Issue with Nosedive FTF on 1911 9mm 10 Round Magazines

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texasjohn50

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Hi all. I purchased a couple Mec Gar 9mm 10 round magazines for my 1911 based on positive online reviews. However, I’m having FTF issues. On a full mag, the bullet dips down as it gets chambered and causes a nosedive jam into the feed ramp. When loading the mag to 9 or less, I have zero feeding issues. I was planning on using these mags for IPSC, so having the full 10 rounds in the mag would be highly preferred. On YouTube, I found a video that explains the issue I’m experiencing: https://youtu.be/xMZRssZcgBg

Just checking to see if anybody has experienced this type of failure, and could provide input for possible fixes to help with reliable feeding (polishing feed ramp, tweaking feed lips of magazine, etc.).
 
texasjohn50 said:
Hi all. I purchased a couple Mec Gar 9mm 10 round magazines for my 1911 based on positive online reviews. However, I’m having FTF issues. On a full mag, the bullet dips down as it gets chambered and causes a nosedive jam into the feed ramp. When loading the mag to 9 or less, I have zero feeding issues. I was planning on using these mags for IPSC, so having the full 10 rounds in the mag would be highly preferred. On YouTube, I found a video that explains the issue I’m experiencing: https://youtu.be/xMZRssZcgBg

Just checking to see if anybody has experienced this type of failure, and could provide input for possible fixes to help with reliable feeding (polishing feed ramp, tweaking feed lips of magazine, etc.).
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience with Mec Gar 9mm mags on my 1911 back in Mexico. 6 of the Mags were "gifted" to me and that was a deal too good to pass up. However, with any Overall Length I had problems unless I loaded only 6 rounds into the mags. Then they worked fine. Wilson Mags and Chip McCormick 10-rounders worked fine. In fact, since we had more Chip McCormick mags down there I can say we had very positive experiences with those. But maybe that was just a luck-of-the-draw thing too.

All our guns were outfitted with Clark/Para ramped barrels, either 5 or 6 inches long (except for one that was built up to be a working copy of the Nash Bridge's gun, but that was a "Custom Shop Special"). We didn't polish the ramps or anything. We did play around a lot with Bullet shapes and Overall Lengths but since the Chip McCormick mags worked, and the Mec Gar's didn't, we just went with what worked and solved the problem that way.
 
calmex said:
I had a similar experience with Mec Gar 9mm mags on my 1911 back in Mexico. 6 of the Mags were "gifted" to me and that was a deal too good to pass up. However, with any Overall Length I had problems unless I loaded only 6 rounds into the mags. Then they worked fine. Wilson Mags and Chip McCormick 10-rounders worked fine. In fact, since we had more Chip McCormick mags down there I can say we had very positive experiences with those. But maybe that was just a luck-of-the-draw thing too.

All our guns were outfitted with Clark/Para ramped barrels, either 5 or 6 inches long (except for one that was built up to be a working copy of the Nash Bridge's gun, but that was a "Custom Shop Special"). We didn't polish the ramps or anything. We did play around a lot with Bullet shapes and Overall Lengths but since the Chip McCormick mags worked, and the Mec Gar's didn't, we just went with what worked and solved the problem that way.
Click to expand...

I’ve been playing with bullet types and OAL’s as well with only marginal improvement. Definitely not consistent enough for competition use. I was hoping to avoid buying new mags, but it seems I may have to try the higher end mags to get reliable operation.
 
I've faced the feeding issue somewhat with the STI Trojan I've been running in IPSC.

As I'm not sufficiently confident in my abilities to tweak mag lips, I've simply tried different brands of mags: my own online reading and discussions have pointed me to Tripp Cobra, Dawson Precision, and Wilson Combat. I never came across any recommendations for Mec Gar in particular.

I started with Wilson Combat and faced a form of the same issue as you: with 10 rounds loaded, the top round was "loose" and could be pointed higher or lower in the mag with my fingers. I had first-round nosedives into the feed ramp with 1-2 of my mags, and the occasional FTF on further rounds. Also, with Wilsons the feed stroke make a big ka-chunk as the nosediving round impacted the feed feed ramp before chambering. I also had FTFs with the round hitting the top of the chamber, which was solved by very lightly smoothing the lower edge of the chamber on which the case was catching.

I then switched to Tripp Cobras which present the top round pointing higher than the Wilson Combats and release it at a different point (later, I suspect). The gun now feeds flawlessly - and much more smoothly. My only minor issue with them is after I chamber the first of 10 rounds, if I remove the magazine to top it up, it generally releases the 2nd round which then falls down the magwell.

I haven't actually tried the Dawsons, but a gunsmith I trust swears by them and only them for 1911s in 9mm.

While tweaking the Mec Gar magazine lips might get you there, I can't offer any advice on how to do it, perhaps others can. if I were you I'd grab one Tripp Cobra and one Dawson Precision mag and see how they work.

Good luck!
 
I ran into a problem like this with Mec Gar mags on my brother PCC. I took an OEM Beretta mag and measured it and then persuaded the Mec Gar mags to the same spec. Instant remedy.
 
Recoil spring on pistol is too low, slide isn’t moving fast and forceful enough to strip the round on a 10 rounder

Try a heavier recoil spring.

What brand is ur 1911?
 
I picked my used model at Accuracy Plus in Peterborough. Last place I saw them in stock was Freedom Ventures. But it looks like they’re sold out of the 9mm version.
 
Quick update. I purchased Wilson Combat and Dawson Precision mags to test function in my Taurus. They both work flawlessly. So safe to say, you get what you pay for. Thanks everybody for your input.
 
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