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Magazine issues

3K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  Walter 
#1 ·
I recently purchased a couple of new Wilson Combat 1911 Magazines (9mm, Full-Size, 10 Round, ETM Base Pad) for my Coly Govt Model Series 70.

One mag would not fully seat and the other would seat only with a very hard hit and then would not easily eject (the mag release button required some serious pressure to release it). Any idea as to what may be causing this? Thanks in advance.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the response.

I am not getting much real help from Wilson Combat on the issue. One comment from them was that the base plates may be too tall to work (in a standard Colt Govt Model 1911?). The other was that their internal springs are high tension (which does not seem would impact the ability of the mag to seat.) All with no offer to rectify the issue.
 
#4 ·
From reading other sites and talking with shooting pals, I have found out that Wilson Combat is on at least their second version of these magazines. The first batch would (supposedly) not function right with anything but full metal jacket ball ammo, and not always even with that load.

They offer a more or less unconditional warranty, press them about replacements.
 
#5 ·
Press for replacement under their warranty.

As for strong springs, this can be an issue with a fully loaded mag.
The spring tension can be so strong that you have to press HARD to get it to seat and lock.
What you're having to do is actually push the top round down into the magazine slightly to allow the mag catch to lock.
Try inserting the mag with the slide locked open and it's usually very easy to seat.

DON'T try to just hammer the mag in with a hard slap with the hand. That can damage the mag and the gun.
Try fully loading the mags and leaving them loaded for a month. Often the spring will take a "using" set and have slightly less tension. Then it will be easier to load and insert into the gun.
 
#7 ·
If the mags will not seat unloaded either the gun or the mags are out of spec.

Colt has been making the 1911 series since 1912 so I doubt it's the gun.
What you could do is, if you know someone with a 1911 type pistol is ask to install his mag catch assembly in your frame.
If that fixes it, you might have a rare defective Colt part.
If not, the mags are at fault.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Tried a variety of other brands of unloaded mags in the gun and they all worked fine. That tells me the issue is with these particular new mags.

I have to say I was not altogether pleased with the approach of Wilson Combat when they said they would replace them, but I have to pay the shipping... Wilson is certainly no bargain basement company and this seemed a little out of their apparent program. I do not see this when dealing with other far less premium companies when they have a defective product.

In sharp contrast, my LGS from which I bought the new mags just said "Give them to us, do you want a refund or other mags." No muss, no fuss. I will keep buying from them.

I should add that the fellow I dealt with at Wilson was most courteous...the policy is not his, rather the company's.

Thanks for the help and guidance from the folks here...
 
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