New Colt brand magazine trouble

P71pilot · May 14, 2016, 09:43 AM

I recently received a Midway order which contained a Colt brand 7rd GI style 1911 magazine for my Springfield loaded model. Yesterday I got to test it for the first time. I had 1 fail to feed, with the cartridge (Winchester white box 230gr fmj, I know low quality ammo) halfway in the chamber, slide slightly stuck. A few minutes later I had a kind of stove pipe, but not exactly. Technically it was a failure to eject, but the spent casings head was wedged in the feed lips of mag, and the opening of the case was all mangled. I simply pulled the case out of the top of the mag and dropped the mag and continued to run it.

This 1911 works flawlessly with the factory Springfield 7rd GI style mags, as well as a kimber 8rd mag I have and a Wilson combat 7rd extended bottom mag with a polymer follower. I was loading all mags with 5rds and the Colt mag had 2 issues within about 20rds total fed through it. I noticed that with this magazine, the rounds aren't really being forced upward, they can easily be in a position that isn't all the way up where they should be. I give my mags a swift slap to the palm of my hand to help seat the rounds all the way rearward.

What do you guys think about this? I chose a Colt brand mag because it was affordable, it was 7rd GI style which I prefer, and it is the reknowned Colt brand (which I have heard are made by checkmate or metalform). I am mad that I may have wasted $22 when I could have just chosen a chip McCormick or metalform or Springfield magazine. This accounts for 3 malfunctions total from my 1911 in about 1400 +/- rds.

BarryLee · May 14, 2016, 10:30 AM

First off I’ll freely admit I’m not a 1911 expert, but I’ve shot a lot recently using Colt magazines. While I’ve had zero issues this doesn’t mean that the same magazines will work in your gun. It is my understanding that certain 1911s may or may not like certain magazines. I realize it probably shouldn’t be this way, but apparently it is or at least that’s what I’ve read and/or been told. Maybe there’s a tweak that can get them to work or regrettably you may have to simply try another brand.

lee n. field · May 14, 2016, 11:47 AM

Quote:

This 1911 works flawlessly with the factory Springfield 7rd GI style mags,

Also available and inexpensive, from Midway.

g.willikers · May 14, 2016, 11:54 AM

It sounds like either the mag spring is weak, or maybe there's a burr or something on the inside of the mag causing the hangup.
Either one can be easily rectified.
If you have other working mags, the usual cure is to throw the danged thing in the trash and be done with it.

James K · May 15, 2016, 10:08 PM

Probably not the case here, but some "Colt" magazines I have seen at gun shows were junk, and not made for or sold by Colt. Colt has tried to stop the fakers, but they simply say that "Colt" refers to the cartridge, not the company, and keep on peddling the trash.

Jim

runningbear · May 16, 2016, 07:30 AM

If the Mag base plate does not say Colt with their horse Logo, it's not the real deal Colt Mag. there are a lot of knock offs sold everywhere.

Myself i have used Wilson Combat brand Mags for years, and their the best.

Hawg · May 16, 2016, 08:04 AM

Colt has used a lot of manufacturers over the years. There will be a single letter on the baseplate to identify the maker. These are the most recent.

M=Metalform
C=Checkmate
O=Okay Industries
G=Mec-Gar

runningbear · May 16, 2016, 08:55 AM

My Mags from two new full sized .45 Colts around five years since bought , are C Checkmates made in USA, and have worked great.

May 14, 2016, 09:43 AM	#1
P71pilot Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2014 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 728	New Colt brand magazine trouble I recently received a Midway order which contained a Colt brand 7rd GI style 1911 magazine for my Springfield loaded model. Yesterday I got to test it for the first time. I had 1 fail to feed, with the cartridge (Winchester white box 230gr fmj, I know low quality ammo) halfway in the chamber, slide slightly stuck. A few minutes later I had a kind of stove pipe, but not exactly. Technically it was a failure to eject, but the spent casings head was wedged in the feed lips of mag, and the opening of the case was all mangled. I simply pulled the case out of the top of the mag and dropped the mag and continued to run it. This 1911 works flawlessly with the factory Springfield 7rd GI style mags, as well as a kimber 8rd mag I have and a Wilson combat 7rd extended bottom mag with a polymer follower. I was loading all mags with 5rds and the Colt mag had 2 issues within about 20rds total fed through it. I noticed that with this magazine, the rounds aren't really being forced upward, they can easily be in a position that isn't all the way up where they should be. I give my mags a swift slap to the palm of my hand to help seat the rounds all the way rearward. What do you guys think about this? I chose a Colt brand mag because it was affordable, it was 7rd GI style which I prefer, and it is the reknowned Colt brand (which I have heard are made by checkmate or metalform). I am mad that I may have wasted $22 when I could have just chosen a chip McCormick or metalform or Springfield magazine. This accounts for 3 malfunctions total from my 1911 in about 1400 +/- rds. __________________ Without the 2nd amendment, all other rights would not exist

May 14, 2016, 10:30 AM	#2
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	First off I’ll freely admit I’m not a 1911 expert, but I’ve shot a lot recently using Colt magazines. While I’ve had zero issues this doesn’t mean that the same magazines will work in your gun. It is my understanding that certain 1911s may or may not like certain magazines. I realize it probably shouldn’t be this way, but apparently it is or at least that’s what I’ve read and/or been told. Maybe there’s a tweak that can get them to work or regrettably you may have to simply try another brand. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

May 14, 2016, 11:54 AM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	It sounds like either the mag spring is weak, or maybe there's a burr or something on the inside of the mag causing the hangup. Either one can be easily rectified. If you have other working mags, the usual cure is to throw the danged thing in the trash and be done with it. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

May 15, 2016, 10:08 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Probably not the case here, but some "Colt" magazines I have seen at gun shows were junk, and not made for or sold by Colt. Colt has tried to stop the fakers, but they simply say that "Colt" refers to the cartridge, not the company, and keep on peddling the trash. Jim

May 16, 2016, 07:30 AM	#6
runningbear Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Posts: 226	If the Mag base plate does not say Colt with their horse Logo, it's not the real deal Colt Mag. there are a lot of knock offs sold everywhere. Myself i have used Wilson Combat brand Mags for years, and their the best.

May 16, 2016, 08:04 AM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Colt has used a lot of manufacturers over the years. There will be a single letter on the baseplate to identify the maker. These are the most recent. M=Metalform C=Checkmate O=Okay Industries G=Mec-Gar

May 16, 2016, 08:55 AM	#8
runningbear Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Posts: 226	My Mags from two new full sized .45 Colts around five years since bought , are C Checkmates made in USA, and have worked great.