Recently picked up a bobtailed E series 1911. The pistol came with 2 mags, one with a bumper pad and one without. The one without is a Checkmate brand, I don't know the manufacturer of the one with the bumper.

With the Checkmate, I can just barely force the 8th round into the mag. When I completely fill that mag, the top round won't feed. It will feed reliably when I only put 7 in. I have no problem getting 8 rounds into the one with the bumper and have no problems with feeding.

Anyone else ever experience anything like this? Does anyone know if Checkmate is the standard manufacturer of S & W 1911 mags?

I'm certainly no expert and am just quoting an article in the March 2011 Guns and Ammo - "The more compact SW1911SC comes with one seven-round flush-fit magazine and one eight-round magazine with buttpad."

That would certainly be an answer. I spoke with S&W customer service yesterday, and they indicated that the mag spring just needed to loosen up.

ETA: In researching Checkmate's website it does look indeed that I have one 7 and one 8 round mag.