1911 Magazines

vmkeith · 06-25-2011, 12:41 AM

Hey all...I'm looking to get some magazines for my RIA Tactical .45 ACP. I got a couple of Colt magazines and I wanted to see how good the spring in the mags were. So I loaded them up and stored them for a couple of days. I then unloaded the mags and found that when I rack the slide back, it wouldn't catch. I did the same thing with the Novak mag that came with my 1911 and noticed right away how much stronger the mag spring felt when loading it. After a couple of days, the slide still locked back.

A friend of mine said he doesn't use anything but Wilson Combat or Mec-Gar magazines in his 1911, but there are so many different mags available I thought I'd ask.

Thanks...Vince

boomer1 · 06-25-2011, 09:00 AM

I have read the same on other forums.

Wilson Combat is the first choice, but spendy. MecGar is a close second.

I don't have any personal experience with Wilson Combat magazines. However, I have had excellent results with MecGar magazines and 3 other caliber pistols, .380, 9mm, 40S&W.

YMMV,
boomer

bigggbbruce · 06-25-2011, 09:49 AM

I use cheapo's TripleK, factory , Kimber , Colt.... never have issues with any in either gun...

Heard Wilson is the choice... I won't pay for the name though...

chameleon · 06-25-2011, 11:29 AM

Hands down, wilson combat 47d mags are the best choice. I've got a good amount of different mags for my 1911's and my wilson combat is the first mag I go to every time. They do cost about $35 but are worth every penny.

McWeaze · 06-26-2011, 10:05 AM

I only use wilson after buying 2 with my kimber I went back and bought a couple more

deadshot2 · 06-27-2011, 07:34 AM

I've used lots of the "less expensive" magazines and found that their only shortcoming is you might have to do some minor adjusting, cleaning, or lubing.

I bought a huge quantity of cheap, cheap, AR Mags. Only had to "adjust" one out of the bunch. In many cases the only difference in these "Up Market" magazines (besides the name which makes them more expensive) is the finish and extra attention to de-burring edges. Mec-Gar makes a great magazine. I have several for my Sig. But they don't work any better than those that don't have the shiny bluing and are only finished with a bead blast finish.

Just remember, the finest, most expensive magazine isn't any better than a cheapie if it isn't cleaned and maintained. All to often the "cheapies" are treated as such and allowed to get filthy.

chameleon · 06-27-2011, 09:07 AM

Wilson combat followers are hands down better than any other magazine follower. That alone makes them the best. It has nothing to do with the color of the finish.

bigggbbruce · 06-27-2011, 04:30 PM

Just grabbed a few Wilson nylon followers... put them in my cheapo's my Colt and my Kimber mags..

Went out and tried them in my aluminum framed Kimber... every round fed no problems... $4.95 each... now I feel good about not damaging my gun...

SPLATT · 06-27-2011, 06:21 PM

In addition to the Wilson's I have I also have some Chip McCormick Power Mags that work just as well as the Wilsons.

Steve

Brianaintright · 06-28-2011, 01:45 PM

I go with the Chip McCormick mags. I have plenty of Wilson's and they work fine but they are prone to dirt and debris through the large slits in the side. The nylon follower also wears pretty quickly if you shoot regularly and you'll find it feeds fine but will soon begin to fail to engage the slide lock.

CMC mags deal with most of these issues and are more reasonably priced. The Power mag + also has a follower that won't fuck up your lightweight frame but it is more expensive. This is the mag I use for work.

GixxerPete · 06-28-2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianaintright

I go with the Chip McCormick mags. I have plenty of Wilson's and they work fine but they are prone to dirt and debris through the large slits in the side. The nylon follower also wears pretty quickly if you shoot regularly and you'll find it feeds fine but will soon begin to fail to engage the slide lock.

Well that explains it.... though I don't think I have *that* many rounds though one of many mags I have?

Brianaintright · 06-29-2011, 10:12 AM

Pete,

Could be that you used that mag for dryfire or reload practice. It's not the actual number of rounds fired, it's the amount of wear on the notch that engages the slide stop.

Also, start checking the feedlips with a micrometer and compare old mags with a new one. A big problem with 1911 mags is feedlip spread, especially if we keep them loaded for extended periods. This can cause many of the same problems.

The 1911 mag was meant to be replaced frequently. Don't get married to your mags, if they start fucking up, throw them in a can for range practice and get a new one.

vmkeith · 06-29-2011, 10:34 AM

Thanks for all the replies...I'm not set on getting any one particular magazine yet, I'll know more after doing some shooting this weekend. I do really like the Novak mag that came with my RIA...it loads into and unloads out of the magazine well smoothly, has a nice stiff spring, and the slide locks back every time.

06-25-2011, 12:41 AM	#1
vmkeith Gunslinger Joined: Jun 2011 From: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 49	1911 Magazines Hey all...I'm looking to get some magazines for my RIA Tactical .45 ACP. I got a couple of Colt magazines and I wanted to see how good the spring in the mags were. So I loaded them up and stored them for a couple of days. I then unloaded the mags and found that when I rack the slide back, it wouldn't catch. I did the same thing with the Novak mag that came with my 1911 and noticed right away how much stronger the mag spring felt when loading it. After a couple of days, the slide still locked back. A friend of mine said he doesn't use anything but Wilson Combat or Mec-Gar magazines in his 1911, but there are so many different mags available I thought I'd ask. Thanks...Vince

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06-25-2011, 09:00 AM	#2
boomer1 Gunslinger Joined: Jun 2011 From: Seattle area Posts: 39	I have read the same on other forums. Wilson Combat is the first choice, but spendy. MecGar is a close second. I don't have any personal experience with Wilson Combat magazines. However, I have had excellent results with MecGar magazines and 3 other caliber pistols, .380, 9mm, 40S&W. YMMV, boomer

06-25-2011, 09:49 AM	#3
bigggbbruce Rifleman Joined: Apr 2011 From: Oregon Posts: 135	I use cheapo's TripleK, factory , Kimber , Colt.... never have issues with any in either gun... Heard Wilson is the choice... I won't pay for the name though...

06-25-2011, 11:29 AM	#4
chameleon Marksman Joined: Jan 2010 From: Bend, Or. Posts: 388	Hands down, wilson combat 47d mags are the best choice. I've got a good amount of different mags for my 1911's and my wilson combat is the first mag I go to every time. They do cost about $35 but are worth every penny.

06-26-2011, 10:05 AM	#5
McWeaze Gunslinger Joined: Apr 2011 From: Snohomish, WA Posts: 63	I only use wilson after buying 2 with my kimber I went back and bought a couple more

06-27-2011, 07:34 AM	#6
deadshot2 Marksman Joined: May 2011 From: NW Quadrant WA State Posts: 288	I've used lots of the "less expensive" magazines and found that their only shortcoming is you might have to do some minor adjusting, cleaning, or lubing. I bought a huge quantity of cheap, cheap, AR Mags. Only had to "adjust" one out of the bunch. In many cases the only difference in these "Up Market" magazines (besides the name which makes them more expensive) is the finish and extra attention to de-burring edges. Mec-Gar makes a great magazine. I have several for my Sig. But they don't work any better than those that don't have the shiny bluing and are only finished with a bead blast finish. Just remember, the finest, most expensive magazine isn't any better than a cheapie if it isn't cleaned and maintained. All to often the "cheapies" are treated as such and allowed to get filthy.

06-27-2011, 09:07 AM	#7
chameleon Marksman Joined: Jan 2010 From: Bend, Or. Posts: 388	Wilson combat followers are hands down better than any other magazine follower. That alone makes them the best. It has nothing to do with the color of the finish.

06-27-2011, 04:30 PM	#8
bigggbbruce Rifleman Joined: Apr 2011 From: Oregon Posts: 135	Just grabbed a few Wilson nylon followers... put them in my cheapo's my Colt and my Kimber mags.. Went out and tried them in my aluminum framed Kimber... every round fed no problems... $4.95 each... now I feel good about not damaging my gun...

06-27-2011, 06:21 PM	#9
SPLATT Gunslinger Joined: Jan 2011 From: Tacoma Posts: 13	In addition to the Wilson's I have I also have some Chip McCormick Power Mags that work just as well as the Wilsons. Steve

06-28-2011, 01:45 PM	#10
Brianaintright Rifleman Joined: Nov 2009 From: WA Posts: 179	I go with the Chip McCormick mags. I have plenty of Wilson's and they work fine but they are prone to dirt and debris through the large slits in the side. The nylon follower also wears pretty quickly if you shoot regularly and you'll find it feeds fine but will soon begin to fail to engage the slide lock. CMC mags deal with most of these issues and are more reasonably priced. The Power mag + also has a follower that won't fuck up your lightweight frame but it is more expensive. This is the mag I use for work.

06-29-2011, 10:12 AM	#12
Brianaintright Rifleman Joined: Nov 2009 From: WA Posts: 179	Pete, Could be that you used that mag for dryfire or reload practice. It's not the actual number of rounds fired, it's the amount of wear on the notch that engages the slide stop. Also, start checking the feedlips with a micrometer and compare old mags with a new one. A big problem with 1911 mags is feedlip spread, especially if we keep them loaded for extended periods. This can cause many of the same problems. The 1911 mag was meant to be replaced frequently. Don't get married to your mags, if they start fucking up, throw them in a can for range practice and get a new one.

06-29-2011, 10:34 AM	#13
vmkeith Gunslinger Joined: Jun 2011 From: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 49	Thanks for all the replies...I'm not set on getting any one particular magazine yet, I'll know more after doing some shooting this weekend. I do really like the Novak mag that came with my RIA...it loads into and unloads out of the magazine well smoothly, has a nice stiff spring, and the slide locks back every time.