Marshal Tom
Member
Very good info BB57. I've been shooting and carrying 1911's since 1980 and never new this. I am surprised that some wise*** on here hasn't said," Don't have that issue with my wheelgun".
1911 magazines explained
- Thread starter BB57
- Start date
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
might want to suggest making this a sticky somewhere
That’s my understanding as well, although I don’t have a source for it.
Agree. I have used Chip McCormick shooting star 8 round magazines for over 30 years. As long as I load to an OAL of 1.250" never have any hiccups with JHP, wadcutters or ball ammo.
Flattop5
Member
That may have been true in the distant past, but I get good expansion with a 4” 1911 using 185 gr XTP, 230 gr Golden Saber and 230 gr HST (9mm 124 gr XTP on the left for scale and comparison).
8 round magazines are very common and generally quite reliable when made by a quality manufacturer.
The thing to avoid is a follower like the v shaped follower on the shooting star magazine, if you are using it in an aluminum framed 1911. The last round can drag the top of the follower with it and “peck” at the feed ramp in the frame. Many 9mm 1911s use an integrated barrel mounted feed ramp and it’s not a problem with that type of feed ramp.
That is good expansion from hollowpoints, I will confess. Is that standard-velocity ammo? Or +P?
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That may have been true in the distant past, but I get good expansion with a 4” 1911 using 185 gr XTP, 230 gr Golden Saber and 230 gr HST (9mm 124 gr XTP on the left for scale and comparison).
8 round magazines are very common and generally quite reliable when made by a quality manufacturer.
The thing to avoid is a follower like the v shaped follower on the shooting star magazine, if you are using it in an aluminum framed 1911. The last round can drag the top of the follower with it and “peck” at the feed ramp in the frame. Many 9mm 1911s use an integrated barrel mounted feed ramp and it’s not a problem with that type of feed ramp.
You know, so many argue "bullet technology has improved so much in the last several years, that the 9mm is now a great defensive round, better than the 45". They forget that same technology applies to 45 ACP and it is now better than it was back then also.
Rosewood
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I have shot 1911s for nearly 40 years, starting with a worn out 1911A1 in the Army. This is new information for me and I greatly appreciate it. Now I have to take a hard look at my magazines. Thank you.
The Federal HST is a +P load. The Golden Saber and XTP are not.
note the XTP and HST cartridges are mixed up in the picture. The expanded bullets on the right are still the HST load.
In the 1970s the idea was that rounds needed to transfer energy quickly and .45 ACP hollow points of the era were designed to deliver all their energy in about 6”, so they expanded early but often failed to penetrate.
When that under penetration got officers killed, priority was placed on penetration and hollow points of that era, .45 ACP included, had a bad habit of not expanding.
That’s when the FBI started looking at what worked and what didn’t and developed ballistic gel criteria that reflected rounds that worked well in the field.
The Hornady XTP was one of the first bullets designed to meet the FBIs criteria for 1.5x expansion and 12 to 18” expansion. Pretty much all the XTP bullets do that pretty well.
Looking across from the XTP to the Golden Saber to the HST pretty well shows the progression in hollow point performance since then.
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I do a lot of chronograph and ballistic gel testing and I agree with the reliability advantages it offers in getting measurable and repeatable levels of performance.
However, it’s also not the whole story. For example the old Federal Hi Shok load is an abysmal performer in 10% ballistic gel, but had good results in real world officer involved shoots.
Probably…but I would not want to get shot with any of those 45s.
I corrected my wording, that was what I meant.
Flattop5
Member
Still, I cannot help but recall a story related by Jeff Cooper:
Two bad guys were standing one behind the other. The good guy shot the first bad guy with one round of .45 ACP hardball. The bullet went thru the first guy and hit the second guy, breaking his leg. So, the .45 hardball bullet took out 2 bad guys at once. Very nice.
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Puller
Member
Wow, Very good write up on the 1911 magazines, I found it very informative.
Makes me really appreciate the plug and play aspect of Glock mags. Just saying.
Makes me really appreciate the plug and play aspect of Glock mags. Just saying.
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Flattop5
Member
I have a .45 ACP Glock. I never think of it. Never use it. Just saying. Soul-less. Plastic. Depressing. Lifeless. Like licking an ice cube. *shrugs*
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Just like a brand new claw hammer. It is just a tool, does the same job as my late grandfather's claw hammer, but has not one bit of character nor sentimental value.
You forgot ugly.
The real beauty of the controlled feed aspect of the GI magazine with GI ball was regardless of position, it would feed. Upside down, "gangsta" mode, hand in the pocket Camp Perry style, it did not matter what position you happened to be in it gave you the best odds that you would get a "bang" and not a click when you most needed it. John Moses understood the need!
Beauty is often skin deep, but ugly is to the bone.
Beauty often fades away, but ugly holds its own.
Wow, thank you for this tutorial. I agree with the Cajun guy, make it a sticky.
1911's were a new trick for me last year and I wish this would have been printed out in the box. Like a well kept secret hiding in plain sight.
1911's were a new trick for me last year and I wish this would have been printed out in the box. Like a well kept secret hiding in plain sight.
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