I just purchased my 1st 1911. After cleaning it I took it to the range to break it in. Shot around 50 rounds and cleaned it. While loading my carry ammo I noticed that the magazine will not lock into the pistol when it's carrying 8 rounds. Also when I have a round in the chamber it feels as though the magazine is hitting the cheered round when completely full. If I carry 7 in the mag it seems to be fine. Is this normal on a new 1911?


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The top round in the mag is against the bottom of the slide. With a full mag it may take a good slap to seat the mag. This is normal.

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I have given it a few good slaps and it still doesn't seat. Also it didn't so this on the range


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Download by one if need be, but it should seat fully loaded. There's no way a chambered round is going to interfere with the magazine, so double check that you didn't over load your mag, and make sure you haven't gotten any debris in it.

I have made a habit of slapping the spine of the mag when loading, and it may help to grasp the fully loaded mag with your thumb putting downward pressure on the top round, and gently bump the butt on a bench or other surface. This will help seat the rounds in the mag. Try it and see if it helps. You should be able to depress the top round in a fully loaded mag a little, if not you'll have to check your rounds and the mag components for issues.

The obvious question- is this the only magazine you have, and do any others have this issue? You should be investing in a few good magazines just as a matter of course, imho. A semi with a bad feeding mechanism is just a paperweight. I figure a minimum of 3 mags for each semi I have, and average more like 6-7.

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A thought I had was, Is the mag set up as a 8 round mag or a 7 rounder that 8 just happen to fit into. Either way you need at least 1 new mag. I would like to suggest that you buy a Wilson Mag, you can get them from Wilson, Midway, Dillion and others. They have 7, 8, and 10 (sticks out of mag well) mags, some have rubber "bumpers" for competition, and the plain mags for carry. Their top of the line will be in the 30-35 dollar range, but they last and last! Ivan

With a brand new 8 round magazine you nearly have to stand on the magazine to get it to lock in, a simple slap won't do it. Make sure the safety is on and the pistol pointing in a safe direction and take the top of the slide in one hand and press on the bottom of the magazine with the other hand using an inward chest squeeze, that should lock the magazine in place. BTW, when you want additional magazines I cannot recommend the Wilson Combat 47-D highly enough, they are a great magazine for the 1911.

Yeah, maybe I should have said give it your best Ironman slap.

And I am also a big believer in Wilson 47-series mags... Offhand I think I have a couple dozen total. Life's too short for unreliable magazines, and on a defensive carry gun bad mags could even make life shorter....

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Get more mags.
Like ammo, there are never too many mags.
We'd like to think that the factory supplied mags are the best money can buy ... this is not true. Fortunately we are talking about the 57 Chevy of the handgun world, the 1911 ... there is NO shortage of after market options for you gun.
Try a Chip McCormick or a Wilson Combat mag .. or three .. or fifteen or ... thirty ....
Im betting they will solve your issue.

I'm betting that on the range, you also seated the mag while the slide was locked back.
In race gun circles, you'll see base pads on mags. some, aren't exactly base pads but rather small mag extensions that give the spring a little extra space to compress into.

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it just needs more voltage

The S&W E series 1911s come with 2 mags if I'm not mistaken. They're not great, but not bad mags either.

Are your mags flush fitting or do they have an extended base pad?

A magazine should be inserted in one smooth, firm motion. Like this:

Index the magazine:


With a full firing grip on the gun, place the flat back of the mag against the flat back of the mag well:


Then insert the mag in one smooth, but firm motion using the heel of your hand:


I have found that this works with even the most difficult mags. No need to really "slam" it in. As long as your insertion motion is firm, it should go in and lock in place.

I was using a flush fit mag in the pics. An extended base makes this whole process easier.

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Freedom isn't free.

Currently I am using the 2 mags that came with the gun they are 8 rounders with a base pad. I'm looking into the Wilson Mags today.


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Update. I bought a Wilson 47 D. It works beautifully. The other mags loosed up as well after I left them fully loaded for a couple of days. Thank you all for the advice


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