The very best 1911 magazine?

[6bg6ga]

I believe I have found the perfect 1911 magazine. In addition to holding more rounds it feeds everything without a single problem. I have a number of different 1911 magazines from mil surplus to Colt Gold Cup national match magazines to the ultra high dollar ones. The only one I have found so far that will feed any combination of bullet styles and or a mix in the Brownells 8 shot with the bumper on the bottom.

This mag will flawlessly feed the Magma 200gr SWC and 185 Magma SWC bullets which no other mag would feed without problems.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I have 6 of the Brownells 9mm 1911 magazines 10 rounders only issues that i had was i had to bend the feed lip on 2 of the magazine
so they would drop out of the magwell other then that they work great I will pick up a few more

[tazman]

I don't know what brand they are since they aren't marked by the manufacturer, but I purchased 10 magazines on eBay that hold 8 rounds each for $120 total($12 per mag). They feed everything I have run through them in my Springfield Mil Spec 45acp. Everything from 230 hardball to 155 grain SWC and all sizes in between.
They all drop free from the pistol easily.
I have heard all the horror stories about magazines that won't work properly. I have never experienced this. I guess I am just lucky.

[CDRGlock]

The best mag is the one that works in your 1911. I have Wilson, McCormick, Ed Brown and Kimber. They all work for me. But in my mars armament thug, only a Chip works.


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[Char-Gar]

The magic magazine does not exist. Most mags will do well with bullets between 200 to 230 grains of a good design. When folks try and shoot very lights bullets, which results in short rounds, things start to go south quickly.

Some mags will drag on the sides of some trigger stirrups and not drop free. The style of feed lips will also have a bearing on how a particular contour bullet will feed. GI lips are best reserved for GI style ball ammo. But one do all mag, I am skeptical they exist.

[Reverend Al]

I have 8 Chip McCormick Shooting Star stainless steel magazines for my old Series 70 Colt Government Model that I must have bought 30 + years ago and they have never, ever let me down. 100% reliable. Best investment I ever made.

[Plate plinker]

Wilson and Wilson and Wilson. I like the follower on the wilson mags.
The chip Mcormack do good as well for me.

[Blackwater]

Thanks for the tip, but I probably have as many Wilsons now as I'll ever really need. No auto gun is any better than its magazines, and the cheap stuff is .... well, there's a REASON it's cheap! I'm guessing MacGar makes the mags for Brownell's, but don't know that. I've heard a lot of positive things about MacGar. After all, they make a lot if not most of the mags used as OE on many brands of guns today. Anybody know if the Brownells' are made by MacGar?

[Love Life]

I don't know what brand they are since they aren't marked by the manufacturer, but I purchased 10 magazines on eBay that hold 8 rounds each for $120 total($12 per mag). They feed everything I have run through them in my Springfield Mil Spec 45acp. Everything from 230 hardball to 155 grain SWC and all sizes in between.
They all drop free from the pistol easily.
I have heard all the horror stories about magazines that won't work properly. I have never experienced this. I guess I am just lucky.

Probably Checkmate, especially if they came from Joe's magazine mania.

Colt factory mags (also made by checkmate) are my go to for 7 and 8 rd magazines.

When I'm feeling flush I'll buy a couple Wilson combat 7 rd mags with bumpers. I have a big box of mags that I use, and if any start acting funny I will replace springs.


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[wv109323]

I have a Colt magazine with a Pachmayr follower in it. Shooting Bullseye pistol for 30 years I can not remember that magazine malfunctioning until this week at Camp Perry. Inspection revealed that the lips were starting to crack. This magazine was from a commercial GM from the 1940's or 1950's. It was of course a 7 rounder and was always loaded with 5 rounds. I suspect 100K through the magazine.
I have to recommend a Metalform. They are not well known but they are one of the best and one of the least expensive. They make a lot of OEM magazines including Colt. I would not buy the $50-60 dollar magazines when the Metalform are available. Metal form is about 50% of the name brand mags. I have 4 Metalforms in my gunbox and two Wilsons somewhere.
With that said most magazines are made to shoot 200 gn. SWC and 230 gn. Round Nose bullets. Some of the light bullets and some of the HP bullets may need something else.

[tazman]

Probably Checkmate, especially if they came from Joe's magazine mania.

Colt factory mags (also made by checkmate) are my go to for 7 and 8 rd magazines.

When I'm feeling flush I'll buy a couple Wilson combat 7 rd mags with bumpers. I have a big box of mags that I use, and if any start acting funny I will replace springs.


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That is exactly where they came from. I ran a few more rounds through them today. Very nice.

[Rainier]

CDRGlock
The best mag is the one that works in your 1911.

What CDRGlock said.
McCormick & Metalform work very well in my Series 70, Springfield and Kimber. I'm not sure that there is a "Best" mag for the 1911, seems like it all comes down to what is reliable in your boolit launcher.

[35remington]

There are too many bullet types possible to claim a single magazine configuration will feed them all with equal reliability.

If it feeds bullets no other magazine will feed, the problem may not be the magazine but rather the bullet. The McCormick Shooting Star will feed 185 SWC when GI magazines will not, but the same Shooting Star magazine is less reliable than a GI magazine with ball for a number of reasons the 'ol Chipster never bothers to mention.

Perfectly suitable and in fact more reliable magazines may misfeed ill designed bullets. This is a knowledge problem, not a magazine problem.

There are only magazines that work with your preferred ammo and ones that do not.

Take to time to examine the 1911's designer specified magazines and figure out why they are that way. Beware of some changes to that design and the downsides that come with change.

[6bg6ga]

I've been shooting 1911's for over 30 years+ To this day the only magazine I've ever had that will reliably feed the 200 gr and 185 Magma's is the Brownell one. I don't know who makes it. The Wilson and some of the others that I have tried have problems especially with the 185gr SWC. Like I mentioned the stock type mags simply will not feed either of my bullets for even a full clip load without a problem. The stock type magazine will feed the 230RN and most 200gr but not the Magma 200's because of the nose shape of that bullet.

[ioon44]

I am still using some Chip McCormick Shooting Star stainless steel magazines that are 30+ years old and have some new McCormick and Wilson Combat magazines which all work great , I have used SWC bullets ranging from 155 gr to 200 gr.

[Love Life]

I'd stop using the magma bullet, lol.





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[6bg6ga]

I would if it wasn't so accurate. It beats the 452460 200 gr SWC bullet.

[Lloyd Smale]

I prefer wilsons. Chip McCormick and metal form are good too. But when I loaded for serious stuff its usually a Wilson in the gun.

[marlin39a]

Wilson Combat 7 or 8 rd magazines. The best.

[lotech]

I've been fortunate; have used a variety of magazines in a variety of 1911s. Everything worked fine.

[nagantguy]

I believe I have found the perfect 1911 magazine. In addition to holding more rounds it feeds everything without a single problem. I have a number of different 1911 magazines from mil surplus to Colt Gold Cup national match magazines to the ultra high dollar ones. The only one I have found so far that will feed any combination of bullet styles and or a mix in the Brownells 8 shot with the bumper on the bottom.

This mag will flawlessly feed the Magma 200gr SWC and 185 Magma SWC bullets which no other mag would feed without problems.

Also my experience! Starting to off load all other brands in favor of the brownells ,work better than any other mag I've used in all my 1911s!

[arclight]

In 10mm, I've had the best luck with:

1. Tripp Research 9 rounders - these stick out a bit farther than others, but you can ram the magazine home easily on a closed slide.
2. Checkmate 9 round - Less expensive and very reliable in my Kimber. They do not insert easily on a closed slide.

Arclight

[Rick459]

another vote for Tripp Reasearch. i also replaced all springs and followers on my Wilson,Chip,Meggar,Colt,and G.I. mags with the Tripp Research springs and followers which make them reliable 7 rounders. if i can't end it in seven.... i guess i'm headed for Heaven....

[therealhitman]

I have enough 1911's in the safe that I occasionally, momentarily forget that no, you can not possibly own too many 1911's. 47Ds always feed in every one of my .45acp's (except of course the double stack Paras) as do my CMC mags. Every other brand including Brownells has at least hiccuped in one weapon or another over the years. Stick a 47D in it's place and she runs 100%. Only Wilson's at matches for me.
As far as 9mm 1911's I have had perfect performance from Metalform's "Springfield style" mags with the spacer/ramp in the front. Running them in Colt, Kimber and an RIA, should start looking to sell off all my rear spacer mags lol.

[charlie b]

I've used the Shooting Star mags in three different 1911's, including a Commander, and never had a hiccup. FMJ, SWC, TC and various HP, from 185 to 230gn. Lead, plated, copper jacket. Even when loaded with 8rds.

Have had a Wilson and it worked well.

[Love Life]

Wilson Combat 8 rd magazines are currently on sale at Brownells for less at than the Brownells mags.


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[ShooterAZ]

I really like the Wilson 47D mags, they are my favorite. They have worked very well for years in all four of my 1911's.

[bisleyfan41]

Wilson Combat 8 rd magazines are currently on sale at Brownells for less at than the Brownells mags.

Indeed they are! And more are heading this way right now; can't pass on 'em for that price.

[byrd45900]

Thanks for the report!

[jem102]

Tripp Cobras for my 1911's. They feed everything from 185gr J word WC's to soft swage 230gr RN's. Not cheap but they work.

[Groo]

Groo here
There are 3 types of feed lips used in the 45acp 1911.
The original mill spec was for 230gr fmj and feeds hard ball like magic [thank you JMB]
The second is for SWC /target rounds aka "short nose " bullets.
The newest is a "blending " of the two and works with the flat nose HP bullets.
The difference is when the mag releases the bullet, milspec fast ,short bullets slow.
So,look at what you shoot and match the feed lips to it.
As an aside ,I do not like the plastic followers in the wilson mags.

[deltaenterprizes]

Tripp Research Cobra mags are what I use for duty use with my 1911!

[bisleyfan41]

As I said above, I really like the Wilsons and at 4 for less than $100, you simply can't beat 'em. That said, I have several of the Ruger branded (don't know who makes them for Ruger) 8-rounders that function flawlessly as well. Actually like the metal followers better; seems less prone to wear.

[jrayborn]

I vote Tripp. Good mags and good people. Wilson is a close second. Can't really go wrong with either.

[Wild Bill 7]

I too have Chip McCormick mags, 10 of them I bought almost 20 years ago for $10.00 each. Never had any problems with them.

[35remington]

Ruger mags are made by Checkmate. So are Colt.

[Greg S]

Wilson 47s. 7 rounders are great and 8s are good with frequent spring changes. For 9mm, the metal form 'Springfield' style 9 rounders have proven reliable in a number of finicky eaters.

[mortre]

Wilson 47s. 7 rounders are great and 8s are good with frequent spring changes. For 9mm, the metal form 'Springfield' style 9 rounders have proven reliable in a number of finicky eaters.A few years ago I replaced all my 47D's and 47OX's with Wilson's flat wire ETM rebuild kits. My 47D's are now 7 rounders and 47OX's are 6 rounders, and I haven't had to replace them since.

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[Spooksar]

I have had good luck with Wilson in all my 45's

[mortre]

Wilson Combat 8 rd magazines are currently on sale at Brownells for less at than the Brownells mags.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkYou just cost me $80 for 3x of the ETM magazines...

Thanks!

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[Bazoo]

My springfield milspec has run any mag i've tried. Never tried a wilson, but tried a cheap chinese copy. I really like ed brown 7 round mags, but right now im running checkmate mags.

[donkee]

I use CMP surplus, Springfield, Colt (came with my 1991), a WWII Littleton (found in the attic of my sisters old house), and some generic with a cruddy weld up the back. All work perfectly in my Springy 1911 milspec and Colt 1991. I only shoot 230g FMJ or plated lead though.

[Texas by God]

I've never had a problem with Chip Mcormick mags. My Ballester-Molina runs fine with the old mag that came with it but it's unmarked. My half-Colt uses a Series 70 Colt mag. My extra mags range from the Chips to a stainless Kimber to a modified Officers 6 shot(I ground off the base lip and added a key ring to the base). I mostly shoot 200SWC cast except SD loads are Hornady Critical Defense. Lots of 228 Lee RN have gone down range as well. I don't compete so I don't need more than three clips(yeah I said it) per gun. But maybe I should get the old girls a new one apiece! I'll check into the Brownells.
Best, Thomas.

[youngmman]

I have several 1911's and shoot a variety of bullets. The magazine that has worked without exception with whatever bullet I load is the Ed Brown 8 pack. It is the only one that has not FTF regardless of the bullet I use.

[fatelk]

I picked up an inexpensive old school 1911 last year. Philippine made "GI" model, I just liked the look and it shoots great for what it is. It looked right, except for the 8 round mag with a bumper base.

I understand that the bumper base mags are great at the range, but it just looked wrong in that gun. I went looking around town for an old school 1911 magazine without a bumper. Couldn't find one! Even went to a small gun show a week or two later, still couldn't find one! Seems like it's all about the bumper bases nowadays!

I was almost ready to order a couple online, when I dug through my stuff and found a couple old GI mags that I didn't remember I had. I'm pretty boring in the bullets I use, so they work fine for me.

[Petrol & Powder]

Back in my 1911 phase I had good luck with the Chip McCormick mags. One the most reliable ones with ball ammo and 230 grain HP's were the Colt factory mags ! A few of those were from the 1960's and a few were stainless steel ones from later years.

One of the stainless magazines self-destructed on the range. The spot welds that held the floor plate to the mag body broke and the floor plate, spring, follower and about 6 rounds departed the gun from the bottom of the grip. The magazine body remained locked in the grip frame. I found all of the parts in the grass, went back to the barn and my friend tacked the floor plate back on with a MIG welder. I dressed the welds with a file, reassembled the mag and used it for several more years. It wasn't pretty but it worked just fine.

[wv109323]

I posted that I like AT Hall/Metalform magazines in a previous post. In the meanwhile, I attended Camp Perry NRA Pistol Championship. In our entry packet was a stainless Metalform magazine.(free)
I wrote Metalform to thank them for the magazine. The gentleman there told me he has volunteered at Camp Perry for several years and now is one of the NRA referees. Metalform also sponsors the .45 caliber championship at Camp Perry. There were 468 shooters and I assume all of them got a free magazine. Last year I think the number of shooters was 700+ and a magazine was given out then also.
Besides being a good magazine, they have "skin" in the national championship so I will support them. This commitment means a lot to me. I am just wondering how other magazine manufacturers support the shooting sports?