Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics
o

Notices

Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics Post Your General Gun Topics and Non-S&W Gun and Blade Topics Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-19-2018, 07:37 PM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Tennessee
Posts: 969
Likes: 1,241
Liked 1,411 Times in 509 Posts
Default My first 1911 and range visit

I found a decent enough deal on a used 1911 that I thought I could get my money back if it didn’t pan out for me. I put 100 flawless rounds through it today and was actually impressed. It came with one Kimber Pro Tac Mag. I definitely want a few more magazines. Should I buy more Tac Mags over Wilson Combats since the one ran so reliably?
[IMG][/IMG]
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 08-19-2018, 08:09 PM
Pisgah Pisgah is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 37
Liked 5,413 Times in 1,756 Posts
Default

Never had a Kimber and never used their mags, but I can assure you there are no mags better than the Wilsons. Some as good, maybe, but none better.
__________________
Pisgah
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 08-19-2018, 09:09 PM
ProCarryNAustin ProCarryNAustin is online now
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 175
Likes: 47
Liked 269 Times in 110 Posts
Default

On aluminum frame 1911s avoid magazines with steel followers. I had issues with frame gouging from a steel follower. Polymer followers did fine.
Daniel

Last edited by ProCarryNAustin; 08-19-2018 at 09:10 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #4  
Old 08-19-2018, 09:18 PM
D Brown's Avatar
D Brown D Brown is offline
SWCA Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 21,164
Liked 7,109 Times in 1,990 Posts
Default

Kimber Pro-Tac Magazines are top quality. I would definitely choose them over anything from Wilson.
__________________
Dave Brown
SWCA #3279
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #5  
Old 08-19-2018, 11:19 PM
Valmet's Avatar
Valmet Valmet is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 3,227
Liked 3,838 Times in 1,956 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pisgah View Post
Never had a Kimber and never used their mags, but I can assure you there are no mags better than the Wilsons. Some as good, maybe, but none better.
This 100% ^^^^ Wilson mags are top tier.
__________________
Some Might Say.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 08-20-2018, 12:05 AM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Tennessee
Posts: 969
Likes: 1,241
Liked 1,411 Times in 509 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ProCarryNAustin View Post
On aluminum frame 1911s avoid magazines with steel followers. I had issues with frame gouging from a steel follower. Polymer followers did fine.
Daniel
I had never heard of that prior to you mentioning it. After hours of reading I see exactly what you are talking about. It does appear that the Tac Pro Mags are safer than most because of a skirted follower, but a polymer follower is the safest.

I looked at my frame and it does not have any wear on the feed ramp.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-20-2018, 12:17 AM
Kanewpadle's Avatar
Kanewpadle Kanewpadle is offline
US Veteran
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wrong side of Washington
Posts: 10,174
Likes: 13,010
Liked 17,099 Times in 5,129 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ProCarryNAustin View Post
On aluminum frame 1911s avoid magazines with steel followers. I had issues with frame gouging from a steel follower. Polymer followers did fine.
Daniel
How does this happen? The follower does not come in contact with the frame.
__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-20-2018, 12:20 AM
Kanewpadle's Avatar
Kanewpadle Kanewpadle is offline
US Veteran
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wrong side of Washington
Posts: 10,174
Likes: 13,010
Liked 17,099 Times in 5,129 Posts
Default

Wilson magazines are well known for being the best.
__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 08-20-2018, 07:16 AM
ProCarryNAustin ProCarryNAustin is online now
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 175
Likes: 47
Liked 269 Times in 110 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanewpadle View Post
How does this happen? The follower does not come in contact with the frame.
This happened on a Kimber Pro Carry with an aluminum frame. Had one new steel mag that went to the range one time. Noticed the gouge when cleaning. Could not tell you the mechanics of it. Found like references online and pitched the mag. Never had the issue with steel frames.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-20-2018, 07:24 AM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Tennessee
Posts: 969
Likes: 1,241
Liked 1,411 Times in 509 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanewpadle View Post
How does this happen? The follower does not come in contact with the frame.
I read about t it after he brought it up. Non tilt followers do not have a skirt to keep them entirely inslide the mag body. The can bang against the feed ramp. It doesn’t happen all the time but it does happen.

Left: Follower without a skirt. Right: Kimber Tac Mag follower with full skirt
[IMG][/IMG]

Last edited by Loyaljeeper; 08-20-2018 at 09:03 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #11  
Old 08-20-2018, 08:29 PM
Kanewpadle's Avatar
Kanewpadle Kanewpadle is offline
US Veteran
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wrong side of Washington
Posts: 10,174
Likes: 13,010
Liked 17,099 Times in 5,129 Posts
Default

Up to you gentlemen of course. I’ve got several thousand rounds through various aluminum frame 1911’s with Wilson mags and never had the problem you describe.

If Kimber would use a ramped barrel on their aluminum frame guns, these problems wouldn’t exist.
__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 08-20-2018, 10:00 PM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Tennessee
Posts: 969
Likes: 1,241
Liked 1,411 Times in 509 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kanewpadle View Post
Up to you gentlemen of course. I’ve got several thousand rounds through various aluminum frame 1911’s with Wilson mags and never had the problem you describe.

If Kimber would use a ramped barrel on their aluminum frame guns, these problems wouldn’t exist.

I think all the Wilson magazines have the correct followers for the aluminum frames. My barrel’s feed comes down pretty low; I guess a follower could impact the frame though.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 08-20-2018, 10:52 PM
Kanewpadle's Avatar
Kanewpadle Kanewpadle is offline
US Veteran
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wrong side of Washington
Posts: 10,174
Likes: 13,010
Liked 17,099 Times in 5,129 Posts
Default

Another good choice is Mec Gar. They make a Wilson knock off for much less. Have a few thousand rounds through mine. No problems.
__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #14  
Old 08-20-2018, 11:19 PM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Tennessee
Posts: 969
Likes: 1,241
Liked 1,411 Times in 509 Posts
Default

I think Mac Gar makes the Kimber mags.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 08-21-2018, 07:13 AM
stansdds stansdds is offline
Member
My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit My first 1911 and range visit  
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 8,717
Likes: 19,291
Liked 11,742 Times in 5,354 Posts
Default

The metal follower tilting and digging into the aluminum feed ramp issue is true of 1911's using the original style barrel. Many manufacturers have gone to inserting a steel or titanium ramp in the frame or milling the frame and using a barrel with an integral feed ramp. Either of these methods pretty much eliminates the possibility of sharp nosed hollow point ammo or a magazine follower doing any damage to the pistol.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ransom rest range visit today with 1911 pittpa Reloading 15 06-05-2016 02:34 AM
2nd Range visit with 40c ! Whitwabit Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 7 06-29-2015 06:09 PM
Range visit ivanwi11iams Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 18 04-27-2014 03:39 PM
First Range Visit Evofire34 Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 5 03-24-2013 05:39 PM
457 Range Visit mg2112 Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 3 03-23-2012 02:35 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:32 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)