The importance of drop free magazines
You need to test your gear and accessories out to know for sure that they work on your firearms because there are so many variables in manufacturing that even the same company can slightly alter a mag well or magazine. There use to be enormous problems with some AK magazines because not all Communist block countries made them the same. I had a friend that picked up about 20 AK mags at a gun show and thought he’d stock up on them, only to find out that he had to take a file to most of them because they wouldn’t lock up in the rifles.
When it comes to handguns, the biggest problem that can occur once you get away from Factory magazines for a 1911 are that they don’t drop free. 1911 guns are not know for being very tight when it comes to tolerances and they are for the most part drop in guns. Wilson Combat magazines are very sleek and are the number one magazine I see at IDPA competitions. I have 5 1911 handguns all from different companies and Wilsons 7rd and 8 rd are all I ever use. I think the guns look better with flush fitting magazines, but reliability is the most important.
The title pretty much says it. The 1911 has been around for a long time now, but the reality is the guns and the magazines have improved since 1911. Sure machining and accuracy has improved for all firearms, but even to this day I still see guys with 1911 malfunctions regardless of the type of gun. Whenever I see these malfunctions I always ask what kind of ammo they use and what magazines. Most 1911s are even to this day still designed for ball ammo. Check with your manufacturer on what kind of ammo your 1911 will tolerate so you don’t make a fool out of yourself during training. I see it happen every year when new shooters show up at a class.