1911 Magazine Change

cw308

New member
Looking at some video's on magazines . I have a Colt New Agent in 45ACP it is out of production but is just like the Colt Defender with trench sights . Haven't had any problems with the gun but a lot of people are using other magazines like ACT MAG . What do you use , would like some feed back . Chris
 
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I've used nothing but mec-gar magazines in the few 1911's I have and have never had an issue that was magazine related (one 1911 has a particularly steep ramp that doesn't like HP)
 
I used nothing but Power Mags, both 8s and 10s, for many years.
Never really had any issues with them that would cause me to look elsewhere, but every new mag is an "improvement" on what went before, right?

For my compact gun, I want as much spring as possible, so don't use any +1 mags, and do want parallel feedlips.
I like "hybrid" feedlips for my full-sized guns, but the compact would occasionally double-feed or stovepipe a live round with hybrids.

ACT-MAGs were my first foray into non-McCormicks, and while I like them a lot, they functioned great and looked good, I had them when tube cracking was rampant, all of mine cracked, so I went another direction.
If the cracking issue has been fixed, they should be good mags, though they do (did) have slightly tapered feedlips, and that might be an issue based on my experience.

I've used single stack mags from McCormick, Metalform, Mec-Gar, Checkmate, ACT-MAG, Wilson, and probably a couple of others.
All are good quality, but there are enough difference in the specs that you might love one that somebody else hates, and vice versa.
The mag that works for you is the best mag.
 
CW308 said:
Looking at some video's on magazines . I have a Colt New Agent in 45ACP it is out of production but is just like the Colt Defender with trench sights . Haven't had any problems with the gun but a lot of people are using other magazines like ACT MAG . What do you use , would like some feed back
Check-Mate. And Check-Mate is an OEM supplier of magazines to Colt. (Although I believe the short Defender/New Agent magazines are made for Colt by Metalform.)
 
Metalform and Wilson 47 series.

Had several Chip McCormick mags, and had nothing but problems. Didn’t like to feed correctly, and would lock the slide. Gave them all away, and the recipient had similar issues.

Have never had a mag related issue with the Metalform or Wilson’s, so that all I run now.
 
I have 1911 mags from Checkmate, Wilson, Tripp, ACT, MecGar, Metalform, and others. My default magazine of choice is Checkmate both because of quality and price. Top Gun Supply has a good selection at everyday good prices.
 
I have the Wilson 47D .45ACP magazines and the old style Wilson 9mm ETM magazines with the polymer follower, although I like the new 9mm ETM’s with the metal followers. And Tripp Cobra mags in any caliber are “IMHO” worth the expense
 
I always use Wilsons for non range work. I've never had a problem with them and I like their followers for loading mags. I have a few of the 8 and 7 round Wilsons for my Ultra Carry that work well on the smaller frame.

For full size I have also had good experiences with Chip McCormick and Checkmate.
 
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