1911 Mags? Which do you prefer---

[camaroman]

I have had pretty good experience with McCormick, but never tried Wilsons.

 

[wally]

CMC "Tacticals" (Shooting Star) work 100% in all my guns, why pay more for something that can only work as well. I leave off the bumper base pads as I like a flush fit. Otherwise I might have voted "other" for the Mec-Gar which work well but stick out the bottom to give 8-rnd capacity.

Purists stick wth 7-rnd GI mags with the dimple on the follower. I've a bunch of these, they all work great, but I'd rather have an extra round since I almost never can carry an extra mag.

--wally.

 

[NMshooter]

Shooting Star mags work great. And if you decide you want 7 rounders you just change out the spring and follower. Stock 8 round spring and follower works fine in my experience.

And of course you have to own a big box of assorted 1911 mags, I don't know why, but it is a requirement. Kinda like the box of holsters you don't use any more.

 

[EghtySx]

I like Wilson. I even use the 8 rounder in my Kimber carry gun. Probably doesn't matter much which of those brands you use as long as you keep good springs in em.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I've tried the McCormick Shooting Star mags and my experience is they suck. Now, I hear the Powermags are another matter. However, I've always ran Wilson's in my guns and have never seen any compelling reason to change. Sure, they're expensive when you compare them to GI mags, but these things are not disposable. Buy one or two or a dozen and they'll serve you well for a long time.

 

[El Tejon]

After many years of trying and wearing out everything out there, I go with Les Baer 7 rounders. Have yet to wear one out in training.

 

[MP-5]

I really like Mag-Pak Magazines but however I guess nobody else liked them as they are defunct!!

 

[Gunsnrovers]

I think Virgil Tripps new Cobra mags are it

 

[Pointman1776]

Big fan of Wilson 8 and 10 rounders. Very smooth. I happen to like the polymer follower also (self-lubricating).

 

[Smoke]

I like the WIlson 8 rounders but hate to pay for them.

I shoot a lot of GOv't Contract 7 rounders. Never had a problem with them.

Smoke

 

[HSMITH]

I only have a couple dozen or so magazines left, most of them are USGI, and a half dozen or so each of Shooting Stars, Colt, and Wilsons. I like the Shooting Stars for 8 and 10 round mags, and the GI mags for 7 round mags. The Wilson mags needed a new spring to work well, Wolf 11 pound springs fixed them right up.

A good magazine is a good magazine, you can find good ones and bad ones with just about every stamp imaginable on them. Most bad ones can be made to work just fine with a few tweaks on the lips, and a new/good used USGI spring and follower installed.

 

[SAWBONES]

Virgil Tripp's Cobra Mags are the absolute, hands-down best 1911 mags made.

Wilson 47Ds are excellent. I've never worn out one of their polymer followers, though some have.

If you're wanting to "roll your own", I recommend the all-steel Metalform convex followers (available from Brownells) with Wolff, ISMI or Tripp springs in the mag bodies of your choice, or Virgil Tripp's new "mag upgrade kits" (follower + spring). I've made these up with Metalform, Baer, Wolff, CMC and Wilson mag tubes, and they all work with complete reliability.

I've had WAY TOO MANY failures with the CMC Shooting Star mags. The Devel-designed angled-leaf follower is VERY failure-prone, IME, and will often ride forward after the last shot, thereby making the mag hard to remove, also frequently failing to feed the last round and failing to lock the slide back after the last round.
I've also had troubles (magazine tube expansion with feed-lip spreading) with the new Wolff magazines, and won't be buying any more.

 

[Psssniper]

I like the wilsons, never had a problem, now the McCormicks are another story. 60% of mine have problems

 

[R.H. Lee]

I like the $12 Metalforms with the round follower.

 

[Shmackey]

I'm back to Wilsons.

I also thought Tripp Cobra Mags were the best, but take a look at how they lock your slide back. All of them locked my slide back incompletely--that is, they didn't engage the slide stop all the way. That can lead to some wear problems, not to mention failure to lock back.

I emailed and called them about this and never got a response. I'm not the only one who has this problem.

Look at the height of the shelf on the follower--the part that catches the slide stop. It's visibly much lower than what you find on Wilsons, Metalforms, and factory Colt mags.

 

[Tom Servo]

I use Wilsons in my Kimber. The follower on the McCormicks can gouge the internals on aluminum frames. The Wilsons have been absolutely trouble-free for me over 1100 rounds.

Incidentally, alot of the 1911 "reliability problems" you hear about can be traced direcltly to bad mags. The magazine is an integral part of the weapon--don't skimp!

 

[cghammo]

ACT/Novak

 

[clown714]

all of my Wilsons work perfectly

even had one damaged by a large dresser drawer,large crease along the middle,follower wouldn't budge.

they replaced it,no questions asked.

that's the kinda company I'll do business with

clown

 

[wally]

ACT/Novak appear to be the same as the 8-round Mec-Gar. As I said, I like them, but prefer a flush fit instead of a base pad.

--wally.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

I only have McCormicks and others... so far, they work fine.

 

[Zach S]

7 round Wilsons for my GM and OM carry guns. I also have a buncha GI mags for range use, never carry them.

I use Para P14 mags in my polymer Kimber

 

[19112XS]

After experiencing the followers on CMC 10x Powermags rolling forward and causing feeding problems, I’ve switched to Wilson 7x and 8x’s. No problems yet. The Wilson follower is less likely to gouge alloy frames, as is posted above.

 

[Big K]

McCormicks & Metalforms / no problems with either...

 

[sig970]

Kimber Pro Carry + Wilson = no problems

 

[Lonestar.45]

I've only used McCormick "tactical" mags (along with the factory mag) in my Springfield G.I., and I have had zero problems. They seem to hold up pretty well.