How well do USGI 1911 mags feed hollowpoints?

[Jammer Six]

I got another question, I thought all 1911 mags were drop free?? It sounds like some people are ripping mags out? Huh???

The mag won't drop free if you have a failure to extract, resulting in a double feed.

It's the only time I've had to rip a mag out.

 

[WonderNine]

Did some quick searching over on 1911 forums about the manufacter code 30745 that aspitactical.com is selling....not so good from the two threads I read...

It sounds like they are out of spec rejects as well. I think I'll be buying the ones from Midway especially if they were made by Colt or more likely High Standard which is ok with me too.


http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=45335&highlight=30745

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=60336&highlight=30745

 

[DMK]

I've purchased about twenty something of those 30745s that Aspi Tactical is selling. I only use them as range mags to save wear on my Chip McCormicks and Mec-Gars, but only two have failed me (and when I say failed, I mean FTF, never had a structural failure). Both of those failed under 50 or so rounds and for the $4 price I'm not complaining. I just painted them red for snap cap use only.


BTW: these are made by the MASON-RUST CO starting November 1974.

 

[WonderNine]

Thanks for the info.

But I'm thinking since the other ones are almost the same price, no reason to get the 30745's...

I do understand they have the newer style feedlips from what I just read though, not that that makes a difference really.

 

[DMK]

I do understand they have the newer style feedlips from what I just read though

They do, but I still would never trust my life on them. Not when Chip McCormicks and Mec-Gars can be had for around $10 each.

Have you looked at www.cdnninvestments.com? They have Mec-Gars, Colt and Springfield factory mags for decent prices.

 

[MaterDei]

To date my Kimber has reliably feed any round with any mag. Sorry, but I just think that until your weapon proves otherwise it would be foolish to spend big bucks on a 'better' mag.

MaterDei

 

[WonderNine]

I saw they're marked 1987 on the paper wrapper from the pic. Were your wrappers marked that way too? Pretty new for surplus.

 

[WonderNine]

To date my Kimber has reliably feed any round with any mag. Sorry, but I just think that until your weapon proves otherwise it would be foolish to spend big bucks on a 'better' mag.

I agree, but I'm sort of anti-Kimber because I don't like beavertails or MIM'd parts. I'm looking more at older Colts, Sistemas, and the Rock River Arms Hardball model. I don't think 10 mags for $44.95 as opposed to 10 for $40.00 is big bucks. I'm just interested in the best bang for the buck.

I plan on probably buying 20 from Midway mostly as range mags and then maybe a few 8 round CM Powermags.

Anyone know anything about those super expensive "Kobra" mags or whatever they are? Like $45 a pop???

 

[DMK]

I saw they're marked 1987 on the paper wrapper from the pic. Were your wrappers marked that way too? Pretty new for surplus.

I'm sorry, I never looked. I just bought them as range mags so I didn't really care. Either they'd work, or not. They are brand new though with shiny bluing.

Sounds like you have a good plan. I use the cheaper Shooting Stars with great success, so I'm sure the better Powermags will work fine for you. Just make sure to reliability test them with a couple hundred rounds. Although, most of us shoot that much in an afternoon without even thinking about it.

 

[BigG]

Here's three different mags that work pretty well, in fact, perfect.

 

[DMK]

What are those BigG?

 

[BigG]

Here's the same three in the same order showing the base plates.

From left to right: GI, Jay Scott, Colt. Only the Colt has the new spread feed lips. The other two have the classic tapered lips. Excuse my poor photography!

 

[WonderNine]

Thanks for the pictures BigG.

Now that I think about it, I like all of my mags to be the same capacity. Are their any deals out there on surplus or cheaper 8 round mags? They all seem to be $20 a pop or so even if they're just standard Colt mags, not that Colt mags are bad, but I was hoping for better prices on reasonable quality 8 rounders. I change my mind so much I'm sure I'm driving your guys nuts.

 

[DMK]

Are their any deals out there on surplus or cheaper 8 round mags?

$8 Mec-Gars at CDNN (see link above)

Man BigG, those Jay Scott mags really do have wide feed lips. It looks like the round is only held in at the base.

 

[WonderNine]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I use the cheaper Shooting Stars with great success, so I'm sure the better Powermags will work fine for you. Just make sure to reliability test them with a couple hundred rounds.

Thanks, I've been mulling over this 1911 thing for quite awhile now so I've had alot of time to do research into it rather than just jump in. Usually, that's the way things work out best though.

 

[WonderNine]

$8 Mec-Gars at CDNN (see link above)

Thanks DMK. What has been your experience with the Mec-Gars? I know they made excellent and in fact the best prebans IME for wondernines like Sigs, Berettas, and Brownings, but some have expressed that their 1911 mags leave a little to be desired.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, guys,

Also avoid those mags marked with the CAGE code of 30745 (the ones on that web site). They were rejected by the government as not within specs and were then dumped on the civilian market as "genuine GI" mags. The same outfit seems to be the maker of a lot of the mags marked "COLT/.45 AUTO" on the floorplate. Look at the size and position of the holes for the tip-off. They also have a very heavy spring, much heavier than necessary and a real problem if a magazine must be reloaded in a hurry.

I agree on the mags marked 1M291; they are pretty good.

GI WWII mags were either unmarked or marked with a small letter on the front mag lip. They are all I use.

As for hollow point feeding, it depends as much on the ammo as it does on the magazine. If the overall length is too short (as some HP ammo is), or the bullet profile is radically different from that of GI ball, then GI mags will not work or will not work well. But I have put quite a bit of Remington Golden Sabre through my guns using GI mags, with no problem.

Jim

 

[Jammer Six]

I agree, but I'm sort of anti-Kimber because I don't like beavertails or MIM'd parts.

Stupid question time.

What does "MIM" mean?

 

[1911Tuner]

MIM

Metal Injection Molded...Fast, cheap way to turn out small parts with
little or no finish machining required.

Some say it's good stuff. I call it MayPop Steel. It's okay for a
range queen or a beater that'll never be carried for a serious
purpose, but I just flat-out don't trust it...not yet anyway. 20
years down the road, after they get the bugs worked out, maybe...
I guess I'm just old-fashioned.

Cheers!
Tuner

 

[DMK]

What does "MIM" mean?

Metal Injection Molding. Basically cast parts instead of machined parts.

Wondernine, Mec-Gar makes probably the best mags for CZs and they make the factory Kel-tec mags. I only own 7 round Mec-Gars for the 1911 though. However, they are completely reliable, have a nice finish and stout followers.

 

[AK103K]

Avoid the ones marked:

19200
ASSY 5508694
MFR. 8R611

They are junk, and I suspect are bogus contract mags. The worse
genuine contract magazines I've seen are better than these.

I have a bunch of these very mags, and some others with different numbers, and have had no trouble with any of them. Of all the mags I've tried, the GI mags are the only ones that work in all my 1911's. Even the Wilsons I have wont do that. In fact, the label on the bag the Wilsons came in had a "hardball only for best results" on them. At $35 dollars a pop, I could have bought almost 7 GI mags as I only paid $5.50 for them in bulk. Another annoying thing about the Wilsons are those damn slots in the body. You might as well just stuff the lint in them and be done with it. The GI mags I have have had no trouble feeding Federal hollow points and hydra shoxs.

 

[sm]

Somebody has to ask...
On the USGI mags you guys are getting go they have the dimple on the follower?
[ go ahead 1911 Tuner and grin]
My "old Colt" ones did...going back a few years tho'.

First off all my guns run, regardlessof mag or ammo.

Now my 6-10 yr old Wilson 47 and 47D are beefier than the ones I recently saw and used. Maybe I got lucky, and I don't recal the spec's , but my springs are a bit larger dia, follower/mag tube different.

My kimber mags "sure" appear to be CMC, especially with ones the pat. no., and these also "sure " remind me of the old colts, even tho no dimple, marked with small "s" , welded bottom.

I have used a bunch of different ones, Metalform, Mec-Gar, Wolff...but I never had a problem with feeding JHPs.

My first personal owned centerfire was a '73 Combat commander, all steel of course and I used "flying ashtrays", all I did was use factory colt mags or some USGI mags, load her up and shoot. Nary a hiccup.

I must be lucky with 1911 styles and mags. I'd just as son have the USGI and replace when need with Wolff springs...but finding a dimpled follower is gonna be hard, nobody seems to list it...and darn can't tell from pics.

 

[WonderNine]

Metal Injection Molding. Basically cast parts instead of machined parts.

No, cast parts are not the same. MIM parts are poured into a cast along with polymer and pressure/heat molded into parts. MIM parts are part plastic. Cast parts are all steel.

Colt recently stopped using MIM extractors because of all the problems they've been having, but they still use MIM sears, mag catches, and a couple other parts. If I got a new Colt I'd want to replace at least the sear and mag catch.

 

[BluesBear]

I just received some new 8rd Mec-Gars from CDNN this week to go with the 3 I already had. They work 100% in both of my Colts.

Less than $8 each.

Ordered online Monday around 11pm PST and got them in Wednesday's mail.

I really like the little PPKish pinky extension on the floorplate. It also makes the body of the mag just a smidgen longer so I think it's one of the more reliable 8 rounders out there.

 

[BluesBear]

Rob,

The mags you got from Midway are contract mags made for High Standard.
High Standard makes a very good Mil Spec 1911. It's just a well kept secret.