Metalform magazines different

[mgmorden]

I just ran into a curious situation. I bought an STI Spartan 1911 in .45 ACP. So far, I'm loving the gun. Put a nice set of Hogue Cocobolo grips and an S&A Magwell on the gun. Hoping to use it in USPSA single-stack soon.

Now, here's where things get weird. The stock magazine that came with the gun is an 8-round Metalform. It has worked fine for me, so I bought 6 more 8-round Metalform magazines from CDNN.

They feed fine, but I noticed today that they won't seat into the gun if loaded with the full 8 rounds if the slide is closed. I found that strange, since the original magazine of the same type did this without issue.

I then compared them, and lo and behold even though both are marked Metalform, the original magazine is just a hair longer than these.

Pics below - original is on left. Notice how much longer the "lip" on the floorplate is. The difference in tube length is obvious in the second pic. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make these work or should I just try another brand?

Thanks.

 

[tuj]

I've found that the best 1911 mags are Tripp Cobramags. You can get them in 7, 8 or 10. Never had a mag-related issue since I switched over to Tripp.

 

[mattk]

I really like metalform mags. This seems very strange I would return those to Venn or contact metalform.

 

[MagnunJoe]

In my vast experience, the 7 round flushed, bottom welded, Metalform mags are the best shooters.

 

[km101]

In 1911 mags, Checkmate builds some of the best available. I have never had a problem with them in any of my 1911's.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Just looking at them, I would say that CDNN got some factory seconds and was selling them at a reduced price...I'm thinking you paid less than Metaform sells them for... or they might be an earlier version of their 8rd magazines. The difference between the two tubes pictured is much like that between the Wilson 47D and their newer ETM.

What you have would likely be an excellent 7rd magazine

 

[mgmorden]

What you have would likely be an excellent 7rd magazine

Yeah that's what I'm afraid of. I figured they'd be the same as the one I already had.

I think what I'm going to do is leave them loaded up for a few days and see if that helps. If it doesn't, I'll just reserve them for range use only and order some new mags. Leaning towards trying the Wilson ETM's.

 

[9mmepiphany]

There isn't much to choose between the Wilson ETM and the CMC PowerMags. The ETM has baseplate that is more squared off and a bit wider, the PowerMag's baseplate is the same dimension as the bottom if the magazine body, but just extended downward for more positive insertion.

I have both and they are both very reliable. The other thing is that the Powermag has indicator holes, while the ETM has windows to see the number of rounds loaded

 

[JTQ]

There isn't much to choose between the Wilson ETM and the CMC PowerMags.

The Wilson ETM has a longer tube than the McCormick PowerMag.

The PowerMag is the same length as Wilson's 47D.

 

[9mmepiphany]

There isn't much to choose between the Wilson ETM and the CMC PowerMags.

The Wilson ETM has a longer tube than the McCormick PowerMag.

The PowerMag is the same length as Wilson's 47D.

I meant in functional reliability.

Wilson had to go to a longer tube to be as reliable as the PowerMag. If I'm not mistaken, it has to do with their follower design and the available space for the spring

 

[JTQ]

Understood.

 

[Steve C]

The springs in a new magazine are at their strongest and what you perceive as a failure to seat may just be the spring resistance to the top round being too strong to allow you to seat it fully with normal insertion. Don't know if you've really smacked the base hard to see if you can force the mag to seat but try that before going through any hassle about claiming a defect with the manufacturer. Generally the mags will loosen a bit over time if kept loaded.

An other alternative would be to use your originally supplied mag that seats more easily for primary and use your new mags as secondary reloads since when you are shooting and having to reload the slide will be locked to the rear so the fact that these "new" mags don't fully seat with slide closed becomes a non issue.

 

[mgmorden]

With a hard enough smack I did get them to seat, but once the mag clicked into place it was so tight that the slide wouldn't retract nor would the mag release let go of the mag. I ended up having to tap the mag release with a nylon punch to get it to let go and get the mag back out.

I've went ahead and ordered some Wilson ETM's to try out. Due to the nature of USPSA a lot of times you're not loading from a locked open slide (in fact you almost never are) so to be competitive I really have to have a mag that I can consistently seat with a full 8 on a closed slide.

 

[cuervo]

Maybe related....

Metalform made Colt magazines. There were some counterfeit Colt-marked magazines described here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=340690

Maybe whoever faked the Metal-Form-made Colts has also counterfeited the Metal-Form-made Metal Forms.