Factory & 'Non-' Mags, I want to hear your horror stories and positive testimonies.

[iLikeOldGunsIlikeNewGuns]

Factory & 'Non-' Mags, I want to hear your horror stories and positive testimonies.

They say "a semi-auto is only as good as the magazine you have in it."

I'll start off by saying that the mag that 'lives' in my 5906 and the first reload are both factory mags. Once upon a time I dropped one of the two in muddy sandy muck, wiped it off, and it fired just fine. I have never had a failure to feed with my factory mags. That being said, after the two factory mags, I would then reach for one of three "Eagle" 17 round mags. Once I bought them a few years back, I've pretty much saved the factory mags for defense only (and occasional range use) since and only used the Eagles for the majority of range use. I often load them all the way full, and I've been expecting a jam or some sort of FTF over the years since I bought them, and they are STILL FTF-free! Also seen in the photo-below is a silly 30-rounder, believe or not I haven't had any FTF's with that either! I only use that one for recreational out-door plinking. I think all of that says alot about the gun itself as well as the mags.

For my SW1911, I carry it with a Chip McCormick 8 round "Power Mag" in the gun, and my first backup mag is a Chip McCormick "Power Ten" 10 rounder. Only once have I had a FTF with a Chip, it was the ten rounder, and it also was the very first time I ever loaded it and used it. Failure was that the slide locked back four or five shots into the full mag. Ever since that, I haven't had any FTFs with these mags. But I want to hear everyone's gory details especially regarding this brand, ever gave 'em a torture test? I want to hear about it! i suppose if I shot the Chips dry and needed to load more, I'd turn to my 'factory' S&W 8 round ACT mags, of which I have four. I dropped one of these from waist-height at the range once, and my range has concrete floors. it was fully loaded and the base-plate flew off, rounds went everywhere, but I was able to recover all the pieces and put it back together. I won't be making that mistake again if I can help it, but the mag still works fine. I'd like to hear any gripes or praise regarding these! Also if, hypothetically, in a really bad situation, I went through the chips and all my S&W mags, I'd then turn to two "Pro-mag" 10 rounders which i use at the range often, and haven't had any problems with, but for some reason i treat these as my least-trusted 1911 mags, because I got them new but cheap! Anyone have any gripes or praise for the pro-mags?

I do not want this thread to be limited to SW1911s and 5906's only, but those are my only two Smith semi-autos. Let's hear it! Ever done torture tests? Had any issues out-doors due to elements? Tell us your amazing accounts of reliability, and the regretful mags you wish you never bought!!!

 

[iLikeOldGunsIlikeNewGuns]

If a similar thread already exists, a link would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kels]

Once upon a time I bought one of the Ramline
18 round magazines for a Beretta 92.
Really a neat thing. First time I went to the range
it ran like a champ.
Then it sat on the shelf, fully loaded for about
six months. I didnt know that the roll up springs
in the magazines lost their snap when left loaded.
What a waste of money.

However, during the days of the not so great
Clinton Slime Bill, I noticed the magazine would
also fit into a BHP.
After cutting a new magazine catch slot, I removed
the old rolled up springs. It worked
like a champ with a regular magazine spring

It is still in the junk box somewhere.

 

[THE ROLLING STONES]

ILikeOldGunsIlikeNewGuns

I use factory magazines in anything I own. The only time I use non factory is for any of my 1911. If it is not factory it will be a Wilson Combat.

Sincerely,
THE ROLLING STONES

 

[BruceB]

I have 2 factory mags for my 5906 (sorry - it just happens that this will be about 5906) that I use similar to the OP, one in the pistol and the other on the belt if carrying.

The rest of the time, I use 6 to 8 MecGar mags, and with over 10,000 rounds through them, the only failure was when one got dropped on the feed lips during training including tactical reloads. The lip was easily straightened and it still works just fine. It's marked, so I can keep an eye on it.

 

[iLikeOldGunsIlikeNewGuns]

I have 2 factory mags for my 5906 (sorry - it just happens that this will be about 5906) that I use similar to the OP, one in the pistol and the other on the belt if carrying.

The rest of the time, I use 6 to 8 MecGar mags, and with over 10,000 rounds through them, the only failure was when one got dropped on the feed lips during training including tactical reloads. The lip was easily straightened and it still works just fine. It's marked, so I can keep an eye on it.

no need to be sorry! that's great to know. As it's one of the only S&W semi-autos I own right now, that's extra helpful for me. Next time I have some cash I wanna spend I'll grab some MecGars!

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far for their input!

 

[WW5906]

I shoot IDPA with my 5906, which is a CDNN police trade in that I sent in for the 3gen action tune. I've got six or eight police trade in mags that I bought around the same time that haven't been resprung. No issues really, one of them might need a new spring.

Right before the AWB, I splurged on a ton of USA brand AR, Sig 226, and Browning Hi Power mags. The pistol mag sidewalks bulged when fully loaded. The BHP mags would run if I backed out the grip screws (removed, really) but the Sig mags wouldn't even insert loaded.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Wow. Someone has Eagle mags that work? I bought six of the things back when CDNN had them for five dollars each. At that time a brand new factory mag for a 5900 series was 30 dollars. I really wish I'd just bought another factory mag... Out of the six actually one kind of/sort of works most of the time so long as I only put FMJs in it. I can't remember what I did with the other five. I think that I tossed them.

MecGar - now those are some good mags. I like their 17rd and 20rd mags more than I like the factory mags. I also have an old original 20rd mag for the Model 59 that is great. (My only 9mm currently is an old square guard 5903.)

Curiously, the only MecGar mags I've ever had bad luck with were their 1911 mags.

A lot of people don't like them, but if nothing else was to be had, I would use ProMags. I used them in a BHP during the AWB years without issue and had good luck with a pair that I purchased for an H&K USP .45. Apparently they are now the only choice to obtain a truly flush fitting mag for an old single stack Model 39.

Pachmayr used to sell some mags under their brand that were stamped made in Italy. I think MecGar might have made those for them? Whoever did, those were good mags.

For 1911s Wilson (eh, people love them, I think they are over rated), Colt factory, CMC Shooting Star, and even old GI mags have their adherents.

Anything else the best general rule is to use factory or MecGar (which often makes the factory mags under contract).

 

[blujax01]

Whatever you buy remember that mags do wear out. And you will know when they start to - random failure to feed, loose lips, etc. Although you may be tempted to "keep them just in case" ask yourself - "Just in case of what?" Yeah, on one hand, it's $30 put in the trash but on the other ...

 

[luis]

I have found that even high quality companies make a bad batch or two of magazines sometimes. In 1987 I purchased a new Colt MKIV and six Wilson Combat mags. All six mags were ****. The dealer tested the mags in his high end match gun with the same FTF problem. Wilson ended up replacing my six and all the ones that dealer had in stock and quietly did a recall on the batch.

I also have some 1983-1988 made USA magazines for 1911s and M9s that have never failed. Oh well.

 

[vista461]

My only experience with junk mags was a 30rd 10/22 mag from Centerfiresystems.com. Wouldn't even feed the first round.

I have some no name 17rd 5906 mags but I sold my 5906 before I got to try them out.

 

[Craig19]

I have some 17rd Mec-gars for my 5906, haven't had them long, but no issues so far.

For 1911s have a few no names that have not had any problems.

The only other non factory mags I have are for my Ruger P-89 and they are pro mags, one of them does not allow the slide to lock when empty.

 

[wantmoresmiths]

I have two 1911's, one in .45ACP one in 9mm. I use nothing but the 8 round Chip McCormick power mags in the .45, and nothing but the Wilson Combat 10 round ETM mags in the 9mm. I have had one or two FTF's with the Chip McCormick's while shooting IDPA. The Wilson's have been flawless. One advantage to competitive shooting is that you learn how to clear a FTF or FTE very quickly.

 

[iLikeOldGunsIlikeNewGuns]

My only experience with junk mags was a 30rd 10/22 mag from Centerfiresystems.com. Wouldn't even feed the first round.

I have some no name 17rd 5906 mags but I sold my 5906 before I got to try them out.

Still have those 17 round 5906 mags? I have three 17 rounders already, but if you have 'em and don't have the 5906 anymore, well I'm probably interested in taking them off your hands my 5906 was my first S&W, so I will not be parting with it until I am too frail to lift it, or have someone worthy to pass it on to

 

[TAROMAN]

My S&Ws (639, 3913, 745, and 4566 all have multiple factory mags that function perfectly. Never tried any off-brand ones. No need to do so.

1911 mags, OTOH, are a "commodity" I have a bunch of Check-Mates and they all run perfectly with anything I choose to load them with.

That said, I'm sure the same is true with the other "name brand" mags.

I once tried some "new surplus (read China) military" .45 mags. So poor they could not even be loaded. All were returned for a refund, of course.

 

[Punisher102]

I didnt read all the replies so I hope this isnt a duplicate response, But my thought is, the manufactures either picked or designed the mag to work in their guns, so why not use them. I could be wrong as I am no way near an expert on these things.

But, I have had 3 Smiths, and a no name 1911. I used factory mags in all of them. I have had heard others getting a "better" mag for the knock off 1911, but I bought more factory. Why? cuz thats what the manufacture used. and Ive never an issue with them.

 

[fighter62]

I use factory original magazines in all handguns and rifles I own.

My departments policy says that WE must use factory original magazines.

There are few exeptions:

AR-15/M16/M4 style magazines that are made for US/NATO armed forces.

ANY Mecgar magazines ( THEY ARE REALLY GOOD)

 

[Silversmok3]

I had a Smith and Wesson factory 4506 mag split at the plastic baseplate once.It fed and shot OK at the range, but I still 'retired' it to the last reload on my belt if I carried two mags that day.

I own a ProMag magazine for a Taurus PT92 I traded for, because I didn't owe the store money for the trade I impulse bought the first PT92 mag on the shelf that I saw.It works and feeds just as well as the factory mags the gun came with.

Supposedly ProMag is one step above sticking a rock in the magwell, but mine has never had a problem. Bought a generic 30 round mag for the same gun at MidwayUSA.com and that too has been failure free.

 

[steamloco76]

I like OEM S&W mags, however MecGar magazines are a great substitute. Have MecGar's for my CZ-75, Beretta 92F, 1911, Browning BDA 380 and had them for my 5906. All are equal to, or somewhat better than the factory magazines.

I've never had any luck with Pro Mag magazines. Won't buy one anymore.

 

[MR.G]

No problems with factory S&W or MecGar mags. I have replaced the springs in my older S&W mags with Wolf plus 10%.