By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
My favorite handgun is the Model 1911; I have owned quite a few and written three books on the 1911.
The 1911’s good points are many. A low bore axis limits muzzle flip, the grip fits most hands well, trigger compression is straight to the rear, and longevity is legendary. The pistol is reliable in quality examples if properly maintained.
Quality examples, well, that is the catch. I am always leery of new introductions. Like a new model car from Detroit first year out. A handgun costing less than a new Colt or Springfield but with a similar appearance must be taken in perspective and with the price in mind. There is hand fitting involved in building a 1911, and CNC machines cannot do it all.
Sometimes a maker starting out new with state of the art machinery has an advantage. I have seen a gradual increase in quality and fitting of Tisas handguns. Everything has its place. It isn’t difficult to built up a good collection of range guns on the cheap. Single action revolvers, .22s, 1911s and High Power clones are readily available. How good is an inexpensive 1911 and is it something you could reasonably bet your life on? Lets look at a 1911 that you get more than your money’s worth from.
The GI 1911 is a pistol true to the original. This means small sights, a standard grip safety and solid trigger. The GI gun usually is blessed with a heavy but predictable trigger action of six to seven pounds compression. These pistols served well and were worthy of the men who used them in war time. The pistols were also used by civilians, hunters, and lawmen.
Gradual improvements to the sights and trigger action evolved. A general tightening up of the pistol increased accuracy potential. GI types are popular based on nostalgia and aren’t bad guns they just don’t live up to the 1911’s potential.
For personal defense a 1911 doesn’t need extended controls a magazine well or high profile sights. The pistol should be reliable most of all. Hit the slide rails, barrel hood, cocking block and barrel bushing with oil and you are good to go. A 1911 needs better sights. A target trigger is a competition feature, while a solid trigger is reliable and consistent and doesn’t give trouble. Enter the Tisas Service model.
The service pistol illustrated is very close to the consensus pistol favored by Jeff Cooper. A lowered ejection port for greater reliability in ejecting spent cartridge cases, a good trigger and good sights. The pistol may need a speed safety, but I found it functioned fine in speed drills.
Fitting of the barrel hood, barrel bushing, and locking lugs is competent. Trigger compression is 5.0 pounds even ideal for a carry gun. The feed ramp features the requisite gap between the two halves of the ramp. Overall, it is a credible rendition of a pistol with the features needed in a defensive handgun and nothing extraneous. Hence a consensus of thought.
The Tisas is a steel frame and steel slide pistol. As far as I am able to determine there are not MIM or investment cast parts in the pistol. Cast frames often work well but if I have a choice I prefer forged frame and slide 1911 handguns. The pistol features a Commander, or more properly, a Rowel type hammer. This type is less likely to snag on clothing than a spur hammer. The grips are plain with checkering, just fine for service use.
Before heading to the range for a workout, I ordered a couple of MecGar 1911 magazines. Cheaperthandirt.com has 143 choices in 1911 magazines at this writing. I chose MecGar magazines based on long experience. While affordable, these magazines are well made and finished and proven reliable in a wide range of applications. In ammunition I was pleased to find 137 options. But I did not have to look over these very hard. 230-grain full metal jacketed ammunition, .45 Automatic Colt Pistol, is the best choice for breaking in a new 1911. Many 1911 pistols demand a modest break in period in which the surfaces break in and rid themselves of burrs or excess grease. Many modern 1911 handguns no longer need a break in. I secured a good mix of 230 grain FMJ, primarily Winchester’s famous white box loads, and also Fiocchi and Remington in the same bullet weight.
Cutting to the chase, the Tisas did not require a break in period but came out of the box running. All loads fed, chambered, fired and ejected normally. Recoil is normal for a steel frame .45. The pistol points well and is a great combat pistol- of course- and proved very effective in firing at man sized targets from 5 to 10 yards. It isn’t a challenge to eat the X round out with those big .451 inch pumpkin balls. I found the sights properly regulated for 15 yards. A combination of a good trigger and good sights resulted good results on the firing line. I fired one hundred rounds as fast as I could swap magazines and drop the slide. I knew I had fired a big bore pistol, but my wrists were not sore afterward. More range work followed.
Among the under sung defense loads in .45 ACP is Winchester’s 230 grain JHP. This isn’t a bonded core load but something of a heavy Silvertip that expands well. It feeds in every 1911 I have tried including an original 1918 version. I ordered a box. It is more affordable in its fifty round box, costing about what two twenty round boxes of modern .45 ACP loads cost. I used five rounds during the accuracy test. I fired five rounds from a solid benchrest position at 15 yards. The results were good.
Load 5 shot group, 15 yards
Winchester 230 grain JHP 1.65 inch
Winchester 230 grain FMJ 1.9 inch
Winchester 185 grain Silvertip 1.8 inch
I would be pleased with this pistol for personal defense and carrying in the field for defense against feral dogs and the big cats. You may note the pistol is laser engraved. I was lucky enough to purchase the Tisas as it is illustrated.
The pistol is laser engraved by Carlisle Laser Engraving. If you wish to own an heirloom quality pistol but don’t have thousands of dollars laying around the Tisas from Cheaperthandirt.com may be paired up with Carlisle and you have an object of art- that I fire often and why not! The final choice was to find quality scabbard for carrying the Tisas. I chose a Galco Concealable. This is a well made holster with good tanning, excellent stitching, and a good draw angle. The draw is sharp, and the pistol is carried comfortably in a high ride. I am well pleased with this set up.
Cerakote.com
864 421 7336
Carlislelaserengraving.com
864-363-1393
