Magazines

[calaverasslim]

A quick question, if you please.

I have a High Standard (Armscor) 45auto. Has a 6 rd mag. Need another but while looking, I found several mags, 7 rd, made for the Officers model. I suspect these will work in mine but the military standard size mags, 7 rd, extend below the grip frame. I am using the Kimber 8 rd mags, and wile they also work well, I prefer to be original with flush fitting mags.

Will these 7 rd Officer mags fit flush with mine? Are they the same length as the standard 7 rd mag or are they shorter?

Help

 

[Mandirigma]

sounds like you have an officer framed 1911, yes they make 6 and 7rd mags for officers that fit flush for them, personally I prefer the bumper pad though..

 

[calaverasslim]

Yep, your right. I went up into San Antonio yesterday and stopped at Nagel's gun shop. Mr. Nagel handed me and Ifficers model mag., 7 rd., from Kimber and it works like a dream. Like you, I favor the pads, so I have to get some.

Appreciate your reply

 

[dmazur]

Looks like you already have an answer.

FYI, the original Officer's Model magazines were 6 rds, and later offerings tried for the +1 capacity tricks and were described as 7 rd magazines (same length, flush fit.) Still later were "true" 7 rd magazines with extended floorplate designs.

The Govt / Commander models followed a similar path with original 7 rd magazines, +1 trick followers described as 8 rd magazines, then the true 8 rd designs.

There can be confusion with 7 rd magazines. Are these "extended" magazines for the Officer's Model or original magazines for the Govt?

 

[calaverasslim]

Your right there. I'm still confused. All I know is this Kimber is just like you describe. However it works just fine and I have ordered 2 more.

Thanks for your input. Anything to help me learn anything is really appreciated.

 

[dmazur]

Unless someone has changed the specifications, you could seat a full-size Govt. magazine in an Officer's Model (but not the other way around), as the distance from the top of the magazine to the notch was consistent. So, that used to be a test for what was supposed to be for what.

If you take a measurement of an original 6-rd mag, from the top of the baseplate to the top of the mag, that should be a baseline for you in future shopping.

Larger capacity with the same length was usually achieved with some kind of modified follower (like the McCormick) that flexed slightly, allowing the additional round to be seated. I understand this sometimes caused problems with overcompressing springs, and later designs generally get this slight additional space by using an extended floorplate (which is probably hollow).

So, to try to understand this, IMO you start with the stock design and then look at what the manufacturers did to make it "better" and still fit.