Best Value: 1911 Magazines??

Adam Baker · Feb 17, 2011

At the bigger gun shows find the guy who just sells magazines.
We have a guy, Phil, retired PO from NY who comes to the local shows in PA. He only sells magazines & grips.
The military contract mags that are grey parked and come in a plastic bag, they are rapped in an aluminum paper and date 1980's. They have the contractors number on the mag base versus makers letter on the base toe like the WWII ones. These can be had for $8-10.00 each buy the 10 you want they work and they go bang every time.
Good enough for the killin' fields good enough for the range right?

Adam

redlevel · Feb 18, 2011

bamacisa said:
I purchased some new military surplus magazines (high standard) They were priced 10 for $39.95. They aren't Wilson's but they work fine. I use them for plinking and range use. I do have some high quality name brand magazines that I also use. I know that some people would turn their nose up at using military magazines, but they work fine for me.

Adam Baker said:
At the bigger gun shows find the guy who just sells magazines.
We have a guy, Phil, retired PO from NY who comes to the local shows in PA. He only sells magazines & grips.
The military contract mags that are grey parked and come in a plastic bag, they are rapped in an aluminum paper and date 1980's. They have the contractors number on the mag base versus makers letter on the base toe like the WWII ones. These can be had for $8-10.00 each buy the 10 you want they work and they go bang every time.
Good enough for the killin' fields good enough for the range right?
Adam

This is about what I have decided to do. I have several gun show magazines I bought 25 years ago and stuck back. They recently "floated to the top" and I started testing them. I figure if a magazine fires 100 rounds of hardball through each of my two Norcs without a hiccup, it is probably good to go. I have tested and marked four so far, and I have a couple more to go. I figure I need about twenty reliable magazines for the two guns, so ten or a dozen more should do it. I am going to a pretty good show in Columbus, GA Saturday, and I'll be on the lookout for the feller selling magazines.

thanks for that heads up on what to look for. I believe I have seen those surplus magazines at shows before.

Kanewpadle · Feb 18, 2011

McCormick is the best value I feel. But I have more Wilson mags than McCormick. I think of them as an investment since I will always have a 1911 around.

Something to consider. Whatever you buy, buy one and see how it works in your gun. 1911 magazines will differ slightly.

Wilson magazines in my DW Bobtail will not lock back after the last round but McCormick mags do. And one of my Kimber won't feed reliably with McCormick.

Moonman · Feb 18, 2011

Kanewpaddle,
I had the locking back problem with my DW VBOB, I switched the slide lock to a Wilson Combat Bulletproof and all works fine now with my Wilson Combat mags.

Onomea · Feb 18, 2011

Bullseye 2620 said:
.... I've never owned an 8-round mag. Can't imagine why I would.

Why's that, Bullseye? Nine rounds better than eight, no? Curious as to your thinking. Thanks.

max · Feb 18, 2011

I have read that a lot of the current mil surp mags are Chinese made copies and not too good.

amd6547 · Feb 19, 2011

I am partial to this Checkmate mag:
Check-Mate .45ACP, 7RD, Blue, Hybrid, CMF - Full Size 1911 Magazine - Top Gun Supply
The hybrid lip and extra power spring makes for a very reliabe 1911 mag. TopGun supply ships very quickly.

Lately, I have read some good reviews of the mags on this site...I have not tried any, probably wont since I like the Checkmate above so much.
Welcome to Joe's 1911 Mag Mania! Crazy Low Prices!!

Bullseye 2620 · Feb 19, 2011

Onomea said:
Why's that, Bullseye? Nine rounds better than eight, no? Curious as to your thinking. Thanks.

'Cause I only load five. Competition, not carry.

Bullseye

Herknav · Feb 20, 2011

amd6547 said:
I am partial to this Checkmate mag:
Check-Mate .45ACP, 7RD, Blue, Hybrid, CMF - Full Size 1911 Magazine - Top Gun Supply
The hybrid lip and extra power spring makes for a very reliabe 1911 mag. TopGun supply ships very quickly.

Absolutely plus one. The only difference is that I call CMI directly. They give a price break at 7, and there are more discounts for greater quantities. There is also a LEO/military discount.

therevjay · Feb 20, 2011

There may be other reliable brands, but you can't go wrong with Colt.

amd6547 · Feb 20, 2011

I believe Checkmate makes the magazines for Colt...

smith revolver cop · Feb 21, 2011

max said:
I like the McCormick Shooting Stars.

+1 on McCormick. I've actually carried them as front-line mags in my duty gun and off-duty gun. You can get them for about $14 if you shop around.

Muley Gil · Feb 21, 2011

Back about 1998, I was working a parttime security job in a supermarket. I was in uniform, carrying my 1911. I was standing at the front of the store when I heard a "SPROING!" sound, followed by small, hard objects hitting the floor. I looked down and saw .45 cartridges on the floor. The welded floorplate had popped off/out. I swapped mags from my pouch and gathered up the spring, follower, and cartridges.

The mag was stamped either "CR" or "CS" on the bottom and I had checked it about a week earlier and saw no indications that it would fail. I'm guessing that I had been using that magazine for 20 plus years.

Best Value: 1911 Magazines??

Adam Baker

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redlevel

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Kanewpadle

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Moonman

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Onomea

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max

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amd6547

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Bullseye 2620

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Herknav

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therevjay

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amd6547

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smith revolver cop

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Muley Gil

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