite), and CMC (PowerMag) all represent good quality eight round magazines with slightly extended bodies to ensure proper performance over time.

I'd count the PowerMag as a shorter body tube. It is of the older generation of 8 rounders. It's longer than a flush mag like their Shooting Star mags, but it is shorter than the new generation of longer tube mags like Wilson's ETM and Tripp CobraMags.

The PowerMag is the same length as Wilson's 47D, which in turn is the same length as Wilson's 7 round full size 47 mag. The Wilson 47D is a good mag, but I think the Wilson 47 is a better product. Wilson uses a different spring and shortened follower to get 8 rounds in a tube that length.

I generally prefer 7 rounders, but I think manufacturer makes a lot of difference. I'd much rather have an 8 round CMC PowerMag or Wilson 47D than a gun show/ebay 7 round "GI mag" of unknown origin. On the other hand, if I wanted an 8 rounder, I'd probably pick the Wilson ETM or Tripp mag over the 47D.

 

[LeonCarr]

IME the Wilson 7 round magazines are the best 1911 magazine.

I have seen bone stock 1911s that would barely feed ball ammo shoot 100% with hollowpoints after switching to Wilson 7 rounders with no other changes.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[rbernie]

I'd count the PowerMag as a shorter body tube. It is of the older generation of 8 rounders. It's longer than a flush mag like their Shooting Star mags, but it is shorter than the new generation of longer tube mags like Wilson's ETM and Tripp CobraMags.

Fair enough.

 

[entropy]

There's junk mags out there of every capacity. I wouldn't worry about "traditional" unless it was on a collector piece, like a NSN mag on a GI 1911A1 or a lanyard mag on a GI 1911. I've used 8's from Wilson and shooting star/ McCormick. Great reliability with both in every gun I tried them in. The Wilson mags seem like better quality in design and materials, but cost more.

+1. Never had a bad 8 rounder, even my Taurus ones that came with my PT1911. The carry mags are Wilson and CMC. I've had numerous bad 7 rounders over the years, mostly worn issue mags or dirt cheap gun show mags.

 

[Steve C]

Over the years I've tried some low cost aftermarket magazines and have had mixed results. Some where very good and others very bad. Bad ones went into the scrap box. The OEM Colt mags run great and some mil surplus 7 rounders work exceptionally well too. Have had great luck with Chip McCormic nags in 8 round.

 

[PabloJ]

I have two seven cartridge magazines original to the gun and several eight cartridge ones. My question is can these magazines be loaded to full capacity and stored long term? I have done that with Glock mags w/o issues, but these 1911 magazines have thinner springs. Thanks.

 

[1911 guy]

My only bad experience with 8 round mags was with the "Shooting Star" mags that are flush fitting. Gutted them, installed 7 round springs and followers. Other 8 round mags that are not flush fitting have given me no problems.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

have two seven cartridge magazines original to the gun and several eight cartridge ones. My question is can these magazines be loaded to full capacity and stored long term? I have done that with Glock mags w/o issues, but these 1911 magazines have thinner springs. Thanks.

Some of the flush-fitting 8 round mags may have the same springs as the 7-rounders, and they're compressed more. That extra compression MIGHT cause the springs to fail a bit sooner.

I've had no experience with the extended length 1911 mags. Some of them may have the same springs, too, but they aren't compressed as far as the flush-fit 8-rounders. I understand that some of them have flat (coil) springs, rather than the more typical round metal coil springs.

Glock mags seem to be some of the more robust mags I've used. (They're also far harder to load when new -- which suggests stouter springs than are found in most mags.) The only Glock mags I keep loaded are in my small bedside gun safe -- one in the gun and one beside the gun. I open that safe each night as I go to bed. Haven't had a problem there, yet.... But I take it to the range now and then, and that's when I'd like find a problem.