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I'm just purchased my first 1911 - an STI Guardian this past weekend. It is an officer's frame and came with only one 7 round magazine and the vendor I purchased the gun from was out of any extra magazines. I'm looking to purchase several additional magazines and have to admit I'm getting confused. Call me picky, but In the past, I have always purchased "factory" magazines for my handguns. I called STI and they told me to purchase any "quality" officer's size magazine. So, I did a few internet searches and found multiple options within even the same manufacturer.

So, here are my (admittedly uneducated) questions:

1. What qualifies as a "quality" brand magazine? Any that I should completely avoid?
2. Will each of the 6, 7 or 8 round officer size magazines fit?
3. Besides the obvious, what is the difference between 6, 7 and 8 round magazines?
4. Would I be better off taking my STI to the store and test fitting actual magazines or are they truly interchangeable?

Thanks in advance. The 1911 newbie appreciates any advice and guidance.

1. What qualifies as a "quality" brand magazine? Any that I should completely avoid?

Brands to consider: Tripp Research, Wilson Combat, Mec-Gar
avoid: cheap 'gun show GI mags'

2. Will each of the 6, 7 or 8 round officer size magazines fit?

yes.

3. Besides the obvious, what is the difference between 6, 7 and 8 round magazines?

only the obvious: the higher the capacity the longer the magazine. Now with different follower designs you can sometimes gain a round. ie. an 8rd mag the length of a standard 7rd.

4. Would I be better off taking my STI to the store and test fitting actual magazines or are they truly interchangeable?

they are interchangeable, however you may find that the gun prefers one brand or follower design over another

some magazine options:

http://www.trippresearch.com/store/store_1911.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Compact-Off ... rtments/3/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.mec-gar.com/Magazines/1911" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://store.novaksights.com/1911magazines.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for the info and the links, ghostrider

Another magazine suggestion - - - Chip McCormick they are good solid reliable mags. Of all that were listed Tripp Cobra Mags are my first choice.

MoJo wrote:Another magazine suggestion - - - Chip McCormick they are good solid reliable mags. Of all that were listed Tripp Cobra Mags are my first choice.

On the Chip McCormick. I've only fired about five hundred rounds through my Springfield GI Model but I haven't a failure to feed yet.

I haven't had the same good luck with Chip McCormick mags as some others, but the best I've tried so far have been the Tripp Research Cobra Mags.

They are a bit pricier than the others, but they are very well made, and have an interesting follower design. In fact, over time I have replaced all of my 1911 mags with Tripp Research mags. I think they are the best. Next to them, my next pick are the Wilson Combat mags.

The Annoyed Man wrote:I haven't had the same good luck with Chip McCormick mags as some others, but the best I've tried so far have been the Tripp Research Cobra Mags.

They are a bit pricier than the others, but they are very well made, and have an interesting follower design. In fact, over time I have replaced all of my 1911 mags with Tripp Research mags. I think they are the best. Next to them, my next pick are the Wilson Combat mags.

My Springfield has a more conservative feed ramp on the barrel and because of that, I try to stick with ammo that has a more rounded profile. In fact, I had some Hornady TAP ammo with squarish shoulders on the bullets that wouldn't even seat in the chamber (and I got one stuck). So maybe the McCormicks have worked for me due to the type of ammo I put in them. I'm not a 1911 expert by any means, so I'm just making guesses. I've heard of the Tripp Mags from you guys before, but I've never seen one...I'll have to go look them up.

Well, because I was going to a training class this morning, I had to stick with what I could find a local gun stores. Ended up picking up both a 7 round and an 8 round Wilson Combat magazine. I can say I'm not terribly impressed. First time I went to load the 7 round mag, the follower shot out of the magazine. Got it put back together and it ran fine, but loading was a bit of an issue - I had to be very careful with the first round. I had no issues loading the 8 round magazine, but it did fail to feed and chamber a round one time - even after several tap-racks, removing and reinserting the magazine and trying again. Tried it again later and didn't have any issues. New gun, new mags so I don't know where the issue was.

Guess I'll try to take them back to the store and order some from Tripp Research.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice.

I stopped using Wilson 47D's for the same reason. Lots of failure to feed's and could not insert into the gun without having to press the release button.

Upgraded to Tripp Research 7 round mags for both my Officer's/Compact grip length and also my Full Size (Govt) grip length pistols.

7R-45-WO = 7rd/45cal/welded base, Officer's Grip Length.
7R-45-WG = 7rd/45cal/welded base, Govt. Grip Length.

Previous experience with 8 round mags were not good. Decided to go with what JMB designed.

These are considered by many to be the best you can buy and made in Texas!

Just get the Tripp and be done with it. I'm sure Wilsons are good mags but I did have a problem with the first one I bought.

I've been happy with the Act-Mag as well. They are OEM manufacturer for some other 1911 magazines.

http://www.act-mag.com/index.php/id-1911-mags.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

here's a whole forum dedicated to 1911 magazine:
http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=53" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ghostrider wrote:I've been happy with the Act-Mag as well. They are OEM manufacturer for some other 1911 magazines.

http://www.act-mag.com/index.php/id-1911-mags.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

here's a whole forum dedicated to 1911 magazine:
http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=53" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks ghostrider. Actually, Act-Mag is the brand that came with my STI Guardian. Guess I should have looked closer to figure that out.

Well, I called Tripp Research today and asked if they had a base plate that would fit the 8 round magazine and allow me to use it in the officer frame without over-inserting it. After checking in the back, they told me they did but t wasn't listed on the web site, so I ordered an extra 7 round magazine and several 8 round magazines with the special base plate. As someone pointed out to me, you only need the 7 round magazine when you are concealed - if you have to reload, they know you've got a gun! I figured for training classes and range time the one extra round would be nice.

Thanks for all of the advice. I'll report back after I've taken they are delivered and I've had a chance to go to the range.

AndyC has some posts hidden away on here about magazines that control the round the whole time the gun is being cycled.

Worth reading for 1911 owners.

A Tripp spring and follower set will make just about any mag better.