9mm 1911 Magazines. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

**rwb1500** · October 4th, 2013, 11:03 PM

I've recently acquired an STI Spartan in 9mm and am trying to determine the best way to go with mags.

It's obvious that quality mags are just as important in 9mm as they are in.45 if not more so. It's pretty simple with .45 though, buy Wilsons or Chip McCormick and call it a day. It doesn't seem so clear cut in 9mm. Some folks are telling me Tripp Cobras are the only way to go, some say the Wilson ETMs are the best. I have a few Checkmate and Metalform mags and they are a bit lacking.

Does anybody with experience have any guidance? I'm not against shelling out the cash for Wilson or Tripp mags, especially if they run. I knew what I was getting myself into. It's a 1911.

My plan now is to buy one Tripp mag and one Wilson ETM and do my own comparison, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

It seems like the majority of these 9mm mags are actually modified .38 super magazines. Does anyone make a purpose built 9mm mag? Does it matter?

Thanks fellas.

**Lycanthrope** · October 4th, 2013, 11:43 PM

Just tune the mags you have. Every gun is different. Tune your mags to your gun.

Lycanallaboutthefeedlipsthrope

**brownman** · October 4th, 2013, 11:46 PM

Todd G, over at http://pistol-training.com/ just did a 50K round test on a 9mm Springfield 1911. Some good info to be found there for sure. If you click this link and scroll all the way down, http://pistol-training.com/archives/8491 it's broken down into week by week thoughts and review. There is also a spot where he discusses the mags used. In quick surfing to see how informative it was and whether it was worth sharing, he says the feed lips on the Tripps were weak. Click links, read on and, take it for what it's worth. Some good insight on the 9mm 1911 platform IMO

**harold63** · October 5th, 2013, 07:13 AM

I use these in both my PT 1911 9mm's. Never an issue. They are a tic on the money side, but if you consider the job they do, it's a viable investment.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/485...tainless-steel

**ryan92084** · October 5th, 2013, 11:14 AM

Tripp cobras in .45 are top notch (everyone I've shown them too has been impressed) but I see the follower on their 9mm is still their older all metal design which I know wasn't rated as highly.

**crazywolf** · October 5th, 2013, 11:45 AM

wife use's a S&W performance shop 1911 in 9mm all she use's is Wilson combat mag's and has had zero problems and she runs that 1911 hard.crazywolf

**Bib** · October 5th, 2013, 05:35 PM

When I got my Spartan it came with 1 9-round Metalform. I bought 3 10-round Metalforms for IDPA matches and they've been great. They're different than the 9 rounders....they have a spacer at the rear of the mag.

**Palerider** · October 6th, 2013, 08:18 AM

I bought Wilson's in 1994 that I'm still using problem-free.

Edit to add mine are .45, brain saw 1911 magazines and didn't process you're talking 9mm. Going to get more coffee but I still think it pays to find a brand that runs and don't look back.