Tisas 1911 A1 US Army

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jeffrefrig

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I saw this gun reviewed in American Rifleman, Dec. '21 issue. MSRP is $420. Has anyone purchased or shot one of these yet? SDS Imports is selling them. I used to have an ATI 1911 that I paid about the same, or a little more, for a few years back and it never failed me. I gave it to my son. I'd like another cheap 1911 but I don't want junk. Okay, that sounds like "let's trade all our bad players for all their good players," but I'm not shooting in any competition or anything. I just want to see if I can replace that cheap ATI I had. It was very reliable and I could actually hit in a paper plate sized target with most of the 8 shots from 25 yards out. One always went through some portal or something to another planet. I could throw another $1500 in there for a ??? brand, but at 2 grand I would really start to get picky. Just want to see if this gun is reliable for range use and other fun stuff.
Of course the plastic stocks would go, but otherwise I'm just curious if anyone has tried one out?
Thanks, Jeff
 
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Hickok45 does a review on you tube.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6MK8ffcLL3A&t=123s[/ame]

Bargain basement

Step up AO army 1911, SA gi mil spec
 
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I have one and it's an awesome gun for the money. It shoots every bit as good as my 1943 Ithaca, which I retired years ago. Now I just pretend I'm shooting my WWII .45, very satisfying. ;)
 
A buddy has one I have put 100 rounds through, the last 25 this afternoon. Well-built, pleasingly accurate, smooth-shooting. I've ordered one for myself...
 
Back around when I bought my ATI, I had an RIA in my hands at a LGS. I think I held off buying that for some reason. It seems that all the videos on these inexpensive (not cheap, actually, just inexpensive) 1911s they don't seem to have any problems with them except for getting used to the trigger break and other little quirks, but nobody seems to have any problems as far as reliability or ammo (ball or hollow points) feed problems. I suppose if you use the original specs on these 1911s and no one messes with the insides, all goes well. May be why they've been around for over 100 years and going strong.
Thanks for the video suggestion. I watched a couple kinda quick skipping through and heard no problems there, on their closing comments. The SDS-imported Tisas seems to be a nice copy of the Colt; just plain Jane, nothing extra, etc.
Thanks guys.
I had my finger on the Complete Purchase button and didn't do it, just last week, because they wanted me to "Log In" or "Join" so I said (forget) you and decided to wait till after the holiday, maybe get some more info and not jump quite so fast.
Still, I will wait to see if there are any bad reports. Or, I can grab about 10 beers, my credit card, and look at guns for sale!
 
According to Hickock 45 the sights aren't that great and neither is the trigger.

I have to admit, I'm a bit of a 1911 snob. I have a colt GCT that I shoot when I break out a 1911, but those are 1700 bucks new these days and that's not chump change.

For $400 bucks you get a functioning 1911 here but I would lean toward a RIA 1911 for a few more bucks. Politics if nothing more.
 
I have a Tisas Hi Power, in stainless steel. Really nice fit and finish, and the gun’s been 100% reliable for the little I’ve shot it... I bought it because it was a stainless steel Hi Power and I wanted shooter that I could use instead of mucking up my Brownings. With them not being made anymore, they’re getting valuable, and I want to keep them in top condition.

With 1911s, I love Colts. I’ve got several Colts, and I’ve never been disappointed, good quality, and good shooters. In fact, I just bought myself a Christmas present last week; a new Commander in 9mm. Colt is still making a great 1911.

Based on my experience with Tisas I would think their version of the 1911 would be a well made, good value gun. As for Rock Island Arms, I own a double stack 10mm 1911. That thing is awesome, what a beast! Good gun for the money, as well. I’ve seen them creep up in price, but what hasn’t...! Guns are not getting cheaper, that’s for sure. I’d buy now before they raise prices in the new year. That’s a thing, you know...
 
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If you're a handloader, be aware the Tisas has no throat at all and is very fussy with cast bullets. At least for me. Other than that, it's an incredible bargain.
 
If you can find a RIA for the same money, worth a hard look. I have one. Bought used for $300. It has been 100% excellent from the first round. Feeds empty cases. A local gunsmith offered to put on better sights, etc. When I got it back ... one of the best shooting 1911's I've ever owned ... and that includes National Match Colts. Sincerely. bruce.
 
I learned to shoot a 1911 at Fort Gordon in 1969. My only complaint then was the small sights. I have a RIA, of which I don't remember the model, but it has much better sights. There are several other makers of GI type guns that put decent sights on them.

I have no problem with the Tisas, but I would opt for something with more visible sights.
 
The small sights are actually great for precision shooting, just harder to pick up when shooting fast. Given a choice between a Tisas and one of the Philippine made 1911's... tough call. Both can be good or bad, so I think it would boil down to the quality of the parts and assembly of the individual pistol.
 
Sometimes the cheaper guns are very good A long time ago Norinco imported M1911's and people called them "Chinese Junk". Then some of the IPSC shooters bought them and turned them into race guns Then they got very hard to find. Wish I had bought one, but I was into Colt's and Caspian's at the time. Still have my Colts.
 
AJ said:
Sometimes the cheaper guns are very good A long time ago Norinco imported M1911's and people called them "Chinese Junk". Then some of the IPSC shooters bought them and turned them into race guns Then they got very hard to find. Wish I had bought one, but I was into Colt's and Caspian's at the time. Still have my Colts.
Click to expand...

I had one, my 1st 1911 style pistol, almost 30 years ago. Shot great.

Traded it for something.

Wish that I still had it.
 
I bought my first Tisas with the small sights. Ran like **** through a goose. Very accurate taking the sights into consideration. After approximately 1000 rounds I bought the stainless model with Novak type sights. It shoots like a laser and after a few mags breaking it in, now also has 1000+ rounds with no failures. I recently changed the recoil spring to 14lb to run 185gr swc’s loaded very light. Again, no hiccups. Fantastic gun for the money. I highly recommend these to my friends
 
From the safety of my armchair: just read the article in AR and I like that this one REALLY looks like the 1911A-1 I carried a long time ago. That's its niche. It even has a lanyard ring!
 
Darkenfast said:
From the safety of my armchair: just read the article in AR and I like that this one REALLY looks like the 1911A-1 I carried a long time ago. That's its niche. It even has a lanyard ring!
Click to expand...

I was never in the armed forces, but that plain-Jane look is what I like about this one. The ATI's logo kinda stuck out a little on the side of the slide; not too much, but IIRC it took up maybe 1/3 to 1/4 of the side of the slide. The RIA's logo toward the rear of the slide really shows up. I know this doesn't affect operation, but all 3 of these are close in price, all seem to get similar operation reviews, and supposedly pretty much any 1911 parts like spare mags and stocks and anything else that I feel safe to use (I'm limited to field stripping for cleaning a gun; that's it!)
I appreciate all of the comments & "reviews" and I suppose I'd have heard about anything real bad or unsafe. I've been wanting a higher-priced 1911 like the ones I've seen a lot of yinz have but I've decided on getting a nice revolver instead. You know, something one can show off at the range or wherever but also a nice shooter. If I decide on one of these < $600 1911s it'll be in January/February after the cold sets in here.
Thanks for all your help & input.
 
Whatever you buy, if it doesn’t have the brown plastic GI grips (still available) it won’t look right (to my eye, anyway).
 
I'd be cursing GI style sights long before worrying about some logo on the slide. I haven't read the review yet, but is the ejection port opened up some?
 
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