convert Colt 1911 7 bullet mag to 8 bullet?

[helz_mcfugly]

I have the stainless "Colt" .45 brand magazine that came with my stainless colt 1991 commander and it holds 7 bullets. I bought a blued mag that holds 8. I took the followers out of both of them. can I alter the one in my 7 shot, machine of that long tab on the bottom of the follower, to make it an 8 shot? there is a slight difference in the look of the followers. Has anyone ever altered a follower to hold more bullets and it still function propperly? Im about to do it. If it works or not Ill post the results. I would buy one but I cant find a "Colt" brand stainless in 8 round without the plastic extender on the bottom which I really dont like. So if I screw it up Ill just buy another 7 round.

 

[dmazur]

I think you'll find that that long tab is what keeps the follower from doing a "nose dive" when it's trying to lift the slide release after the last round.

Chip McCormick has a (patented?) design for his V-shaped follower that permits loading 8 rds in a conventional 7 rd magazine. He sells a conversion kit for $15, which is a little cheaper than the entire CMC magazine. Also, it lets you have a magazine that says "Colt" on the bottom.

I don't like the design, but a lot of shooters think they are great.

Here's a link to Chip McCormick -

1911 .45ACP magazine conversion kit

 

[MICHAEL T]

Leave it along I have yet to have a relieable 8 round mag . I can't really see the need for 1 more round.

 

[mljdeckard]

I carry with a Kimber branded 8 rounder, and I've never had a problem, but I'm about to switch to some CMs.

Is it REALLY so bad to just BUY one?

 

[GrandmasterB]

I've tried the conversion kits and various shortened follower designs. They might work for some, but I have abandoned them all for high quality 8 round Power Mags from Chip McCormick.

 

[Ken Rainey]

Don't do it....look, if you are dead set on having another 8 rd mag and don't want the 7 rd Colt mag anymore and it's still in "like new" condition, just send it to me and I'll send you a new Wilson Combat 8 rd mag still in the wrapper....at the very least, let me send you an 8 rd follower and you send me the 7rd one....

 

[rcmodel]

John Browning designed the 7-round mag that way for a reason.

The most important reason being, that it is impossible to over-compress the spring and weaken it.

Even if left fully loaded for a lifetime.

Cut the follower to hold an unneeded extra round, and all bets are off.

rcmodel

 

[helz_mcfugly]

thats the answer I was looking for. I didnt cut mine yet, and wont now, I have a black 8 round but it has no name what so ever on it. It seems to work well thus far. I keep it in my car as an extra.