Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1

Post Reply
Mike from Texas
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:57 am
Location: D/FW Texas

Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Mike from Texas »

Will the WC ETM fit an Officer's size 1911 like the Kimber Ultra Carry? There is a video on Brownells website that states 2 times that it is an 8 round magazine in a 7 round length ad that it will fit a Gov't model 1911. My Ultra Carry will hold a 7 round magazine and I need a couple of extra mags and the ability to have 1 extra round is appealing to me.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/GunTec ... &t=1&i=827
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator

****************************************************************************************************
User avatar
HighVelocity
Senior Member
Posts: 3374
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:54 pm
Location: DFW, TX
Contact:

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by HighVelocity »

A standard size mag will fit in the officers compact frame, however, it will protrude past the bottom of the grip about 3/8". This will function fine, though. The only time you could have a problem with it is if you agressively inserted the mag with the slide locked back. In this instance, the mag can be over-inserted and cause a serious malfunction.
Wilson makes an 8 round mag specifically designed for the compact frame and cannot be over inserted.

Brownells # 965-047-408

Or, you can replace the base pad on a wilson 47D 8 round mag with this one: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ ... BASE%20PAD and get the same results.
I am scared of empty guns and keep mine loaded at all times. The family knows the guns are loaded and treats them with respect. Loaded guns cause few accidents; empty guns kill people every year. -Elmer Keith. 1961
Mike from Texas
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:57 am
Location: D/FW Texas

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Mike from Texas »

Thank You Sir! :txflag:
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator

****************************************************************************************************
User avatar
Skiprr
Moderator
Posts: 6458
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:50 pm
Location: Outskirts of Houston

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Skiprr »

+1

I love the new ETMs, and now own eight of 'em. But I don't use them in my Kimber Ultra CDP, for precisely the reason HV described. When it's most important, I'm most likely to slam a mag home with about 200% more force than I expected to use. Murphy remains alive and well... ;-)
Join the NRA or upgrade your membership today. Support the Texas Firearms Coalition and subscribe to the Podcast.
I’ve contacted my State Rep, Gary Elkins, about co-sponsoring HB560. Have you contacted your Rep?
NRA Benefactor Life Member
Mike from Texas
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:57 am
Location: D/FW Texas

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Mike from Texas »

HighVelocity wrote:A standard size mag will fit in the officers compact frame, however, it will protrude past the bottom of the grip about 3/8". This will function fine, though. The only time you could have a problem with it is if you agressively inserted the mag with the slide locked back. In this instance, the mag can be over-inserted and cause a serious malfunction.
Wilson makes an 8 round mag specifically designed for the compact frame and cannot be over inserted.

Brownells # 965-047-408

Or, you can replace the base pad on a wilson 47D 8 round mag with this one: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ ... BASE%20PAD and get the same results.
Image

Would a magwell fill the gap between the bottom of the grip and the base pad? Also, If I used the base pads in the link you provided, wouldn't the gap still be there?
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator

****************************************************************************************************
User avatar
HighVelocity
Senior Member
Posts: 3374
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:54 pm
Location: DFW, TX
Contact:

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by HighVelocity »

Yep, the gap will still be there. The extra length of a magwell is not enough to make up the extra length of an 8 round mag.
I am scared of empty guns and keep mine loaded at all times. The family knows the guns are loaded and treats them with respect. Loaded guns cause few accidents; empty guns kill people every year. -Elmer Keith. 1961
Mike from Texas
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:57 am
Location: D/FW Texas

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Mike from Texas »

Well that stinks. Thanks HV.
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator

****************************************************************************************************
User avatar
HighVelocity
Senior Member
Posts: 3374
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:54 pm
Location: DFW, TX
Contact:

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by HighVelocity »

Here are a couple of pics. First picture shows my baby Kimber (with magwell) with a regular 7 round officers size Wilson mag:

Image

2nd pic shows the 8 round Wilson with the conversion base pad. You can still see the mag, even with the added length of the magwell.

Image
I am scared of empty guns and keep mine loaded at all times. The family knows the guns are loaded and treats them with respect. Loaded guns cause few accidents; empty guns kill people every year. -Elmer Keith. 1961
Mike from Texas
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:57 am
Location: D/FW Texas

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Mike from Texas »

HighVelocity wrote:Here are a couple of pics. First picture shows my baby Kimber (with magwell) with a regular 7 round officers size Wilson mag:

Image

2nd pic shows the 8 round Wilson with the conversion base pad. You can still see the mag, even with the added length of the magwell.

Image
SORRY, duplicate post, see below.
Last edited by Mike from Texas on Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator

****************************************************************************************************
Mike from Texas
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:57 am
Location: D/FW Texas

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Mike from Texas »

HighVelocity wrote:Here are a couple of pics. First picture shows my baby Kimber (with magwell) with a regular 7 round officers size Wilson mag:

Image

2nd pic shows the 8 round Wilson with the conversion base pad. You can still see the mag, even with the added length of the magwell.

Image
You know what, I could live with that. My Wilson 7 rounders stick that far below as it is. Thanks for the pics, that helps a lot! Which mag well did you use?
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator

****************************************************************************************************
User avatar
Excaliber
Moderator
Posts: 6199
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 9:59 pm
Location: DFW Metro

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Excaliber »

2nd pic shows the 8 round Wilson with the conversion base pad. You can still see the mag, even with the added length of the magwell.
Carrying the compact pistol with the 8 round magazine pretty much negates the grip size advantage of carrying the compact pistol (although the weight reduction advantage remains). That little bit of extra length makes a significant difference in printing issues (on my body, anyway).

My personal solution is to use the 7 round magazine in the gun and the 8 rounders as backups to get the maximum value out of each.
Excaliber

"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Jeff Cooper
I am not a lawyer. Nothing in any of my posts should be construed as legal or professional advice.
User avatar
DoubleJ
Senior Member
Posts: 2367
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:29 am
Location: Seattle, Washington

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by DoubleJ »

That's what I 'd do.

as a caveat, in my Pro CDP, I carry a flush magazine in the gun, with the backups having the bumper pads, as sort of the same principle.
FWIW, IIRC, AFAIK, FTMP, IANAL. YMMV.
Mike from Texas
Senior Member
Posts: 632
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:57 am
Location: D/FW Texas

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by Mike from Texas »

Excaliber wrote:
2nd pic shows the 8 round Wilson with the conversion base pad. You can still see the mag, even with the added length of the magwell.
Carrying the compact pistol with the 8 round magazine pretty much negates the grip size advantage of carrying the compact pistol (although the weight reduction advantage remains). That little bit of extra length makes a significant difference in printing issues (on my body, anyway).

My personal solution is to use the 7 round magazine in the gun and the 8 rounders as backups to get the maximum value out of each.
I wore mine out last night and could tell no difference with printing issues. Now if I were carrying while wearing just a T shirt that may become a problem but that is why I am considering a Wilson speed chute for my magwell.
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator

****************************************************************************************************
User avatar
HighVelocity
Senior Member
Posts: 3374
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:54 pm
Location: DFW, TX
Contact:

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by HighVelocity »

I used a Kimber Factory magwell. The finish matches the frame exactly, the lips of the magwell and frame match exactly and it's aluminum so it doesn't add much to the weight.
I am scared of empty guns and keep mine loaded at all times. The family knows the guns are loaded and treats them with respect. Loaded guns cause few accidents; empty guns kill people every year. -Elmer Keith. 1961
ntexaschl
Member
Posts: 162
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:59 pm
Location: wf, tx

Re: Wilson Combat Elite Tactical Magazine

Post by ntexaschl »

FWIW, I emailed Kimber Arms concerning the ETM for Officer model 1911's. Those will become available sometime in 2009.
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”