So you've got exactly one gun manufacture and them and two others can manage to make mags for that one gun. With a 1911 you have dozens of frame manufacturers and dozens of mag manufacturers. Yeah that a completely fair comparison.Since the Glocks come up as a comparison with mags as well, I shoot factory Glock mags, as well as a bunch of the Korean mags, some of which are supposedly military surplus (Kahn/KCI) and some I just got, that look to be something else.
As far as function goes, they all function shooting wise. This new batch of Korean mags, dont drop free and have to be pulled from the gun. Annoying, but at least they function. They were cheap. $4 a mag
I somewhat regret sticking my nose back into this thread, but for those that are new to the 1911 or are looking for information to help improve their experience with the gun, the 47D is probably the worst mag in the Wilson line-up.The only mags Ive found that seemed to work in "all" my 1911's, across the board, are a lot of USGI 7 round contract mags I bought somewhere back in the late 80's, early 90's. Im still shooting number of them today.
Even the Wilson 47D's I have didnt do that.
Cant really say one way or the other. They are the only Wilson mags Ive owned (I have 5), and for the most part, they seem to work OK.I somewhat regret sticking my nose back into this thread, but for those that are new to the 1911 or are looking for information to help improve their experience with the gun, the 47D is probably the worst mag in the Wilson line-up.
Now available, the Vickers ETM, though I suspect you won't care for the price https://shopwilsoncombat.com/1911-E...e-8-Round-Aluminum-Base-Pad/productinfo/800A/My biggest beef with them, besides the price, was/is, the long open slots they use for witness holes. I used to have to constantly dump and clean my spare mags that were in carriers, pretty much each week, because they would fill up with dust bunnies and various other crap from daily life, and I was always worried it would be an issue at the worst possible moment. Those big slots let a lot of stuff in.
McCormick recommends ball ammo as does Ed Brown and probably most other 1911 makers/suppliers. It's the most reliable round for the gun. You can probably shoot unjacketed, lead, semi-wadcutters though your Glock, but Glock isn't going to recommend it.The other weird thing was, at the time I bought them, they were new, and supposed to be the best thing since sliced light bread for the 1911 world, yet, when I got them, there was a label on the package of all the mags, that read something to the effect, "for use with hardball only". That was never mentioned anywhere in their literature or ads, and the first I saw it, was when I got the order.
I guess I wasnt the only one bitching about the slots.Now available, the Vickers ETM, though I suspect you won't care for the price https://shopwilsoncombat.com/1911-E...e-8-Round-Aluminum-Base-Pad/productinfo/800A/
McCormick recommends ball ammo as does Ed Brown and probably most other 1911 makers/suppliers. It's the most reliable round for the gun. You can probably shoot unjacketed, lead, semi-wadcutters though your Glock, but Glock isn't going to recommend it.
If you're using $5 GI mags, no wonder you've had so many problems with your 1911s over the years.At $50 a pop, I think Ill pass. Ill bet they dont work any better than my $5 GI mags either.
Those $5 mags are the only ones that have worked the most reliably in all my guns over the years. Still have a number of them, and use them every time I shoot. If I were in the market, they would be the ones Id look for, but they were gone back in the late 90's. Doubt Id find any or a deal like that today.If you're using $5 GI mags, no wonder you've had so many problems with your 1911s over the years.
As an aside, I've been using almost exclusively Wilson 47Ds (with a few ETMs sprinkled in) with ten different 1911s for the past several years and have zero complaints. But apparently, given my awesome luck over the years with 1911s, I am an anomaly, so I'm sure all the nay-sayers will take my comments with a grain of salt.
What is that one at about 10 o'clock, with the light? I like the looks of that one.
What is that one at about 10 o'clock, with the light? I like the looks of that one
Will a Baer n XDm work lolBoth is the obvious answer..
Those $5 mags are the only ones that have worked the most reliably in all my guns over the years. Still have a number of them, and use them every time I shoot. If I were in the market, they would be the ones Id look for, but they were gone back in the late 90's. Doubt Id find any or a deal like that today.
I usually load my mags before I go so I dont have to do it at the range, and with the 1911's, I load all that I have up. Its a mishmash of things, but they all seem to work OK for the most part.
Of all that I use, the only one thats been giving me any trouble of late, is one of the factory Colt 8 rounders I have. Seems to feed OK, just doesnt always lock on empty.
For a while there back in the later 90's, there were a few batches of "contract mags" that were either counterfeit or just reject surplus, maybe both, that were junk. I had some of those as well, and they didnt work very well.Not being argumentative here, just sharing my experience of shooting many different 1911s for 35 years.
I have found the opposite to be true with mags.
I avoid those $5, now $10-$15 GI mags like the plaque.
My first 1911 was a Gold Cup and I didn’t fully comprehend the importance of mags and bought a lot of GI mags here and there. I habitually had issues of feeding, lack of slide lock and such. The final straw was when a weld broke while I was shooting and the mag dumped the Ammo, spring, and base plate on the range floor. I immediately trashed every GI mag right there.
Ever since then I only used OEM Colt, Shooting Star, Wilson, Kimber, Cobra/Tripp, and SA mags- most of them 8 rounders. I’ve rarely had issues, even with extreme use in competitions.
Maybe your GI mags were made by an employee who took pride in his work and had great materials on hand, but I will never trust another one.
Another point for those new to the 1911, or for those that simply weren't aware, Colt hasn't made magazines since probably the 1970's.The mag on the left is a factory Colt mag.
Got the three on the right, and a few others like them off eBay back in the late 90's. They were being sold as "Colt" mags.
I haven't owned a 1911 since 2009...but I owned it for years and shot many rounds through it. Functionality was never an issue. My father had many different 1911's throughout my childhood and he experienced varying results.
I might have to dawn my flame suit for this next part...we'll see.
I think it has to do with tolerances. I've found the same with AR's where guys will have one so tight, that they don't function properly or are super ammo picky. My actual Army issue AR was so loose, you could have fed your DD214 between the upper and lower, it never caused me any issues and god only knows how many rounds had gone down the barrel of that thing.
Older 1911's aren't bank vault tight...and most will cycle quality ammo just fine, just like mine did. Get a boutique 1911, one that is fit tight like a Swiss watch, and you may find it is rather picky with ammo.
Another point for those new to the 1911, or for those that simply weren't aware, Colt hasn't made magazines since probably the 1970's.
Your Colt mag was made by Metalform, note the "M" on the baseplate. Also note your Colt mag is a 7 rounder using a GI follower, while the other three are 8 rounders and use the Devel follower.
Currently, Colt sources their mags from CheckMate, but that could change at any time. CheckMate makes some fine mags, but they have a nearly endless list of options, and some work better than others. The point being, ordering a Colt magazine, even if it is from Colt, or Brownell's, or MidwayUSA, or any other trusted retailer is no guarantee of what will show up at your door, whether it is actual manufacturer, feed lips, follower, spring, and in some cases capacity.
I have four two kimbers one colt. one rem r11 hunter, I love all four no troubleI mentioned to a friend of mine, who is a pistol and CC instructor, that I was interested in getting myself a 1911. He proceeded to tell me how finicky they are and how most need some work in order to be reliable with hollow-point ammo.
Are 1911's generally that persnickety?
I think I got the rattler after you surveyed it.I have had and used various 1911`s for 50 years.
The best is my current Rock Island and ATI full size and officer models.
Like others said use good mags. For me, chip McCormack and Kimber mags work the best.
The worst one I had was issued to me in 67, an old rattling, Colt, never worked and I got it replaced most rickey tick!