PC1911 Mags

[Cadwallader]

Recently purchased a used, in seemingly very good condition PC1911 45ACP, supplied with the 3 original 8-round mags. When loading 8 rounds into these mags, ALL of them had failure to feed. I had to remove one round from each mag in order to get them to feed. Does anyone have any experience with this? A friend told me these mags are known to have this deficiency. Should I return these to the shop that sold me the pistol and request a credit? Are there mags that work better than these on the market?


Thanks.

 

[Steve_Revo_]

When I ran 1911’s I found that the best magazines were from Wilson or Chip McCormick (who is now owned by Wilson). I never wasted time with OEM magazines.

 

[stansdds]

Welcome to the S&W Forums. John Moses Browning designed the 1911 to feed from a 7-round magazine and that is what is most likely to be a reliable feeder. In order to cram 8 rounds into the standard, flush fit 1911 magazine, you have to use a thinner gauge magazine spring and a follower than has a shorter leg. The end result can be failures to feed as the follower wants to tip forward and the magazine spring may not provide adequate pressure.

The solutions to this can be the use of stiffer magazine springs and a follower with a front leg that will reduce its tendency to tip. Also, a magazine that has a slightly lengthened body creates additional space and allows the use of a follower that is unlikely to tip and a thicker gauge spring.

One last thing. When loading a semi-auto pistol, it is best to insert the magazine, then pull the slide to the rear to release the slide lock and let the slide fly forward. This allows for maximum slide velocity and momentum to get that first round into the chamber. Thumbing down the slide lock seems intuitive, but it reduces the travel distance from the slide's breech face to the rim of the top round in the magazine.