Many of you probably saw me on Saturday at the USPSA match at Shongum with my reload, bang, click and mags hanging down about an inch.  I assumed at the time it was operator error, and even ordered some extended base pads to help with the problem.  It turns out when fully loaded to 10 rounds the Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Mags #500-9 with ETM base pads will not seat properly in my STI Trojan when loaded with 10 rounds.  I went to the range this morning and loaded all four of them with 10 rounds and when I slap them in they don't click and I can grab the base pad and very easily pull them out of the gun.  If I load them with 9 rounds they click and lock into place and cannot be pulled out.

 

Does anyone else have problems with these mags, especially in an STI Trojan.  I am thinking perhaps it is because they are fairly new?  I am going to try fully loading them with ten rounds and let them sit for a week.  Any other ideas???

Howard,

 

The best idea there is to get some Tripp or Dawson mags. I had the same issue with my S&W pro series 1911 in 9mm and the ETM mags. They will work but you really have to slam them in.

Howard,

 

The best idea there is to get some Tripp or Dawson mags. I had the same issue with my S&W pro series 1911 in 9mm and the ETM mags. They will work but you really have to slam them in.

Not so sure about that.  I had the RO try them also and he had the same issue - they don't click in place no matter how hard you slam them when they are fully loaded.  When loaded with 9 you don't even have to push hard to get them to seat and click.  They go in fine with 10 rounds with the slide off so there no issue with them from the frame down. 

My Wilson's (two different vintages) work fine in my STI. Wilson stipulates a break-in procedure, which is pretty much what you outlined in one of your follow-up posts - load them and let them sit. A week may be excessive, a day or two should do it. Also, wasn't your mag funnel interfering somewhat? Maybe remove that until you get them to seat reliably and then re-install.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

I have Wilson ETM's in 9mm. I agree with Pizza Bob. Load them up and let them sit for a while. All 6 of mine now work well loaded to 10 rds on my STI Spartan,

My Wilson's (two different vintages) work fine in my STI. Wilson stipulates a break-in procedure, which is pretty much what you outlined in one of your follow-up posts - load them and let them sit. A week may be excessive, a day or two should do it. Also, wasn't your mag funnel interfering somewhat? Maybe remove that until you get them to seat reliably and then re-install.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

No the magwell was not an issue at all.  Sure feel better finding it was the mags - no the human attached to them

For 100% reliability some 1911s only allow you to seat one round less than max in the magazine. In fact, its a rule of thumb that you should load your 1911 mags one less then max and your ar15 mags two less then max. Some follow it, many dont. You could contact Wilson and see if they can send you a different spring and/or follower combo if you want to get 10 rounds in there.

If sitting loaded doesn't help, a little spring tweak is in order.  Can't find it now, but somewhere it is posted how to bend the magazine spring a bit and the problem goes away.

Check that the top round is not hitting the ejector when inserting a fully loaded mag.

Just so we're clear here,

10rnds wont lock on both open and close slide... but with slide removed lock fine.

9rounds locks always..

edit

Only way i could get them to work was to cut one coil off, maks did the same thing and replace the spring and follower every 1000rnds cause that plastic follower wears away also..

 

or after you have 1000rnds sell them off and buy tripps..

Just so we're clear here,

10rnds wont lock on both open and close slide... but with slide removed lock fine.

9rounds locks always..

Mag will not fully seat and lock in place with slide closed,- but does fully seat and lock without slide on gun and with the slide on and open, nothing hits the extractor.  With 9 rounds there are no issues.

What age is your STI? They used to have some issues with a mag catch that was just a tad higher than most. You could either file away at the top of the magazine notch, or you can fit a new mag catch.  If you have the factory mags that work, you can take the mag catch out, and see if there's a difference in how the notch in them lines up vs the notch on the wilsons. 

The Trojan is a couple of months old, its the newest one with the small "Trojan" letters on the slide rather than the old big lettering.  Its a Dawson Precision CRP model so it already has a large IDPA mag release.

 

I just bought some Dawson extended aluminum base pads for these mags.  I installed them today and notice, perhaps because they are metal not plastic, that the part that inserts and holds the pad to the mag is slightly thinner.  This slight difference now allows me to get them to seat if I really really slam it in hard.  Hopefully once the springs compress a little more they will be ok now.  I hope.

Get the 15 rounders and load for 10?

Get the 15 rounders and load for 10?

HUH?  Have never seen a 15 round 1911 mag.