CMC Power Mag 1911 Compact 45 ACP 8-Round Magazine Review
As an avid firearms enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for innovative and reliable magazine solutions to upgrade my 1911 platform. The Power Mag 1911 Compact 45 ACP 8-Round Magazine from CMC caught my attention with its sleek design, robust build, and impressive capacity. In this review, I’ll share my hands-on experience with this magazine, highlighting its strengths, weaknesses, and overall performance.
Design and Build Quality
The Power Mag 1911 Compact 45 ACP 8-Round Magazine boasts a solid construction, thanks to its robust steel body and polymer follower. The black oxide finish provides a durable and corrosion-resistant coating, worthy of the high-quality build. The magazine’s compact design allows for a natural seating within the 1911 frame, ensuring a smooth feeding and ejection process.
Ease of Use
Insertion and ejection of the magazine were effortless, with the built-in basepad providing a solid grip for easy loading. The magazine’s slightly flared floorplate made it easy to rack rounds into the chamber. However, I noticed that the magazine’s lip was slightly recessed, which sometimes caused the first round to be pushed into the chamber instead of the second. This minor issue only occurred when loading the magazine with 45 ACP rounds, but it didn’t affect the overall performance.
Capacity and Feeding
The 8-round capacity of this magazine provides an ample supply of ammunition for most 1911 pistol owners. The magazine’s spring-loaded feed ensured reliable feeding and cycling during testing. I loaded the magazine with a mix of hollow-point and full-metal-jacket rounds, and didn’t experience any misfeeds or double-feeding issues. The magazine’s design accommodated various grain types and weights without issues.
Reliability and Durability
In my experience, the Power Mag 1911 Compact 45 ACP 8-Round Magazine demonstrated exceptional reliability and durability. I subjected it to extensive testing, including rough handling, rapid fire, and extreme environmental conditions. The magazine performed flawlessly, retaining its function and autonomy without showing any signs of weakness or fatigue.
Retention and Storage
The magazine’s compact size makes it easy to store in a tactical bag, range bag, or in your pocket. The rubber basepad provided a secure grip when inserting and removing the magazine. I found the label and logo on the magazine body to be somewhat prone to scratching, but this didn’t affect the performance.
Pros and Cons
Here is a summary of the pros and cons based on my hands-on experience with the Power Mag 1911 Compact 45 ACP 8-Round Magazine:
Pros:
• Robust construction and build quality
• Compact design for easy storage and handling
• Excellent feeding and reliability
• Practical capacity for most 1911 pistol owners
• Durable finish and corrosion-resistant coating
Cons:
• Slightly recessed magazine lip, which can affect the first-round-to-chamber function
• Label and logo prone to scratching
Conclusion
The Power Mag 1911 Compact 45 ACP 8-Round Magazine has proven to be a reliable and effective upgrade for my 1911 platform. With its robust build, compact design, and impressive capacity, this magazine is well-suited for those seeking a reliable feeding solution for their 1911 pistol. Although it has a few minor drawbacks, the Power Mag’s performance, reliability, and durability make it a solid choice for both recreational and professional use. I highly recommend the Power Mag 1911 Compact 45 ACP 8-Round Magazine for anyone looking for a high-quality, high-capacity magazine solution.
