Springfield 1911 mil-spec magazine

M

Metal god

New member
I'm a little embarrassed to ask this question but what after market mags work for this firearm ?

I look around and there are many 1911 mags but they all say they are for this model or for that model , Government , commander , loaded . What is the common term/name I'm looking for when buying for the Springfield mil-spec . I know I can go spend $25 on the springfield website but I know through talking and reading through out the years there are very good after market mags for much less that work quite well .

Please help
Thanks
 
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The best standard size M1911 magazines are WWII GI magazines, and you can still find them at reasonable prices, especially if you don't mind a little rust. But learn to recognize the fakes, notably the ones with a contractor number MFR 30745. They were made under contract, but were rejected as out of spec. Of course, GI mags were not made to handle all the silly and exotic bullet shapes on the market - only GI FMJ.

Jim
 
Are you looking for magazines that are truly mil-spec, or just magazines that will work the the Mil-spec model of Springfield Armory model 1911A1 pistol?

If you are looking for the former, Check Mate makes a 7 round magazine that is pretty true to the original GI design. These are going to have thin, flat, welded base plates, a flat, split follower with a "dimple" on the top, and tapering feed lips that separate toward the front.

GI style feed lips are really only designed to feed ball ammo reliably. If you want to feed hollowpoints you are better off with "wadcutter" or "hybrid" feed lips.

If you are just looking for a 7 or 8 round magazine that will work with your full-size model 1911 A1 pistol there are lots of options. The regular Springfield magazines seem to be fairly well-regarded by some. I have used Wilson Combat 47D and 500 ETM 8 round magazines as well as Chip McCormick Shooting Star magazines in my full-sized Springer and they work well.
 
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It's been my experience, (or just good luck) that a well made and functioning 1911 isn't all that picky about magazines.
I've owned Colts, Springfields, and a few others that ran just fine on any mags that fit the frame size, including the name brands and the cheapie nonames found at gun shows.
So, you might not have anywhere nearly the problem wondering which magazine to buy that you imagine.
 
pblanc mentioned the GI style mags from Checkmate. Here's a link to them, though they are out of stock at Top Gun Supply. They have "GI" feed lips which are great for feeding FMJ, though not so great feeding hollow points.

Most other mags use wadcutter feed lips which feed hollow points better but sometimes won't feed FMJ quite as well (usually they work fine). Checkmate also makes a mag with "hybrid" feed lips which are between the GI style and the wadcutter style. Unless you like experimenting with mags, my rule of thumb is to use the brand of mag I knows works with the gun so I think you made the right choice in getting the Sprinbfield mag.
 
Most "factory" 1911 mags are made by Check-Mate or Metalform.
I've never had a full-length mag that didn't feed reliably, and I've used Metalform, McCormick, ACT-Mag, Wilson, Check-Mate, Mec-Gar, G.I., and maybe another one or two.
If your gun requires a specific mag to run, I'd say you have some sort of dimensional problem that is masked by the characteristics of that mag, and you'll need to experiment to see which one the gun likes.
 
I keep hearing you guys talk about the GI mag not feeding HP well . I'm not sure what came with the gun but I reload and have been shooting HP out of mine with no issue . I in fact just got back from the range where that's all I shot through it .

As for me having any issue with the firearm . To date It has functioned with out issue but I've only put a little over 1k through it so far . That said It even functions reliably during load development at the lower charges . So all in all It works as it should . I just want more mags and did not want to buy the wrong ones or sub standard mags .

As I mentioned above I went ahead and ordered a few of the mags linked from midway USA for $15.98 ea
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...ory-magazine-1911-government-commander-45-acp

After these come I'll try some of the others suggested

Thanks Metal
 
I keep hearing you guys talk about the GI mag not feeding HP well . I'm not sure what came with the gun but I reload and have been shooting HP out of mine with no issue .
Click to expand...

Most factory 1911's sold within the last 20 years or so come with "wadcutter" or "hybrid" feed lips. GI is full taper. Wadcutter just let's go of the base half way up the feed ramp. Hybrid is kind of in the middle.

Then you have dimple vs no dimple....about 80 follower designs.....extended vs flush tubes.....removable vs welded base....spring materials.....the best part is somebody will tell you there is only one best. All I do is ask why when changing from jmb's design. Therefore, I prefer wadcutter or hybrid Checkmate with the dimple!
 
Chip McCormick mags are excellent and will run in your in your Miller Spec. I much prefer them over the stock Springfield mags.
 
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