Round Followers.

Last year I bought a used Bullseye gun put together by Roddy Toyota.   Very nice!   With the gun came a detailed list of the various things done by Roddy.   One of the things listed was his installing round followers on the 2 magazines that I received with the gun.   Wanting to get a couple more magazines, I bought 2 Metalform magazines with Steel Round Followers from Brownells.   Too cold up here on the frozen tundra for shooting, so I haven't gotten a chance to test them yet.   Just wondering if anybody has used these mags and how they stack up?   Thanks.

Don

the Metalform mags are very good..  I use quite a few of them after changing the springs to 6lbs

jglenn21 wrote:the Metalform mags are very good..  I use quite a few of them after changing the springs to 6lbs

Okay, I'm curious.   Why change them, what brand do you use, and where do you get them?

wolff make them in different lbs

They simply take drag off the slide when using light recoil springs they help a bit

I generally don't use them on EIC pistols

jglenn21 wrote:I generally don't use them on EIC pistols

The round followers, or just the lighter 6# mag springs?

Light springs

jglenn21 wrote:I generally don't use them on EIC pistols

Why not, the rules have loosened a bit and the bullet choices almost mimic B/E lead.

my EIC loads are lighter but not anywhere as light as lead loads for wad gun..

my 45 EIC pistol used a 14lb recoil spring and my 38 super uses a 12.. 

10lb on my wad guns.

just the way mine are setup and the reloads I run.

While I am familiar with Bullseye loads, I must confess I am clueless regarding EIC loads.   Care to enlighten me?

Don

must be jacketed bullets so generally more velocity needed for them to shoot well...

Very similar to shooting 185G JHP on the 50 yard line through a wad gun ?

Yes but iron sights only.

jglenn21 wrote:must be jacketed bullets so generally more velocity needed for them to shoot well...

In the current Service Pistol/Rifle rule book (2017), the CMP is now allowing metal-plated bullets for the EIC, something I was told they would never do.  I doubt if they will shoot as well as the jacketed bullets.  I'm using the 185 JHP with 4.5 grains of Bullseye with very good results.

For the Games matches (the other rule book), you still need to load 230 grain FMJ's for the 1911 as-issued match.

Funny thing about round followers.   I use them in my wad guns, but the mags I have will not work in my Auto Ordnance 1911A1 for the as-issued match with the 230 grain FMJ bullet.  I went back to the std GI issue mag and have not had any misfeeds.  Go figure.

Only plated bullets I've shot that were fairly good are the speer bullets
. Their 185 swc shoots well at the short line.

Cut one apart and you will see the difference.

I must admit, the concept of 'round' magazine followers is foreign to me.  Apparently, Brownells sells the Metalform round followers part to replace flat followers (https://www.brownells.com/magazines/handgun-magazines/magazine-parts/magazine-followers/1911-magazine-followers-prod24856.aspx?avs%7cMake%7e%7eModel_1=1911__Government). 

These can be fitted to a standard magazine to replace 'flat' followers.  But I don't understand the purpose.  Is it to help the last round feed?  I've had rounds that did not chamber properly, but it wasn't the last round or because they didn't come out of the magazine.  This is for a Springfield Range Officer (basically stock).  The reduced strength magazine springs I can understand a bit more, but it's not clear who sells a 6# spring. Maybe this is a case of not fixing something that is not broken.

Image of a 'round' follower (blued):

Wolff sells the 6lb mag springs

yes the theory behind the round follower is to apply similar pressure on the last round as other rounds are by the bullets below. not to mention those types of followers stay very stabile as they move up in the mag.

www.gunsprings.com

Thanks for the info and link.  I'm going to try the 6 lb magazine springs and see how they work.  With my Powder Puff loads, every bit helps.  If I have issues, I'll look into the round followers.