CW45/P45: Flush fit magazine - UPDATED

[Armybrat]

Thanks, that's a great guide to go by.

The UPS package was on the front porch when we got home this evening.

I see what you mean by the mag catch slot being a little off. Mine will only snap in when the slide is locked back - of course the top edge of the mag blocks the slide from moving forward into battery. Looks like a simple shaving job.

Thanks again.

PS - I think similar directions were posted by someone else a couple years ago in this thread - thanks to them also. - but I'm too lazy to skim through to find it.

[railroader]

When you do the mag, work on the feed lips first then the mag catch notch. Only open the notch enough so the straight part of the feed lips will clear the slide. You don't want the mag to sit too low. I used a dremel with a griding stone for the feed lips and a file for the notch. I guess the dremel with a cut off wheel would work for the notch.

[shlike]

I am very interested in this, as I am looking for a flush fit mag for my CW45 as well. Have you actually fired the gun with the Kimber mag? Does it cycle through reliably and lock back the slide after the 6th round? No modification at all is required? I ask simply because I have tried several different brands of compact 1911 mags, and none of them work without some grinding on the feed lips to allow the slide to clear. Based on your reply I am ready to order a Kimber mag.

I AM CAUTIOUSLY EXCITED!! Based on benl's post I ordered a Kimber compact mag from Midway. Just as he said, it fits perfectly; the slide moves freely, and it smoothly chambered a round. Best of all, this is without any modification at all! My plan is when I go to the range this weekend to fire it with the stock Kimber follower and spring, knowing it won't lock back after the last round. If it runs without any problems that way, I plan to install a follower and spring from one of my Kahr mags which in theory should give me slide lock-back after the last round. I will report after my range trip.if it works I will have found the solution, if it doesn't I will have a very nice new Kimber mag for sale.

I think the stainless steel baseplate looks cool as well.

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[shlike]

I AM CAUTIOUSLY EXCITED!! Based on benl's post I ordered a Kimber compact mag from Midway. Just as he said, it fits perfectly; the slide moves freely, and it smoothly chambered a round. Best of all, this is without any modification at all! My plan is when I go to the range this weekend to fire it with the stock Kimber follower and spring, knowing it won't lock back after the last round. If it runs without any problems that way, I plan to install a follower and spring from one of my Kahr mags which in theory should give me slide lock-back after the last round. I will report after my range trip.if it works I will have found the solution, if it doesn't I will have a very nice new Kimber mag for sale.

I think the stainless steel baseplate looks cool as well.

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UPDATE: IT WORKS!! At my range session this morning, I ran 4 (6 rounds per mag) mags through the gun using the Kimber mag. I used my main carry ammo, Speer Gold Dot 200gr. +P. Ran smooth as silk. As expected, the slide does not lock back after the last round. However I plan to install a Kahr follower and spring in the Kimber mag body prior to my next range session which in theory should give me slide lock-back after the last round. Even if it doesn't, I will be using the Kimber mag for CCW, as the no-slide-lockback is a small price to pay for the smaller profile and better concealment with the flush base plate.

For those of you (like me) who do not have the mechanical skills, tools, or desire to attempt modification, grinding feed lips, etc. on other 1911 compact magazines, this solution just plain works!

[shlike]

UPDATE: IT WORKS!! At my range session this morning, I ran 4 (6 rounds per mag) mags through the gun using the Kimber mag. I used my main carry ammo, Speer Gold Dot 200gr. +P. Ran smooth as silk. As expected, the slide does not lock back after the last round. However I plan to install a Kahr follower and spring in the Kimber mag body prior to my next range session which in theory should give me slide lock-back after the last round. Even if it doesn't, I will be using the Kimber mag for CCW, as the no-slide-lockback is a small price to pay for the smaller profile and better concealment with the flush base plate.

For those of you (like me) who do not have the mechanical skills, tools, or desire to attempt modification, grinding feed lips, etc. on other 1911 compact magazines, this solution just plain works!

UPDATE!! So I installed a Kahr follower and spring into the Kimber mag. Went to the range this morning to try it out. Fired 50 rounds through it, combination of my carry ammo (Speer Gold Dot 200 grain +P JHP) and range ammo (WWB 230 grain ball). First of all, the slide did lock back after the last round without exception. Out of the 50 rounds, I had only 1 failure to feed, where the tip of the bullet jammed against the barrel hood. I am chalking that up to user error, as I may have limp-wristed a little.

So in summary, I now have a flush base plate magazine for my CW45 that functions reliably and locks the slide back after the last round. This was accomplished without any modifications, grinding, etc. I am now declaring this gun to be fully sorted out, and it has earned a regular spot in my carry rotation (right behind my Shield 9)!!!

[leftysixty]

Inquiring minds need to know, how much $$$ invested to buy the mag and the parts to make it work correctly?

[Baklash]

These last few posts and pictures about the Kimber compact mag are very interesting and may deserve a whole new thread. I'm wondering if it would work with a 9mm. Has anyone tried a 9mm Kimber mag? Meanwhile, regarding the new Gen2 Kahrs and the new flush fitting mag plate.........Are they available for all calibers? I sure would like to clean up my cw9 and cm9.

[shlike]

Inquiring minds need to know, how much $$$ invested to buy the mag and the parts to make it work correctly?

I purchased the Kimber magazine from Midway for $21.99 plus shipping. I used the follower and spring from one of the factory CW45 magazines I already had. So the cost of the Kimber mag was my only investment.

[leftysixty]

These last few posts and pictures about the Kimber compact mag are very interesting and may deserve a whole new thread. I'm wondering if it would work with a 9mm. Has anyone tried a 9mm Kimber mag? Meanwhile, regarding the new Gen2 Kahrs and the new flush fitting mag plate.........Are they available for all calibers? I sure would like to clean up my cw9 and cm9.

Of course I could be wrong, but it looked to me like the mags are not flush fit, only trimmed down somewhat.

[leftysixty]

I purchased the Kimber magazine from Midway for $21.99 plus shipping. I used the follower and spring from one of the factory CW45 magazines I already had. So the cost of the Kimber mag was my only investment.

So if you were to buy all of the parts needed you would be in for about $30 per mag.

I've always installed slam pads on 1911 mags, so while interesting I would not save anything by using 1911 mags. I would/will probably build a couple of them just to say I did. And I appreciate the good info.

Thanks, Lefty60

[Armybrat]

Well, ya only need one flush mag in the pistol while carrying. Shouldn't make much difference with totin' the spare mag (or two).

[shlike]

Of course I could be wrong, but it looked to me like the mags are not flush fit, only trimmed down somewhat.

The Kimber mag shortens the overall grip by about 1/4-1/2 inch over the stock Kahr mag, which for me makes it noticeably better for CCW.

[shlike]

Well, ya only need one flush mag in the pistol while carrying. Shouldn't make much difference with totin' the spare mag (or two).

That's right. I only needed the one for CCW. The others I use for the range, or for spares I will leave as-is.

[Armybrat]

Just did the trimming job on the Mec-Gar 6 round Officer's mag that came in the other day ($15.99). Great success with minimal grinding (maybe 15-20 seconds) with a small dremel. Only reconfigured the port side top edge in front of the feed lips & a slight bit on the starboard side. Did not have to mess with the mag catch slot at all.

It snaps in perfectly, & the slide locks back on empty while manually working it.

Will take it for range testing later in the week. Hope these pics load right side up:

[Armybrat]

With its new baby brother (big bro weighs in at 27 ounces with a full tank of 230 gr fmj, while little one tips the scale at 16 ounces with 7+1 Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr FTX):