Please use this thread to discuss the Metalform magazines review we publish in our E-zine.

Tnx

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John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

I guess I'll start this show.

I've been very satisfied with Metalform magazines and followers in the past, and they've been of consistent good quality...with a few complaints. Based on the pictures and reports that I've seen during the last group buy, the appear to have dropped the ball. Whether it was due to a production rush, and resultant relaxing of QA procedures...personnel turnover/inexperienced people taking the helm...worn tooling and equipment...or whatever, I don't
have a clue.

My complaint centers around the flat, 7-round followers...particularly the stainless ones, which are brittle, and some will break like glass whenever attempting to
bend the slidestop elevator shelf slightly outward for better purchase on the stop's lug. The carbon steel followers don't share this particular defect.

The otyher issue is noted on both. Namely, the vertical portion of the shelf, which is set on a forward angle instead of being correctly angled. This causes the inner radius at the front to impose a lateral force against the shelf, which tends to shift the follower to the right, and cause the elevator ledge to climb the slidestop lug...which in turn not only leads to failure to lock the slide on empty, but also ties the magazine up in the well.

Levering the shelf to the left helps a lot, but with some slidestops require light modification to gain clearance and prevent the shift to starboard. This modification isn't very involved, nor difficult, nor does it compromise the stop's function with correct-spec magazine followers...nor its integrity...but would be unnecessary if the followers were correctly formed.

The other, lesser complaint is that the pip in the center could stand to be a little higher to effect more positive control of the last round. Again, a minor issue that...if it causes a problem in the occasional magazine...can be corrected with careful application of a suiteble punch and makeshift die.

Maybe our feedback can make a difference. Lay your cards on the table, lads!

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Down at the range where I shoot I know some of the folks were complaining about slide not locking back, and some failure to feed on the last round. Glad I kept my money in my pocket. I use Mec-Gars and have no regrets with them. Think I will stay with what I know works.

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No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson

That's exactly what happened to me on the first failure to lock the slide. The slide stop had gone under the elevator and blocked the magazine inside the mag well. If I am not mistaken you need to bend the vertical part of the elevator to a more ... vertical angle, and then move the horizontal one up again. Am I correct Johhny?



Not that I am going to try doing it, if the 7-rounders followers are as brittle as the 8-rounder ones, I am sure I'll end up with four totally useless magazines instead of two.

__________________
John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

With mine the follower dimple was too small. I never considered pressing this one in might be a process too complex for a quality manufacturer, it aint exactly rocket science.

My guess is that the new line of magazines cost MF lots investment in know how, manpower and machines/ tools, so they dropped guard on the running production lines. Bad thing, no excuse for letting trusting customers down on a product thats function/ non-function might mean life or death to a customer. Our ears are open to hear, MF-people!

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"............................" (Charlie Chaplin)

(Could I get the Smilies black and white?? )

Well, I 've emailed Metalform with a link to the review, which also contains a link to this thread. Let's see what their reply will be.

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John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

My experience with Metalform mags (I use them in my 9MM Trojan) mirrors your results. I had no end to problems with the followers. Bad enough my Trojan in 9MM requires a lighter recoil spring to function properly but none of the Metalform mags would hold the slide stop back, functioning exactly like 1911Tuner described. I too, bent the little foot outwards and had several of them break on me. Fortunately Metalform did send me a dozen replacement followers, all of which required the same treatment, so I now have a dozen of their mags all of which work most of the time.

I now use McCormick Pro Mags for .45acp 1911 guns and may look at Tripp mags when they come out with 10 rounders for the 9MM next year.

Personally I won't be buying Metalform mags again. Just don't need the aggravation.

Take Care

Bob

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" Back when we audited the FBI academy in 1947, I was told that I ought not to use my pistol in their training program because it was not fair. Maybe the first thing one should demand of his sidearm is that it be unfair."
- LtCol. Jeff Cooper as quoted in Guns & Ammo magazine, January 2002

Earlier this year I bought 4 SS 7-rounders on the group buy Malinois1 ran. You guys might remember, these were the BBQ grill mags! Anyway, the feed lips were so tight it was difficult to load the mags and I had too many FTFs to count. Bob Rodgers got the mags back to spec. when he had my gun and now they have been problem free. They didn't require much work, but I expected better.

I also bought 4 SS dimpled followers to retro into some CMC mags and have had no slide lock problems with any of my mags so it looks like the geometry is OK.

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"Think you used enough dynamite there Butch?"

Interesting.

The only current Metalforms I have (besides the Colt mags made by Metalform) have the round follower, ain't had a lick of trouble out of them nor the Wilson's made by Metalform.

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"The pistol, learn it well, carry it always ..." - Jeff Cooper

I've had good results with the Metalforms I bought through the group buy. Mine seem to be not as bad in appearance as John's, and I've encountered no issues with the slidelock. I've only put a couple hundred rounds or so through the stainless, but they have fed both JHP and ball ammo without issue. Next time I have the gun apart for cleaning I'll have to check how well the mag engages the slidelock.

I intended to use these mags for carry, so they'll see some fairly extensive testing with handloaded JHPs. I'll keep everyone updated on any performance issues or the lack thereof.