Jump to content

What brand and where to buy 1911 mags?


Recommended Posts

Just traded into a S&W Performance Center 1911 and wondering what brand mags people prefer? Google fetches a million opinions, but I generally trust the knowledge base here more than the average forum. And do you have a preference where you order from or know of a place that regularly runs good deals on them?

Link to comment

How much do you want to pay?  😀

$40 mags do the exact same thing that $10 surplus ones do.

All of mine are Chip McCormick Shooting Stars or Mec-Gar.  Right in the sweet spot of price so as not to be cheap, and not to be overly extravagant.  Mec-Gars are OEM for many, many manufacturers these days.

Edited by Garufa
  • Like 4
Link to comment

Also Metalform makes a good quality magazine for a reasonable price-

Is it .45acp or .9mm?

Wilson Combat are also very good mags at a higher price-their 47D's are very good but in the $30.00 range-if in .45acp-

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Its a .45 acp. Im not looking to go super high end, but Id like to get a dozen or so good quality mags that I know will run and function. Id like one or two flush base plates for carry, and a couple 10 rounds for range use. 

20240419_172313.jpg

Link to comment

Buy a few different magazines and see which one your pistol likes best. 1911’s can be finicky and you never know what will work best and what won’t work. 
I’ve been lucky with the WC 47D’s as well. 

Maybe you can borrow a few different mags instead of buying them to try out?

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment

I've been shooting 1911s for a lot of years. Even shot IDPA with one for about 12 years. Lots of companies make decent range mags. Metalform makes Colt's factory mags and they're cheaper straight from their website.  I traded into a batch of Ed Brown mags a while back and they seem to be good. Mec-Gar is known to make good stuff.

But the only mags I'll use for carry or competition is Wilson Combat. The toughest and most  reliable 1911 magazines you can get. They ain't cheap, but they're worth it. 👍

  • Like 3
Link to comment

Wilson Combat are the best in my experience for 45acp. Metalform and ActMag have done well for me.  My bad experiences have come from Triple K and Chip McCormick if I load more than six rounds in them.  A lot of other mags are Rebranded Checkmate magazines.  Kimber, Springfield, Ruger, and Ed Brown are just Checkmates, and they are okay.

  • Like 2
Link to comment

My default mags are MecGar.  I have some McCormick Shooting Stars as well, and they have been reliable.  I've got a couple of Wilson mags, but don't see that they work any better than the MecGar.  They are prettier, though!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
6 hours ago, et45 said:

Wilson 47D.Buy once,cry once.

Wilson or McCormick would be my choice in 1911 mags. Have a few from the Israeli source and some from Rock Island. No problems with them either.

As AlleyCat does...I have a few Korean War era that my Dad brought back too. I hadn't thought about them for quite a while though. Always seem to grab the Wilson.

Edited by hipower
Link to comment
16 hours ago, 1gewehr said:

My default mags are MecGar.  I have some McCormick Shooting Stars as well, and they have been reliable.  I've got a couple of Wilson mags, but don't see that they work any better than the MecGar.  They are prettier, though!

Glad to hear your comment on MecGar mags. Been thinking of some 9mm and looking at them for a source.. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
On 4/19/2024 at 6:17 PM, Spots said:

Just traded into a S&W Performance Center 1911 and wondering what brand mags people prefer? Google fetches a million opinions, but I generally trust the knowledge base here more than the average forum. And do you have a preference where you order from or know of a place that regularly runs good deals on them?

That's a gorgeous Smith! Wanted one of that model for a long while...but I've been too cheap to buy one. Also get sidetracked by other things!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
13 minutes ago, hipower said:

Glad to hear your comment on MecGar mags. Been thinking of some 9mm and looking at them for a source.. 

Mecgars are supposedly good to go in 9mm, and even in the 10rd 9mm variety.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I use mainly Wilson or McCormick Powermags (8 round) for 45.

The Wilsons have a captive follower and are better to use on aluminum frames than the floating follower on the McCormicks, but you need to watch the springs, they wear out pretty fast.  

Link to comment

I have had great luck with checkmate mags. They are the OEM for Sig 1911's and they run equally well in my Colt, Springfield,  Kimber, and Sig 1911's.

I had a number of old Colt GI mags. I sent in 10 in for the Ed Brown swap offer the summer of 2019. 3 of 10 were out of spec (to narrow at the top) so that the follower would bind. Brown wanted me to pay to send them back and all around terrible CS.

Link to comment

The Ed Brown mag exchange program is still going on. That's how I ended up with a bunch  of their mags. Basically, you send them your junk 1911 mags and they'll sell you theirs for either $10 or $15 bucks depending on stainless or black nitride. 

Over the years I'd collected a whole pile of junker 1911 mags. Sent 'em in and got a brand new mags cheap. Got a bunch of .45s and a few 9mm. Unfortunately, they were out of .38 Super at that time. 🙄 But it was still worth it. 

So far they've been completely reliable. Good range mags. 😉

https://www.edbrown.com/magexchange/

But I'll still only use Wilson for carry. 😉

Edited by Grayfox54
Link to comment
25 minutes ago, Grayfox54 said:

The Ed Brown mag exchange program is still going on. That's how I ended up with a bunch  of their mags. Basically, you send them your junk 1911 mags and they'll sell you theirs for either $10 or $15 bucks depending on stainless or black nitride. 

Over the years I'd collected a whole pile of junker 1911 mags. Sent 'em in and got a brand new mags cheap. Got a bunch of .45s and a few 9mm. Unfortunately, they were out of .38 Super at that time. 🙄 But it was still worth it. 

So far they've been completely reliable. Good range mags. 😉

https://www.edbrown.com/magexchange/

But I'll still only use Wilson for carry. 😉

Id be all over it if I had any old mags to send in. Thats a good deal for sure

Link to comment

Ed Brown magazines are checkmate magazines and very good in all calibers. There 8 round 45 are longer bodied and bot 7 round magazines made for 8 rounds. I just did the ED B exchange for six 9mm magazines. If you are sending about four or less the exchange isn’t worth it because you pay shipping both ways.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

TRADING POST NOTICE

Before engaging in any transaction of goods or services on TGO, all parties involved must know and follow the local, state and Federal laws regarding those transactions.

TGO makes no claims, guarantees or assurances regarding any such transactions.

THE FINE PRINT

Tennessee Gun Owners (TNGunOwners.com) is the premier Community and Discussion Forum for gun owners, firearm enthusiasts, sportsmen and Second Amendment proponents in the state of Tennessee and surrounding region.

TNGunOwners.com (TGO) is a presentation of Enthusiast Productions. The TGO state flag logo and the TGO tri-hole "icon" logo are trademarks of Tennessee Gun Owners. The TGO logos and all content presented on this site may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission. The opinions expressed on TGO are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the site's owners or staff.

TNGunOwners.com (TGO) is not a lobbying organization and has no affiliation with any lobbying organizations.  Beware of scammers using the Tennessee Gun Owners name, purporting to be Pro-2A lobbying organizations!

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to the following.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines
 
We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.