7 round versus 8 round 1911 magazines

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7 round versus 8 round 1911 magazines

Posted: 5/18/2002 5:13:00 AM EDT

What are your opinions of 1911 magazines, in comparing the 7 round and 8 round magazines. I have 3 7-round Wilson magazines. Was planning on purchasing 2 more magazines, and was thinking about the 8-rounders, but was tempted to keep things uniform.
Reliability is the priority.

***ptp

Posted: 5/18/2002 5:23:00 AM EDT

[#1]

You've taken care of the product reliability by purchasing the Wilson magazines. Most people believe follower and feed lip design are the most important magazine features.

Now take care of the mental reliability part of things...are you shooting dry, or dropping a mag to reload with one still in the chamber? I'd opt for the same round count in all magazines!

Posted: 5/18/2002 5:31:53 AM EDT

[#2]

There's also the argument that you can never carry enough ammo in a fight.

Posted: 5/18/2002 5:32:15 AM EDT

[#3]

I carry a 7 rounder in the gun and 8 rounders on the belt. I figure if I have to reload in combat more is always better. Generally 4 spare mags on the duty belt.

Posted: 5/18/2002 5:41:57 AM EDT

[#4]

I have had good luck with Shooting Star and Wilson 8 round magazines. I have 10 of each and don't really prefer one over the other both are high quality. I don't even think I have a 7 rounder anymore.

Posted: 5/18/2002 7:41:29 AM EDT

[#5]

Never had any problem whatsoever with my 8 or 9 Wilson 8 round stainless mags. BTW, Baer copied the wilson design almost exactly. Only the witness holes differ. That's when you know you have a good product!

Posted: 5/18/2002 8:05:59 AM EDT

[#6]

All the 1911 mags I have are seven rounders.. I managed to find a bunch (more than 20) of 1930's vintage Colt and a half dozen of the lanyard loop mags at a show in Phoenix a few years back. Very cheaply.. I'm not going to be needing mags for some time..

Sure there are newer mags out there, but these work flawlessly in the 1911's, and the Ballester.. (ballbuster.Anyone who has'nt ground the hammer spur back on theirs is either small handed, or a masochist..)

As to extended capacity, if I'm expecting to get in a shootout, I'll use the AR-15..If carrying, I'll just have to make the first shot count, or die trying..

Meplat-

Posted: 5/18/2002 8:19:43 AM EDT

[#7]

The developer Shooting Star of the 8-round mag has a patent on the flat follower & mag spring. For me they work pretty good, no problem with functioning.

Posted: 5/18/2002 9:47:35 AM EDT

[#8]

You should get one of the chip mccormick 10round those work really good.

Posted: 5/18/2002 11:41:08 AM EDT

[#9]

A wise man (Cooper?) once said..."If you need more than 7 rounds of .45 ACP, you need a swat team."

Posted: 5/18/2002 11:56:32 AM EDT

[#10]

Get the eights; they work fine and a really wise man once said you might need the extra round some day.

Posted: 5/18/2002 12:25:30 PM EDT

[#11]

I use nothing but the eight round Wilson mags and have yet to have any problems with them.

Posted: 5/18/2002 1:24:00 PM EDT

[#12]

anyone know where I can get a good deal on some of those wilson 8rders online?

Posted: 5/18/2002 3:22:47 PM EDT

[#13]

I use the Shooting Star 8rd mags for $15 & have not had the first problem with them in 12-15 years.

Posted: 5/18/2002 4:32:47 PM EDT

[#14]

Wilson #47D 8rd magazines are the best out there. Used by all of the Military and LEO's I know who use 1911 platform guns. I've used them for 15+ years(both in LE and civilian carry) and have never had a FTF/FTL.

Posted: 5/18/2002 6:32:35 PM EDT

[#15]

IIRC the MEUSOC pistol specs 7 round Wilson magazines, as does Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch and Teddy Jacobsen (not afraid to step on a few toes to tell what he knows).

Posted: 5/18/2002 7:42:29 PM EDT

[#16]

Get the Wilson 8 round mags, don't look back. Besides, they are "WARRANTIED FOR LIFE". If you have a problem, send it back.

I use the 10 round Wilson's in my 38 Super single stack.

Posted: 5/19/2002 9:27:59 AM EDT

[#17]

In choosing magazines, I'd have to agree that reliability is a priority. In my experience, the quality of the magazine is more important than the capacity when it comes to reliability.

When I shoot, my focus is very much on "front sight/squeeze", to the degree that counting rounds just doesn't happen . . .

Posted: 5/19/2002 10:45:46 AM EDT

[#18]

wilson or chip mccormick 8's have always worked with no problems for me.

Posted: 5/20/2002 8:37:37 PM EDT

[#19]

For anyone interested, a friend of mine has 4 Brand New #47D Wilson 8rd SS magazines for sale for $100+shipping. E-mail me if your interested, he doesn't have access to the internet.

Posted: 5/20/2002 8:51:50 PM EDT

[#20]

I've only got the Wilson 8 rounders. Love em. They work flawlessly.

Posted: 5/21/2002 5:33:30 AM EDT

[#21]

I use Chip McCormick mags and haven't had any failures that weren't related to my reloads. I try to pick up a couple 8 rounders at the gun show for about $12-15 a peice.
Chip McCormick is down in South Austin... heck, I could swing by his place on my way down to my parent's house, but he doesn't have a storefront...

Posted: 5/21/2002 5:50:53 AM EDT

[#22]

i use 7 (6 to shoot, 1 for the drive back from the range) chip mccormick shooting star 8 rounders. flawless. i gave away all my 7 rounders.

Posted: 5/21/2002 6:29:03 AM EDT

[#23]

7-rounders only. And personally, I prefer only Wilson or Les Baer mags (Wilsons are the preference).

Want good reasons to only buy 7-rounders? Read page #35 (3rd paragraph) in Dave Lauck's book, "The Tactical 1911." Dave knows what he's talking about...it's not B.S.

Posted: 5/21/2002 6:41:25 AM EDT

[#24]

Tailgate:

Can you summarize Dave Lauck's opinion, or are you going to make us buy the book?

Posted: 5/21/2002 6:52:31 AM EDT

[#25]

Am I the only one that uses USGI mags almost exclusively?

I've got 6, ranging in condition from lightly used to new-in-wrap, and I have yet to have a problem with them. The best part is that I can get them all day long from the local gun shows for cheap ($8 for new-in-wrap). The real test will be at the BRC, when I shoot my Series 70 as much in one day as I have all year.

Posted: 5/21/2002 7:09:47 AM EDT

[#26]

I use Metalform 7 round mags. They make Colts mags. Besides at $12 each I have 12. They all function great.

Posted: 5/21/2002 7:21:15 AM EDT

[#27]

I have five of the Wilson 47D (8rd) mags that I have been using for IDPA and other type shoots for about the past year. You need a mag with the long feed lips if you want to reliablly run anything other than ball ammo. I have never had a problem with them (as long as I keep them fully seated in the gun

), and I have thousands of hollowpoint rounds through my mags. The Wilson's are easy to take apart and clean, which can be essential to functioning. It is also easy to change things like floor plates and followers.

I was told if you plan on keeping mags loaded for a long time the 7rd'ers are better because they put less load on the springs thereby they last longer. I'm not sure that I agree with that though. The 8rd'ers use top quality springs made to feed all 8 rounds. No matter what mags you choose for carry I was told you should change springs yearly. The Wilson mags aren't cheap but you get what you pay for.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7 round versus 8 round 1911 magazines

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