{"id":65043,"date":"2020-12-11T11:38:57","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T17:38:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=65043"},"modified":"2025-10-08T13:54:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T18:54:21","slug":"shopping-for-1911-magazines-can-be-confusingread-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/shopping-for-1911-magazines-can-be-confusingread-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Shopping for 1911 Magazines can be Confusing\u2014Read This!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are all 1911 magazines interchangeable? Are 1911 magazines universal? Are all 1911 magazines the same? How do I determine 1911 magazine compatibility?\u00a0What are the best 1911 magazines for me<\/a>?\u00a0<\/em>These are questions our customer service crew frequently hears. Let’s break it down for ya.<\/p>\n

Are all 1911 magazines interchangeable?<\/h2>\n

The answer is\u00a0NO<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Although they are typically interchangeable within frame sizes, and often between\u00a0<\/em>some frame sizes\u00a01911 magazines are\u00a0not\u00a0<\/em>universal across the board.<\/p>\n

The 1911 pistol is one of the most famous handguns in the world. It’s so popular that most manufacturers offer their own version. Since the iconic original model was introduced over a century ago, frame size and caliber options have greatly expanded.<\/p>\n

Although it’s great to have so many choices, searching for the right magazine for your own 1911 can be extremely confusing.<\/p>\n

We’re gonna fix that.<\/p>\n

The best 1911 magazines are the ones that fit.<\/h2>\n

Six things to ask to avoid confusion.<\/h3>\n

There are many things to consider when shopping for 1911 magazines.<\/p>\n

The purpose of this guide is to assist you in the process so you can confidently make your purchase.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself overwhelmed looking through all of the 1911 magazines available out there, just remember, these are the questions you need to ask:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What size is the frame?<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. What caliber is your 1911 chambered in?<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. What brand is your 1911?<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Do you need a single-stack or double-stack magazine?<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. What kind of baseplate do you need?<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Is your pistol a proprietary model?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Before we continue, take note! Lots more info below: Scroll down and take a look at<\/p>\n

    \u2192Searson’s 1911 History Lesson<\/a>,<\/p>\n

    \u2192Troubleshooting with Wilson Combat<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u2192Collection of Historic Colt M1911 Magazines<\/a> from LooseRounds<\/p>\n

    1911 Magazine Compatibility Guide<\/h2>\n<\/a>\n

    1. What size is the frame?<\/h3>\n

    1911s come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to make sure the magazine you buy is compatible with your weapon. Obviously, it’s important to know which size you have. You’d probably be unhappy if you tried sliding a Officer-size mag into your Government size magwell.<\/p>\n

    For the sake of picking the right magazine, we can roughly group 1911 frames into three main sizes (-ish<\/em>).<\/p>\n

    What model do you have?<\/p>\n