1911 Mag Well

1911 Magwell

A 1911 magwell is a flared funnel that attaches to or replaces the mainspring housing at the bottom of the 1911 grip frame, widening the magazine well opening to guide the magazine into the frame during reloads. A 1911 magwell reduces reload time by creating a larger target for the magazine to enter, which matters most under stress when fine motor control degrades. There are 3 types of 1911 magwells: one-piece magwells that integrate the mainspring housing and funnel into a single machined unit, two-piece magwells that use a separate funnel attached to a standard mainspring housing, and add-on magwells that clamp or pin onto the existing mainspring housing without replacement. This guide covers the competitive advantage of a 1911 magwell, one-piece versus two-piece designs, 1911 magwell brands and models with prices from Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Chen Custom, Nighthawk Custom, and Techwell, magwell materials and finishes, frame sizing (Government, Compact, and Officer's), and 1911 magwell installation.

The Competitive Advantage of a 1911 Magwell

A 1911 magwell reduces reload time by increasing the magazine well opening area and adding a beveled entry angle that funnels the magazine into alignment even when the shooter's hand position is imprecise. In International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) competition, a fast reload saves 0.5 to 1.5 seconds per reload compared to a standard flat mainspring housing. A magwell also eliminates the sharp frame corners at the front of the magazine well opening that can catch the magazine baseplate during rushed reloads. Competition shooters in IDPA Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) and USPSA Single Stack divisions use magwells on 1911 pistols to minimize reload time during timed stages.

A magwell benefits carry and duty applications the same way — a faster, more reliable reload under stress reduces the time the pistol is empty. Chen Custom magwells add no length or width to the original pistol dimensions, which preserves concealability for shooters who carry a magwell-equipped 1911.

One-Piece vs. Two-Piece 1911 Magwells

One-piece 1911 magwells integrate the mainspring housing and magazine funnel into a single Computer Numerical Control (CNC)-machined unit, and two-piece magwells use a separate funnel that attaches to a standard or oversized mainspring housing. There are 3 differences between one-piece and two-piece 1911 magwells:

• Strength: one-piece magwells have no joint between the housing and funnel, which eliminates the risk of the funnel loosening or twisting from side impacts — two-piece designs can develop a gap between the housing and funnel over time
• Installation: two-piece magwells install by replacing the mainspring housing pin and dropping in the new housing (15 minutes with no gunsmithing), while one-piece magwells from Chen Custom and Nighthawk Custom often require frame shortening of .300 inches (7.62 millimeters or mm) and a relocated mainspring housing pin
• Profile: one-piece magwells that require frame shortening sit flush with the original grip length and add no bulk, while two-piece magwells and add-on funnels extend below the original grip line by 0.25 to 0.5 inches (6.35 to 12.7 mm)

1911 Magwell Brands and Models

Wilson Combat Magwells

Wilson Combat manufactures 2 magwell product lines for the 1911: a two-piece magazine well ($30.95 blue, $33.95 stainless) and a one-piece Bullet Proof magwell series ($154.95 to $180.95). The Wilson Combat two-piece magazine well is the lowest-cost magwell option and installs by replacing the mainspring housing with a housing that has a flared bottom edge. The Wilson Combat one-piece Bullet Proof magwells are CNC-machined from solid bar stock and are available in 4 frame sizes (full-size, compact, Officer's/Sentinel), 2 textures (checkered and X-TAC), 3 materials (blue steel, stainless steel, aluminum), and flat or round butt configurations. Wilson Combat Bullet Proof magwells are available in both shooter-installed (checkered) and gunsmith-fit versions.

Ed Brown Magwells

Ed Brown manufactures 4 magwell products for the 1911 platform:

• One-Piece Government HARDCORE Magwell ($159.95 to $179.95): a one-piece CNC-machined magwell for Government-size frames
• Two-Piece Government 1911 Magwell Housings ($69.95 to $89.95): a mainspring housing with integrated funnel for Government frames
• Two-Piece Officer's Magwell Housings ($69.95 to $89.95): a mainspring housing with integrated funnel for Officer's-size frames
• Replacement Magwell ($29.95): a direct replacement funnel for existing Ed Brown housings

Chen Custom Magwells

Chen Custom manufactures 3 generations of 1911 magwells designed and machined by Stan Chen in Durango, Colorado. The Chen Shooter Installed (SI) Magwell is a one-piece CNC-machined magwell that installs without gunsmithing experience — the SI magwell does not require frame shortening or welding and is used by shooters in IDPA competition and concealed carry. The Chen Gen1 Magwell Suite is a two-piece weld-on design that requires a skilled pistolsmith to weld or silver-solder the funnel to the frame, then shape and blend the joint for a seamless fit. The Chen Gen2 is a one-piece magwell integrated with the mainspring housing that requires frame shortening of .300 inches (7.62 mm) and relocation of the mainspring housing pin.

Both the Gen1 and Gen2 add no length or width to the pistol's original dimensions, and both feature a pronounced access notch at the front of the funnel that allows the shooter to strip a stuck magazine from the pistol using the baseplate of a spare magazine for leverage. The Gen2 adds Side Impact Reinforcement Tabs (SIRT) that engage against the sides of the frame and prevent the magwell from twisting under lateral impacts. Chen Custom magwells are machined from heat-treated 4140 chrome-moly steel or 416 stainless steel bar stock, hardened to Rockwell C (RC) 28 to 32 for impact resistance.

Nighthawk Custom and Techwell Magwells

Nighthawk Custom manufactures a one-piece mainspring housing and magwell ($159.99) machined from a solid 2.25-inch (57 mm) block of 416 stainless steel with 20 lines per inch (LPI) checkering and a rounded bottom profile for concealed carry. The Nighthawk magwell is available with an optional lanyard loop machined into the housing (no lanyard pin to break). Nighthawk Custom Fully Machined parts are CNC-machined from solid steel billets — Nighthawk does not use cast, metal injection molded (MIM), or polymer components. The Techwell magwell ($85, available through Shooters Connection) is a competition-oriented magwell used in USPSA Single Stack and 1911 competition builds.

1911 Magwell Materials and Finishes

1911 magwells are manufactured in 3 materials: carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Carbon steel magwells (blue or black finish) are the heaviest and most durable option, and the added weight at the bottom of the grip lowers the pistol's center of gravity. Stainless steel magwells resist corrosion better than carbon steel and are available in matte or polished finishes. Aluminum magwells weigh approximately 40 percent less than steel magwells and are available in anodized finishes — aluminum is strong enough for competition use but less resistant to impact damage than steel. Wilson Combat aluminum Bullet Proof magwells cost $180.95, and steel versions range from $154.95 (blue) to $180.95 (stainless).

1911 Magwell Installation

To install a two-piece 1911 magwell, remove the existing mainspring housing by pushing out the mainspring housing pin from left to right, slide the old housing down and off the frame, slide the new magwell housing up into the frame, and push the mainspring housing pin back through from right to left. The entire installation takes 10 to 15 minutes with a mainspring housing pin punch. Check that the grip panels clear the new magwell — some magwells require grip panel relief cuts at the bottom edge where the grips meet the funnel.

One-piece magwells that require frame shortening (Chen Gen1 and Gen2, some Nighthawk models) need a gunsmith to remove .300 inches (7.62 mm) from the bottom of the grip frame, relocate the mainspring housing pin hole, and blend the magwell to the frame. Chen Custom provides an installation tool to Authorized Installers that positions the new pin hole precisely. Frame shortening is permanent — the frame cannot be returned to its original length after machining. The Chen SI magwell and Wilson Combat Bullet Proof magwells do not require frame shortening.