Are Colt 1911 mags interchangeable?
- Thread starter Nodakgus
- Start date
Whirlwind06
New member
Yes. Some work better then others, but they all fit into a 1911 pattern pistol (of the same caliber). Some of the better brands IMO are: Metalform, Mec-Gar and Checkmate.
Yes, they are interchangeable with all models as long as its the same caliber (obviously). If you're talking of flush fit on the bottom, either a government 5" or commander size 4.25" with the full size frame will have a flush fit with a full size mag.
3" Officer's frames are shorter as well as some CCO models that mix the officer frame with a commander slide. Full size mags will still lock in and feed but will stick out of the bottom.
3" Officer's frames are shorter as well as some CCO models that mix the officer frame with a commander slide. Full size mags will still lock in and feed but will stick out of the bottom.
Get some of the old foggies here to tell you about 1911 GI magazines.
Oh wait, I'm here...I remember gun shows handing 'em out a buck a piece or a baker's dozen for $10.
(And I'm sure there's guys that got 'em for 50 cents each or two for a quarter for the rusty ones.)
All the old GI magazines I bought worked okay for me but my 1911's are kind of old too so I guess that would follow.
Nodakgus...are you really from North Dakota? Me too originally.
Oh wait, I'm here...I remember gun shows handing 'em out a buck a piece or a baker's dozen for $10.
(And I'm sure there's guys that got 'em for 50 cents each or two for a quarter for the rusty ones.)
All the old GI magazines I bought worked okay for me but my 1911's are kind of old too so I guess that would follow.
Nodakgus...are you really from North Dakota? Me too originally.
For the most part, I had the same experience. You stil have to watch though, as it seems everything is being counterfeited these days.
Back in the early 90's, I bought a bunch of blued, contract numbered USGI mags for a couple of bucks a piece. I still have a dozen or so of them today. They are the only mags to work in all my 1911's, across the board. Even my Colt and Wilson mags didnt work in all guns.
I normally used both Colt and GI mags for anything I carried, which were always either Colt, or GI guns.
Over the yeas, Ive bought a ton of 1911 mags, and you do have to be careful. Even Colt marked mags can be suspect and counterfeit.
They should all fit, that is they should go into the mag well, lock in place and (maybe) feed. But there is no GI production any more and no one to make sure they do interchange, so some don't fit as well, and some fit but don't work.
Not to mention that some of the bullets made today, in both factory ammo and for handloading, are designed more to impress the gunzine writers than to actually feed and fire.
Jim
Not to mention that some of the bullets made today, in both factory ammo and for handloading, are designed more to impress the gunzine writers than to actually feed and fire.
Jim
Tactical Jackalope
New member
The only mag I swear by are Wilson Combat 47D's. Nothing else runs better for me.
re:
The original "Hardball" design with its tapered feed lips and late, gradual release is the only one that presents the cartridge to the chamber the way that was designed and intended. As in "Controlled" Feed.
Because the tapered lips allow the rear of the cartridge to rise as it moves forward, by the time it finally releases, the extractor has picked up the rim...so full control can't be lost the way it can be with the early, abrupt release of the parallel-lipped "Wadcutter" type magazines...especially on the last round.
And there are those who claim that GI magazines don't work with hollowpoint ammunition, but I haven't found that to be true. The only ones that have caused a problem...and not in all pistols...has been the truncated cone design like the old Hydra Shok, Hornady XTP and the Hornady 230 FMJ truncated cone that seems to have been discontinued.
And with those mentioned, Colt's 7-round "Hybrid" design that combines the tapered lips with the timed release point handles them nicely.
The original "Hardball" design with its tapered feed lips and late, gradual release is the only one that presents the cartridge to the chamber the way that was designed and intended. As in "Controlled" Feed.
Because the tapered lips allow the rear of the cartridge to rise as it moves forward, by the time it finally releases, the extractor has picked up the rim...so full control can't be lost the way it can be with the early, abrupt release of the parallel-lipped "Wadcutter" type magazines...especially on the last round.
And there are those who claim that GI magazines don't work with hollowpoint ammunition, but I haven't found that to be true. The only ones that have caused a problem...and not in all pistols...has been the truncated cone design like the old Hydra Shok, Hornady XTP and the Hornady 230 FMJ truncated cone that seems to have been discontinued.
And with those mentioned, Colt's 7-round "Hybrid" design that combines the tapered lips with the timed release point handles them nicely.
I've fired 150 rounds of the 230 grain HST standard pressure through numerous Colt Hybrid and Metalform mags (both with the flat, dimpled follower) in a Springfield Armory 1911 Mil Spec without a hitch, despite a rather serious issue with that 1911 which was caught by a very reputable 1911 gunsmith close by (had him give it a once over when I brought him another 1911 for some work) - the barrel link body under the barrel was out of spec and was actually impacting the vertical/forward part of the frame at the frame bridge
.Like I said, despite that issue the gun fed the HST just fine.
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