Posted: 7/26/2011 10:45:53 PM EDT
|
I consider the magazine to be a critical part of a reliable 1911. These are some detail pictures of 5 different high end 1911 magazines for your comparison. I have used them all, with the Metal form Elite 8 being the newest addition and so far my favorite.
Take what you will from my write up. 1911 magazines are like opinions, and everyone's got their own. I think depending on the 1911 it can be a bit hit and miss with different magazines. The main issue I have with 1911 mags overall is spring tension. I have found most springs lose tension fairly quickly especially when kept fully loaded. For example I've had brand new high end mags that drop to what I consider weak tension in 2 Weeks, kept fully loaded. I believe a good gun can still cycle a weak magazine spring. The Magazines: Colt Factory, Wilson 47D, Wilson ETM Elite, Metalform Elite 8, CerTac 8, Tripp Cobra. SPRING This is the most important part of the mag. Metalform Elite mag comes with a Wolff Spring, and the Tripp Cobra spring is also very strong. I have found Wolff spring to be the best and Wilson or ChipMccormick Power mag to be the worse, but they all lose tension. I was very disappointing with the Chip McCormick "so called" Extra Power Mag and did not include it in the write up. I found the McCormick to have the weakest spring and a crappy follower that can slip right out of the mag. RELEASE POINT The Metalform Elite release point is the median and closest to the original Colt mag. This can affect cycling depending on the cartridge length. The Wilsons have the earliest release points, with the Tripp Cobra being the Latest release. Also note the shape of the tube lip at the release point. 
MAG TUBE All of these mags have strong tubes, but you can see the Wilson 47D tube is shorter compared to the Metalform Elite or Tripp Cobra. With 8 rounds, the Wilson 47D tube length is similar to the original Colt 7 round mag . For 8 rounds the longer tube is better because it allows space for a bigger spring. 
FOLLOWER Followers are all different. The Wilson ETM follower is slightly longer than the 47D for more stability and plastic. Not as long skirt as Metalform Elite and Tripp Cobra. The Metalform 8 follower is also metal and very stable. Tripp follower is nice and plastic/metal combo. 
BASEPADS 
COLT. The original design, this one has a C stamped on the bottom. 
WILSON 47D. Short mag tube, Weak Spring, Short skirt plastic follower, and early release point. 
WILSON ETM ELITE. Medium length mag tube, Same weak spring, medium length skirt plastic follower, and early release point. 
METALFORM ELITE 8 Long mag tube, Wolff spring, very long skirt metal follower, and a middle release point, most similar to the Colt. 
CERTAC 8 Medium length mag tube slightly longer than the Wilson, decent spring stronger than Wilson, medium length skirt metal follower, and late release point. 
TRIPP COBRA Long mag tube, strong spring, long skirt hybrid plastic/metal follower, and very late release point. 
Enjoy 
|
|
Nice post... I seem to remember someone else doing this a few years back. Thinking he narrowed choices to two ??
Last post both brands had been kept loaded every day. 365\24\7. At last post magazines were narrowed to Wilson ETM and Tripp Cobra. He noted no discernable difference in performance between the two brands. 4 magazines in use are 8 rounders. |
| It's interesting that you didn't like the CMC Power Mag. The Wilson ETM was designed to compete with the CMC as it had a better tube and spring than the Wilson 47D. Hilton Yam holds the Power Mag in very high regard. How did you measure the tension of the springs? |
|
My opinion on these mags and how they function is very roughly based on keeping the mags fully loaded for extended periods of time and then using them. I usually run about 200-300rds a time at the range. When a mag fails, I will try it in a different gun. When the mag starts to fail on the last round, its a problem for me. I'm not using an exact science here, the post is mainly to show the difference in the mag components and you can come to your own conclusions.
I have been using Wilson 47D exclusively for close to 10 years and I think they are good mags, not the best. Been through about 10-12 mag tubes, maybe more and my regular routine would be to keep replacing the the spring with the Wilson springs/follower kit when they started to get weak. I felt like I was having to replace the springs too often so I started using the Tripp Cobra and CerTac8, and just recently the Metalform Elite 8. I'm currently using 7 Metalform Elite Mags, so far sent one back to Brownells and got replaced because the mag tube was too tight. |
|
nice write-up OP
Quoted:
Nice post... I seem to remember someone else doing this a few years back.... Was this the one you were referring to? Quoted: Anyone with more interest in the subject of 1911 magazine feed lips and follower design would do well to read this article. http://how-i-did-it.org/magazines/ from here http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=5&f=49&t=94016 |
|
Quoted:
Wilson 47 for the win. They work like a champ in my SA Loaded, Colt gov and RIA 1911's. Wilson 47D's just work. I use them and McCormick 8 and 10 rounders exclusively. They run every kind and brand of ammo without fail in my Springer Loaded and Mil-Spec. I don't think 47D's have "weak tubes or springs" in the least. The springs are a hell of a lot stronger than the Kim-Pro, crap mags I got rid of for sure. My experience is if a 47D won't run in your 1911.... its usually your 1911, not the 47D. Their are exceptions to the rule, that goes without saying but 47D's are solid mags. |
|
The "best" 1911 magazines are the omes that work best in your particular pistol.
For me it's Chip McCormick Power Mags; for the next guy, who knows? I think it's BS that manufacturers get away with shipping guns with "factory" magazines that don't run 100% in the guns they ship them with. |