ContinentalOp
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Back when I had 1911s I only used 7-round mags with welded, flush-fit bases, either Colt or Metalform, though I did have a gunsmith "break" the sharp edges on the floorplates.
I can't remember names off-hand, but have read some instructors with real-world experience recommending 7-round mags over 8-round mags for 1911s.
Of course, I've read some instructors with real-world experience recommending 8-round mags, too.
I consider capacity down on the list of importance when it comes to self defense guns. Other factors, like reliability and shootability, are more important, at least with regards to hardware. 7 or 8 rounds, not likely to be an issue. Of course, there's always someone who says, "but what if that one round makes the difference?" The problem is that you could say that about any gun. Got a 5-shot J-frame? What if you needed a 6th shot? Got a 7-round 1911? What if you needed an 8th shot? Got a 17-round Glock 17? What if you needed an 18th shot? You can what-if situations all day long. Ultimately you just have to go with what you're comfortable with. For example, when I had a Glock 23, I kept my mags loaded 1 round down from max capacity because it was difficult to seat a fully-loaded mag with the slide closed.
Personally, I would be okay with 8-round 1911 mags, presuming I function-tested them and they passed. I also like the idea of a removeable floorplate because I hated cleaning the Colt and Metalform mags. Removeable floorplates would've made the task easier. I would, however, probably be more inclined to stick with 7-round mags. My reasoning is that the original 1911, IIRC, was designed around a 7-round mag. Trying to cram one extra round seems like it might be pushing the engineering involved a bit much. While I'm not on top of what's available for 1911 mags, I recall seeing an 8-round mag where the spring extends into the base pad, providing a little more room for spring compression; I think that could have some merit.
I like the idea of at least low-profile base pads for reloads, and I can see some advantage to base pads on an in-gun mag in the unlikely event of a double-feed. I wouldn't consider them "must-haves," though.
Just my opinion.
I can't remember names off-hand, but have read some instructors with real-world experience recommending 7-round mags over 8-round mags for 1911s.
Of course, I've read some instructors with real-world experience recommending 8-round mags, too.
I consider capacity down on the list of importance when it comes to self defense guns. Other factors, like reliability and shootability, are more important, at least with regards to hardware. 7 or 8 rounds, not likely to be an issue. Of course, there's always someone who says, "but what if that one round makes the difference?" The problem is that you could say that about any gun. Got a 5-shot J-frame? What if you needed a 6th shot? Got a 7-round 1911? What if you needed an 8th shot? Got a 17-round Glock 17? What if you needed an 18th shot? You can what-if situations all day long. Ultimately you just have to go with what you're comfortable with. For example, when I had a Glock 23, I kept my mags loaded 1 round down from max capacity because it was difficult to seat a fully-loaded mag with the slide closed.
Personally, I would be okay with 8-round 1911 mags, presuming I function-tested them and they passed. I also like the idea of a removeable floorplate because I hated cleaning the Colt and Metalform mags. Removeable floorplates would've made the task easier. I would, however, probably be more inclined to stick with 7-round mags. My reasoning is that the original 1911, IIRC, was designed around a 7-round mag. Trying to cram one extra round seems like it might be pushing the engineering involved a bit much. While I'm not on top of what's available for 1911 mags, I recall seeing an 8-round mag where the spring extends into the base pad, providing a little more room for spring compression; I think that could have some merit.
I like the idea of at least low-profile base pads for reloads, and I can see some advantage to base pads on an in-gun mag in the unlikely event of a double-feed. I wouldn't consider them "must-haves," though.
Just my opinion.
