View Full Version : "ACT-MAG" magazines?
These would seem to be more toward range practice quality than hard use mags. Anyone familiar?
http://www.precisionsights.com/Product/Magazines_page.html
SIG used both their 1911 magazines (for the GSR) and some of their P220 mags. They all had a very bad tendency to split open at the feed rail cut after moderate use.
That was a few years ago and the problem may have been rectified, but I wouldn't buy any without quite a bit of first hand positive feedback from high-volume shooters.
NightHawk Custom used to OEM ACT mags. I have 10 or so and have not had issues. That said, I have relegated them to range use in favor of Tripp Cobra's for carry.
With even very little use, the earlier magazine lips tend to spread, then crack and break. I'm not familiar with the current production magazines.
Last year I bought five from CDNN for my 1911. So far there are no issues to report, but their round count is still very low.
Both my 220 and 1911 ACT mags have to be ripped from the gun. The 220 ones are worse, essentially every time, the 1911 ones are about 40% of the time.
theJanitor
06-14-09, 13:30
i have a Les Baer that would ONLY run with these. so i bought a dozen or so. i have had two crack at the top rear radius, at the feed lips. but they still work. i'm still using them occasionally to see when they'll really stop feeding.
unless your gun really needs them, i'd stick with wilsons or CMC's. i have some wilsons that are ten years old, gone through several rebuilds, and still work perfectly
I have several ACT-mags for my P220 and some for a 1911, which have yet to be used. My P220 mags have seen a defensive pistol course with 800 rounds through them. I think they are excellent magazines. Just as good as factory magazines for my P220.
However, the 1911 magazines, I can not comment.
Hope this helps.
I've been using ACT 1911 mags in my 1911 for a few months. I haven't had any issues yet - I bought these new from Top Gun Supply. I've heard that the older ones can have problems with cracked feed lips, but I haven't seen any issues yet.
The ACT magazines (also rollmarked/distributed as Novak, Nighthawk and Wolff) have two problems: 1) Over hardening as a result of flawed heat treatment renders the feed lips unduly brittle, resulting in cracking-usually on the rear of the right feed lip. In extreme cases, the feed lip can shear off, which can severely tie up the gun; 2) he polymer basepad is somewhat brittle and can crack/break if dropped on a hard surface, such as concrete. Since there is no inner floorplate, this can result in a "speed unload."
I have relegate my remaining ACT magazines for range use only-and rarely even that. I much prefer Check-Mate's hybrid feed lip, skirted/dimpled follower 1911 magazines, both their welded floorplate and their extended tube versions. They are a far superior magazine, and much more durable.
Best, Jon
I had ACT magazines that came with my NH and purchased a few under Wolff. They all started to fail to drop freely from the mag well. The mags all had well under 500 round count and not subjected to hard use at all. I longer use or purchase any mags made by ACT. I believe the feed lips started to spread which probably caused it to fail to drop freely but did not confirm with a caliper. I do not recommend them but if you must buy them, I would recommend getting it from NH because they didn't give me a hard time with the exchange. On the other hand, Wolff did give me a hard time with the exchange and I am surprised and disappointed with them.
SIG immediately replaced my magazines with rear feed lip cracks immediately (with their replacement proprietary Check-Mate produced magazines, which had become the OEM 1911 magazine of choice for SIG), with no questions asked-they didn't even want my old magazines back.
The US head of PSI magazines (who have the overall distributership for the ACT magazines) insisted (both to me and apparently to others as well, as I read about a similar discussion with the same individual posted elsewhere) that the problems were in fact caused by out-of-spec disconnectors/stripper rails. My source at SIG said that that was utter nonsense; it was an over-hardening issue by the manufacturer, ACT, pure and simply.
Although I told the PSI president that SIG had provided me replacement magazines, he promised to also comp me with some of the ACT/Novack magazines as well, but they never materialized.
When I spoke with Novak, they also stated that they would be happy to replace the magazines, but I told them that that was unnecessary, as SIG already had.
The only good news about the problematic ACT/Novak/Nighthawk/Wolff magazines is that if the feed lip/magazine tube cracking problems are going to occur, they tend to occur very early in their use. I have 3 "uncracked" ACT/Novaks left, but they're pretty much just occupying space in my storage area.
Dave Lauck at www.dlsports.com manufactures a replacement metal basepads to replace the fragile polymer ones, as well as providing an improved aluminum follower and an extra-power long-life magazine spring specifically designed to work in conjunction with his followers, but I prefer simply to go the Check-Mate route for my 1911 magazine needs.
Best, Jon
The US head of PSI magazines (who have the overall distributership for the ACT magazines) insisted (both to me and apparently to others as well, as I read about a similar discussion with the same individual posted elsewhere) that the problems were in fact caused by out-of-spec disconnectors/stripper rails.
Bullshit
If it was an out-of-spec rail problem on the SIG 1911s (which admittedly were far from bulletproof, just ask our own 45R), why does it happen to people shooting non-SIG 1911s, too?
Why does it happen to their P220 mags? Obviously, the spec for the P220 rail is whatever SIG says it is, and the mags should be made to that spec.
Having a problem with your product is one thing. Blaming your largest customer's product for your own failings is a good way to lose business. What mags are coming in SIG 1911s these days, again? :cool:
Ahh, c'mon, Todd, don't hold your feelings back! How do you REALLY feel??
Currently, to the best of my knowledge SIG-Sauer is using a stainless steel, 8 round removeable baseplate magazine manufactured for them by Check-Mate Industries for their 1911 line; they're good magazines, (I just used 2 of my old ones several days ago), but in my opinion Check-Mate's best ones (and in my opinion, some of the best 1911 magazines period, in terms of features, quality and cost-with the low cost simply being icing on the cake) are their hybrid feed lip, skirted/dimpled metal followered, flush and/or extended tube 8 round stainless magazines with their high-performance springs.
Best, Jon
BOOSTjunkie
06-16-09, 18:13
i use both the act and factory mags for my p220. the act magazines once inserted feel a bit looser and seem to have a slight rattle from being abole to push them up a little after you insert it and have the magazine catch catch. the factory ones are nice and snug and dont rattle. that being said function of these magazines have been flawless for me so far
SIG used both their 1911 magazines (for the GSR) and some of their P220 mags. They all had a very bad tendency to split open at the feed rail cut after moderate use.
That was a few years ago and the problem may have been rectified, but I wouldn't buy any without quite a bit of first hand positive feedback from high-volume shooters.
I had split metal and or cracked base plates on 1911 ACT-Mags from Novak, Wolff, S&W and others. Many companies are putting their name on the ACT-Mag products and they are sub par as far as longevity. I will say all the companies I sent them back to replaced them without issue, and I now use them for range/IDPA only.
Bullshit
If it was an out-of-spec rail problem on the SIG 1911s (which admittedly were far from bulletproof, just ask our own 45R), why does it happen to people shooting non-SIG 1911s, too?
To add/confirm, I had broken base plates and or spilt metal using Colt, S&W, and Caspian 1911s, so it's a BS comment.
I have half dozen ACT sig 220 mags that have been flawless for me in my shooting with them I have not used them as much as my glocks back but no issues with them so far I bet I have at least 1700 rounds threw them. I will have to keep an eye on them now
I broke all of the base plates on mine, but I really love the followers. I installed them into CMC bodies and they are the smoothest functioning mags that I own. If any of you that trashed a bunch of mags want to sell the followers for a reasonable price, let me know.
ETA: Full size 1911.
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