1911 magazines: Who makes the best?

[@mikeschroeder9870]

Generally all factory 1911 mags are production made for a variety of Firearms. Unfortunately not all, including the best magazines will work reliably without proper tuning. What make a mag a high quality mag is the quality and tempering of the steel. Even a high quality Magazine may require professional tuning.

[@GatCat]

I had to pin your comment, as I have witnessed these statements firsthand. By you! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@juncapulong1911]

Even a expensive 1911 magazine will nosedive if the feed lips and the follower are not made perfect.

[@rtaggs8178]

Guess I have been very fortunate, I have never had a bad magazine.

[@anthonysholars4782]

What would you recommend with ira

[@KeanonGilliamSlang369]

When ever I buy a 1911, I buy at least 2 Wilson Combat magazines. They just work for me.

[@donadams9755]

I've found that Tripp Cobra mags and Wilson Combat mags work best in my 1911 pistols. Yes they cost a little more, but as Patrick Sweeney says, "Buy once, cry once."

[@GatCat]

Ya a lot of people say that. For good reason.

[@dariusreynolds2431]

Quality over Quantity always

[@carbinejoey612]

Tisas 1911 comes with the med gar mags

[@rolltide5586]

The most expensive way to find good magazines is to buy cheap ones first then buy the good ones. Invest in quality from the start it really is the most cost effective way.

[@johnjackson7464]

good job! I have now a few Dan Wesson, a few Wilson and a Les Baer 1911's. I have a lot of different mags too, but the least expensive and 100% reliable in 9 or 45 has been the Mec Gar mags. I was so glad to hear you say the name right up front. Good Job! I agree- They work in all the 1911's flawlessly and while I use them mostly at the range- if I had to load up a go bag and defend my family- I wouldn't think twice about using those Mec Gar mags! Excellent.

[@michaell397]

Oddly, what he was calling a Mec Gar was actually a ACT, not Mec Gar. The ACT has narrow area in the feel area and you can plainly see the "A" stamped in the body of the Mag. That and the Mec Gar has a steel follower, the ACT has a synthetic follower. For what ever reason, Mec-Gar did have ACT make a lot of these mags under the Mec-Gar name. It is different than their design. I've never heard why they did this. KnifeMaker

[@austinmurphy6359]

Funny I had to go buy wilson combat mags because my mecgar mags were terrible.

[@maxmccain8950]

Agreed. They are OEM for many, many new handguns.

[@idessaoutlaw]

Colt.. Chip McCormick, Brownells, Wilson Combat, 🥃😎👌

[@almorrow8158]

My vote wilson combat

[@GatCat]

That’s a good one.

[@davidbrown2284]

Man, spot on with the Mec Gar mags. They know a thing or two about magazines. My Ruger SR1911 in 9mm performs better with the 10 round Mec Gar mags than with the factory Ruger magazine. I tried most 9mm branded magazines, and they do perform differently. Thanks, nice video.

[@glbshooter]

io ho la 1911 ruger SR 9mm e i caricatori MecGar vanno a sbattere sull'espulsore

[@gunsforevery1]

Wilson combat mags and the factory colt flush 8 rounders have been extremely reliable for me

[@juncapulong1911]

The same on me

[@xb0xisbetter]

Unless something has changed recently, Check-Mate makes Colt's magazines. I used to be able to pick up stainless Check-Mate mags for $10-12 each. I have compared them to factory Colt mags myself and they were clearly made in the same factory but sold with different markings. Figuring things might change in terms of pricing and availability, I picked up a bunch of them soon after I found that information somewhere online. I have had very few magazine-related problems with them.

[@theia1653]

You can tell the Colt is on par with the Wilson by how smooth the spring cycles. No creaking or hangups. Finish is high quality too, stainless or blued. Just that the Wilson is a more modern design with polymer follower and base pad for easier disassembly, while the Colt is classic all steel GI with a compact form.

[@user-mm4je1sb9b]

Colt fan boys beware. Have never had good success with factory Colt mags, EVEN IN COLTS! MEC-GAR ALWAYS WORK FLAWLESSLY...

[@gunsforevery1]

@@user-mm4je1sb9b mec-gar is a great company. They make many OEM magazines for many different companies.

[@Turboy65]

The feed lip design is very important to magazine function and it's also very important to understand that specific bullet profiles demand specific feed lip designs. They work together to assure that the controlled round feed system works properly.

[@GatCat]

Absolutely. Great point.

[@timwalsh715]

I own 3 1911 pistols, a Colt, a Kimber and a Springfield. I do not use the Kimber stock mag, never have - will not even seat in 2 of the 3 so it's in the box for parts, maybe. I have close to 30 mags on hand of assorted lineage. Some Kim Pros, some Chip McCormick and mostly Wilson Combat. I have tested all of them and they all load, feed, fire and eject perfectly in the 3 - every time over many hundred rounds. I see folks talking about Tripp Cobra mags, never heard of them.

[@eddykay57]

Wilson Combat. They also have great 1911 replacement parts. Slide stop, flat recoil springs, mag release and springs, etc. And don't forget those shock buffers for full size government models...

[@GatCat]

I agree.

[@BullseyePistol]

Metalform magazines work well for me and aren’t too expensive. But, I also like Wilson and Tripp

[@michaelhodges8312]

I like Wilson 47DC and Chip McCormick 1911 Classic flush 8 rd. mags for my 1911A1 Army. The 47DC with low profile steel base plates.

[@jasestrong]

Thank you! I agree with Med-Gar, they make a lot of mags for big manufacturers, I have used the them in my Walther with no problems. I am looking forward to trying Mec-Gar in my Colt 1991 A1

[@adamjohnson531]

I'm quite the fan of the Chip McCormick 8rd conversion kits 15 bucks and most any GI mag runs like a Cmc shooting star

[@jayhogan1166]

Agreed... McCormick is owned by Wilson Combat... and that is a good thing

[@mattwilliams8144]

Tripp research cobra mags. The best by far.

[@andog6092]

You have earned a like and follow. I was unaware of the mag trade in with Ed brown. I never used their mags, but I am definitely trading in the cheap factory mags in. Thank you

[@GatCat]

Absolutely!

[@patriot3431]

My PT1911 gov comes with a mec-gar mag and it occasionally has a feed jam. After getting the 47d Wilson combat magazine it doesn’t jam.

[@jimmcfaul699]

I use Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick mags.

[@Sanguivore]

Of the two, do you have a preference? I have a full-size GI 1911A1 and I'm looking to get a few 10 rd. mags for them, and I'm not sure which to go with--Chip McCormick, or Wilson.

[@jimmcfaul699]

@@Sanguivore either one. Wilson Combat owns Chip McCormick. They both work really well. I haven't had any issues with either of them.

[@Sanguivore]

@@jimmcfaul699 Excellent news! Thank you, my friend.

[@BlueElwood]

Great video, love the very detailed yet easy to follow information

[@GatCat]

Thanks!

[@donadams9755]

Money spent on quality is never wasted. Go with Wilson Combat or Tripp. Buy once, cry conce.

[@Dan-x4o3m]

I think that if your gonna shoot just ball, then actual gi spec mags are the absolute best, except the only company that is producing a gi spec magazine is checkmate, as far as I know.

[@GatCat]

@@Dan-x4o3m cartridges are typically what interacts with the feed lips. The ramp of course making contact with the round. It all plays a part.

[@maxmccain8950]

Agreed. The feed lips were designed around ball ammo.

[@ShredderSensei]

I’ve had good success with Metalform and Checkmate (Ed Brown) in my RIA 9mm. CMC in my 45

[@J1Z06]

How about Metalform? They've always worked well for Me. Mec Gar are also fine mags along with 47D Wilson mags. I've never used anything else.

[@J1Z06]

@@007-c4b I've had good luck with Wilson 10 round mags and 47D.

[@GatCat]

I thought I mentioned metal form, I’m sure I did. They make great stuff.

[@METALWERX]

I bought a 3 pack of Klonimus mags for $46, pretty decent mags for the price, no problems yet.

[@michaelsteele9341]

The factory mag that came with my rock island ultra works fine. The 2 wilson mags i bought seem to need " slammed in" harder on they wont click in. Dont know if i explained that right.

[@GatCat]

I’m glad you mentioned this. As it echoes the very point I was attempting to make, in that each gun will prefer specific mags. That said, a likely culprit to your WC problem is the notch in the mag that locks it in place. If it’s just a millimeter different than your other mags, it could result in this issue.

[@doclucky1956]

An easy question with an easy answer, Wilson Combat.

[@GatCat]

Lol, very true. Honestly, when I watch this video back it annoys me a bit. Just how long winded the video is. I think it’s about 4 minutes too long. It has little structure.

[@hotajax]

Videos like this should always be preceded by telling you that not every brand of magazine will work in every 1911 out there, EVEN if tuned.

[@GatCat]

Sorry for late reply. Your sentiments were the essence of the video, were they not?

[@hotajax]

@@GatCat Another internet know-it-all. Piss off

[@davidpkm]

Ed Brown looks a lot like a Chip McCormick. Just gotta see what your gun likes guys. I know that isn't an answer anyone wants, because its expensive to buy a bunch of different mags, but it matters. Use the others for training, w just a couple rounds or for malfunction drills. It's not wasted money. I've had a few 1911s. One of the one's I still have is a Dan Wesson Specialist Commander .45. Functionally, its been 100% regardless of the mag. However it won't lock back on 9 of my 10 Wilson 47D mags. It'll feed from them just fine. It just wont lock back. Dunno the reason, but it's just those mags. They're supposed to be the gold standard of 1911 mags. Well, not always. Colt factory mags, Chip McCormick Powermags, Tripp Cobramags, the OEM Metalform mags, all 100% feed and lock back. For whatever reason 9 out of 10 Wilson's just won't lock. They feed just fine though. I have some ETMs coming to see how those fair. I'm sure the Wilson 931s would probably work just like the CMC, just wanna try the plastic followers and see how it goes.

[@HUMAN_ANALOGS]

This video made me a subscriber. Thank you!

[@GatCat]

Hey thanks!

[@edricksimmons4484]

Act-mag is a great mag as well... i even have a promag 10 round that works beautiful!! But for personal defense Wilson combat is my goto

[@pistolpete6321]

Great video, very helpful.

[@GatCat]

Thanks!

[@jason200912]

ed brown or wilson combat mag for reliability? I know wilson uses the higher magazine design to assist the feed ramp but idk if ed brown also does that.

[@GatCat]

@@jason200912 they both make quality mags. I prefer the feet ramp on most Wilson combat mags.

[@LUIZS87]

Can you by any chance show how the 9 and 10 round mags look when placed inside the 1911 please? I would like to see how much they might stick out compared to the normal 8 round. Also i wonder if it does stick out if having a mag well on it will hide it a little better

[@GatCat]

The plastic base pad will stick out on the 10 round 45ACP mags.

[@TruthBombz]

Sig......all my 1911's run with SIG magazines.

[@backyrdbully3276]

All of my semi autos are Sig. The one 1911 I have is the Sig Max Michel. I usually only run sig mags but for this one in which I've had for about three years I'm going with the Wilson Combat. I don't like how the Sig mag sits in that gun. I feel as if I always have to double check to make sure the mag is in there flushed.

[@Sprice93USAF]

Metalform for me

[@waynehatton4136]

I like SIG 1911 45 ACP mags.

[@cammoscout1437]

use a bulge buster from lee . should fix the reloads problem ...

[@GatCat]

Can you elaborate? I had a gunsmith work it out for me.

[@joeguzman3558]

Wilson elite 10 rounds-black or stainless, we all know the best thing is the same brand as the gun but if you want to improve Wilson 100%, im a small timer colt 1911 collector and some of the older ones it's nesesary to replace the spring and the original magazines, springs Wolff is top magazines Wilson

[@thetwotones232]

Just put a tisas 1911A1 us army model on layaway and they told me it comes with 3 Wilson combat mags

[@mohammedcohen]

I've been using Chip McCormick magazines since 1991 or so...excellent stuff...

[@GatCat]

I agree. They are among the top 3 of most suggested 1911 mags.

[@Koj-Yog.Paj-Hlwb.Quav-Xwb]

Any recommendations for the llama 1911 Max I L/F 9mm ?

[@glennwhisler8678]

If you’re speaking of the 9mm Largo, Find someone with a 1911-38 super magazine to try out. They’re both 9x23

[@GatCat]

Llama 1911’s have the reputation of being some of the most problematic and picky. So it will be trial and error. Wilson Combat is a great place to start.

[@richardcarden4161]

Meg-gar's are very good.

[@richwilson7619]

I have nothing but problems with Megar in all of my 11s. Ed Brown or Wilson are the best in my pistols no matter the caliber. Ed Brown best price because they run specials. 5 for a buck eighteen. Wilson bought Ed Brown.

[@GatCat]

This is exactly why Idrove home the point of whatever works best for you. I had issues with older Wilson combat 10 round mags. The baseplate slipping over the front strap. Over inserting on its own. But this was fixed by WC. They do make good magazines.

[@brentknowlton3861]

The Ed Brown mag doesn't seat properly in my Tisas, any thoughts

[@glennwhisler8678]

Did you get those EB mags to run in that Tisas yet? I was just going to order a couple EB’s for the Tisas I just picked up, because they were relatively cheaper in price than usual.

[@tpr299]

Ed Brown’s are junk. They didn’t seat in my .45 either. Coating on them was like glue, and when I sent them back. They just ground off the coating so they looked like hell, and then sent them back. They still wouldn’t insert into the gun. Worst gun product, and service I ever got.

[@murphy4yt]

I have five of them, and they work fine. Mine are stainless, maybe that’s the difference. Have you tried depressing the mag release? I know you shouldn’t have to do that, but sometimes that’s what it takes.

[@josephnoneofyourbeeswax8517]

Wilson Combat, Kimber, Sig Sauer.

[@johnkizziah108]

1911 45acp mags are a consumable. Don't last forever best expensive mags "rail mags chip McCormick ". Met-gar are best bang for the buck..1911s in 9mm isn't right with nature lol.

[@gdmofo]

Mec-Gar

[@Echo556V1]

Wilson Combat Magazines didn’t work in My Springfield 1911A1 45. Would you know what other magazines would work in that Gun?

[@GatCat]

Wilson Combat makes many different models of magazine, so I’m not sure why they wouldn’t work. It’s a trial and error thing. You may want to find out why they aren’t working. Is it not seating correctly? But try Ed Brown maybe?

[@Echo556V1]

@@GatCat Yeah, I tried to Put the Mag in but it won’t accept it for some reason.

[@LesRinehart-u6i]

Your not loading them right

[@Echo556V1]

@@LesRinehart-u6i Well of course I was. What kind of a Dumb question is that.

[@LesRinehart-u6i]

@@Echo556V1 you have bent follower tab son

[@Marctastic1]

I just bought the Wilson 10 round for my Kimber 1911 but every time i pull the slide it gets stuck for some reason

[@GatCat]

Can you elaborate?

[@never2be07]

What are the mag holsters you’re showing

[@GatCat]

The black kydex one is a Blackhawk single stack double mag case. The leather one is made by Kirkpatrick.

[@GatCat]

I prefer the leather Kirkpatrick one. It’s really nice.

[@mohammedcohen]

...been subscribed for quite some time now...

[@GatCat]

I’ll keep that in mind when my “random” giveaway comes. ;)

[@Red-gr1yu]

Hey man awesome video I'm going to have to get me some of those met-gar mag I have some Wilson Combat magazines and I recently been buying the Sig 8-round magazines and been having very good luck with those really like the base plate and the follower is plastic but I don't like the follower as much as to Wilson Combat follower but they have been 100% reliable and they were only $32 which is cheap for Sig magazines lol

[@GatCat]

Absolutely! It’s a tricky game. Wilson combat seems to have it down. They had to switch designs a few times. At least with their 10 rounders. Their newer $55 pro series is impressive. Latham’s? I forget who the pro model is endorsed with. Anyway they have no witness holes.

[@Red-gr1yu]

@@GatCat are those the Vickers tactical mags or is that a different model

[@GatCat]

@@Red-gr1yu that’s what I was thinking of! Yes.

[@Red-gr1yu]

@@GatCat I've heard that they are way over built and super high quality I might pick one up and try it

[@GatCat]

@@Red-gr1yu I’m tempted to get a blued one. Wilson combat website just had them on sale for like $43! Too. Which is the best price I had ever seen for them.

[@dougmoore5252]

My Wilson Magazines work well

[@OfKingsXI]

I wonder if that guy who sells 20$ mags is still available

[@GatCat]

@@OfKingsXI Greg cote llc

[@OfKingsXI]

@@GatCat INCREDIBLE thank you sir!!!

[@LesRinehart-u6i]

Wilson

[@thefaithful5991]

I wish I could legally own a 1911

[@GatCat]

Where do you live?

[@isaacguerrero155]

Bought Wilson combat and doesn't work with my 1911 😅

[@maryjoybolante7305]

How can i bye magazine for colt 45 9mm??

[@GatCat]

Waive and be strong.

[@maryjoybolante7305]

What?

[@EseJandro]

@@GatCat bye 👋🥲

[@GatCat]

@@maryjoybolante7305 to be honest I didn’t understand your question, but I did see an opportunity for a fun joke :) anyway, can you please explain your question better. What are you seeking?

[@glennwhisler8678]

What is a Colt 45 9mm? Is that anything like a double barrel extended clip magazine?

[@harrycallahan9733]

8:45 Those two Springfield mags look like they were made by Check-Mate. Both followers have a "skirt" in the front, that's a Check-Mate trademark. I believe they call these "bullnose" followers :) BTW, from what I heard, Ed Brown mags also are made by Check-Mate. Check-Mate makes factory OEM mags for a lot of 1911 makers, same as the Metalform. My Colt Series 80 Gov't came with two Check-Mate 7rd mags :)

[@GatCat]

@@harrycallahan9733 it’s quite possible. I imagine they have had contracts with various mag manufacturers over the years. Thanks for the info on these ones.

[@007Chancellor]

A quality, properly fit 1911 will be uber reliable with WC mags. A low quality, poorly fit 1911 won't work well with any mags. You can mess with valuation factors with a range toy. For a defensive pistol, bite the bullet and buy the best.

[@mmclaurin8035]

Weird that you own so many 1911 magazines and don't have any .45 ACP caliber snap caps. Not a criticism, but I just thing it's unusual to own a firearm and not have ANY dummy rounds for it.

[@GatCat]

That’s a very valid point. I have a G-Sight laser sight (dry fire training). After acquiring those, I never needed snap caps other than purpose of a video or to demonstrate to a new shooter. Hopefully I answered your question, certainly a valid one.

[@juncapulong1911]

Test your magazine first if it’s working on your gun that’s the best 1911 magazine.

[@J1Z06]

Very sound advice!

[@GatCat]

Precisely.

[@sheevikhanik]

If the wilson combat mag costs 40 bucks spend the 40 bucks. Don’t waste a bunch of money on crap that’s gunna jam and make issues anyway 1911s are already fickle enough

[@tomgiorgini9154]

wilson 8 rounders do not fit junk mags 920 series

[@alpalmieri8644]

Tripp

[@Daniel-fy6ej]

This dude sounds like Louis C.K.

[@GatCat]

Lol

[@tomgiorgini9154]

your title says the best not the most economical

[@tpr299]

NOT Ed Brown. I can guarantee you that.

[@tomgiorgini9154]

tripp reaserch are the best not wilson

[@pichepm]

Wilson Combat are trash.

[@teelowteelow356]

Why do you think so? I like mine but i prefer to buy the Mec-Gars because they are literally half the price (10 rounders as well)

[@LesRinehart-u6i]

Your dumb

[@thomthompson9217]

Mec Gar? OK…I’ve stopped vomiting now.🤮

[@jasestrong]

They make a solid mag, they make them For Walther and they are great. I shoot IDPA and shoot about 600 rounds a month, some more.

[@jasestrong]

GatCat, where in Florida is your supplier? I am north of Tampa .