GI magazines, any good compared to after market stuff?

[His lordship.]

I bought a Rock Island 1911 that came with a Novak's brand 8 shot magazine that works great.  I also bought a GI pattern clip that says "colt 45 auto" on the bottom, I have fired 7 rounds through it to test, and it worked good.

The surplus GI clips are going for around $5.00 at the local gunshows, do the original clips actually say "colt .45 auto on the bottom, or is this a replica?  I know that people in the know recommend using a Wilson or Chip Mccormick brand clip, but the GI ones are alot cheaper.  What is the rate of reliability with the GI types?  Other than Wilson or Chip Mccormick, what other brands do you guys suggest.

Thanks.

[Savage]

Chris,
For range use the GI mags are fine. They are generally "Hit or Miss" as far as reliability goes. If they are clean and the springs are in good shape, they usually work fine unless the lips or follower are damaged. The new McCormick's or Mecgars can be had for under $20, the Wilson's for little more. Your call.
Savage

[1911crazy]

I just purchased 6 G.I. mags from that place in arizona.  I washed them and lubed them and they all worked fine in my 1911a1's.  I have to get more, I'm only carrying 7 mags now.

[canon6]

I am using Chip McCormick 8 rounders and find them to be 100% reliable  ,I do not use GI mags.If they are truly GI mags how old are they    just my2c    Doug

[Lloyd Smale]

I like wilson mags but a guy can take gi mags and go to brownells and by wilson springs and followers for about 5 bucks a mag and make a good mag out of a bad one.

[His lordship.]

lloyd...that is a good idea, better springs and followers in a GI mag.

[greenjeans]

My Springfield's work fine with GI mags. The ones I bought were still in the wrapper and marked 1945. My Champion will not lock open on the McCormick's, but will with the surplus.

[Questor]

If you need reliability, get good quality magazines like Wilsons or Chip McCormick (sp?) Magazines are very important to the reliability of a 1911.

[Mikey]

I sent a couple of handfuls of GI mags home before I left SE Asia, then unwrapped them and cleaned them and have used them since without problem.  I forgot exactly how many I sent home but have tossed only two. 

The GI mags are made to contract order - at the lowest price to the government, so you are going to get some failures.  Biggest problems are the follower not lifting slide release into position after the last round and the lips not holding the rounds in place. 

The aftermarket mags are made to perform without failure - the manufacturer's name and business depends on that.  I bought a handful of 8 round Chip McCormicks a bunch of eyars back and they continue to function flawlessly.  Mikey.

[1911crazy]

Now that i think of it I do have two orginal G.I. mags with the ID numbers/letters written across the bottom one works ok and the other one doesn't.  My G.I. mags from J&G sales have 45acp written across the bottom and all of them work flawless. I don't think the J&G mags are orginal G.I.

[44 Man]

I bought 6 Wilson mags somewhere between 15 and 20 years ago.  I take them out and use them then I reload them again.  They have been constantly loaded since I have had them with zero failures.  I did feel guilty a couple of years ago and put new springs and the 8 round followers in them, but didn't need to.  I bought 4 more for my Defender last year.  They have done the job and I would buy nothing else.  44 Man

[IMshooter]

I shoot a variety of pistol games (Action Pistol, Bullseye, IDPA) with the .45 and have eight McCormick 8 shot mags for the gun.  After firing several thousand rounds of ammo per year for the past 7 years those magazines still work perfectly.  I guess a person should base their purchase upon their actual/perceived needs.