What are your favorite/best 1911 mags? Which mags do you use for carry?
Wilson ETM HD with flat wire spring.
I’m a Wilson fan as well. I have a bunch of 47Ds but they wear out fast. As they do I am picking up Wilson ETMs with the flat spring.
I’ve heard good things about the Tripp mags and Chip McCormick as well, just have no personal experience with either.
1911 Mags
Everybody will list their favorites. I’ll give you my experience with several.
-stock Kimber 7 round which came either with a TLE II Custom or a Warrior: This is my longest running mag, but now has its spring & follower replaced with a TrippResearch.com “Super 7 Upgrade Kit”. Even so, a welded-on floorplate mag is not preferred by me.
-ACT Mag. This came with another 1911. It didn’t last long with a weak spring and feed lips spreading beyond .390".
-Kimber KimPro Tac Mag. I had a few of these. Feed lips spread relatively early. The follower design intermittently jumped my slide-stop lobes in a couple of my 1911s. I retired these mags relatively early.
-Wilson ETM. I only have a little experience with these. The followers also jumped my slide-stop lobes in a couple of my 1911s. I traded these for the 47D models.
-Wilson 47D. I generally like these mags but use the “Super 7 Upgrade Kits” in them, which makes them 7 round mags. I find the 47D springs weaken relatively early (within a year of my use). Mag bodies good and feed lips have generally held true.
-CMC Power Mags. I also run “Super 7 Upgrade Kits” in these. I found the followers also intermittently jump my slide-stop lobes after the followers get chewed up a bit with use. Mag bodies good and feed lips also holding true.
-Tripp Cobra Mags. Since I’d been using their upgrade kits, I decided to try their own mag designed as a full 8-round mag, similar to Wilson ETM’s bodies, a bit longer. These have become my main magazine. They already have the hybrid polymer/metal follower I prefer and the mags have proven reliable in my four 1911s. Brownells.com and direct from TrippResearch.com seem to be the only places I know to get these. Highly recommended by me.
Some folks won’t like the looks of a Cobra Mag as it is a bit longer and its basepad (similar to Wilson ETM) is widely shaped. I have magwells on all my 1911s so they’re not very noticeable to me, plus, the function, so far, is outstanding.
I noticed the Super 7 Upgrade Kits are also now available from Brownells.com.
Normally I like the Metalform 8 Round ELITE magazines. Have stock Colt 1911 magazines (Metalform) 7 rounds with no issues.
I have tried them all like most. I prefer the Metalform pro 8 rounders that Midway has. Full 8 round stainless tube for under 25. Nice strong spring and the rounded metal follower works well for me. Brownells mags look exactly the same in black but I haven’t tried any. David
Wilson ETM’s are my choice.
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CMC Powermag with a Tripp Super 7 kit.
Tried 'em all, those hold up the best.
I’ll use pretty much anything Wilson or Chip McCormick. Of the two, I prefer Wilson, especially their 47D mags.
I’ve tried:
Tripp Cobra - these are my preferred mags for carry. Metal in the follower means its more durable. Also, the spring is better than in the Wilson’s.
CMC Powermag - good quality, but I disliked how the follower moves forward on an empty mag.
ACT - same as another poster said
MecGar - nice range mags
Springfield - these are my preferred range mags for less than $15.
Wilson 47D - good quality, but I never felt good about the plastic follower. Also, the springs are rather weak.
I just buy Tripp for carry and Springfield for range currently. But I’ve been wanting to try Metalform mags.
1.Tripp Cobra Mags, 8 round capacity.
2.CMC PowerMag with Tripp Super 7 upgrade kit. Don’t much like the stock follower, though it has worked fine so far.
3.Wilson 47D with Tripp Super 7 upgrade kit. Tripp kit was mandatory for me since the stock spring wears out quickly.
I originally intended to try the Wilson ETMs, but have had a reason to yet with the way the Tripp mags and Tripp upgraded mags have been. I’m not condemning them, but I can’t endorse them without experience. I’ve like NO other mags I’ve tried.
Edited to add that Tripp’s 10 round 38 Super mags have been flawless so far. I have 5 of them and have put 1400+ through my WC modded Colt 38 Super.
These.
I think Tripp Cobra’s are the best bet for 1911 mags. I carry 4 WC ETM HD+ on duty. They are my personal favs.
Does your department issue 1911s to everyone, or do you get to pick your duty weapon?
I’ve had excellent luck with CMC 10rd PowerMags. I have a few 47Ds for carry, but everything else is a 10rd’er.
I’ve used CMC 8 and 10’s without issue but have noted the follower FWD tilt when empty.
My Colt likes CMC and Tripp…my SA MC Op did not like Tripp…
Wilson Combat has the some of the ETM’s on sale now.
When I ran a .45 I used CMC Power Mags. My Colt liked them. My only 1911 right now is a Colt .38 Super Auto. So far good performance from the factory Colt, Checkmate, MecGar and one Wilson that I have. The Wilson plastic follower seems prone to wear but it’s still working. The Checkmate 10 rounders really only seem to hold 9. The MecGars are nickel plated and run really slick, also 9 round.
What about smith and wesson factory mags? Any good?
I’ve had really good luck with CMC Powermags… in fact, I haven’t run anything else for the past five years.