1911 mags that work.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Para is far from top-tier, but it did suit my wants, as my first foray into 1911s in something bigger than .22. I had no illusions that I was getting a high-end gun.
Click to expand...

This post summarizes the O.P.’s problem well. All 1911’s are not made the same. Paras are not a top quality gun. They have had quality control problems over the years. The first question is does the gun feed and eject ball (FMJ) ammunition well. If your gun functions fine with ball ammunition either stick with ball or have a gunsmith tune your gun to feed JHP’s.

Shooting Star magazines work well and can be brought for a darn less than $25.00. MidwayUSA has them for $18.99. I watch for sales and get them for much less.

Greg Cote has Mec-Gar 7 round magazines listed for $18.95.

J&G has Mec-Gar 8 round and 7 round stainless steel for $17.11.

FYI 230 gr. ball ammunition is not that bad of a choice for self-defense.
 
I bought my first Springfield Armory 1911 5 years ago.
At the same time I bought 4 Wilson Combat ETM's
I have never has a failure with any of them in about 5,000 rounds using both ball and JHP's.
 
My Norinco 1911 works with every piece of junk to high end magazine I have ever tried in it. I did have the Norinco worked over by a smith many years ago.

My Springfield is a touch more picky about magazines. With a couple of old rust bucket magazines I will get a failure to feed but rarely. I wanted to see what a compensator was like so I bought a Clark compensated drop in barrel for the Springfield. She will still feed most of the time but I definitely get a lot of failure to feed with my old GI magazines. I am sure with a bit of fitting I will be able to use the new barrel with any magazine reliably.
 
After I got my SR 1911 I learned that Rugers OEM magazines are Checkmate mag.'s. I picked up a couple more. My 7 round & 8 round extended magazines work well. I accidentally ordered an 8 round flush fit magazine. It will not work when fully loaded with my Ruger. The only way I can put it into pistol when fully loaded is if the pistol is at slidelock. If I download it to 7 rounds it works fine.
 
SA doesn't make their mags...very few pistol manufacturers do

Does anyone know who makes their bigger mags, their EMP ones are made by Mec-Gar
 
The only mags I've had problems with were Pachmayr. I have a Triple K that works like a champ.
 
1911's have varying tolerances so mags can be quite an issue. I'm thankful that the SA 1911-A1 and Sig 1911 function with what I have. Sig, Shooting Star, Wilson 47 and a handful of gun show 7 round cheapies. Even from the same manufacturer some mags may vary just slightly to be problematic.
 
RA- I have a few cheapies too. I only use them for the range. The way I look at it, if one causes a surprise malfunction, its just a training opportunity to clear it and see if I'm on my A game. If it becomes chronic, I throw it on the berm and put a round into it.
 
Total of 18 SA, Kimber and ProMag 7 rd mags - completely interchangeable between my SA Loaded and Kimber Custom II TLE.
 
I've shot 1911's with many makes of magazines. My favorites in order:
1. Wilson
2. Tripp
3. CMC Shooting Star
4. Novak

The CMC is the best value.
 
I have shot a bunch of different mags, and to be honest I don't pay all that much attention to the brand, I pay attention to what works. In my 1911 mag collection I have a Taurus, an ancient Colt, two Rugers, a Wilson and a McCormack. The only common denominator is this: They have all been put through the wringer and they all function perfectly.

If I were to just go out and buy new mags, I personally would go with Wilson, but the reality is that any brand of mag can be a dud either through manufacturing mistakes, mistreatment or dark sorcery.

I would also add that this isn't just my attitude when it comes to 1911's, its basically true of any pistol and most magazine fed rifles (AR's in particular), though obviously aftermarket mags for some guns are non-existent.
 
imho, Tripp Research makes the absolute best 1911 mags out there.

Wilson's are good... but the hybrid Tripp follower is poly where it should be, and steel where it should be.

That said, I've never had a ny factory new 7 round mag fail, regardless of the brand.
 
Cooldill said:
I want a Colt's Rail Gun, and from what I hear, the 8 rounders than ship with it are tops.
Click to expand...
My gun came with two blackened seven cartridge Wilson Combat magazines.

It is my sincere hope that one day we will get top of the line 1911 magazine that is at least half as good as factory Glock magazines.
 
Last edited:
My 1911s all .45 ACP
S&W 1911 5" Bbl.
Colt Commander Blued
Springfield Armory Range Officer Compact

I use Wilson Combat ETm(5) & 47BD 8 rd and a 7 Rd for an Officers
frame as well as a 10 rd'er - the 47BDs have a black body w/lo profile
base pad, so the last rd is a llittle bit more difficult to load.

& a couple of stock flush base 7 Rd

The above all work.& hard to beat WC's replacement policy.

Stock mags with my S&W 1911, supplier
was ACT and the follower is a bad design.
FTF on last rd and doesn't even make it
out of the mag so I don't use em.

R-
 
I use two types from Wilson Combat silver gray body with plastic base plate and blackened body with metal base plate. I like the silver finish ones because they show less wear the only problem is in magazine reassembly after cleaning. I found with plastic plate is that it is harder to made dimple set into plate securing it from sliding out. Although like all 1911 magazines these seem rather flimsy when compared to Glock factory mags I have found no functional problems with either type so far. If you can spare about $33 or about $38 per mag I can recommend either type.
 
It is my sincere hope that one day we will get top of the line 1911 magazine that is at least half as good as factory Glock magazines.
Click to expand...

This thing exists, it's a company called "checkmate", they can be had in the Dillon catalog.

Interesting, they also make the US .MIL 25 round m14 Mag now.

Good stuff.
 
I have never had issues with any Wilson Combat 1911 magazines. Wish I could say the same about Chip McCormick mags. Kimber factory mags, bleah ...

I've also never had issues with Colt's factory mags, Springfield Amory's factory mags, ACT mags and Mec-Gar's 1911 mags ...

These days, though, the ONLY mags I use are WC (47 series or ETMs).
 
PabloJ
It is my sincere hope that one day we will get top of the line 1911 magazine that is at least half as good as factory Glock magazines.
Click to expand...

Not a problem. Wilson 47D tubes, Wolf heavy springs, Colt 7 round pimpled followers.
If they don't run in your gun, you should look at getting your gun repaired. The down
side is 7 rounds. Having said that, I have not tried the newer Wilson's or the Trip mags.
I have heard great things about both. If I ever need any new 1911 mags I will try them out.

As far as Glock mags, kind of a apples to oranges comparison, don't you think.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
Para Ord GI Expert
Replies
3
Views
359
RugerNut9
R
stchman
  • Locked
Remove idiot scratch from satin stainless 1911.
2
Replies
40
Views
6K
Zaydok Allen
Zaydok Allen
B
  • Locked
1911s capable of double stack/high cap mags
Replies
12
Views
611
DHart
D
A
  • Locked
1911 mag questions.... Wilson vs McCormick vs....
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
WhoKnowsWho
W
F
  • Locked
1911 wilson mag
Replies
6
Views
380
firstg19
F
Back
Top