1911 Magazines - 7 or 8 rounders?

[TSB]

a 8 round mag should not extend past the butt on a full size frame ( gov/ commander)

Because of the extra round and the additional spring material, they have to extend a little bit and all that I've seen or used have been about 1/4" longer.  Some with the metal followers may be shorter but I find the metal followers a little sticky at times.

[MikeBjerum]

My S&W 1911 came with two Wilson Combat eight rounders with plastic bases.  If they had a flat floor plate they would be flush with the grip, but with the magwell the plastic base is recessed a little.  I have bought six more Wilson Combat eight rounders and have never had a single magazine feed problem. 

I can't begin to imagine the number of rounds I have run through the gun, and I have never had an issue.  Even with USPSA, and dropping the mags in the sand, gravel and mud, and kicking them all over the place they work flawlessly.

[TSB]

My S&W 1911 came with two Wilson Combat eight rounders with plastic bases.  If they had a flat floor plate they would be flush with the grip, but with the magwell the plastic base is recessed a little.  I have bought six more Wilson Combat eight rounders and have never had a single magazine feed problem. 

I can't begin to imagine the number of rounds I have run through the gun, and I have never had an issue.  Even with USPSA, and dropping the mags in the sand, gravel and mud, and kicking them all over the place they work flawlessly.

M58...I wasn't bashing S&W or Wilson...they both manufacture GREAT products...I believe the S&W 1911 my kids friend had was a TURD and with any turd, you flush it before it gets too stinking up the place...another friend has the identical gun and he carries it every day!

[MikeBjerum]

M58...I wasn't bashing S&W or Wilson...they both manufacture GREAT products...I believe the S&W 1911 my kids friend had was a TURD and with any turd, you flush it before it gets too stinking up the place...another friend has the identical gun and he carries it every day!

I wasn't responding to you Timothy.  I was just adding my two cents to the conversation.

[Fatman]

I'm not going to give any advice on 7 or 8, being that all I shoot is Para 45 double stacks. But what I can say is I load 230 grain in those hi cap mags, and something I've found useful is to immediately replace the stock mag springs with Wolff springs. The extra strength they supplied eliminated any magazine problems with the last round or two causing an occasional issue.  I'd think the Wolff springs would help the larger single stack mags feed more reliably too.

Wolff Para springs are +10% of the factory strength - I think most Wolff single stacks are +5%

[Sponsor]

[Big Frank]

I replaced some of mine with Wolff 10% extra power springs too. Great springs and great people to deal with. The springs in my 20 year old Para were getting so weak I couldn't count on the slide locking back 100% of the time. And sometimes it would barely lift the last round up high enough and it was feeding on an angle. It would almost fail to feed. The new springs took care of that.

[Crusader1]

I just bought several 8-rd. KimPro Tac-Mags (SS), from the Armory in VA Beach, VA.  They are for Kimber 1911s, and mine is a CDP Pro, with standard grip and 4" barrel.  Upon receipt, I loaded one with eight ( rounds, and tried to install it in the magazine well.  It would not fully insert, making some sort of contact just before latching.

I removed one (1) round and inserted it again with seven rounds...voila!  It loaded without a problem.  I studied that eighth round and tried to reinsert it several times, thinking maybe I hadn't seated it fully in the magazine.  NOPE!  It would NOT take eight rounds...no way, Jose!

SO...even though the magazine will hold a full eight rounds, it won't load in MY Kimber with that number.  I've dropped my expectation and operation to seven rounds of .45 ACP, and am proceeding merrily on my way    They are beautiful mags, and come with an assortment of bottom pads that you can install yourself.  I highly recommend them to Kimber owners.

[Big Frank]

By loading one round less you're decreasing the spring tension by about half. The mags can be kept loaded that way without damaging the springs. It may feed better too.

[2HOW]

I use the 1 I got with the RIA which I assume is a Ed Brown 7 rounder, a 10 rounder I bought at a gun shop, 2-7 round Mil spec from Sportsman's guide. I keep em all loaded and shoot all of them when I shoot. no problems so far. I don't believe springs loose their tension, that may be an old wives tale or from when the springs were poorly made. I have kept mags loaded for 20 years without a malfunction.

[tombogan03884]

I use the 1 I got with the RIA which I assume is a Ed Brown 7 rounder, a 10 rounder I bought at a gun shop, 2-7 round Mil spec from Sportsman's guide. I keep em all loaded and shoot all of them when I shoot. no problems so far. I don't believe springs loose their tension, that may be an old wives tale or from when the springs were poorly made. I have kept mags loaded for 20 years without a malfunction.

I got a Novak 8 round with mine, on the lower portion of the Mag, right side says .45ACP, left side has Novaks logo.