bainter1212
Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2012
- Messages
- 1,175
Hey all,
Just wanted to get on here and post about a great experience I had today.
To start.....
A couple of weeks back, I got bored and searched around online for mags for my old Colt 1903. I have one original mag for it, and have seen those mags sell for $100 - $125 apiece. I am aware of Triple K replacement mags but their reputation is SPOTTY at best and I didn't want to take the risk at $50/pop.
I was hoping for the "lucky break" - some fool selling them for way too cheap.
I didn't find that but I found these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Colt-OEM-Ma...653247?hash=item1c638399bf:g:kYQAAOSwuAVWzh0z
I was confused at first. It says they are OEM but after some Googling, I could find no source of brand new OEM Colt mags. I messaged the seller and got this response:
"Colt has NOT made a magazine in the Colt plant since the 1960s. They have ALL been mfdg by OEMs (sub-contractors). The best example is the current Model M pistol that is mfgd by US Armament(I think). If you would check, you would find these magazines in those pistols. The TuTone and Parkerized (available soon) are IAC changes to the magazines. I can assure to you that the magazines that I am selling equal or exceed the Colt factory specifications. Those specifications include: material, heat treatment, finish, springs, and followers. I will be adding bright Nickel magazines within the next month or so. Thanks for your inquiry."- Alan
My best inference from that response was that this company either manufactures, or has manufactured for them, these mags to the original specs as laid out by Colt.
So I took the plunge and ordered two....came out to $50 apiece after shipping.
The mags came in neat little individual bags with this card inside:
Here are some comparison shots to my original mag. FWIW, my pistol is an early type 1 made in 1905. The original mag is on the left and the new on the right.
Some noted differences between original and new:
1) the baseplate lettering is obviously oriented differently. Not something I give two thoughts about personally.....but something to remark upon nevertheless.
2) The baseplate crimp is much shallower on the new than the old. Again, not something that strikes me as odd since the original mag crimp looks way overdone anyway.
3) The follower/spring: The follower on my original mag has no spring support beneath the front of the follower, allowing the front of the follower to dive downwards under pressure. This doesn't seem to affect function. The new mags? The spring is extended to support the entire follower and as a result the new mag follower will NOT dive when pressure is applied on the front. This appears to be a huge improvement although again - the original mag is still fully reliable.
4) Feed lips: The feed lips are slightly longer on the new mags, looks like that will put more surface area on the cartridge and prevent bending over the long term. Another plus.
5) Overall appearance/fit-and-finish: New mags appear to be properly blued short of the feed lips as per Colt spec. The new mags have the tiniest bit of play when inserted into my pistol, whereas the old mag has no play at all. A function test will determine if this matters at all. Otherwise, dimensionally they appear identical.
NOW........the long awaited function test!!!!!!
I put 100 rds through both new mags today and they functioned flawlessly.....absolutely perfect, no problems whatsoever. I was very very pleased about that. Now, I can retire that original mag and whenever I want to shoot, I will just use these replacement mags with no worries.
Just FYI I am in no way affiliated with the seller, just wanted to communicate this to my fellow collectors. Most 1903s were meant to be shot (well, maybe not that unfired, mint one with receipt and hang tag on Gunboards the other day) and they are SUCH a pleasure to shoot too.
The above target was at 7 yards, double taps with the crappy 1903 sights, better than I can do with my modern pistols. The recoil is so smooth and the trigger is 1911 good.
So.......buy with confidence. looks like the seller has a parkerized version available and will have a bright nickel version out too.
Just wanted to get on here and post about a great experience I had today.
To start.....
A couple of weeks back, I got bored and searched around online for mags for my old Colt 1903. I have one original mag for it, and have seen those mags sell for $100 - $125 apiece. I am aware of Triple K replacement mags but their reputation is SPOTTY at best and I didn't want to take the risk at $50/pop.
I was hoping for the "lucky break" - some fool selling them for way too cheap.
I didn't find that but I found these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Colt-OEM-Ma...653247?hash=item1c638399bf:g:kYQAAOSwuAVWzh0z
I was confused at first. It says they are OEM but after some Googling, I could find no source of brand new OEM Colt mags. I messaged the seller and got this response:
"Colt has NOT made a magazine in the Colt plant since the 1960s. They have ALL been mfdg by OEMs (sub-contractors). The best example is the current Model M pistol that is mfgd by US Armament(I think). If you would check, you would find these magazines in those pistols. The TuTone and Parkerized (available soon) are IAC changes to the magazines. I can assure to you that the magazines that I am selling equal or exceed the Colt factory specifications. Those specifications include: material, heat treatment, finish, springs, and followers. I will be adding bright Nickel magazines within the next month or so. Thanks for your inquiry."- Alan
My best inference from that response was that this company either manufactures, or has manufactured for them, these mags to the original specs as laid out by Colt.
So I took the plunge and ordered two....came out to $50 apiece after shipping.
The mags came in neat little individual bags with this card inside:
Here are some comparison shots to my original mag. FWIW, my pistol is an early type 1 made in 1905. The original mag is on the left and the new on the right.
Some noted differences between original and new:
1) the baseplate lettering is obviously oriented differently. Not something I give two thoughts about personally.....but something to remark upon nevertheless.
2) The baseplate crimp is much shallower on the new than the old. Again, not something that strikes me as odd since the original mag crimp looks way overdone anyway.
3) The follower/spring: The follower on my original mag has no spring support beneath the front of the follower, allowing the front of the follower to dive downwards under pressure. This doesn't seem to affect function. The new mags? The spring is extended to support the entire follower and as a result the new mag follower will NOT dive when pressure is applied on the front. This appears to be a huge improvement although again - the original mag is still fully reliable.
4) Feed lips: The feed lips are slightly longer on the new mags, looks like that will put more surface area on the cartridge and prevent bending over the long term. Another plus.
5) Overall appearance/fit-and-finish: New mags appear to be properly blued short of the feed lips as per Colt spec. The new mags have the tiniest bit of play when inserted into my pistol, whereas the old mag has no play at all. A function test will determine if this matters at all. Otherwise, dimensionally they appear identical.
NOW........the long awaited function test!!!!!!
I put 100 rds through both new mags today and they functioned flawlessly.....absolutely perfect, no problems whatsoever. I was very very pleased about that. Now, I can retire that original mag and whenever I want to shoot, I will just use these replacement mags with no worries.
Just FYI I am in no way affiliated with the seller, just wanted to communicate this to my fellow collectors. Most 1903s were meant to be shot (well, maybe not that unfired, mint one with receipt and hang tag on Gunboards the other day) and they are SUCH a pleasure to shoot too.
The above target was at 7 yards, double taps with the crappy 1903 sights, better than I can do with my modern pistols. The recoil is so smooth and the trigger is 1911 good.
So.......buy with confidence. looks like the seller has a parkerized version available and will have a bright nickel version out too.
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