Quality 1911 magazines?

[Slugz]

I will be going down to get a few mags pretty soon and rather than ask the played out type of question like "which is the best mag", id like to approach the question from a different standpoint...

Which producer has which type of problems with their mags and which are the most reliable models among the "big boys" of the field?

I have heard Kimber mags have some issues with feeding on the first/last round, Wilson Combat mags (specifically the 47D) I have heard have issues with the springs wearing out at an alarming rate, and Chip McCormick mags I have heard issues with the followers popping out of the mag easily, as well as the mags not wanting to easily seat itself into the gun beyond the mag release (a common problem among all the manufacturers actually, and if you ask me I think they are just being whiny about having to slam mags into the mag well)

So what makes/models should I stay away from and for what reasons? I wont be buying a stockpile of them so I dont need super cheap mags, but I dont want to spend $50 each either.

[Mr. Gillious]

the best mags i have are my 10 and 8 round WC mags. They're better than my CC mags and my CC mags are better than my 7 round kimber.

I'd say those are all good brands and i haven't had trouble with them.

The only mags i've ever had trouble with were from the cow palace gun show. You know those mag tables that only sell mags of all kind? I bought 2 that said "Colt 1911" on them and when I took them shooting it worked for maybe like the first 10 shots, then after that it would always having feeding problems. The width of the opening of the follower were too wide. But yea

[ChaneRZ]

I'd stay with Wilson Combat magazines. Some 1911s don't like Wilson Combat. Try what kind of magazines your gun likes.

[Slugz]

Interesting. Sounds like potential knockoffs? I always thought Colt made good products. Im sure their mags are probably no match for CMC/WC/TR being that those are much higher end, but 10 rounds of life is pretty crappy lol

The biggest thing for me is of course smoothe cycling, as it needs to be reliable when I need it, but aside from that my biggest consideration would be the spring. I need mags that can handle being loaded and forgotten for months, if not years at a time without the spring giving out. This may not be possible for 1911s, but I know my Glock mags lasted years while always loaded to capacity till i eventually sold it and the mags never had problems. Would like to find something similarly durable.

I'd stay with Wilson Combat magazines. Some 1911s don't like Wilson Combat. Try what kind of magazines your gun likes.

Only problem with that is I cant try before I buy lol dont want to spend $120 on various models testing them out only to let the ones I dont like sit in my drawer. Would like to find something that works for the masses fairly well.

[the_t0ny]

In no particular order, Wilson combat 47d or ETM, chip McCormick power mags, and Tripp research cobra mags. I own both 47d and cobra mags, the cobra mags seem slightly better build at the same price as a 47d. The ETM mag and cmc power mag come highly recommended from friends of mine that shoot their 1911s a lot more than I do.

And to be completely honest, before I bought the 47d's and the cobra mags, the 2 GI mags that came with my gun from Springfield functioned flawlessly too.

[Slugz]

havent tested my factory ACT mag out just yet, but just having felt the WC mags in comparison I dont like how these feel. They just dont feel smooth and fluid as the WC did. Of the available WC mags, im tied between trying out the ECM or the 47D, but as stated, the 47D has a small history of issues concerning the spring. Not even sure what the local market is for these high end mags, but I know the WC 47D and I believe the CMC power mag are locally available for sure.

[1911ShooterPhil]

Stay away from ProMag and Triple K. Both use inferior materials and cheap manufacturing methods. That's why they are so inexpensive. Stay away from no-name "brand X" stuff you see advertised in Cheaper Than Dirt or The Sportsman's Guide. Rather than buying something that's a "deal" at the moment, save your money and buy something later that will actually work.

Here's a list of well-made, reliable magazines that I have used in all of my Rock Island Armory 1911 pistols:

• Wilson Combat "Wilson-Rogers Magazine" (a very dependable magazine, but pricey)
• Chip McCormick "Shooting Star - Classic" (a solid MIL-STD magazine)
• Chip McCormick "Power Magazine" (my personal favorite)
• Metalform Magazines (used by Colt in their guns as OEM, and they have been around a long while)
• PSI ACT-MAG / Novak "Extreme Duty" / Nighthawk Custom Magazines (they are all made by PSI and branded differently for the different 1911 makers)
• C Products (they have been making 1911 and M16 magazines since Vietnam)

Check out Brownells, MidwayUSA, and CDNN Sports. The magazine is the heart of the gun. You have to feed the beast reliable magazines or it will jam up on you. Good luck in your research. --1911ShooterPhil

[Maddawg46]

Chip McCormick Star mags and Wilson Combat 47D. I have a lot of Star mags. Use to use them in IPSC matches. Back then I only had one 1911. Now it's nice to have all those mags that work in multiple 1911s.

[redcliff]

Read this: http://www.10-8performance.com/pages...Magazines.html

[Ronin2]

I have had great luck with Chip McCormick Shooting starsover the last 15 yrs or so. The Wilson 47D Combat mag plastic followers seemed to have issues with moving freely in the bag body as well as issues properly catching the slide lock after the last shot.

[WebMoskal]

Wilson ETMs

[akjunkie]

Read this: http://www.10-8performance.com/pages...Magazines.html

Great article. +1 on Chip McCormick. Prior to CMC all I used were MecGar mags.

[68Drop]

With the current craze going on, magazines are hard to come by, and when you can get them they are super expensive. My local gun shop had WC mags but for 50 bucks. I am NEVER going to pay $50 for a 1911 magazine. I called a couple other places, and found Chip McCormick mags. I bought two and went to the range.

Four cycles of each mag had no FTF's or any other issues. They are stainless and look great. Well made. And work perfectly. And at $24 per mag I bought seven. I know Wilson is supposedly the best, but they are not twice as good as my McCormicks.

[Slugz]

Read this: http://www.10-8performance.com/pages...Magazines.html

Very good read. A real eye opener to the problems associated with these guns. Im beginning to see why some people just up and say "the 1911 just isnt for me" lol though, thats not to say that I feel like that.. I actually kind of like this deep level of information and attention to detail required to fully "know" my gun. Glocks leave you with the option for extended slide locks, mag releases, and field strip stops... and thats about it lol For the 1911 even the magazine requires research to select the best option available.


So the general consensus seems to point toward the CMC mags being the best option for me. Good springs for extended life when left loaded, good followers that wont chew up easily, and decent tubes. Ill be looking for those locally

[BoJackUSMC]

I like metalform