Springs for Wilson-Rogers #47 Magazines

[Anthony]

Hello Everyone,

Several years ago I was told by an employee of Wolff Springs that the only place you could get replacement springs for the old Wilson-Rogers #47 7-shot .45 ACP magazines for the full sized 1911 was from Wilson Combat itself. So for years I have been rotating my springs by orders Wilson's replacements springs wishing I could order them from other companies like Metalform who sold them for less.

Well I just received my latest batch of springs from Wilson yesterday and a 2003 catalog came with them. Looking at the magazine section of the catalog I spied the spring kits I had ordered this time with the follower included. In their description it says that the kit can be used on Wilson, Metalform, and Colt magazines!!

Does this mean that regular springs from Metalform or Colt could be used in place of Wilson's in the original 7-shot magazine?

If yes, do the Metalform and Colt springs give a similar service life when used in the Wilson magazines?

Thanks for your input.

 

[DMK]

I suspect that the biggest difference between the various 1911 magazine manufacturers is the follower, and sometimes the spring is customized to fit it better. Since the Wilson kit you refer to includes both the follower and the spring, you can swap it in almost any other "standard" magazine body.

However, if you were to get a Colt spring, it may not fit the Wilson follower. You'd have to replace the Wilson follower and possibly negate some of the features of the Wilson magazine.

Brownells also sells Wilson kits that contain a follower and spring. This kit converts 7 round mags to 8 round mags but it's only $8 (even less if you have a C&R or Dealer FFL).

WILSON MAGAZINE CONVERSION KITS - W-45 fits Wilson Govt. and Officers ACP magazines. Converts Govt. to 8 rounds; converts Officers ACP to 7 rounds. C-45 fits Colt and other standard Govt. length magazines, converts to 8 rounds. .38 Super fits Wilson, Colt and other, standard, Govt. length magazines; converts to 10 rounds.

SPECS: Kit contains “V2†follower, Wolff spring.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=16398&title=1911+AUTO+WILSON-ROGERS+MAGAZINE

 

[Anthony]

Does anyone have any idea on just the spring?

I'd like to find out if non-Wilson (e.g., Colt, Metalform) springs can be used in the Wilson-Rogers #47 7-shot 1911 magazine using the Wilson-Rogers follower.

- Anthony

 

[Anthony]

You mean no one on this board has tried swaping the springs?

 

[1911Tuner]

Spring Swap

Howdy Anthony,

I've never used, or swapped springs in Wilson 47 Series magazines,
but the difference in the spring is the way that the top loop fits
under the follower. You could probably use a pair of needle-nose
pliers and reshape a spring to work. By the time you'd done it a
few times, you'd be an old hand, and could retro-fit a spring in
a couple minutes.

Best I can do...Good luck.

Tuner

 

[DBR]

I think you will find that the Wolf +5% spring for the metalform "round follower" mag works in the 7rd Wilson. It did for me.

The springs are not just different at the top loop. The whole spring is narrower and shorter front to back to fit inside the follower skirt. Sometimes a stock spring will fit in the Wilson mag tube but when the mag is full all of the coils are jammed under the bottom of the follower skirt seriously over compressing them.

 

[Anthony]

Thanks for the clarification guys!