Best Mag Catch for a Commander 1911: What Fits and What to Buy
by Shooting Surplus
Short answer: a Commander takes the same mag catch as a Government
If you're shopping for a mag catch for a Commander 1911, the good news is that you don't need a Commander-specific part. Every 1911 magazine release we stock lists Government and Commander on the same part. The frame is the same where the catch sits, which is why the catch, its spring and its lock cross over.
So the real question isn't "which one fits." It's "what do I want the new catch to do." Below is how we'd sort it, using the parts we have on the shelf right now.
What the mag catch assembly actually is
A 1911 magazine release is three small parts. The catch is the button body that sits in the frame and holds the magazine. The spring pushes the catch back out after you press it. The lock is the small threaded piece that holds the catch and spring in the frame. Any one of the three can be replaced on its own, and most "my mags won't drop" complaints trace back to the spring or the catch, not the magazine.
Before you buy a new catch, check which of the three is the problem. A sticky button with a strong spring usually means the catch is dragging in the frame. A button that feels limp or a magazine that rattles usually means a tired spring.
Extended release: for faster reloads
The most common upgrade is an extended magazine release. The button stands taller, so you can reach it without shifting your grip. That matters more on a Commander than people expect, because many shooters carry one and run it with a thumb-forward grip that puts the thumb a little short of a stock button.
Our pick here is the Wilson Combat 1911 Extended Magazine Release. It's blued, it's listed for both Government and Commander frames, and it's the one we'd put on a blued or black gun. One caution with any extended release: a taller button can get bumped in a holster and drop the magazine. Try it in your holster before you trust it for carry.
Stainless release: for a stainless gun
If your Commander is stainless, a blued button looks like an afterthought. Harrison Design makes a stainless magazine release for Government and Commander frames that matches a bright or brushed gun.
Harrison Design & Consulting stainless 1911 magazine release.
Expect to do a little fitting if the catch is snug in your frame; that's normal for a 1911 part. Stock on this one is thin, so if it's in stock when you read this, don't wait on it.
Keeping the stock catch: springs and locks
If the button itself is fine, the cheapest fix is a new spring. Wolff Gunsprings sells an XP mag catch spring in a 3-pack that's listed for 1911 Government and Commander frames and the Browning Hi-Power. It's the one we'd reach for when your magazines don't drop free, or when the button feels soft.
Wolff Gunsprings XP mag catch spring, 3-pack.
Wolff also sells a #2 catch spring in a 10-pack listed for Officers and Government frames, which is the one to buy if you work on several 1911s or want spares in the range bag. For the lock, Springfield Armory sells the 1911 magazine catch lock for its Mil-Spec and Loaded models. It's the part people lose on the bench when they take the catch apart, and it's worth having a spare before you need one.
Don't forget the magazines
A new catch won't fix a magazine that's bent at the catch notch or sits low because of a worn base pad. If you're already in there, it's a good time to check the magazines you run.
Colt 1911 7-round 45 ACP stainless magazine, listed for Commander and Gold Cup.
Colt's own 7-round stainless 45 ACP magazine is listed for the Government, Commander and Gold Cup. Taurus sells an 8-round magazine for its 1911 Commander. And Wilson Combat sells standard base pads for Commander .45 ACP magazines if your pads are chewed up and the tubes are still good. You'll find more in our magazines section.
Fitting a 1911 mag catch
Swapping a mag catch is one of the easier 1911 jobs, but it's still a job. The lock has to be turned the right way to release the catch, the new catch has to move freely in the frame without rattling, and a magazine has to seat and drop with the gun empty before you load it. If the new catch is tight, take material off slowly and check often. If you're not comfortable, any gunsmith can fit one in a few minutes. Our gun parts section has the rest of the small parts for the platform.
Products in this post
Frequently asked questions
- Does a Commander 1911 use the same mag catch as a Government?
- Yes. The parts we stock list Government and Commander on the same magazine release, spring and lock. The frame is the same where the catch sits, so the parts cross over.
- Should I get an extended or a standard mag release?
- Get an extended release if you can't reach the stock button without shifting your grip. Stay with a standard one for carry if your holster bumps a taller button and drops the magazine. Test it in your holster first.
- Why won't my 1911 magazines drop free?
- Check the spring first. A weak or worn mag catch spring is the usual cause. If the spring is fine, the catch may be dragging in the frame, or the magazine's catch notch may be worn or bent.
- Can I replace just the mag catch spring?
- Yes. The spring is a separate part. Wolff Gunsprings sells an XP spring 3-pack listed for Government and Commander frames, and a #2 catch spring 10-pack for Officers and Government frames.
- What is the mag catch lock?
- The lock is the small threaded piece that holds the catch and spring in the frame. You turn it to remove the catch. Springfield Armory sells one for its Mil-Spec and Loaded 1911 models.
- Do I need a gunsmith to install a 1911 mag catch?
- Not usually. It's one of the simpler 1911 jobs. The catch has to move freely without rattling and a magazine has to seat and drop with the gun unloaded. If the new catch is tight or you're not comfortable fitting it, a gunsmith can do it quickly.