Flush fit magazines, CW45, The Sequel

[JohnR]

Sorry to start yet another thread on this, but I searched the miles-long original thread and couldn't find what I was looking for.

I finally got around to ordering two MecGar Officer 7-rnd mags and the Wilson conversion kits. With these two items, what exactly do they need to run in the CW45 and lock the slide back?

I know the mag catch window needs slight enlarging, and the other items in the thread were rounding the top of the magazine and replacing either or both the spring and follower. There were several mags discussed in that thread, so I'm not sure which apply to the MecGar 7-rnd.

[gb6491]

The possible latch window and magazine top modifications are not magazine brand specific, but rather done by test fitting individual magazines.
The catch window may or may not need enlarging. To check this, lock the slide back and try inserting the magazine; if it locks fully in place, then the catch window is good to go. The modification to the top of the magazine is done to ensure that the slide or extractor does not hit the magazine during operation. Again, this is determined by test fitting: lock the mag in place and slowly lower the slide while watching for contact.

I've not tried the Wilson follower, so I can't comment in regards to it locking the slide back reliably. Only Officer's/Compact size magazine tubes with Kahr followers and springs installed in them have done that (reliably lock the slide back) for me. That combo has also fed rounds with complete reliability for me.

Regards,
Greg

[scattershot]

Hi, first post, and new to Kahrs. I have a CW45, and have followed these threads with great interest. All my 1911 mags will lock into place with the slide locked back, but I can't close the slide with the empty mag in place. I called Kahr, and was told that the piece was designed that way. Is there a way around this?

Thanks

[gb6491]

Hi, first post, and new to Kahrs. I have a CW45, and have followed these threads with great interest. All my 1911 mags will lock into place with the slide locked back, but I can't close the slide with the empty mag in place. I called Kahr, and was told that the piece was designed that way. Is there a way around this?

Thanks
Welcome to the forums:)
When you say "I can't close the slide with the empty mag in place", do you mean you can't operate the slide release? If so, please remember that you are trying to push the lever down against tension from the magazine spring while there is also pressure being applied to the stop by the slide/recoil spring. Sometimes, pulling the slide back enough to relieve it's pressure on the stop will allow you to operate the stop; otherwise, you will have to drop the mag, then operate the stop.
If you mean that you can operate the stop but a 1911 physically prevents the slide from closing, then you will have to mod the magazine so as to provide enough clearance for the slide to close.
Regards,
Greg

[JohnR]

The possible latch window and magazine top modifications are not magazine brand specific, but rather done by test fitting individual magazines.
The catch window may or may not need enlarging. To check this, lock the slide back and try inserting the magazine; if it locks fully in place, then the catch window is good to go. The modification to the top of the magazine is done to ensure that the slide or extractor does not hit the magazine during operation. Again, this is determined by test fitting: lock the mag in place and slowly lower the slide while watching for contact.

I've not tried the Wilson follower, so I can't comment in regards to it locking the slide back reliably. Only Officer's/Compact size magazine tubes with Kahr followers and springs installed in them have done that (reliably lock the slide back) for me. That combo has also fed rounds with complete reliability for me.

Regards,
Greg

Sweet - both MecGars lock into place with the slide open, so the mag catch window is spot on. I only need to shave down the top of the feed lips, then.

I know someone recommended the Wilson kit, I just can't remember why and which parts to swap.

[scattershot]

Nope. On my pistol the factory mag will not allow the slide to close. I can't depress the slide stop, or "slingshot" the slide to get it to drop. I can't pull the slide back far enough to depress the lever, no matter how much pressure I put on it. A few of my 1911 mags will allow the slide release to be depressed, but it's pretty stiff.

[JohnR]

I got both mags shaved down at the top, and it took very little material removal to get the slide to move without contacting the magazine. I replaced one spring and follower with the Wilsons, the other still has the MecGar spring and metal follower, and just for the heck of it I'll see if it works. Probably tomorrow.

[dbracin]

Sweet - both MecGars lock into place with the slide open, so the mag catch window is spot on. I only need to shave down the top of the feed lips, then.

I know someone recommended the Wilson kit, I just can't remember why and which parts to swap.

You replace the 1911 mag follower and spring with the Wilson parts. The Wilson follower is designed to allow 1 more round to be loaded into the mag tube.

[JohnR]

Ok, but I can fit 7 into the stock mag. I'll report the results when I can.

[JohnR]

They both functioned fine, but the last rounds stovepiped instead of feeding into the chamber. Not every time, twice in 60 rounds. Kind of odd.

Edit: It was WWB and Remington UMC mega pack, all FMJ, and the pistol was pretty dirty inside when I cleaned it afterward.

[JohnR]

Grrrr!

Shot 100 rounds of Rem UMC FMJ with the two 7-round MecGar mags, and had:

- 4 failures to feed (the last round rotated upward or totally stovepiped). It could be the ammo I guess.

- the stock MecGar magazine blew its spring and follower out.

- the takedown pin worked part way out.

- I got a blister on my right thumb

Plus, My shooting accuracy was unusually bad.

[scattershot]

Well, thanks to the original thread and this one, I was inspired to try this myself. I got a couple of Metalform mags and went to work. Both fit the magazine latch just fine, and lock the slide back. I may need to remove a scosh more metal, since they both bind on the extractor on the last round, but they cycle dummy rounds like they were made for the pistol. Can't wait to get to the range to try them out.

Thanks to all who contributed.

[KahrArmed]

I have noticed that the Kahr follower is much taller than the followers than the followers that allow 7 rounds. Has anyone tried trimming the Kahr follower to allow a seventh round and lockback?

[SSL]

I've been wondering that myself. The Wilson kit works flawlessly for me feeding-wise (and holds 7 rounds)...BUT they proceeded to stop locking back after a few uses. Obviously the all-plastic follower can't hold up well enough. That metal insert is there for a reason! Anyone tries trimming back the Kahr follower, please let us know how well it works.

[KahrArmed]

I just put 100 rounds through my modified Kimber magazine with Kahr follower and spring. Flawless operation. My next project is to work on the Kahr follower and modify it to be a little bit shorter, And hopefully get another round out of the magazine. By the Way, Blazer brass seems to be the best full metal jacket for me and the Kahr P 45.

[scattershot]

OK, here's the latest calamity. I seem to have adequate clearance with the slide and the extractor, but the dummy rounds will not eject. As I hand cycle the action, the rounds will reach a point about 1/2" through the cycle, and the slide just stops, like it's hitting something solid. Once again, these are Metalform mags, with the stock followers.

I even tried just loading the empty mag tube with a round chambered, and had the same problem. BTW, my Metalform mags have the detachable baseplate and sheet steel split fingered follower.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[gb6491]

OK, here's the latest calamity. I seem to have adequate clearance with the slide and the extractor, but the dummy rounds will not eject. As I hand cycle the action, the rounds will reach a point about 1/2" through the cycle, and the slide just stops, like it's hitting something solid. Once again, these are Metalform mags, with the stock followers.

I even tried just loading the empty mag tube with a round chambered, and had the same problem. BTW, my Metalform mags have the detachable baseplate and sheet steel split fingered follower.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
I use Kahr followers and springs in my Metalform magazine tubes. That combination has worked very, very reliably for me. I have tried the "Devel" style follower that you described, but didn't like how they worked. In my case, they didn't completely stop the slide, but it did require operating the slide with extra gusto to manually cycle it.

If you don't want to go the route I did (using Kahr internals), you might try bending your followers as forum member ecwcfl did here;
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7813

Regards,
Greg

[dbracin]

..BUT they proceeded to stop locking back after a few uses. Obviously the all-plastic follower can't hold up well enough. That metal insert is there for a reason

I've had no problems with my Wilson followers not locking back the slide. I even shot a box of 50 rounds today, two rounds at a time. Slide locked back every time. I can see no noticeable wear on the follower, where it meets the slide stop. While the Kahr follower exerts more spring pressure on the slide stop than the Wilson follower, based on the actual location of that pressure point made into the follower, the Wilson follower has not failed to lock the slide back after many attempts to do so. I will post if that does happen to me. About the only complaint I have with my CW45 is the tight, well actually short chamber dimensions at prohibit SWCs from working in my CW45. I think I will try to locate a chamber reamer and open it up some. I took the barrel out of my CW45 and one out of a Colt 1911 and did a drop test. SWC ammo that drops completely into the Colt chamber will not drop completely into the Kahr chamber. ;)

[slowngreen]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. Bought a mag off ebay for $16 shipped, a couple minutes of modding bam, its done and fits perfect, so much better than the stock one.

Oops, actually I meant the original thread found here. My bad. http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3317

[SSL]

About the only complaint I have with my CW45 is the tight, well actually short chamber dimensions at prohibit SWCs from working in my CW45.

I had the same issues using SWC bullets at first. I just seated them a bit deeper and now they work in my CW45 and made no appreciable difference in accuracy in my various 1911s. The chambers on the CW45s do appear to be somewhat tighter (shorter) and that's a good thing for accuracy - maybe needs a bit of thought concerning reliability of chosen defense ammo.

[dbracin]

I tried some 230 gr JHP Remingtons and the bullet touches the rifling when the cartridge is fully seated. When clearing a live round , it requires a significant tug on the slide to eject the live round.

[scattershot]

I tried the Kahr follower in the Metalform mag tubes, it won't fit. The tube is too narrow. The failure - to - eject phenomenon seems to be getting worse. I even have to give the slide a forceful tug to get a dummy round past about 5/8" out of the chamber with the factory mag. I'm beginning to wish I had bought a Glock! (not really, but it's pretty frustrating) Any guesses on what the slide is hanging up on? I have read and re-read the threads and apparently this is not a common problem. HELP!

[gb6491]

I tried the Kahr follower in the Metalform mag tubes, it won't fit. The tube is too narrow. ...
How do mean the "The tube is too narrow"? Is that "side to side" or "front to back"?
Regards,
Greg

[scattershot]

Side to side.

[gb6491]

Side to side.
Hmm, I wonder if something has changed with the followers or the tube is damaged . My Kahr followers measure just slightly smaller (side to side) than the rim diameter of a .45ACP case. I've been running those followers for over 2 years in Metalform tubes without any problems.
Regards,
Greg

[scattershot]

I'll check the dimensions and get back to you. As always, I appreciate the help.

[scattershot]

EUREKA!!!!

It wasn't the mags, after all, but the dummy rounds I made up. Among the stack was a round with a 200 gr SWC. It will chamber just fine, but won't eject. After runnung a couple mags of round nose rounds, all is well.

Thanks for all the help, Greg. I'm still going to change the followers to a skirted type, but for now I'm a happy camper.

[JohnR]

When I tested MegaGrip yesterday, I tested my two 7-round mags as well. I'd shaved off a bit more metal from the top to see if it quit misfeeding and knocking at the slide pin. All was well except for one failure to lock back one time out of several mags' worth. I can deal with that, so the CW is back in my carry holster.

[MattG]

I have a MecGar and a Wilson Combat 1911 service mags that I use. They work perfectly. I just bent the edge of the follower up slightly where it hits the slide stop to lock the slide back on the last round. The slide didn't lock back every time until I bent them a bit.

[Tenesseerebel317]

I have two 6 round officers mags I purchased from Checkmate. They don't lock the slide back, but I did not have to do any mods at all. Just bought them for the range so wasn't really worried about it. They work great, and were like $20 each.