8 round magazines

[Anduril]

8 shots instead of 7 sounds like a good idea to me.
How do the makers do it? Increase the overall length so the mag sticks out past bottom of the frame, or some magic with the springs to squeeze in another cartridge? I'm thinking mostly Wilson Combat here, but others too.
Thanks.
..

[Bart Solo]

I know Chip McCormack mags don't extend beyond the bottom of the frame so it must be some spring magic allowing them to squeese in another round.

[SHOOTALL]

spring and follower . Colt , shooting star and wilson are flush. Colt has shooting star followers in the ones i have from the factory. And yes a great idea !

[Mikey]

SHOOTALL x 2.  I have both Chip McCormick and Shooting Star 8 round mags and have compared springs and followers and it is as SHOOTALL describes, in the springs and followers. 

[CherokeeT]

I recommend the Wilson ETM 8 round mags.  They work great in all my 1911's.  They have a base pad that does extend a little past the mag well.

[jmayton]

I have a Springfield GI that came with the standard 7rnd mags.  I recently bought 3 8rnd Chip McCormick Power Mags and absolutely love them.  They do have the base pad, but that helps in seating the mag because of the lanyard loop.  I see no reason to ever run 7rnd mags again. . . but I do keep a couple loaded up just in case.

[1911crazy]

They shorten up the follower and the spring arc is steeper allowing less coils so there is less spring to coil up inside the mag allowing 1 more round to be loaded in the standard length 7rd mag. If i need more than 7rds to feel safe in my mags i'd buy a 1911 double stack or carry my double stack 9mm's.   I really don't think having 8rds is more safer than carrying 7rds. How quick are we at changing out mags when the last shot is fired? But i never really put too much thought into this. In a panic mode we need to make each shot count too no matter how many rouds we carry.

[jmayton]

I bought my McCormicks for IDPA competitions.  I don't always shoot the 1911, but 7rnd mags are a hindrance in IDPA.  It's amazing how much 1 more round changes things.  And the muscle memory I'm developing from having to change mags quickly will help if I ever need to defend myself or others.

[1911crazy]

I bought my McCormicks for IDPA competitions.  I don't always shoot the 1911, but 7rnd mags are a hindrance in IDPA.  It's amazing how much 1 more round changes things.  And the muscle memory I'm developing from having to change mags quickly will help if I ever need to defend myself or others.

With me my right hand holds the 1911 while my thumb drops out the empty mag and the whole time this is going on my left hand has the next loaded mag already is at the 1911 going in.  Its way faster than what i'm saying or course you 1911 guys understand the quickness.

[jmayton]

Yeah, try slamming a flat bottom mag home with a lanyard loop in the way.  First time I ran the gun I failed to fully seat all but two second and third mags.  The base pad makes it much easier.

[jimster]

I only use 7 rounds out of habbit, most of my mags are 7 rounders, I do have a couple 8 rounders somewhere, but only load seven in those when they are used, so it's always seven. Only carry one extra mag with me, so I only have access to 14 rounds altogether.  Too old to switch to 8 rounders now, been counting rounds in my head for too long during practice.  I practice dropping the mag after six shots and reloading before the pistol is empty. Just 8 more to go after that.  

[jmayton]

I only use 7 rounds out of habbit, most of my mags are 7 rounders, I do have a couple 8 rounders somewhere, but only load seven in those when they are used, so it's always seven. Only carry one extra mag with me, so I only have access to 14 rounds altogether.  Too old to switch to 8 rounders now, been counting rounds in my head for too long during practice.  I practice dropping the mag after six shots and reloading before the pistol is empty. Just 8 more to go after that.  

No offense, but that sounds like something I once heard about old dogs and new tricks.  I do understand the counting rounds, though.  I ran my S&W 66 at a shoot and forgot I only had 6 in the gun.  It's hard to break those habits.

[saddlebum]

Mecgars work good in my Kimber. The best buy on them is at Mid South Shooters Supply.
They have a good bumper and are quality mags.

[1911crazy]

When i carried my 1911 i carried one 7rd mag in the pistol and 7 more 7rd mags in my pocket with a 50rd box of ammo in the car.  While fishing at night.  I figured the 7 full mags would get me to the car to the box of ammo if need be. This was after they killed the night fisherman near boston many years ago.  I figured we could have copycats sooner or later.

I over heard an agent talking one day about how many rounds he carries when asked.  At the time he said he carried 12 rounds and he had 11 to shoot at the bad guys and the last round was for him if he misses with the 11 shots.  Joking of course. This was many years ago.

A while back i seen the local LEO's picking up the larger capacity mags for there 40's i think they had the 20rd mags i can't remember but there were much longer than the standard mag capacity.  I think these larger capacity mags were for back up. I'm not sure if there legal or not but if i was an LEO and going into the bad area's i'd want more firepower too. I think its a tough job being a leo in most places. A local leo told my brother the public is lucky these bad guys don't hit the local gun ranges to practice.  Since there aim is bad the survival rate is higher sometimes with the ones who can't shoot accurately. We can get these larger capacity mags for our 1911's and some of the 9mm's too.

It surely makes my idea of having a right and left hand feed, on twin remington 1100's 12ga belt fed's a good idea for personal protection.  Of course nowadays we have something better two 12ga saiga's that are belt fed.  That gets my vote for protection with "00" buck.

[Keith L]

Man Crazy, if you need 106 rounds to feel safe fishing you need to fish somewhere else.

[alacharger]

You fall in with seven mags and a full gun on your person, you better hope the water ain't more than waist deep

[1911crazy]

Nowadays we never know whats out there and even at night.  We hear some strange crap at night.  Even the gator hunter on TV said he hears some strange crap at night and he doesn't want to know what it is, me too. I understand what he is talking about.  Just go night fishing in the wilds and i'm sure you will know hat i mean.  I just carry my CZ82 withy 2 12rd mags now.

Even Sara Palin says it to reload...