1911 magazine bases

[Sedalia Dave]

33 minutes ago, Flying W Ramrod said:

Tripp Research Inc

links to Cobra Mag for Tripp Magazines.

The 8R-45-RG and the 8R-45-RG-TAC have removable, poly, base pads and offer, removable, alloy base pads.

8 Round .45 Government 1911 Magazine 

I bought mine years ago and they have just a thin metal flat plate vice the raised alloy plate.

[Cardboard Cowboy]

FR, that's not WB legal.  So no point in that, or are you saying that it's WB legal?  Dave said he bought flat base removable base pads.  Your link is not for a flat base mag.  

And so Dave could you list the model number off the mag or show a picture of it?  I've been buying Tripp mag's for over 20 year's (back in the Gen 1 day's) and have never seen a removable, flat base pad sold.  I'm just curious.  Thanks buddy.

 

CC

Edited June 17 by Cardboard Cowboy
corrected typo

[Flying W Ramrod]

17 minutes ago, Cardboard Cowboy said:

FR, that's not WB legal.  So no point in that, or are you saying that it's WB legal?  Dave said he bought flat base removable base pads.  Your link is not for a flat base mag.  

And so Dave could you list the model number off the mag or show a picture of it?  I've been buying Tripp mag's for over 20 year's (back in the Gen 1 day's) and have never seen a removable, flat base pad sold.  I'm just curious.  Thanks buddy.

 

CC

If you bothered to read the description, it states the poly/alloy pads are REMOVABLE.

basepad

(BP-P-.500 // BP-A-.500) Polymer or Alloy // Removable // .500" height

[Cardboard Cowboy]

And if you knew anything about these mag's, you would know there is no welded on base pad under that poly/alloy pad.  And if you happen to take the poly/alloy base pad off, the mag's are non operational.  So again my question to you then, are you saying these are legal for WB?  If not WTF is your point in even throwing these mag's out in the WB forum.  Here's two pics of these mags.  

I asked Dave, who stated he had removable FLAT base pads.  Your posted Mag is neither of these item's.  

[Sedalia Dave]

I was wrong

The ones I have with the removable base plates are Wilson Combat Low Profile magazines and I checked even though they are Low Profile they are too long so they wouldn't be WB legal.

When I bought them many many moons ago the base plates were thin metal that fit inside the magazine and held in by the rolled sides of the magazine body. These mags do not have slots cut into the sides of the magazine so that style base plate will not work.

I can't get to my Tripp mags at the moment so I can't verify the base plates but looking through my paperwork they are P/N 7R-45-WG which have welded base plates. 

 

Edited June 17 by Sedalia Dave

[Flying W Ramrod]

7 hours ago, Cardboard Cowboy said:

And if you knew anything about these mag's, you would know there is no welded on base pad under that poly/alloy pad.  And if you happen to take the poly/alloy base pad off, the mag's are non operational.  So again my question to you then, are you saying these are legal for WB?  If not WTF is your point in even throwing these mag's out in the WB forum.  Here's two pics of these mags.  

I asked Dave, who stated he had removable FLAT base pads.  Your posted Mag is neither of these item's.  

You're right. I only knew what I read on their website.

Thanks for pointing this out.

I've seen mags, in wb. that had two screw holes in the baseplate. I'm not sure if these were for base pads, but it appeared so.

Again, thanks for pointing this out.

[Cardboard Cowboy]

Thanks all.  And Dave that Tripp P/N has a welded on base pad.  The Tripps welded base pads are pre drilled with two holes for installation of after market base pads.  Like Dawsons, Ed Brown, Wilson.  The Tripp poly/alloy base pads will not fit onto a Tripp welded mag.  They are secured with a spring plate, which you can see in the second picture I posted above.

I was really hoping that there may have been some "unicorn" Tripp mags.  With removable base plates that were standard length.  That would make the Tripp's the best.  My biggest problem with the welded pad's, are I have several that have been stepped on and the body gets slightly deformed.  No proper way to fix then.  Now if I could get that pad off, easy repair.  Thanks for checking.

 

CC

[Flying W Ramrod]

2 hours ago, Cardboard Cowboy said:

.  My biggest problem with the welded pad's, are I have several that have been stepped on and the body gets slightly deformed.  No proper way to fix then.  Now if I could get that pad off, easy repair.  Thanks for checking.

 

CC

Checking on info. There was a company, good mags, that would exchange beat up mags, as long as follower and spring were still there, and give back a new mag. It wasn't a 1 for 1 but still....

I'll let you know what I find.

[Flying W Ramrod]

2 hours ago, Cardboard Cowboy said:

 My biggest problem with the welded pad's, are I have several that have been stepped on and the body gets slightly deformed.  No proper way to fix then.  Now if I could get that pad off, easy repair.  Thanks for checking.

 

CC

Just got the info

Ed Brown

Mags can be in any condition but has to have spring and follower.

$10.00/mag plus shipping.

Pard sent 28 bad mags, got 28 new and, with shipping to Arizona, about $300.00

[Cardboard Cowboy]

Thank you FR, that's a pretty good deal.  I'll check into them.  Sux to loose a mag from being stepped on.  I've gotten a pretty full box of them now.

 

CC

[marshal stone]

On 6/17/2026 at 2:09 PM, Flying W Ramrod said:

 

I've seen mags, in wb. that had two screw holes in the baseplate. I'm not sure if these were for base pads, but it appeared so.

.

Possibly the mags you are referring to is the Kimber Kim Pro magazines.

They come with standard flat base pads that are legal in WB.

I've been using them for years. Easy peasy to take apart and clean

There are optional thin and thick base pads that can be attached with provided screws.

Marshal Stone

 

[Flying W Ramrod]

2 hours ago, marshal stone said:

Possibly the mags you are referring to is the Kimber Kim Pro magazines.

They come with standard flat base pads that are legal in WB.

I've been using them for years. Easy peasy to take apart and clean

There are optional thin and thick base pads that can be attached with provided screws.

Marshal Stone

 

Thanks Pard, Think these are the ones I've seen.

[El Chapo]

On 6/17/2026 at 8:15 AM, Flying W Ramrod said:

If you bothered to read the description, it states the poly/alloy pads are REMOVABLE.

basepad

(BP-P-.500 // BP-A-.500) Polymer or Alloy // Removable // .500" height

They are removable and after you remove them, the spring will spew right out of the bottom of the magazine.

They are also not standard GI length or there'd be no way to attach the basepad.

Those are the magazines I use for other sports and they are NOT SASS legal.

[Kid Rich]

On 6/19/2026 at 12:31 PM, marshal stone said:

Possibly the mags you are referring to is the Kimber Kim Pro magazines.

They come with standard flat base pads that are legal in WB.

I've been using them for years. Easy peasy to take apart and clean

There are optional thin and thick base pads that can be attached with provided screws.

Marshal Stone

 

I have 3 of the Kimber mags with removable standard base pads that I use in WB.

kR

[Griff]

I don't shoot WB any longer.  Not because of any dispute with the rules, but because matches are not convenient to me.  So I shoot Historic 3 Gun.  But, shoot consistent with SASS rules, as nothing in H3G sez I can't.  Although I do happen to like starting a stage in condition one.  All of my magazines have welded flat baseplates, except one, a stainless Kim-Pro which has a flat removeable baseplate.  But, then again, I learned to manipulate a 1911 during VN, using issue guns and GI magazines.  

Frankly, if you need to rely on a baseplate pad, whether it's leather, plastic, aluminum, steel, rubber or banana peels, you're relying on a crutch.  Learn to seat a flat plate magazine.  Tune your magazines to seat properly in your 1911 and your need for a extended pad goes away.  Sloppy magazine control demands the use of a pad.  By demanding pads, you're admitting to being a sloppy magazine handler.  

Much like the Frontiersman category in SASS cowboy matches... WB was never intended to be as "easy" as shooting a 1911 in other sports.  Why should it be?  What would be the draw for truly dedicated 1911 fans.  If you enjoy shooting other gun games with a 1911 where the use of a basepad is allowed, mastering magazine control without one will not hurt your performance in those other games.

Frankly, I don't recall any of you relatively new folks here when the fight was to end the "cowboy w/a 1911" era of 5 round maximums in magazines.  

Using what is legal in another shooting sport to justify your stance on what you think should be legal in SASS WB is disingenuous at best, at worst, whiney, cry-baby bull spit.  Go ahead, take the high road, being disengenuos.  Wild Bunch is based on a movie released in 1969, depicting events in 1913...  Dig up a still of a 1911 with a base pad in that movie, then maybe your request has some merit...  but be advised, it has the same chance as getting Broomhandle approved.

But, maybe I overstep?

[Griff]

14 hours ago, Griff said:

But, maybe I overstep?

NOT!  Read this excerpt from Ed. 1 of the Wild Bunch Shooter's Handbook: (listed under both Traditional & Modern requirements.  

Quote

• Magazines must be standard length and cannot hold more than eight rounds. No extended
base pads on magazines.

In Sept of 2013 this was amended to read:

Quote

This means NO base pads of any kind.

Are ya pickin' up on a trend here?

That wording remained in place until 2022.  13 years after the initial rules were established.  Emphasis added...  Frankly, be glad that you're now allowed a 1/4" of a "natural" material as a base pad.  

[El Chapo]

On 6/26/2026 at 9:46 PM, Griff said:

I don't shoot WB any longer.  Not because of any dispute with the rules, but because matches are not convenient to me.  So I shoot Historic 3 Gun.  But, shoot consistent with SASS rules, as nothing in H3G sez I can't.  Although I do happen to like starting a stage in condition one.  All of my magazines have welded flat baseplates, except one, a stainless Kim-Pro which has a flat removeable baseplate.  But, then again, I learned to manipulate a 1911 during VN, using issue guns and GI magazines.  

Frankly, if you need to rely on a baseplate pad, whether it's leather, plastic, aluminum, steel, rubber or banana peels, you're relying on a crutch.  Learn to seat a flat plate magazine.  Tune your magazines to seat properly in your 1911 and your need for a extended pad goes away.  Sloppy magazine control demands the use of a pad.  By demanding pads, you're admitting to being a sloppy magazine handler.  

Much like the Frontiersman category in SASS cowboy matches... WB was never intended to be as "easy" as shooting a 1911 in other sports.  Why should it be?  What would be the draw for truly dedicated 1911 fans.  If you enjoy shooting other gun games with a 1911 where the use of a basepad is allowed, mastering magazine control without one will not hurt your performance in those other games.

Frankly, I don't recall any of you relatively new folks here when the fight was to end the "cowboy w/a 1911" era of 5 round maximums in magazines.  

Using what is legal in another shooting sport to justify your stance on what you think should be legal in SASS WB is disingenuous at best, at worst, whiney, cry-baby bull spit.  Go ahead, take the high road, being disengenuos.  Wild Bunch is based on a movie released in 1969, depicting events in 1913...  Dig up a still of a 1911 with a base pad in that movie, then maybe your request has some merit...  but be advised, it has the same chance as getting Broomhandle approved.

But, maybe I overstep?

Why should it be?  Because that's the only way we're going to save Wild Bunch from dying.

Considering SASS was born out of IPSC and founded by IPSC shooters, I think "disingenuous" is a bit of a stretch.  That's a pretty despicable way to refer to someone who simply has a different preference than you.  There is nothing fundamentally dishonest about preferring something other than what you prefer.

There were no beavertails, bomar sights, ambidextrous thumb safeties, dovetail sights, frontstrap checkering, and a laundry list of other permitted modern 1911 features in 1913 nor in the Wild Bunch film.  To suggest that is the standard, is, in a word, disingenuous.  We have a modern category that is obviously not limited to what is in the film or what existed in 1913.  This one small rule difference isn't going to be made different by that.  Until you dig up an example of a 1911 with any of these features in the movie, I'll regard your opinion as simply uninformed about what we're doing at Wild Bunch matches, because plenty goes on there that is not in the film.

I really hope someday we can apply some common sense for the rules for this game.  We are doing ourselves a massive disservice by not trying to compete with other shooting sports, especially because the number of people who want to compete with any iron sight pistol drops more and more every day.  The Single Stack division is, at present, about 5% of USPSA.  If we can't all get along, we might find ourselves with a world that has neither one.  A lot of CAS shooters don't care for wild bunch and a lot of match directors won't give us equal recognition.  If we can't ally with other SASS shooters nor other shooters from other 1911 shooting sports, what do we have left?  I think I know the answer to that.

[Griff]

Since i was there at the beginnings of SASS, if not cowboy action itself... I'll let you in on a little, well-known fact at the time.  The founders of SASS, aka the "Wild Bunch", were tired of the equipment race that had inundated IPSC.  One of their stated goals was not to let Cowboy Action become the equipment race IPSC had become.  Short stroked rifles became the norm before they were recognized as such.  Most of the rules in cowboy action are in place because someone over stepped the bounds of good sportsmanship. I.e., "if it ain't against the rule, I can do it."  And while you say I am being dishonest by preferring something that is disliked by someone else, I would say, please look in the mirror.  We just happen to be looking at the issue from opposite sides.  I happen to like the game as it was originally governed.  45ACP, .40+ caliber for the rifles... and while I detest the 1897, I didn't moan and cry about having to buy one to play the game.  And it wasn't because I dislike pump shotguns... I happen to absolutely love my Remington 870 Riot gun, skeet gun & Wingmaster.  But, if I had whined and cried about not being able to use it, and went about claiming it should be allowed 'cause I could use it in 3-Gun... that would be disingenuous.  Instead, I went out and bought a couple, 3.  When the mdl 12 was approved, I thought, let me give this a whirl and bought one.  Mine must not be the best example, as... shhh... I prefer the '97.  Let us simply agree to disagree on the base pad issue.  If you want to lobby the TG's about changing that , keep it out of the Traditional categories.  And lest you think I'm simply anti-base pad, I had to remove several rubber base pads from magazines so they'd comply with the rule at the time...  My EDC is a Combat Commander, with its own set of magazines which kept those same ~¼" rubber base pads I removed magazines destined for WB use.  I fully recognize their utility and aid to recharging the pistol.  But... WB ain't practice for a life n' death encounter.  It's a game.  As a former sworn peace officer, I carried several different firearms in that career, adapting to them and adapting them to my preferences.  However, gun games are not that.  Each gun game has its own set of distinctive rules and norms... as well they should, otherwise they become simply mundane... 

My 3-Gun 1911 has a beavertail, extended thumb safety, slide release and a compensator, along with a stash of 8 round magazines with base pads of various sizes and contours.  Nothing in WB precludes an IPSC shooter from participation, simply gives they a reason to buy another gun and develop additional skills.  Nothing about trigger time in any gun sport is wasted in another gun sport.

God bless.