1911 Questions: Alloy Frames, Skirted Mag Followers, and LostRiver's .45 ACP +P 250gr

[Jay585]

The pistol I'm referencing is a Colt 1911 XSE Lightweight from 2012, which was purchased on Gunbroker and did not come with a manual.

I remember there being some issue using magazine with forked followers in alloy frames. Apparently it dents the feed ramp? Is this true or urban myth?

I got this 1911 with the intent of being a "homestead" EDC. I'd likely carry with @Lost River's 45 ACP +P 250 gr. Is there a danger of battering the frame up if I end up firing between 500-1000 rounds through it?

If the answer is yes, is there a fix? Heavier springs maybe?

[Tokarev]

The spring-loaded collapsing followers like the original Chip McCormick were accused of causing damage as were some of the old school hollow points.

Most of the newer gen followers have a front leg so the follower can't slide forward. I'd also say more modern ammo like GDHP have a more rounded ogive that should feed without as much drama.

I wouldn't think your linked cast bullet load would cause any damage. Maybe some abrasion caused by powder fouling being rubbed between the feeding bullet and the feed ramp. All that is probably going to do is take some of the shininess off.

https://www.trippresearchinc.com/fol-flx-45acp/

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[JTQ]

It is only the Devel/Shooting Star follower, commonly used in the Chip McCormick (CMC) line-up of mags, that has that reputation. It was also an issue, though less of a problem, for the Ruger P90/P97/P345 when they moved to 8 round mags. Ruger used the same follower, but since they all had ramped barrels, it wasn't much of a problem, but the follower did contact the frames, but it was just cosmetic and it was on the inside of the gun, so not a problem.

CMC did develop the Power Plus follower to address that issue, so if you like CMC mags you can get a follower that is aluminum frame safe.

Both the PowerMag+ and the Railed Power Mags (RPM) have aluminum safe followers.

PowerMag + https://cmproducts.com/1911-magazine...ag_family=2019

RPM https://cmproducts.com/1911-magazine...power-mag.html

[JTQ]

The pistol I'm referencing is a Colt 1911 XSE Lightweight from 2012, which was purchased on Gunbroker and did not come with a manual.

If Colt included 8 rounders with that gun, they probably came with the Devel/Shooting Star followers, though I'm not sure those were CMC mags, or pieced together by Colt or some other supplier.

[Jay585]

It is only the Devel/Shooting Star follower, commonly used in the Chip McCormick (CMC) line-up of mags, that has that reputation. It was also an issue, though less of a problem, for the Ruger P90/P97/P345 when they moved to 8 round mags. Ruger used the same follower, but since they all had ramped barrels, it wasn't much of a problem, but the follower did contact the frames, but it was just cosmetic and it was on the inside of the gun, so not a problem.

CMC did develop the Power Plus follower to address that issue, so if you like CMC mags you can get a follower that is aluminum frame safe.

Both the PowerMag+ and the Railed Power Mags (RPM) have aluminum safe followers.

PowerMag + https://cmproducts.com/1911-magazine...ag_family=2019

RPM https://cmproducts.com/1911-magazine...power-mag.html

Well damn, I'll have to avoid using this these https://cmproducts.com/power-mag-ful...-magazine.html that I found at the LGS. It was the only LGS that didn't have Kimber mags. I also picked up a 7 round Ed Brown mag (with skirted follower) and tried to switch out the followers, but couldn't fit more than 9

[JTQ]

Well damn, I'll have to avoid using this these https://cmproducts.com/power-mag-ful...-magazine.html that I found at the LGS. It was the only LGS that didn't have Kimber mags. I also picked up a 7 round Ed Brown mag (with skirted follower) and tried to switch out the followers, but couldn't fit more than 9

The Ed Brown mag is a CheckMate product. The follower is the CheckMate Patented Follower (CMF).

I used to recommend if folks liked the Ed Brown mag to get them with the CheckMate brand from Top Gun Supply or Thunder Mountain Custom, but now it seems as if Ed Brown usually has more availability than the other two retailers. Thunder Mountain Custom is one of the few places other than CheckMate direct (retail is not CheckMate's strong suit), where you can get parts (springs and followers) for CheckMate mags.

Top Gun Supply https://www.topgunsupply.com/magazin...heck-mate.html

Thunder Mountain Custom https://1911parts.com/product-catego...acp-magazines/

[JTQ]

Well damn, I'll have to avoid using this these https://cmproducts.com/power-mag-ful...-magazine.html that I found at the LGS.

There are folks that like and use 10 round, .45 Auto, 1911 mags, but I consider them novelty items. My belief is if you need a .45 Auto shooter with more than 8 rounds in a mag, the single stack 1911 is not the gun for you.

Because the more rounds you stack in a single column mag, the more nosedive you get.

https://americanhandgunner.com/gear/...e-1911-45-acp/


Edit to add: While 5" guns are pretty forgiving, when shooting a round like a P+ 250gr, you need to have a mag spring that can keep up with a round like that which will really drive the slide.

Wilson has a tidbit in their FAQ section about compact guns regarding recoil and mags, that is worth reading when thinking of a heavy recoiling round with a 10 round mag.

https://wilsoncombat.com/wc-handgun-faq

All the mechanical changes are important, but the biggest factor is ammunition selection because it affects both slide cycle speed and the magazine's ability to lift the cartridge into position for proper feeding. Ammunition loaded with 230gr bullets generate more recoil impulse (especially +P loads) than 185gr loads, and 7 rounds of 185gr ammunition weighs 315gr less than 7 rounds of 230gr ammunition, making the column of ammunition easier for the magazine spring to lift. I hope you see where I'm going here?

[JTQ]

The only downside to the Wilson acquisition of CMC I've noticed is the mag parts availability. You used to be able to order their various follower's and springs, but at least at their on-line store, they only offer one spring follower combination and it doesn't appear to be one of their aluminum frame friendly options.

[358156hp]

The pistol I'm referencing is a Colt 1911 XSE Lightweight from 2012, which was purchased on Gunbroker and did not come with a manual.

I remember there being some issue using magazine with forked followers in alloy frames. Apparently it dents the feed ramp? Is this true or urban myth?

I got this 1911 with the intent of being a "homestead" EDC. I'd likely carry with @Lost River's 45 ACP +P 250 gr. Is there a danger of battering the frame up if I end up firing between 500-1000 rounds through it?

If the answer is yes, is there a fix? Heavier springs maybe?

Since you didn't get a manual with it, is your LW 1911 +P rated by its manufacturer? That would be handy information to have before ordering the ammo.

[Lost River]

Friends,

Minor rant ahead.

First though, just for clarification, this is in absolutely no way directed towards Jay585. His questions about frame battery and aluminum frames are reasonable and normal. I just get emails about things that it is completely impossible for me to know the answers to, on a regular basis. So I will get into that.


It is really not possible to say what is going to happen when someone uses a product in their firearm. I get multiple emails a week asking if they can run a certain type of ammo in a gun, and what their results will be. Often people want to know what kind of accuracy, how many rounds they can fire, etc. This is in used firearms with a history that is unknown, and a maintenance schedule that is unknown.

Better than 95% of the time when I ask when was the last time they changed a recoil spring, the answer is that they have never changed one. When I ask what the proper recoil spring weight is for their gun, they have no idea. They still want to know exactly how many rounds they can shoot before there will be any issues, if any at all.

That is like asking me to blindly guess how many miles they can drive in their car, with the used tires that are currently on it, over various terrain, before there will be a problem, without ever having seen the tires. Many people assume that if their gun is still functioning, that the springs must be fine, right? That is the same logic as saying as long as my tires are round and black, and have not popped yet, they must be fine, right?

I can say that in reference to aluminum framed 1911s, I have an early 70s Colt lightweight Commander. Maybe it was made in the 60s, can't remember at the moment. I shoot the heavy 250s through it every now and then. In fact this last Friday I was doing ammo development for the poly coated +P 250 load I am working on. I was running test loads through it that were warmer than the standard hard cast 250+P loads currently offered. Prior to going to the range, I inspected it. I could not remember the spring weight, but was guessing it was likely an 18# spring, so to be safe I put in a brand new 20# spring. Pretty big difference just racking the slide. Glad I did too, as shooting the warm test loads with an alloy frame Commander was not fun at all.

Love the gun, but I reserve shooting the Grizzly loads for making sure it is totally reliable, then for carrying on the trail. The rest of the time, I am happy with 200 grain SWCs in that little gun.



Ok off the soap box,

and back to our Friend Jay.

I would just say this.


Springs are super cheap. I toss springs very regularly. Buy in bulk to absorb the shipping cost and swap them out frequently. Your guns will thank you for it. Alloy frame guns need lots of lube and fresh springs more than anything. They will take a lot of heavy use if you keep on top of those two things.