1911 magazines

[Froogal]

Is it normal for these magazines to be glitchy? My new Tisas 1911 came with 2 magazines. One of those mags would not lock into the gun, and close inspection revealed an obvious flaw. My dealer exchanged the defective mag for a good one, and then I bought 2 more new mags, one of which works, but requires a bit of manipulation to get it to slide into the well. Is this normal for 1911 mags, or am I just lucky?

[Major 2]

I don't know what Magazines come with Tisas....
Both my Cimarron & my 2 Springfield Armories came with Mec-Gar 
and work flawlessly, does not matter which gun.
I also bought a 5-magazine deal off eBay, all of this work, and also in my 1945 Ithica.

My guess, your bad one was the luck of the draw     

[Baltimore Ed]

I bought 10 chip McCormick ss mags years ago and are the only ones I use in any of my 1911s even though I've got some colts, gi issues and mec-gar mags.

[Sedalia Dave]

I use Tripp in my WB 1911. They work perfectly every time.

Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick are also first rate.

[Niederlander]

I've always used USGI mags, and have never had a problem.

[Froogal]

Thanks guys. I can not find a brand name on the mag that was furnished with the gun. Neither can I find a brand name on the NEW mags that I bought even though they were still in the plastic bag with a label, but no brand name.

[Froogal]

Thanks guys. I can not find a brand name on the mag that was furnished with the gun. Neither can I find a brand name on the NEW mags that I bought even though they were still in the plastic bag with a label, but no brand name.

Correction. I found a name on the mag that was furnished. CHECK-MATE.

[St. George]

'Check-Mate' has long been a supplier on Government contracts.

As semi-autos are dependent upon 'good' magazines, your best bet is to buy better magazines - even late-issued original GI like those with the NSN on their bases.

You 'could' try putting lipstick or light paint at the point where the magazine catch is and stoning/filing away the high spots.

Scouts Out!

[DeaconKC]

Like the good Major, I rely on Mec Gar mags for my guns, 1911s, Sigs, even my Luger.

[Froogal]

Correction. I found a name on the mag that was furnished. CHECK-MATE.

The other magazines have a logo, kind of like an M in a circle?

[St. George]

An 'M' encircled by a 'C'.

Scouts Out!

[Professor Marvel]

"checkmate" is well-known for iffy or downright bad magazines.
It is a brand to avoid.

[Abilene]

Ed Brown continues their magazine exchange program.  Send them any manufacturer's 1911 magazines, up to 20, and get an equal number of their stainless mags for $10 each (or black nitride for $15 each).  I got 5 of them a few years ago.  Shipping is $15, regardless of quantity.  They are good mags.

My two Cimarron 1911's came with ACT mags (Italian).  Both the 8-rounders with thick baseplate (not Wild Bunch legal) and the lanyard-loop mags.  They have functioned fine, although might not always drop free.  I do have a couple MecGar blued mags, don't recall if I got those from Cimarron or elsewhere.

[Major 2]

Now that you mentioned it,
I did get an 8-rounder with thick baseplate with the Cimarron, I have never even loaded it...
I've only used the 7 round Mec-Gar...

[Froogal]

"checkmate" is well-known for iffy or downright bad magazines.
It is a brand to avoid.

At this time, the "check-mate" magazine is the only one that works as intended. The other 3 mags require depressing the mag release button just to insert the mag, and the depressing the button and holding it down to get the mag to eject. They do not just fall out. I have to pull them out.

[Professor Marvel]

At this time, the "check-mate" magazine is the only one that works as intended. The other 3 mags require depressing the mag release button just to insert the mag, and the depressing the button and holding it down to get the mag to eject. They do not just fall out. I have to pull them out.

My Good Froogal
whilst attempting to troubleshoot from afar is occassionally problematic,
I would suggest removing the mag release assembly completely and see if the magazines can
go in and out freely.

If so, I would suggest buffing or polishing the mag release bits, or at least "deburr" them and see if that helps.
Also, if the mag release spring is too strong one can experience such symptoms.

yhs
prof marbles

[Professor Marvel]

Oh, asan aside, I havr read that the checkmate magazines had some horrible QA problems with G.I. Beretta 92 magazines
out in the sandbox. Many G.I. s just dumped them and bought their own, ordered them online, and had them
shipped to them in the field!

[Froogal]

My Good Froogal
whilst attempting to troubleshoot from afar is occassionally problematic,
I would suggest removing the mag release assembly completely and see if the magazines can
go in and out freely.

If so, I would suggest buffing or polishing the mag release bits, or at least "deburr" them and see if that helps.
Also, if the mag release spring is too strong one can experience such symptoms.

yhs
prof marbles

I may have to do just that, but I won't until AFTER I have put more rounds through it, and I can't do that until my order of brass decides to stop touring the U.S. and shows in my mailbox.

[Froogal]

Okay. Apparently the 1911s were intended to be treated rather roughly. After I decided to show it no mercy, everything began to work a lot better. 

[Major 2]

According to this uTube Video


Tisas Ships with a Mec-Gar mag, and he mention some failures, so maybe you are right a break in period is needed