Mecgar 1911 Magazines in Kimber Stainless Target II 9mm UPDATED

[Kiwi cop]

Firstly, I have a Kimber Stainless Target II in 9mm which I use for speed steel production division and IPSC Classic/Single stack. I have a problem with magazine in this particular pistol.

When new I bought a bunch of unbranded 10 round mags which were not reliable The top few rounds would jam on the bottom of the feed ramp with both factory ammo and reloads. In late 2018 when we were in the U.S. I managed to pick up half a dozen Wilson Combat ETM 10 round mags from Dillon Precision which performed flawlessly in my Kimber. Unfortunately these were stolen last year.

The only 10 round mags I could source here to replace them were MecGar, which have worked well in my .45 1911's.

They wouldn't seat in the Kimber's grip. I had to lightly file the top of the mag cutout before the mags would seat home properly. I gave each magazine a quick function test with 6 rounds then put them away as I was shooting my .45.

Recently I pulled out the Kimber and 9mm mags and took them to the range. Loaded with 5 - 7 rounds they work fine. Any more rounds in the mag and that top round hits the bottom of the feed ramp jamming up and pushing the nose of the bullet into the case.

Has anyone else experienced issues with either the Stainless II target or MecGar mags in their Kimber, or any other, 1911?

 

[SuperMan]

Yes...unfortunately... Kimbers are VERY magazine picky. I have two STIIs and they are very picky as to what follower they like.

One was originally chambered in .38 Super and the later one in 10mm. I made them into multi-caliber guns using mostly Kimber barrels and parts. To have zero issues with function use mostly Kimber magazines. I'll have to check on what kind of 9mm mags I'm using...

Four-Caliber STII... | 1911Forum

I have a number of MegGar magazines in .38 Super and have had no problem in any other guns. The Kimbers seem to have a different cut on the slide stop and often will not interface with the follower and not hold the slide back on the last shot... Don't remember any FTF problems however...

You may want to see if someone you know has some other magazines or even some MegGar mags to see if you may have gotten a out of spec batch...

Bob

 

[Old_Cop]

I had issues with a Kimber Aegis II and an STI 9mm. Top round nose dive and I never solved the issue. Both ended up going down the road. I understand that STI and Tripp make working ten round mags at around $50 apiece.

 

[M29since14]

The only 9mm 1911 magazine I use is Wilson. I have the same results with Mecgar that you do. 5-7 rounds work fine. Beyond that, not so fine. I have similar results with their .40 SW 1911 magazines. My 9mm 1911 is not a Kimber, but I hear the same from others who own various brands of guns, both with ramped and non-ramped barrels.

I use my gun for paper punching (only 5 rounds in the magazine) so I have not spent much time investigating what to do about this, but given the apparent popularity of 9mm 1911s there must be a solution. Surely not everyone is using Wilson's. They're a bit pricey if you shoot a game that needs a drawerful of them. I'll be interested to see what others have to say. Hopefully they can be more helpful.

 

[gwpercle]

I use 7 round MecGar's in my AMT Hardballer 45 acp exclusively now and have experienced NO problems with them at all .
Back when AMT was still in business they switched to MecGar magazines because the original factory mags would develop feeding problems ... MecGar solved all those and AMT started using them ... they even sent me a free MecGar as an upgrade to my original .
If I'm going to buy a magazine ...I'm buying MecGar they're Sweet !
Gary

 

[robvious]

I also have a Taurus 1911 9mm and have been searching for the mag solution too.. bought it used and I think the original owner fiddled with the feed lips on a few of the magazines.. instead of mag jams they will fling 2 out at a time.. counting shots and coming up 1 or 2 short and finding live rounds on the ground is frustrating.. I have factory new magazines now but haven't taken it back to the range yet...

 

[Stevie]

I think Checkmate makes the Kimber factory magazines?

 

[Mdclinks]

I've had pretty luck with sig sauer 1911 magazines in 45 ACP, 9mm & 10mm.

 

[Rock185]

I can't recall using the MecGar 9MM magazines, but have owned three 9MM Kimber Target IIs over the years. All functioned reliably from Day-1. I also fitted a 9MM barrel to a 38 Super Kimber. Just as with my previous Kimbers, it functions reliably with whatever magazine happens to be in the gun at the time. My Dan Wesson 9MM also functions reliably with whatever manufactuer's magazine is in the gun.

I don't know, maybe I've just been very lucky with Kimbers, and 9MM 1911s in general? In years past, I did have issues with getting Colt 9MM 1911s to function reliably with their unramped barrels, but the Kimbers, an STI, two Dan Wessons, and a custom Springfield 9MM I used to have, just seemed to work with boring reliability.

FWIW, my 9mm magazines have all been the 9-Rd. type. Since your Kimber functioned flawlessly with the Wilson magazines, I doubt anything is wrong with your gun. Within my humble experience, some guns, ammunition and/or magazines are just not compatible.....

 

[Kiwi cop]

I managed to get hold of two factory 9 round mags for my pistol and immediately noticed that the top round is angled upwards in the magazine more than the Mecgar mags. I have been told that last year Mecgar altered the magazine feed lips to be more reliable in Kimber and other pistols.

While I would prefer Wilson Combat mags, which have proves reliable in my Kimber in the past they are unobtainable here, so I borrowed a couple if Trip Cobra 10 round 9mm 1911 mags and found they presented the top rounds in the same "nose up" attitude as the factory ones.

So I have got two Tripp Cobra mags with some more on order. So far they have been 100 % reliable with both round nose and flat point bullets.

 

[Kiwi cop]

UPDATED

Well I am pleased to advise those of you with Kimber 9mm 1911's, that as well s the Kimber factory magazine and Wilson Combat, Tripp Cobra 10 round magazines present the top rounds at the right angle to feed reliably, at least in my Stainless Target II.

I managed to get two new Kimber mags (I wanted three but two was all the importer would sell me) and found that the top rounds were presented at a higher angle than the Mecgar mags for feeding into the chamber.

I first tested a borrowed Tripp Cobra mag, which also presented the top rounds at the higher angle, then yesterday function tested four I have bought. Hopefully in a few weeks when I can purchase some more they will still be available.

Still, it would be nice to be able to get the Wilson Combat mags here.

 

[Alk8944]

The majority of "Factory" pistol magazines are actually manufactured by Mec-Gar, Metalform or Checkmate. This includes Colt, S&W, Ruger,and Kimber. I believe the most common for Kimber is Checkmate. All are availableble from the respective factories. I own all three fo my Kimbers and have had exactly zero issues with any of them. Odds are the same is true for Wilson, McCormick and any of the other "boutique" brands everyone is so proud of!