1911 8rd magazines question

[Soginator]

Can you generally use any 1911 mag in any 1911?

So long as you get the size right yea. But every pistol is different and some may not like certain magazines for unknown reasons.

[m850168]

I got impression there are two kinds, one -same as 7rd, and another one with extra length.

Your impression is correct. Wilson 47's, ETM's, and Tripp (and probably more) 8 round mags are not flush fitting, they are a little bit longer than welded-baseplate 7 rounders. Other 8 rounders are different springs and maybe followers in the same body as a 7 rounder. The latter setup (same size as 7 rounder) historically has been less reliable (due to reduced spring life, I believe).

As a result the usual advice for maximum reliability is to use 7 round mags. However, longer 8 round mags should be fine (more room for a heavier-duty spring) and its possible that improved spring or follower design could have addressed the issues with flush-fit 8 rounders.

[m850168]

Can you generally use any 1911 mag in any 1911?

In theory, sure.

In practice, there are a lot of magazines and 1911's out there with problems. A good magazine can "correct" some issues with an otherwise problematic gun; that gun might run with other magazines as well if the gun was tweaked. Similarly, a gun that runs exceptionally well may feed from a magazine with a weak and crappy spring that would cause problems in an average 1911.

A quality mag never hurts, though.

[stilly]

Also, Wilson mags seem to work better than other mags when buying separately.

AMEN BROTHER!

The Wilson 47D cured EVERY one of ALL of my 1911 problems.

When I found the ETMs for only $2 more I was ecstatic!

But when I got a 2004 full rail TRP Operator and put the Wilson 47D in it, THAT was when I heard theme music and magical light armor appeared out of thin air and covered my body...

ETMs did not do that. ETMs do not like certain HP ammo where the 47D does. You can tell because of the notch that is pushed into the top of the mag. Dunno why Wilson did that but the 47D is nice and rounded and ball bearing smooth where the ETMs are ball bearing smooth unless you run a 220gr HP...