mags
I have finally gotten to the range a couple of times and used the Wilson Combat .45 mags in my 10mm DW Pointman. No feeding problems at all. 9th round goes in easily.
The DW came with an 8 round Metalform with the rounded metal follower. No problems, excellent mag.
I purchased a Metalform 9 round mag with the polymer follower and it works fine except I get a nose-up jam on the last round consistently. The follower and overall quality of the Metalform is excellent, haven't figured out why the last round jam.
Purchased a Tripp 9 round 10mm magazine and a .45 8 round magazine to check them out. I wasn't as impressed.
Haven't fired it yet because I am inclined to return them and get my money back. The feed lips on both mags are not real kosher. The sheet metal edges of the feed lips are not cut sharp and square...being an ex-tool & die maker it looks to me like the blanking punch is worn out, too much clearance, or something. Just a ragged edge. The edges of the feed lips are also not straight. They have a curve to them, when viewed from the top one can see they are bowed out in the center, feed lips are closest together about in the middle. If the feed lips are tapered out a bit wider in front it can aid in feeding but these look to be shaped this way from poor forming vs. being that way by design. As a final insult Tripp stamps their part number into the side of the magazine. Appears to be done AFTER forming and the side of the magazine body is dented in slightly from the stamping. It may not interfer with the follower but for that kind of money I don't expect to see visible dents
I also was not real impressed with the finish on the sheetmetal. Looks like raw sheet metal and it is. Appearance is secondary certainly if they function well but the mag just doesn't have a fine finished look.
I will say that Tripp's follower is probably the best I have seen. The sheet metal insert in the hard polymer follower is nothing short of genius.
So far out of Mec Gar, Metalform, Wilson, and Tripp. I would say the Wilson is head and shoulders the best mag and Metalform is good, just doesn't have the removable base plate and I like the polymer follower as a personal preference. The Wilson doesn't have the sheetmetal on the slide latch notch but I haven't heard any reports of this being a problem.
I will add that I have purchased several Wilson Combat .45 mags and the feed lips are clean and square on the edges and parallel. Width between the feed lips is consistent within .002" from mag to mag.
I guess what disappointed me most about the Tripp mags is that they advertise them to hold the round more nose-up and higher for better feeding. They have a photo on their website taken down the barrel of a 1911 showing the bullet tip to be noticeably higher. Well OK, I tried it. Put one round in each different brand mag, inserted each and looked down the barrel. Results: Tripp mag holds the bullet tip LOWER than both Metalforms (8 and 9), Mec Gar, or the Wilson. The Wilson .45 mag with a 10mm cartridge is higher on the bullet tip than any of the others. Same result with the Wilson .45 vs. the Tripp .45. Wilson was higher.
The Tripp 10mm mag doesn't have the ribs pressed into the front of the mag to contain the smaller OD of the 10mm cartridge like a Colt, Metalform, or Mec Gar mag. I have yet to figure out how the ribs are any benefit however since they have no contact on the top round to keep it centered in the mag. The feed lips center the top cartridge on a single stack mag just as in a double stack mag, not the sides of the mag body.
I am going to keep using the Wilson .45 mags in my 10mm and have had an IPSC shooter tell me he has been doing that for years with no problem. Just my 2 cents.
