×close
×close
×close

FAQs

Browse answers to the most common questions below.

  • In order to provide a variety of different magazine options for both Government and Officer grip length pistols, some magazines are customized. For instance government length magazines can be cut shorter for use in officer sized pistols. Please Note: Due to Custom Shop customization, the imprinted part number on the side of the magazine may not be accurate.

  • Springs will show the most fatigue from loading/unloading but leaving them compressed doesn't affect the spring as much as people tend to think. We have Law Enforcement Officers, conceal carry shooters, and people with bedside pistols leave magazines loaded for long periods of time with no issues. While we do suggest you test fire magazines regularly, leaving Tripp magazines loaded is not an issue.

  • The simplest answer is if they start having jams on the last round, or fail to lock the slide back. This is when the spring is fully extended and at its weakest. There are some pro-active methods to changing springs so you never have a failure from spring weakening. The easiest way is to take a new spring and use it as a size gauge against springs that are in use and you will notice the used springs will shrink over time. When they lose one or two whole coils in height, swap them out for new springs. Many pistols will still shoot fine with springs that have lost 2 coils in height, and some pistols 3 coils in height.

  • We do not suggest attempting to take apart welded base magazines. To clean them, we suggest liberally spraying brake parts cleaner or electric motor cleaner inside the magazines then blowing them out with air.

  • All of our followers are 'anti-tilt' which just means they have material that goes down the front and back of the follower so they resist rotation within the magazine tube. When the follower moves upward and engages the slide stop, it will make contact on the front of the follower. This action wants to push the front of the follower down but our followers resist this so they have a solid upwards push to lock back the slide. This means that when the magazine is empty and supposed to hold the slide stop up, it's hard to push it down to release the slide. If you have any rounds in the magazine there is no problem releasing the slide.

  • The Alloy Basepad is primarily a cosmetic upgrade. The Alloy is slightly heavier than the Polymer, but for most shooters we suggest the Polymer/stock basepad.

  • You can contact us through our website, email, or by phone and we will typically respond in the same manner.

  • The best combination of features:

    • Accurate internal tube volume at all capacities and calibers
    • High quality springs pre-set for a long reliable life span
    • Anti-tilt followers for positive lock-back every time
    • Proper heat-treated magazine tubes
    • An attractive outside finish and design

  • Each magazine has a unique part number which identifies the round count, caliber, whether it has a removable basepad or welded flush floorplate, and whether it's for an Officer or Government grip length pistol. For example, the 8R-45-RG is an 8 Round .45 caliber, Removable basepad magazine for Government length pistols (see diagram below). Some magazine part numbers will also include (CS) at the end. The (CS) identifies Custom Shop magazines.

    mag-part-number-examples2.jpg

  • There are 2 factors in determining which magazines will work with your 1911 pistol:

    1. Caliber
    2. Pistol grip length.

    1911 pistol grip length can be identified by measuring the distance between the grip screws, center to center. The distance between the grip screws of Government, Commander, and Full Size pistols is 3 1/8" inches while the distance between grip screws of Officer and Compact pistols is 2 5/8" inches (see diagram below).

    pistol-sizing-chart2.jpg

    Once you verify your pistol's grip length, from the Cobra Magazines menu select the caliber of your pistol then select either 'Government/Commander' (for 3 1/8") or 'Officer/Compact' (for 2 5/8"). 

    Round count is primarily a matter of choice. The first part of each magazine's part number identifies the round capacity for that magazine (e.g. 9R=9 Rounds). Higher round count magazines are longer and will extend further out of the pistol. Each magazine has a second photo which shows how that particular magazine will fit into a typical 1911 pistol.