Some basic 1911 questions for a 1911 Newbie

[hammerbiker]

I disagree on the availability. Locally maybe yes, but good quality magazines can be found all over on the web, especially through Brownells and Midway. Hook up with a member here that has an FFL, dealer cost can be as much as 50% less than list.

I do think MecGar makes good magazines, but I think you should check out MetalForm (sp) magazines. I believe a lot of handgun manuafcuters have their magazines made by MetalForm, so they do have a pretty good product. The good Springfield Armory magazines with the front groove/indent in the 9mm are less than $20 dealer cost, also I think made by MetalForm and are the best thing going if you are a having any feed problem at all with a 9mm 1911.

I'm not familiar with MetalForm, my wife has the Springfield mags but has had problems with them locking the slide back. We wanted Wilson Combat mags but they don't make 9mm. Neither does Chip McCormick. Midway's cost for Springfield mags is $30. The MecGar mags have been on back order a month and are not expected in for another month from Midway.

[cobb]

I'm not familiar with MetalForm, my wife has the Springfield mags but has had problems with them locking the slide back. We wanted Wilson Combat mags but they don't make 9mm. Neither does Chip McCormick. Midway's cost for Springfield mags is $30. The MecGar mags have been on back order a month and are not expected in for another month from Midway.

You say she has problems, is it just with the Springfield magazines and do you have the same problem when you shooter her pistol?

[hammerbiker]

You say she has problems, is it just with the Springfield magazines and do you have the same problem when you shooter her pistol?

It's both SpringfIeld & Kimber mags. MecGars work fine. I have the same problem (slide not always locking back when empty) when I shoot her gun. I sent one mag back to Kimber, you could see the follower would stick and not come all the way to the top. Kimber just sent us a new one along with a new slide stop. We haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

[hammerbiker]

I changed the recoil spring on this gun from a 12 to a 10 lb. This pretty much fixed the problem with this gun. My wife likes to shoot 115gr. UMC Remington because of it's soft recoil. I thinking the ammo didn't have enough energy to lock the slide back (either long enough or far enough?) for the slide stop to catch.

[cobb]

I changed the recoil spring on this gun from a 12 to a 10 lb. This pretty much fixed the problem with this gun. My wife likes to shoot 115gr. UMC Remington because of it's soft recoil. I thinking the ammo didn't have enough energy to lock the slide back (either long enough or far enough?) for the slide stop to catch.

I am one in that camp, I always run a couple pounds light on the recoil spring, especially when shooting my handloads. I don't load my 9mm or 45 acp hot, I have magnum revolvers to handle that duty.

Thanks for the update.