Ten Round 1911 .45ACP Mags That Are Reliable?

[TheRoland]

So, recently I've been carrying a fully sized 1911.

When I'm carrying, the ten-round magazines are way too large to actually have in the gun. But they fit in a pocket or a mag carrier just fine, so I've been keeping one around for a reload. The problem is that I've not run 10 round mags nearly as much as I have 8-rounders.

56472
Tripp 8-rounders I've ran in a bunch of matches with FMJ and various JHPs, so that's what goes in the gun most of the time. I've never had a Tripp 8-round mag barf, which I can't say about anyone else, including the famous 47Ds. But Tripp's 10-round mags just look flimsy.

So, I have a couple of 10-round Wilson 47s that I've been using as spare magazines. They're illegal to use in most competition, where I usually wring out gear. So they've had maybe a hundred rounds through each and that's it. I'm hoping someone here has run 10-round mags more than I have to make recommendations. Do they keep working? Is Wilson the way to go here? Anything to look out for?

[TC215]

We ran 10-round Wilsons and Chip McCormicks at work with good results.

[GLB]

I have ran the Chip McCormick 10 rd mags with no problems. However I believe that the gun itself should be very well tuned and that any magazine outside of the original design (7) rounds could cause problems if the tuning is marginal.

[NPV]

I’ve had issue with the CMC mags in a few different guns. The new version of the Wilsons have been good to me so far, I actually started carrying one as a spare AIWB.

[JTQ]

I've avoided them as the more rounds you stack in a single column magazine, the more the angle changes on the top round, and not for the better.

[JonInWA]

I've had 4 Check-Mate carbon steel 10 round blued ones, bull-nosed followers, hybrid feed lips that have run fine; I've had them for several years, but in all honesty have not run them particularly hard. For carry/duty use, I'm in the "trust but verify" mode.

Best, Jon

[JTQ]

Chip McCormick (CMC) has a FAQ page with a point that is probably most significant for a 10 rounder as there is more weight/mass in a full tube and will put more stress on the feed lips.

https://www.cmproducts.com/FAQ_ep_42-1.html

1. Practice Smart – Don’t Kill Your Mags – The key to reliable feeding of your 1911 pistol is your magazine feed lips. Slamming fully loaded magazines into a pistol at Slide Lock greatly increases the pressure on the feed lips. Repeated impacts are the most common cause of spreading open the feed lips. Do it enough times and you can fatigue the metal. Keep reloads at Slide Lock to a minimum to increase service life of your magazines. Reloads made with the slide forward (in battery) places little or no stress on the feed lips.


If I had to have a 10 rounder, the Railed PowerMags (RPM) (I think Wilson - who now owns CMC - may also have a railed mag) make some sense

CMC RPM 10 rounder https://www.cmproducts.com/10-Round_c_81.html

[rd62]

My experience with .45acp 1911s is limited to a single 5" Govt Springfield Loaded in which I had good results using CMC 10rnd mags. I carried a Wilson 47D in the gun and reloaded with the 10rnd CMC Power Mags. I used it in a Pat Rogers/EAG class with out issue. That's been years ago though.

[GLB]

So, recently I've been carrying a fully sized 1911.

When I'm carrying, the ten-round magazines are way too large to actually have in the gun. But they fit in a pocket or a mag carrier just fine, so I've been keeping one around for a reload. The problem is that I've not run 10 round mags nearly as much as I have 8-rounders.

56472
Tripp 8-rounders I've ran in a bunch of matches with FMJ and various JHPs, so that's what goes in the gun most of the time. I've never had a Tripp 8-round mag barf, which I can't say about anyone else, including the famous 47Ds. But Tripp's 10-round mags just look flimsy.

So, I have a couple of 10-round Wilson 47s that I've been using as spare magazines. They're illegal to use in most competition, where I usually wring out gear. So they've had maybe a hundred rounds through each and that's it. I'm hoping someone here has run 10-round mags more than I have to make recommendations. Do they keep working? Is Wilson the way to go here? Anything to look out for?

On a side note, what grips are those?

[FNFAN]

I was at a class with some Denver gang guys and they were using CMC for primary and reloads.

[TheRoland]

Thanks for the feedback. So far, feed lips seem fine but I'll keep an eye there especially.

I *think* Wilson's newer 10-rounders (not the ones I have) are CMC's design.


On a side note, what grips are those?

VZ Recons, but heavily sandpapered in strategic spots to stop catching shirts. I like them but don't love them.

[vcdgrips]

Edge of my lane. My personally owned 1911 universe has never exceeded 3 guns at any one time. (2 Kimber Series 1s and a LEO turn in built on a Colt 1991).
I have maybe 20K rounds of 1911 fired total, less than 1k thru 10 rd magazines. IIRC, I only used Wilsons.

Wilson, CMC and Tripp are the holy trinity of 8 rd mags. I believe the same to be true for 10 rounders as well. If a particular brand works in a particular gun with a particular load.

Having said that, my direct and indirect experience based primarily on a group of guys that started training in the late 70s with Cooper et al believed based on their collective experiences (during which the group owned 100+ 1911s from surplus to Chuck Rogers and everything in between)

1. That certain guns like certain mags better with certain loads.
2. None of them believed that 10 rounders were as reliable as 8 rounders.
3. Most carried 8 in the gun (7+1), ergo 1 down to maximize reliability with a fully loaded 8 rounder for a reload.
4. Mags are consumables. Mark them. If it there is a problem 1x, repeat what you were doing to replicate it if possible. If the mag ever gives you a problem a 2x, mark it as a practice mag forever
and move on.
5. Particular attention needs to be paid to 10 rounders re spring tension and feed lip spread.

As such, I have chosen to forgo running 10 round mags. I carry Wilson ETMs. I train with Wilson ETMs, CMC Power mags and Tripps.

I do know that the FBI Regional SWAT guys here in KCMO ran 8 rounders from (edited to add- early 2000's) to 2017ish based on my personal observations/conversations with them until they all had to transition to Glock 9mm.

I fully acknowledge that incremental improvements are being often made by mag manufacturers and my "data" set is circa 1991-2007. I would defer to those who have more recent experience, particularly in high round count training/competitive environments.

Good on your for doing your research. I know I miss the 1911 trigger as I get older and am cautiously optimistic that the Dan Wesson DWX will be an answer to my prayers.


PS-Edited to add- The VZs are a very well textured grip and well made. A couple of guys I know who run them usually put a couple of squares of sandpaper and/or an emory board in their bag for "texture tuning."

[HCM]

The best ten round mags I’ve used have been CMC with the Tripp Super 9 kits installed.

YMMV

[Trooper224]

I've used these Checkmates for years with good results: https://www.topgunsupply.com/check-mate-.45acp-10rd-ss-hybrid-removable-base-full-size-1911-magazine.html

The 8-round Checkmate, with extended base pad, has been my standard go-to 1911 mag for years. I have over thirty of them.
https://www.topgunsupply.com/check-mate-.45acp-8rd-ss-hybrid-full-size-1911-magazine-cm45-8-s-rb-ext.html

Checkmate gets a bad rap for their Beretta mags, which always seem to have one issue or the other going on. However, their 1911 mags are as good as any others and at a better price than many. I went to them after getting tired of constantly replacing springs in the vaunted Wilson 47D.

Regardless of the 10 rounder you choose, you have to keep up on the mag springs. Pushing ten rounds of .45acp up through a single column tube just seems to wear them out quicker than 7 or 8. This is the primary reason why I've never used 10 rounds mags for carry, only for competition and range work.

[Patrick Taylor]

The only 10 rounders I have used at McCormick pre wilson mags and have not had a problem with them.
Only negative is the follower design does drag sometimes when ejecting an empty mag same as on the 8 round ones.

[TCB]

I’ve used CMC Power 10+ with no issues in a couple USPSA Nationals and high round count classes...They seem as reliable as my Wilson ETM 8 round magazines.

[45dotACP]

I've had better luck with the Wilson mags than the CMCs. My CMC 10 rounders that don't work get a Tripp Super-9 kit.

The fact that Wilson's new model is basically a CMC is also good.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

[MGW]

I only use 10 rounders for games and classes and I’ve only tried Chip powermags. I also only have a few of them. They work great in one Springfield and terrible in the other.

[MGW]

The best ten round mags I’ve used have been CMC with the Tripp Super 9 kits installed.

YMMV

I’m curious what do the Tripp parts do in these mags? I’ve seen this recommended several times but never tried it. Several 10 rounders that work would make classes easier.

[HCM]

I’m curious what do the Tripp parts do in these mags? I’ve seen this recommended several times but never tried it. Several 10 rounders that work would make classes easier.

Replacement spring and follower that reduce the capacity to 9 rounds in exchange for increased reliability. Has a stronger spring and 9 rounds gives more space for the spring to do its work. Given the springs on 10 round 45 mags wear faster than on 7&8 round mags

[MGW]

Replacement spring and follower that reduce the capacity to 9 rounds in exchange for increased reliability. Has a stronger spring and 9 rounds gives more space for the spring to do its work. Given the springs on 10 round 45 mags wear faster than on 7&8 round mags

Thanks! I think I’ll give them a try.

[awmp]

Wilson ETM 10rd mags so far so good for the last couple of years.

[03RN]

Ive had pretty good luck with cmc and wilson. My carry mag is the wilson 10rd with folded lips

[SW CQB 45]

I am a 8 round CMC PM dude for duty carry.

I used some CMC 10s for years in LEO accuracy comp as the last stage was 18 rounds, so to avoid 3 mag changes, I would load two 10s with 9 rounds each. Everything worked for years but later sent my Colt off for a new barrel and tighten (David Sams) and my 10s were no longer reliable. In fact, my CMC PM 8s with Tripp kits in them were no longer reliable in this tight Colt. they would tie up on feeding. My gunsmith told me to use MecGar 7s with this Colt and they have worked perfect.

Getting back to duty carry,

I am still on the same CMC mag tubes (8s and 10s) since day one, however I recently updated all my springs and followers. About two years ago, I had noticed an occasional fail to go into battery with my 10s on my duty MCOP, so I bought one CMC RPM 8 and a couple of black RPM 10s. The black coated 10 rounder RPMs would not feed. In fact, they felt gritty (when loading). I sent them back and replaced with the 10 round RPM sts version but never have I tested them to fully.

I have about 8 WC Elite and 4 WC 10s, but for some reason dont use them. I prefer the robust feeling of the CMCs.

I will likely be buying new CMC PMs 8s for duty carry in the near future.

On a side note, one negative with the CMC PM and their follower design is it will ding up your frame below the feed ramp with hard use.

https://i.imgur.com/y0Yhs3wh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/H1AQVR2h.jpg

[RevolverRob]

The best ten round mags I’ve used have been CMC with the Tripp Super 9 kits installed.

YMMV

This ^^^^ Is the solution I am now employing with 10-rounders

I have a mixture of Wilson and CMC 8 and 10 rounders. The CMC 10-rounders are generally good to go, but sometimes one gives me trouble, enough that I’m kind of...unsure if today will be the day one of the CMCs decides it’s done. But stuff it with a Super 9 kit and they all function 100%.

I’ve mentioned before, my default - if the mag body is still good, but I get a lock back issue from a mag, I rebuild it with a Tripp kit. I have a ~half dozen 47Ds with Tripp Super 7s, similar number of CMCs with Super 9s installed. Tripp guts make good mag bodies into great magazines.

I’ve been running Wilson ETMs lately as well...but I’ll admit for carry I’m very comfortable and confident that the 47D/Super7 runs. So I tend to use those for carry and the ETMs for range/class stuff.

[45dotACP]

I actually had better luck with the Wilson ten rounders than the CMC 10 round powemags so the ten round ETMs are looking tempting.

The 8 round CMCs are great. I actually like those better than the ETMs.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

[Tamara]

The one ten-round .45ACP 1911 mag that I actively avoid are the older Wilsons with the metal tab tack-welded on the front to prevent over-insertion.

The first time you pop one of those tabs off doing an overly enthusiastic slide-lock reload and get the mag jammed way up in the gun after it's sheared the nose off the extended ejector, you'll hate them, too.

I guess maybe CMC had patented that oversleeve floorplate or something? But that's not a problem anymore, obviously.