Hi All,

Just bought a SW1911 E-series pistol and I love it! It's a beautiful gun, it's accurate and now reliable after the initial break-in period.

But there is something that really bothers me, maybe it shouldn't, the stainless steel magazines that came with it they cannot hold 8 rounds. Actually they can but it's impossible to insert them with 8 rounds. I'm a mechanical engineer but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong..

I bought 2 Chip McCormick mags just to verify that it's not the gun, they fit smoothly with 8. But they cost 50 bucks.

Called customer service (everybody keeps telling how good the service is... not that good...) but they kept telling me I had to push it harder and ...I'm not doing it correctly

I'm 220 pounds, can't push it harder.

Anybody had this problem? I know it's nothing serious, just frustrating..

Answers will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Petetr

I've heard many complaints about this. The pistol was originally designed for a 7 round mag. I know this is beating a dead horse but it bears repeating. I use CM 7 round mags and Wolff springs and Tripp 7 round mags. There are hundreds of posts about mags and springs for the 1911 and I don';t know how many I've run across that have problems not only seating a full 8 round mag but problems feeding as well.

I have a few Wilson ETM mags that was designed for 8 rounds...not seven and the attempt to squeeze 8 rounds in them by shortening the tail of the follower. Other than that, I stick to the 7 round mags.

You might ought to mull over this article by someone who speaks with great knowledge about this.

The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site - Magazine Burps

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=44064

I use the mags that came with my 5" 1911 and they work beautifully...seat like they should holding 8 rounds no problem. The first two pics show the guns with their respective mags. The third is the E series with the older 5" mag. As you can see it is just a touch longer but as the last pic shows the 5" mag allows for quite a lot more room for the 8th round while only giving up a minimal length advantage. I don't use the new mags with 8 rounds and will replace them with two more of the same mags made for the 5". I had the E series at the range and it will use the older mag with no problem.

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Thanks for all the replies!

I managed to seat the magazines but I still think they require too much force. I'm not sure what will be the consequences of the cartridges pressing too hard against the bottom of the slide. I'm not too much worried about the wear because it seems the rim's brass contacts steel on a very small area but the movement of the slide is very inconsistent because of fricition.

Thanks anyways! I'll ive.

I have used CM 8 round Shooting Star magazines for years and they load and seat just like any other 7 round magazine. My new Ruger has an 8 round, but it sticks further out the bottom and I don't care for it.

Zombie thread. I just came back from my first workout with my new E-Series. No problems loading and firing 8 rds with any of the ammo I tried (WWB ball, Federal ball, Aguila ball, Federal Hydroshock). No feeding or extraction problems, either.

Just got a 1911SC and didn't have any problems. My Kimber 8 round work also. Maybe the springs a bit stiff and needs to flex a bit on yours. I had that issue with a Kimber Solo when new but it got better with use. Hoping your's does too.

I have to agree with OP, 7 rounds in 8 round OEM magazine slips in and locks with little to no effort, nice even click. Loading same magazine with 8 rounds requires it be slammed in to lock in place and feels as though it's being forced in and it's not spring tension. Disturbing, comes with lifetime warranty but who wants it to fail when it really counts?

I was trained to slam the magazine in regardless, but expect it should lock in place just as easy as it does with 7 rounds vs 8 unless there's some type of manufacturers defect. Hopefully S&W reads these tries 7 vs 8 and see and feels the difference as it seems to be manufactured this way accross all E-Series on purpose.

If you are unable to comfortably seat the fully loaded magazine with the slide closed, then load one round down.

I have never had an issue with either the 8 round CMC Power Mags or the 8 round Wilson 47D or Elite model either.

That said, a great many of the experts have suggested using the 7 round Wilson 47 as the highest reliability magazine for the 1911. On the other hand, Wilson now makes the Vickers ETM-V, which is an 8 round magazine, and it is supposedly the next big thing.

Personally, I would say stay with CMC or Wilson in the 1911 and you should be ok.

I do not know who makes the mags S&W supplies (lowest bidder, perhaps?), but like the S&W's FLGR they insist on putting in their 1911s, I would "opt out" and get high quality mags (and standard GI guide rod with recoil spring plug).

Mine work flawlessly. I"ll load up, put a round in the chamber, put the safety on, eject the mag, put another round in and reinsert the mag. Good solid bump with the palm and now 8+1. Good to go. Had to adjust the rear sight a tad as it was shooting to the left. Now:

I have the two standard 7 round mags that came with my gun and then 3 Wilson Combat mags that hold 8 rounds. Both work as well as the others in my 45apc pistol. The Wilsons are a much better looking mag I will admit as well.

I use Colt 8 round stainless magazines (Got a deal a while back at CDNN) in my S&W 1911 and they fit and feed perfectly. Mec-Gar 8 rounders work very well too, however the end bumper sticks out below the frame.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

I don't know .... must be some confusion with 8 , 7+1=8. Could this be the problem. Or does the mag hold all 8?
I have S&W 1911/45 compact Pro Series. Much the same as we are discussing.
The mag is 7. the Gun is advertised as 7+1.
Excellent guns. I also have Sig 1911/45 full.
I only have a little less then 100 rounds through the Compact but
its equal or even better then the Sig. ( one man's opinion)
S&W - Bottom Gun

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NRA Life VVA Life USN Seawolfs

I just received my SW1911 SC E-series. It came with two magazines: one seven round and one eight round. I have a problem with the 7-round magazine as it will only take 6 rounds. I couldn't force the 7th in, and when I shot the 6 rounds the follower ended up rotated 90 degrees with the spring exposed. I'm returning this mag to S&W for replacement.