Replaced the factory grips with a set of Black-Desert Sand Spartan logo G10 panels from VZ Grips...

 

Picked up a half dozen Checkmate 9mm Match magazines for the Spartan...



SKU: CM9MM-9-S
Finish: Stainless Steel
Rd Capacity: 9rd
Floor Plate: Welded Base
Follower: CMI Patented
Feed Lips: Wadcutter
Spring: 9mm 9rd Spring

For anyone unfamiliar, 9mm 1911 mags are unique in comparison to most other 1911 caliber mags in that they are made from modified .38 super mag tubes. Because .38 super rounds are longer, manufacturers have come up with various means to shorten the inside of the mag tubes to ensure proper bullet seating and reliable feeding of the shorted 9mm rounds. Checkmate welds a spacer bracket into the rear surface of the mag tube that keeps the 9mm rounds seated to the front of the magazine...



The Spartan came with a 9 round stainless Metalform mag. Where Checkmate uses a spacer in the rear of the mag tube to push the rounds forward, Metalform creases the front surface of the mag tube inward to seat the 9mm rounds against the back wall of the magazine. The photo below shows the creased front surface in the Metalform mag compared to the rounded surface of the Checkmate...


Top: Checkmate / Bottom: Metalform

You can clearly see the difference in seating of the first round. In the Checkmate mags the rounds sit further forward and higher up, more level with the feed ramp and chamber. There is less distance to travel for the round to close into battery. Here's a couple more photos illustrating the difference in seating...


Left: Checkmate / Right: Metalform


Left: Checkmate / Right: Metalform

Overall, the Chackmate mags keep the rounds seated more firmly in place. Because of the gap at the front of the mag tube, the Metalform followers allow a bit of downward tilt in the nose of the top round. The upside is that I had zero feed issues from the Metalform mag through the 250 rounds I put through the Spartan last week, but the inconsistency in seating could potentially end up creating feed issues, especially once the mag springs have been loosened up a bit from use. I'm looking to put the Checkmate mags through the paces at the range tomorrow.

 

Congrats!

Nice handgun.


1911club#410

 

Looks great

Congrats!

 

Congrats!

 

looks like you are good to go... congrats.

 

Nice!

 

Congrats on a fine looking pistol!

Nice write up and pictures.

Dave

 

Thanks fellas.

 

I use Metalform 9mm and 38 Super magazines in my two Dan Wesson 9mm 1911's. They have functioned flawlessly and are very inexpensive (purchased from CDNN).

 

^ Good to know!

I've seen the Metalform mags on CDNN and the prices seem almost too good to be true. Picked up my Checkmates for $21.99 each, but $9.99 for the Metalform .38 super mags is hard to beat if they run like yours...

 

That is my favorite 1911. Even though I don't own a Spartan yet...that is the gun that got me wanting a 1911 and is why I felt confident buying a filipino 1911 in the first place...

 

Just installed a new 4140 bar stock steel mainspring housing with 30 LPI checkering and oversized magazine guide on the Spartan V. Also added extended bumper pads to the Checkmates. Reloads are going a lot smoother and faster now...

 

Nice!!

 

Great pistol- love those grips as well.

The comparison on the mags was great and good photos. Thanks brotha!:wavey:

 

Thank you Sir, and my pleasure.

 

Nice looking gun.

I have the EMP 9mm.

Wonder why 10 round mags aren't the standard, and then they'd be IDPA competitive, no?

 

I think the 9 round mags were the original 9mm 1911 capacity, and magazine companies had to alter the "traditional" spring/follower design to cram in another round, kind of like a 7 but now 8 round .45 magazine, but that is my THINKING, not knowing, deerslayer.
Please keep up any comments on the gun's reliability. I understand that 1911 9mm's can be tricky or picky about OAL and/or mags or whatever makes them that way. The grips are really great on the gun, but the grip screws really dress them up more, I need to just suck it up and pay for a set of the expensive little devils.

 

I have the STI Trojan in 9mm. There isn't a funner gun on the planet. It is so incredibly soft shooting and accurate... The slide feels like it's on ball-bearings.

STI is one of those companies that seems to fly under the radar, but I highly recommend them. They are first rate... and made in Texas.

 

Nice, I have the exact gun in 45. I like your grips, do they come in a slightly darker color?

 

nice Spartan and the grips look great.