What Are the Advantages of 1911 Extended Mags?

John Moses Browning introduced a .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol in 1911. The United States military adopted the pistol in the same year and labeled it the Model 1911. The all steel pistol holds 7 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber compared to modern semi-automatic pistols that hold up to 10 rounds of .45 ACP or between 17 and 20 rounds of 9mm or other calibers.

  1. What is an Extended Magazine?

    • Extended magazines allow the shooter to load more than the standard 7 rounds into the 1911 pistol. Several companies produce large capacity magazines designed specifically for the pistol. Wilson Combat produces 10 round magazines designed to fit in any 1911 pistol including their own. Mecgar makes both 10 and 11 round extended magazines for 1911 pistols.

    Competition Shooting

    • The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), and the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) both hold shooting competitions amongst their memberships. These matches often consist of timed courses requiring multiple reloads. Extended magazines's provide shooters with the ability to complete a course of fire without losing time reloading magazines providing an edge over shooters using conventional 7 round magazines.

    Self-Defense Uses

    • The large caliber of the 1911 makes the pistol an ideal platform for self-defense or home defense use. Extended magazine's allow the shooter to have more rounds available in a high stress situation where the fine motor skills required to reload a magazines degrade.

    Military or Law Enforcement Uses

    • Extended magazines allow military or tactical law enforcement to carry more ammunition for their pistols. Fewer magazines reduces the overall amount of weight they carry allowing them to stay in the field longer or across greater distances in shorter amounts of time.