9mm & 38 Super 1911 Magazines

[X-man]

I don't shoot either caliber in a 1911 but am trying to find out if they use the same magazine or do you need caliber specific magazines for each caliber? i.e., will 9mm feed and fire from a .38 Super mag, assuming you have a 9mm bbl installed and vice versa,...will a .38 Super feed/fire from a 9mm mag, assuming you have a .38 Super bbl installed. Any extra info would be appreciated. Thanks. :grin:

[Iowegan]

I can only speak for Colt magazines. The after market mags may be different. Colt 9mm mags have an internal liner that would prevent a 38 Super from fitting. The 38 Super mag would allow a 9mm cartridge to fit but the shorter 9mm ammo has too much space in front. This causes the ammo to shift under recoil then it will not feed properly. That said, I've seen shooters use a 38 Super mag for a 9mm and get by with it. Both magazines are clearly marked 9mm or 38 Sup.