1911 Magazine review

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I recall someone was looking for a quality aftermarket 1911 mag? but I can't find the thread?
A recent email I received, reminded me of CheckMate Industries 1911 mags.

A friend on another forum recommended them, for quality as well as price.
They had very positive reviews for some 45 auto mags they bought.

At that time, I wasn't happy with the Factory RIA 38 super mag that came with my gun.
38 super isn't too common and most places price them kind of high, IMHO.

Anyway, I ordered a couple 38 Super CheckMate mags for my RIA 1911 ($23 each).
The finish is smooth and they look very nice,
the follower design is good and it moves very smoothly,
they fit in magwell nicely,
they release from the gun just as they should,
and No issues loading them...and at great pricing from Thunder Mountain Custom (https://shop.1911parts.com/CheckMate-Industries-Magazines_c101.htm)
I have no financial interest with them.

[35remington]

So the thousand dollar question is.....how do they function and feed ammo? I am sure that is what everyone wants to know.

[marlin39a]

I purchased many checkmate magazines for my M1A, and 38 Super, and 9mm 1911. Great products. Used to buy from 44mag.com, before they went out of business. I miss that business.

[ReloaderFred]

Checkmate is the only brand of 1911 magazines I'll use anymore. They just simply work, whether in .38 Super, 10mm or .45 acp. I've tried all the big names, but had trouble with all of them, but never a hitch with Checkmate magazines. The last ones I bought were on sale at Top Gun Supply, but it was a couple of years ago.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[35remington]

Checkmate makes the tapered lip magazines JMB designed as necessary for the 1911 in 45 ACP. Most big name brands do not have this feature which is quite the mistake.

[marek313]

I'll have to try those. I have 10mm RIA 1911 TAC Ultra which I love to shoot but I'm looking for extended 10 round magazine that will work. I have 2 Cobras by tripp research but when I load those to full 10 rounds the first few nose dive and hang up on my ramp. I just installed that high magazine release from CGW if I remember correctly and it helped little bit but still cant get full 10 without nose dive. I tried changing springs in those magazines without luck too. Still looking.

[Bazoo]

I've been running checkmate mags for years. They also are supplier for colt, Kimber, sig, ruger. Well long story short they are good mags but I've had issues with the springs going bad after a few years use.

My 1911 is charged with a Vietnam era Checkmate government mag.

[35remington]

Beware of any brand 45 magazine that attempts to fit eight rounds in a seven shot space. Springs will die early.

[Norske]

My most reliable magazines for my 1911's are still the 7-round military surplus magazines.

[elmacgyver0]

my most reliable magazines for my 1911's are still the 7-round military surplus magazines.

this!

[35remington]

Real military surplus have tapered feed lips, a bump on the flat follower and seven shot capacity. Beware of the many fakes out there.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

So the thousand dollar question is.....how do they function and feed ammo? I am sure that is what everyone wants to know.

Well shucks, I forgot to add the thousand dollar answer, LOL.

Function and feed was flawless (400 rds fired so far) with my home loaded ammo.
(New standard, semi-rimmed, Starline 38 Super brass and NOE 128gr SWC, which really looks more like a TC with tiny ledge).
I haven't tried any other boolits or commercial ammo.

[1006]

Thanks for the review—

I have only one Checkmate Mag. It is for 9mm, and, like yours, functions very well.

[alamogunr]

After I got my Dan Wesson ECP, which came with two 8 rounders, I ordered more 8 rounders from Ed Brown. Unlike the Checkmate magazines that came with the ECP, the DW mags stuck out of the grip by more than 3/8". I sent them back to EB and ordered 7 rounders as replacements. Got an extra mag for about the same $$. I can't imagine that one round will make much difference to me but "whatever will be, will be(I don't know how to spell the French term).

[tazman]

I have two 1911 pistols in 8mm and one in 45ACP. One of the two 9mm is a Springfield Range Officer and the other is an RIA Ultra.
Any 9mm mag for 1911 works in the Springfield. The RIA is another story. Most magazines cause the first round or two to nose dive and fail to load. The only ones I have found that work 100% are Wilson Combat that have the small ramp in the front of the magazine.
The 45ACP started life as a Mil Spec Springfield Armory. I made a few upgrades for better handling but didn't change anything in the feed system. It will feed any boolit shape I have been able to try in it. It also doesn't care what magazine is used in it.
Not sure that this proves anything because the sample is so small. I just use what the guns like.

[charlie b]

Used to use GI mags a lot. Got them free as damaged items. Gunsmith friend had made a jig to redo the feed lips and pound out dents. I've only had 3 1911's but they all fed well from them.

When I started carrying the wife's Light Commander I wanted stainless mags so got some McCormick Shooting Star 8rnd mags. They work great in all three pistols. Three of the mags have been loaded with 8 rounds for over 15 years and they still work flawlessly. They fit flush with the grips unless you buy the ones with rubber bumpers on them. They are also not very expensive at around $25 (my first ones were only $15, a few years ago :) ).

[samari46]

Used Chip McCormick mags ever since our range did steel plate matches. Have 6 that collectively have over 30K rounds through them. Bought another 6 -8 rounders in case I had to replace any. Still waiting. So use them in a 1943 Ithaca 1911A1. No problems.
Frank

[Reverend Recoil]

Springfield Armory’s 45 Auto magazines are as good as any and better than most others.

[tazman]

I bought a lot of ten 8 round 1911 45acp magazines off eBay for cheap. They were new and had the semi-wadcutter feed lips. I have been using them with a couple of different 1911 pistols with no issues whatsoever.
There is no makers mark on them at all and the seller didn't say who made them.
I guess I got lucky with them.

[alamogunr]

I bought four 7 rounders from CDNN. Haven't had time to try them. I'm hoping they work in the old Kimber.