Checkmate Magazines

[The Dutchman]

Hey guys I'm thinking about buying some checkmate magazines for my Springfield Gi. Since all I shoot is hardball in it I'm looking at the fully tapered feed lip design since that was how the great JMB intended. Anyone have any experience with these or think these are a good buy? Thanks fir your time fellas.

Sean

 

[David E]

These folks won the low bid to make the Beretta M-9 magazines for the military. They have caused many jamming problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Original factory Beretta mags seem to be working fine under the same conditions.

Maybe they are fine for single stack in non-dusty areas.......but I won't buy them.

 

[HisSoldier]

Checkmate hybrid magazines with the dimpled follower are in the opinion of some, myself included, the top choice for 1911's. My problems went away after I bought Checkmate mags.

 

[rbernie]

These folks won the low bid to make the Beretta M-9 magazines for the military. They have caused many jamming problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Original factory Beretta mags seem to be working fine under the same conditions.

The issue with the Checkmate M9 mags is well documented, and it was the mil-spec phosphate finish that caused the issues - not the mags themselves. The finish would simply hold fine grit in the mag body and cause sluggish followers. Checkmate got the spec changed to let them use a dry-film finish (a la the AR/M16 magazines) and all is again well. Castigating the manufacturer for making an in-spec product, when the spec happens to have issues, is simply not fair.

The Checkmate 'original JMB' design magazines are superb. I tend to use the Colt hybrid magazines, simply because they're easy to find and easy to afford, but the Checkmate version is top notch stuff.

 

[David E]

The blame was cast upon the low bid maker's magazine, as the factory Beretta phosphate mags seemed to work in the same conditions.

I am glad they fixed the problem.

And I'm glad to hear they make a dandy 1911 mag.

 

[Walkalong]

Yes, excellent 1911 mags.

 

[Oro]

Checkmate and Metalform are Colt's two OEM suppliers and make almost all their magazines. They have done so for several decades. They make some of the best magazines available for the 1911. rbernie has clearly explained why the M9 comparison is a very faulty one to make concerning Checkmate magazines. Whether you get the long tapered GI type or the more modern Colt "Hybrid" type; either will work for your gun. I have never had a Colt/Checkmate/Metalform (or SA for that matter) magazine in good shape fail to properly feed ball into an properly built gun.

SA's factory magazines are Metalform, and also usually quite good. They often offer them to owners at very competitive prices (read: crazy cheap). You might call SA and see what they want for some SA mags, too. Another cost-effective option is that Metalfrom has their "five hole" magazines on a 1/2 price sale. Last item listed of their .45 magazines, last page of the (I think 4) they have of them. Click on "quantity discount."

 

[stevemis]

Glad to see they make something other than those horrible M9/92 mags. I bought one at a gun show and ... yeesh.

 

[Jim Watson]

There was a thread about them on m1911.org.
Apparently the Checkmate hybrid lip with pimpled follower is the thing to have.
Unless you get some with undersize pimples in which case you have to enlarge the pimple by hitting it with a punch from underneath to keep the last round from losing its way. Sounds frightfully sensitive to me. My smooth round Metalform follower does ok with no pimple in sight.

 

[Rinspeed]

I have three or four and they are top notch 1911 mags.