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General => Gunsmithing => Topic started by: Dieselman on February 26 2015 11:50:46 AM MST

Title: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Dieselman on February 26 2015 11:50:46 AM MST
I purchased a Kimber TLE II 10mm a little while ago and wanted a few extra mags to go along with the single magazine that Kimber ships. To avoid confusion with my .45 1911's that run exclusively Wilson Combat mags, I chose to purchase a different brand for the 10mm that look visually different. (Don't want to accidentally grab a mag full of 10mm and stick it in my .45 if something goes bump in the night.) With this in mind, I set out to see what people like for 10mm magazines.

It appeared from my research that people were well satisfied with the round follower Metalform 10mm 8 round welded base. This one here - http://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazines/1911-10mm-magazine-prod71633.aspx?aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979&aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979 (http://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazines/1911-10mm-magazine-prod71633.aspx?aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979&aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979) So I ordered two from Brownells and took them out to the range.

Upon loading the magazines with factory Remington UMC 10mm, I realized before ever seating them in my pistol that I had a problem. After loading around 4 or 5 rounds into the mag, the follower begins binding in the magazine body. When the mag is fully loaded to 8 rounds, the mag follower is so bound up that the rounds just fall out if tipped upside down. It requires a fair amount of tapping to get the follower freed up to return to the top. Both the Metalforms I bought do this and obviously don't function at all in the gun unless only loaded to about 2 or 3 rounds capacity. Anyone else have these problems with Metalform mags? I'm thinking about throwing them in the garbage and buying some other brand. Any suggestions on what to replace them with?


Edited To Add -

My gun functions flawless with the factory Kimber mag. It also performs flawless with 10mm rounds loaded into Wilson Combat .45 ACP magazines. However I am against using the Wilson .45 mags with it do to the possibility of accidently grabbing one loaded with 10mm and inserting it into my .45
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: sqlbullet on February 26 2015 12:29:41 PM MST
Sell the .45 and use Wilson mags. ;D
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: 10mmfan on February 26 2015 12:35:32 PM MST
I've had three and all of them have done that and I've thrown mine away. I had problems with my WC mags so I gave them to someone on here, Tripp and kimber mags have been perfect.


Quote from: Dieselman on February 26 2015 11:50:46 AM MST
I purchased a Kimber TLE II 10mm a little while ago and wanted a few extra mags to go along with the single magazine that Kimber ships. To avoid confusion with my .45 1911's that run exclusively Wilson Combat mags, I chose to purchase a different brand for the 10mm that look visually different. (Don't want to accidentally grab a mag full of 10mm and stick it in my .45 if something goes bump in the night.) With this in mind, I set out to see what people like for 10mm magazines.

It appeared from my research that people were well satisfied with the round follower Metalform 10mm 8 round welded base. This one here - http://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazines/1911-10mm-magazine-prod71633.aspx?aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979&aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979 (http://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazines/1911-10mm-magazine-prod71633.aspx?aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979&aid=27795&source=ir&cm_mmc=affiliate-_-Itwine-_-IR-_-59979) So I ordered two from Brownells and took them out to the range.

Upon loading the magazines with factory Remington UMC 10mm, I realized before ever seating them in my pistol that I had a problem. After loading around 4 or 5 rounds into the mag, the follower begins binding in the magazine body. When the mag is fully loaded to 8 rounds, the mag follower is so bound up that the rounds just fall out if tipped upside down. It requires a fair amount of tapping to get the follower freed up to return to the top. Both the Metalforms I bought do this and obviously don't function at all in the gun unless only loaded to about 2 or 3 rounds capacity. Anyone else have these problems with Metalform mags? I'm thinking about throwing them in the garbage and buying some other brand. Any suggestions on what to replace them with?


Edited To Add -

My gun functions flawless with the factory Kimber mag. It also performs flawless with 10mm rounds loaded into Wilson Combat .45 ACP magazines. However I am against using the Wilson .45 mags with it do to the possibility of accidently grabbing one loaded with 10mm and inserting it into my .45
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: 10mmfan on February 26 2015 12:47:47 PM MST
Quote from: sqlbullet on February 26 2015 12:29:41 PM MST
Sell the .45 and use Wilson mags. ;D


Ultimately I got rid of my .45's they never left the safe, I wouldn't buy ammo for them whenever I had the money I'd go 10mm now .45 next time and it went on like that for over a year.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Mike_Fontenot on February 26 2015 01:11:08 PM MST
Until fairly recently, I believe that 10mm "Kimber" mags were made by Metalform.  Then recently, the 10mm "Kimber" mags were suddenly made (I believe) by Checkmate.

I never had the trouble the OP reports with my original Kimber (Metalform) mags.  But I WAS continuing to get some jams when firing, and so I switched to Checkmate mags (after trying almost all the other alternatives first, to no good effect).  The Checkmates gave me better reliability, and I still use them for carry.  But lately, I've also noticed that when I chamber the first round from a mag with only a single round inserted, that the cases and bullets get beat-up a good bit during the chambering, and the bullets often have some "set-back".  The original Kimber (Metalform) mags don't seem to do this as badly.  I'm going to use the original Kimber mags for some of my range practice, and if they now prove to be as reliable when firing as the Checkmates, I'll switch.  Otherwise, I'll just only use an original Kimber mag to chamber my first round ... with a slow slide motion, an Underwood Nosler round has recently been sliding right into the chamber like butter.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Dieselman on February 26 2015 03:37:36 PM MST
Quote from: sqlbullet on February 26 2015 12:29:41 PM MST
Sell the .45 and use Wilson mags. ;D

No can do. The old .45 is my primary carry gun.  The 10mm gets carried only when in the woods.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: gandog56 on February 26 2015 04:40:19 PM MST
Metalforms work fine in all 3 of my 1911 10mm pistols.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Pinsnscrews on March 12 2015 03:49:22 PM MDT
I have 3 of the Metalform/Armscor/RIA magazines for my RIA. They all work flawlessly.

BTW, since the magazines are meant to be disassembled for cleaning, why not determine what part of the follower is jamming and file it down?
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: gandog56 on March 13 2015 07:00:00 AM MDT
Now on a lot of my Metalforms 10mm mags I put in the Chip McCormick innards kits to make them 9 round mags. I do like those.

http://www.chipmccormickmags.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11004 (http://www.chipmccormickmags.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11004)
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: my_old_glock on March 19 2015 07:49:56 PM MDT


Metalform makes very good magazines. I prefer them over almost all other 1911 magazines.

Metalform makes magazines for Colt. If you look at the bottom of a factory Colt magazine and see an "M" next to the Colt horse, you have a magazine made by Metalform.



.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Wolfie on March 19 2015 09:10:01 PM MDT
Thats what the "M" stands for.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Pinsnscrews on March 21 2015 01:01:13 PM MDT
Quote from: gandog56 on March 13 2015 07:00:00 AM MDT
Now on a lot of my Metalforms 10mm mags I put in the Chip McCormick innards kits to make them 9 round mags. I do like those.

http://www.chipmccormickmags.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11004 (http://www.chipmccormickmags.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11004)

I just might have to give that a try
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: gandog56 on March 23 2015 11:02:56 AM MDT
I have had zero problems with them, so it just may fix your problem.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: DrAnesthesiaTX on March 23 2015 07:55:39 PM MDT
I recently purchased a Rock Island 10mm Tac FS. It came with one metalform round mag. I purchased 3 Wilson Combat mags based on forum recommendations but  they occasionally don't lock back. Returned them promptly. I have on order some metalform mags. While I wait for delivery I tried using my chip McCormick 45 mags. They feed 10mm  ammo no problem but the slide won't lock back on the last shot. Anyone else have other recommendations ?
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: 10mmfan on March 23 2015 08:10:55 PM MDT
Quote from: DrAnesthesiaTX on March 23 2015 07:55:39 PM MDT
I recently purchased a Rock Island 10mm Tac FS. It came with one metalform round mag. I purchased 3 Wilson Combat mags based on forum recommendations but  they occasionally don't lock back. Returned them promptly. I have on order some metalform mags. While I wait for delivery I tried using my chip McCormick 45 mags. They feed 10mm  ammo no problem but the slide won't lock back on the last shot. Anyone else have other recommendations ?

Tripp cobra mags and kimber mags work in mine. Tripp will lock your slide back for sure.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: DrAnesthesiaTX on March 23 2015 08:38:23 PM MDT
I wanted a 10 rounder for a black bear hunt next year. Contacted chip McCormick but they stopped producing the power mag plus in 10mm. Anyone have recc's for mags that work on Rocks with 10 round capacity.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Hermit on March 23 2015 09:45:23 PM MDT
I have trip 10 rounder that works I'm my kimber
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Mike_Fontenot on March 24 2015 08:52:52 AM MDT
Quote from: DrAnesthesiaTX on March 23 2015 07:55:39 PM MDT
Anyone else have other recommendations ?

I've had good luck with Checkmate 9-rounders.  (I just load them to 8 rounds, though.)
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: gandog56 on March 24 2015 12:49:50 PM MDT
Didn't Tripp make 10mm 10 round mags once? Yeah, and they still do.

https://www.trippresearch.com/store/store_1911.html (https://www.trippresearch.com/store/store_1911.html)
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: sqlbullet on March 24 2015 02:23:38 PM MDT
Looks like that 10-rd trip mag may stick out a bit below the grip frame.  9rd looks to fit about right.

(http://dfuse.us/images/RZ2wCBmag.jpg)
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Hermit on March 25 2015 05:22:24 AM MDT
i dont think hes lookin to conceal it
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: DrAnesthesiaTX on March 25 2015 12:51:16 PM MDT
Hermit is right !  I like Chip McCormick power mag plus because it has the rubber plastic molding that wraps around the base of the mag and makes it more aesthetically pleasing but alas they have discontinued it:(. I will look into Trip. Thanks gentlemen.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Hermit on March 31 2015 05:22:56 AM MDT
Quote from: DrAnesthesiaTX on March 23 2015 07:55:39 PM MDT
I recently purchased a Rock Island 10mm Tac FS. It came with one metalform round mag. I purchased 3 Wilson Combat mags based on forum recommendations but  they occasionally don't lock back. Returned them promptly. I have on order some metalform mags. While I wait for delivery I tried using my chip McCormick 45 mags. They feed 10mm  ammo no problem but the slide won't lock back on the last shot. Anyone else have other recommendations ?

check your slide stop..I was having lock back problems in my ria with the chip 10mm followers(kimber(checkmate) and trip mags). It was allowing the follower to ride up past the stop. got to looking at it the stop had a positive angle allowing it to slide off. a little filing and now it hooks it and i cant get it to ride past by hand...just need to live test it 
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: sstewart on March 31 2015 09:17:56 AM MDT
RIA sent me 9mm slide stop for my 10mm FS. My Wilson mags worked after that. Most of my mag problems are weak mag springs. So Gandog may have a good idea.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: Scorpion on May 21 2015 06:03:35 AM MDT
I just got my Rock Island 1911 in 10mm. It came with a Metalform mag, and I bought a Tripp mag. I shot with the Metalform first, and all was smooth and good. I then loaded the Trip, and the slide stayed open after every shot. Went back to the Metalform and no problems. I was kinda in a hurry, so I didn't try to determine the cause at that time. I'll shoot more this weekend.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: sqlbullet on May 21 2015 07:51:03 AM MDT
Load up some dummy rounds or snap caps and put the mag in the frame with the top end removed.  I would bet you will find something is hitting the slide stop and pushing it up.
Title: Re: Metalform Magazines Junk?
Post by: 10mmfan on May 21 2015 03:20:15 PM MDT
Quote from: Scorpion on May 21 2015 06:03:35 AM MDT
I just got my Rock Island 1911 in 10mm. It came with a Metalform mag, and I bought a Tripp mag. I shot with the Metalform first, and all was smooth and good. I then loaded the Trip, and the slide stayed open after every shot. Went back to the Metalform and no problems. I was kinda in a hurry, so I didn't try to determine the cause at that time. I'll shoot more this weekend.

I bet the side of the mag is pressing against the bottom of the slide stop, my ria ms had that issue with kimber and tripp mags but couldn't run the metalform. I filed the slide stop enough to run the kimber mags(I wanted flush) it now runs perfect with kimber mags