Chip McCormick Power Mags.

Status
Not open for further replies.
stchman

stchman

Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2009
Messages
2,617
Location
Saint Louis, MO
I can get some Chip McCormick Power mags (8 round) 3 for $75. Is that a good deal? I understand they are decent reliable mags.

I don't want to hear about how I should use Wilson Combat or KimPro Tac mags. I am just looking for reliable 1911 mags.

Thanks.
 
Depends on your 1911 and finding reliable ones that work for yours. My SA-GI and Sig 1911 work well with Shooting Star, Wilson 47, Sig 1911 and even some gun show 7 rounders that were 4 for $20. I've been pleased with the Shooting Star and have more of those. The quality of the Sig 1911 is pretty nice and they are $20 per. YMMV.

I've come across some who are on a treadmill finding consistent mags for their set-up. Some work and others don't. :(
 
RA40 said:
Depends on your 1911 and finding reliable ones that work for yours. My SA-GI and Sig 1911 work well with Shooting Star, Wilson 47, Sig 1911 and even some gun show 7 rounders that were 4 for $20. I've been pleased with the Shooting Star and have more of those. The quality of the Sig 1911 is pretty nice and they are $20 per. YMMV.

I've come across some who are on a treadmill finding consistent mags for their set-up. Some work and others don't. :(
Click to expand...
I bought a TISAS 1911 and it is apparently picky about mags. Many owners have reported that Chip McCormick mags work well in their pistols.
 
I'd not buy a bunch of any mag, even a highly rated one, without trying one sample to make sure they work with your gun. If they work, buy more.

Of course, McCormick mags are good, and pretty popular, so if they don't work with your gun you could sell them fairly easily. I suspect the loss in sale price would probably even out an extra shipping cost, so probably a wash.
 
The Powermags work great in my Les Baer P2 and Springfield TRP Operator. Springs are stout, and the metal followers are robust and engage the slide stop reliably. I also like how they are actually a longer tube, whereas the Shooting Stars just cram an extra round into the original Colt sized format.

I never had good luck with Wilsons. The follower always wound up getting chewed up in the slide stop engagement area. Never was that impressed with the springs either. Nowadays, I refuse to pay more for a mag that doesn't work for me as well as it does for the rest of the internet.

Tripps mags are interesting and my one sample seems to work well, but the metal+polymer follower is not as inspiring to me as the Chip's are.
 
1911 magazines are quite an interesting discussion with their feed lip designs. Factoring in followers and springs there are many possibilities. That doesn't even touch the feed ramp and extractor influences that may also contribute to function. I'm happy that among the magazines I have that they feed and function without drama.

When you find magazines that function well, buy more. :)
 
I've got a few shooting star mags and they've been great. No experience with the power mags.
Not sure of the difference to be honest.
Can anybody elaborate for me?
 
Good mags as far as I can tell. Decent price. I really like metalform. Wilson has yet to fail me either, but internet ninjas seem to hate them. If they work, use them!
 
Yep. Buy them. If they don't work you can sell them for almost that if not all of it. They work in my 1911 but so do checkmate mags!
 
I use the McCormick Shooting Star mags and think they are extremely reliable as are the Power mags. Midway USA has the Power Mags for $21.99 but 3/75 is fair.
 
gotboostvr wrote,
I've got a few shooting star mags and they've been great. No experience with the power mags.
Not sure of the difference to be honest.
Can anybody elaborate for me?
Click to expand...
boricua9mm wrote,
I also like how they are actually a longer tube, whereas the Shooting Stars just cram an extra round into the original Colt sized format.
Click to expand...
PowerMags also have a removable baseplate/pad (welded plates like the Shooting Stars have been known to break), and a strong spring.

In the McCormick line-up, the PowerMag is their top of the line mag (don't be fooled by the PowerMag +, it is just an advantage for aluminum framed guns), the Match Grade is the mid level, and Shooting Stars are the economy version.
 
I would make sure they run in the gun. I've struggled with reliable magazines from many manufacturers before settling on Tripp. CMC included.
 
I might have to check out the powermag ones. I have 3 wilson combats that have never given me trouble, but I would like to get a few more magazines just to have them.

25 bucks per mag seems good, I mean thats about the going rate for any decent pistol magazine I would think.

Are the power mags noticeably better than others? I have never used them.
 
Are the power mags noticeably better than others? I have never used them.
Click to expand...
The PowerMag is a very good mag.

I think they are a little better than Wilson 47D's (I prefer the 7 round 47 to the 47D and PowerMag) as they have a stronger spring and the Devel follower more easily allows the 8th round in a mag tube of that length. However, they have an "old school" tube length. The newer 8 rounders, such as Wilson ETM and Tripp CobraMags have a longer tube that allow an easier fit for 8 rounds and they are probably a better mag, though they typically cost about $10+ more than the PowerMags.
 
I'm reading this thinking...."well then why do my CMC suck in the 4 1911s that I own?" Just checked them. They are the Match Grade, not PowerMags.
 
I'm reading this thinking...."well then why do my CMC suck in the 4 1911s that I own?" Just checked them. They are the Match Grade, not PowerMags.
Click to expand...
While I believe the PowerMag is the better mag in the CMC line-up, I still wouldn't go out an buy a dozen PowerMags. I may buy one to see if you have better luck with than your Match Grade mags.

If you use and like Tripp mags, I don't see much of a reason to switch to PowerMags other than a cost savings. However, I do believe the Devel follower is probably a better choice for a very sandy environments where you're dropping mags a lot, and I say that as a guy partial to Wilson 47 mags. I understand the potential problems of the greater surface area contacting inside the tube when grit gets involved.
 
CMC Power Mags are a fine choice. I've had good luck with them in a number of 1911's (SA, Les Baer, Wilson, Colt) and would recommend that anyone try ONE in their particular gun. One thing to be aware of is that the follower on them doesn't have any support at the front and if it tips forward, the mag may not drop free of the gun and require that you pull it out. I've encountered this a time or two, no big deal, but just something to be conscious of. If the mag doesn't drop free, this may be the cause.
 
I've found the CM Power Mags for as low as $18 online before.

They work flawlessly in my Colt Government XSE.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
CMC Power Mags vs Wilson 47D Mags
Replies
14
Views
2K
HadEmAll
H
N
  • Locked
Chip mccormick power plus 1911 10 round mag
Replies
13
Views
2K
NoAlibi
N
A
  • Locked
1911 mag questions.... Wilson vs McCormick vs....
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
WhoKnowsWho
W
T
  • Locked
Chip McCormick "Shooting Star" Magazines
Replies
10
Views
3K
wally
wally
C
  • Locked
New SA 1911, what mags do I get?
Replies
9
Views
520
Cdigman
C
Back
Top