Magazine availability for 1911...

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... chambered in 9mm.
Haven't bought a new gun in awhile (only one gun this year), and I've really been looking at getting a 1911.

Here is my conundrum, I don't have any .45, haven't had a .45 for years, have lots of factory 9mm, and set up to cast and load for 9mm.

I'm not opposed to building up a pile of .45 ammo and getting set up to cast and load for it, but it'll take quite some time to get there.

So I've been kicking around the idea of a 9mm 1911. Before anyone suggests it, I don't want a High Power. I also don't wants o debate the merits of 9mm v .45.

I've weighed the pros and cons of each caliber.
.45 pros
The gun was designed for the .45 ACP round.
Mags are plentiful and cheap.
Most accessories and aftermarket support are geared toward the .45.

.45 cons
Starting from scratch on ammo and reloading.

9mm pros
Have plenty in stock, with plenty more potentially available.

9mm cons
Unsure about magazines and aftermarket support.

Either way, I will likely be purchasing one of the 1911 tactical models from RIA.
 
While 9mm 1911 mags are not as readily available as 45 1911 mags they are out there, made by Wilson and Metalform and others. All the major vendors sell them.

I have 2 1911s in 9mm, a STI Spartan IV and a RIA GI Full Sized. Both are great fun shooters. I actually prefer them to my BHP.
 
Saw some 9mm 1911 mags by Wilson, selling for $39.95 each. I tend to see .45 mags for much, much less.

9mm mags for my Taurus and Smith and Wesson run in the $30 + range, crazy expensive. I've seen .45 1911 mags for $8.
 
I've seen .45 1911 mags for $8.
Click to expand...
Nobody's buying $8 .45Auto 1911 mags and counting on them. They may be available, and somebody may buy them, but they don't often work.

Wilsons ETM's cost about the same in 9MM as they do in .45.

For reference, H&K mags often cost over $50, SIG mags are often over $40.

Here is an endurance test you may find worthwhile http://pistol-training.com/archives/6982
 
I have the RIA and the Taurus 9mm 1911. I got a few of the Kimber mags - I think they are made by mec gar or metaform for Kimber, inexpensive at 20 bucks and work flawlessly.
 
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Metalform mags are what I use. Personally, I love the 1911 in 9mm. Not for a defensive gun, but for a range gun. They are smooth and sweet shooting.
 
I shoot a good deal of 9mm in 1911oids and have several flavors of magazine.

If nine nines is enough...
The original 1950 rear spacer type from Colt or Metalform works. Don't know about Mecgars for 1911s, but they are fine in other guns.

The Springfield Front Ramp from Metalform might be a bit better.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/83...front-ramp-configuration?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I have had good shooting with 9mms in the Metalform .38 Super magazine with their round follower.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/29...und-follower-welded-base?cm_vc=ProductFinding



If you want ten round capacity, I much prefer Tripp Cobramags. They are more expensive, but they Just Work. At least in the four guns I know of here.
http://www.trippresearch.com/store/store_1911.html

Ten round Metalforms and Wilson ETMs are less effective in MY guns. I can make use of the ones I have but I will not buy more.
 
I have some original WWII mags made by the Sunbeam Shaver Company for the Remington Rand pistols and would like to know if any springs from current mags would work in them?
 
I am concerned about rust that is on the existing springs. The mags have been stored for a very long time and rusting has happened. There seems to be no pitting on the outside of the mag or the inside but the springs are causing me some concern.
 
I use metalforms, a mix of the ones with rear spacers and "Springfield" mags. As far as function, I can't tell them apart. I have a couple of .38 super magazines bought by mistake, never had an issue with them either.

I think metalform supplies Colt with their .38 super mags. I dont see a difference comparing OEM Colt magazines to my Metalforms, other than the brand stamped into the floorplate.

My STI Spartan didnt come with a magazine... STI sent a Metalform "springfield" magazine.

I prefer flush fitting magazines, so I haven't tried Wilson ETMs or Cobramags.

The metalforms work flawlessly, so I havent tired any different brands.

9mm 1911s arent common, so you probably won't find mags in stock in a gunstore. But 9mm 1911s aren't uncommon, so mags are readily available online.
 
I have a couple of 9mm 1911s and haven't had any trouble finding quality mags at prices in line with quality .45acp mags.
 
I have some original WWII mags made by the Sunbeam Shaver Company for the Remington Rand pistols and would like to know if any springs from current mags would work in them?
Click to expand...

General Shaver Division of Remington Rand made over a million of those, and they're very good magazines.

Order the Wolff 11-pound/7-round spring. Not the 5% Extra Power spring. That one is a McCormick Powermag spring, and it won't work with the standard follower, so be sure to get the right one. The 11-pound spring is the best in the industry for 7-round magazines with standard followers.
 
Here's a page full of 9mm mags for the 1911...

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=9mm+1911+magazines

The internet is a useful tool, if you enter a term like "9mm magazines for the 1911" or ya go to Midway or Brownell's and hit that a number of things turn up.

That is if your looking for a part or mags. If looking for opinions then ya can come here and have folks do the work for ya.

tipoc
 
I got my checkmate mags relatively cheap. I think they were $25 from Brownell's. They work awesome.

Metalform's won't feed hollow points in my gun. I've heard great things about Wilson mags, but haven't taken the $40/each dive, yet.
 
smalls said:
I got my checkmate mags relatively cheap. I think they were $25 from Brownell's. They work awesome.
Click to expand...

Checkmate 9mm masgs are indeed a "Best Buy" believe it or not.
Well made and reliable.

Metalform's won't feed hollow points in my gun. I've heard great things about Wilson mags, but haven't taken the $40/each dive, yet.
Click to expand...

I agree here too.
Metalforms seem to consistently suck & I have had no great fortune with any Wilson magazines.
 
I use my Wilson 47D magazines with my .45 ACP 1911 pistols and these are terrific

I used my Wilson ETMs whin I had my Springfield Loaded 9mm 1911 and I continue to use them with my STI Trojan 9mm and these are also terrific. The single Metalform mag that came with the Trojan is very good, but I still have to put a base pad on it.

The other 1911 mags I know about are Tripp Cobra Mags which are at least as good, possibly better than the Wilsons. My Dan Wesson Valor came with CMC Shooting Stars, and I didn't like these at all, the Wilsons are much better

I am a big fan of 9mm 1911s, but these can be trouble with certain types of ammo, and all 1911s regardless of caliber need good quality magazines. If you invest in either the Tripp Cobra Mags or the Wilson ETMs and stick with ammo the gun likes, I'm sure you will enjoy shooting yours
 
I need to fix my statement. I didn't mean to say metalform's won't run. MecGar's won't. My Spartan came with a Metalform mag, and it runs fine. My apologies.
 
I'll second Top Gun Supply as a good place to buy mags. I have a slug of CM mags and they all work just fine. If you want to pay more for a mag then by all means do, but CM is original equipment in Kimber and Colt and they work if you know which one to buy.

Some will say not to buy a 9 mm 1911 but I'm not going to be in that group. The economics of reloading is a real consideration these days for many, it is for me. I dropped 38 Super because of it. I chose one pistol cartridge and that was 45. I would like to load for Super but I truly needed to downsize so I could minimize the components. I have one pistol, one rifle and one revolver cartridge that I reload for. That's all the reloading I want to afford with the prices the way they are.
 
I've used the metalform springfield style mags on several 9mm 1911s. They work very well.
 
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