Editor’s Note: For this Check-Mate UHC 9mm magazine review, the author received samples for testing from the company. The handgun used was a 1911 DS Prodigy that was loaned to the author by Springfield Armory.
The 1911 is clearly a solid design — it would have to be to still be kicking here more than a century after its introduction. However, for those who want a more “modern” version of the classic — and with increased capacity — the “2011” is an interesting option.
I’ve been using the 2011 platform since they first became available for carry, duty and competition. However, a potential weak point of the design has been the double-stack magazine. Either expensive, or unreliable, or both, you had to make sure your mags were not a problem.
Achilles Heel?
In my experience in the early days of 2011 pistols, some magazines would work with some guns, others not so much. Magazines often had to be “tuned” for that gun, turning normal magazines into $150.00 items — problematic to say the least when you needed at least three, maybe more.
High-dollar customs came with tuned magazines, and gunsmiths offered a service to tune the ones you had. Or, you had to go through 10 magazines to get five that were flawless in your gun.
Most competitors spent more time “prepping” their magazines between stages than their guns. It was not uncommon to clean and check followers between every stage. Dropping them with ammo in the magazine could result in stuck followers and/or ammo on the ground, especially a problem in the silt or sand.
The design requires very light spring tension, making them smooth and fast when they worked, but not so much when they failed. Thankfully, that has largely changed with several improvements over the years in factory magazines and also a few aftermarket versions that do it well.
In fact, in my experience the Springfield Armory 1911 DS family has avoided this problem altogether and sits right at the top of the list. So, is there no reason to buy aftermarket magazines anymore? Hold that thought.
Check-Mate Magazines
Check-Mate has been building high-quality magazines for well over 50 years. The company is largely known for their M1A-/M14-pattern magazines, and they also produce magazines for many OEM pistols, both with and without their name on it.
In my experience, Check-Mate magazines are some of the best built and most reliable on the market today. As the 2011 Market expanded, they stepped up with one of the most popular to date. Well, it looks like Check-Mate has done it again with its new UHC (Ultra-High-Cap) 1911 Double-Stack magazine. Spoiler-alert: it’s a winner.
A Little Bit More
Built from what the company describes as the highest-quality American milled stainless steel, these magazines are rugged. Each tube is through-hardened and polished inside and out. Anti-friction followers are designed to enhance last round lock-back, while still meeting their drop standards.
The springs fueling these mags are not only designed for longer life, but also to allow for two more rounds over their standard 17-round magazines. For concealed carry this is huge, on the same 126mm magazines you have 19+1 capacity.
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The magazines’ basepads provide a usable ledge for manipulation and are made from aluminum with a steel retainer. Everything about this magazine screams attention to detail, practicality, and above all, long-term reliability.
Check-Mate UHC Prodigy Magazine Specifications
- Caliber: 9mm
- Finish: American Milled Polished Stainless Steel Tube
- Follower: Proprietary non-friction polymer design
- Spring: Proprietary Premium Music Wire
- Base Pad: Aluminum Flush Fit
- Length: 126 mm
- Capacity: 19 Rounds
- MSRP: $84.99
Hands-On
I decided that Springfield Armory’s new 1911 DS 3.5” AOS was the perfect platform for testing. While I’ve been using guns like this for my EDC for years, I was immediately taken by this pistol’s fit, finish and function. In my time with it, I would say it rivals similar guns at twice the price.
Frankly, a shorter barrel like this is more likely to turn up magazine issues if there were any, so I was very curious how it would perform. It ran great with the stock mags, but would it run with the UHC’s? My test sample was headed to my LEOSA qualification with these magazines, and I wanted to thoroughly vet it first.
The first thing I noticed about the magazines was the lack of rattle. This can be ammo dependent, but many are so loose in the tube they rattle like crazy. Loading them to 19 rounds, there was no rattle at all. I also found the same with only a few rounds in it.
These have serious spring tension compared to other magazines. The design makes for a quiet magazine with consistent-feeding, but they are a pain to load past 15 rounds. Personally, especially for an EDC, I will take the function over sore thumbs; or get a loader. Function was flawless fully loaded or down to one round. Lock up is tight, yet they drop free nicely. In fact, that spring tension I mentioned means they exit the pistol with authority.
These are exactly the same length (126mm) as the standard-sized mags, yet hold 19 rounds and fit exactly the same as stock to the magazine well. Mine held up well through plenty of drops onto rock, some gravel and even concrete without dumping rounds on the ground or locking up the follower. Along with a few hundred rounds of live fire, they saw several days of dry-fire practicing reloads and other stoppage drills.
At the end of testing, there was no perceptible change in spring tension, function or even appearance. These are designed for hard use and work!
Final Thoughts
Springfield Armory’s DS 1911 3.5” AOS became a fast favorite that I really like. And it runs, right out of the box. However, if you’d like to get some additional mags that pack in a higher round-count, then the Check-Mate UHC is a great option. MSRP for them is a reasonable $84.99. If you were on the fence, take the leap — I don’t think you’re going to regret it.
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