Tisas 1911 Duty B45RDG TH Pistol: "Semper Fi"

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In 2012, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, along with Force Reconnaissance and other select units within the Corps, upgraded its sidearm from the M45 to the M45A1. The latter had updates like a dual recoil spring system, an accessory rail, an ambidextrous thumb safety and night sights. The flat dark earth Cerakote finish set the M45A1 apart visually from other pistols, and it also blended with desert landscapes better than a black pistol.

But with the Marines’ adoption of the SIG M18 as their standard-issue pistol, the M45A1 started being phased out and was officially retired in 2022. Decommissioned M45A1s hit the market, but they were at prices most shooters weren’t willing to pay.

Recognizing the affinity many had for this last 1911 issued by the USMC, Turkish manufacturer Tisas produced two M45A1 clones. One is the 1911 Duty B45RDG Raider, the Raider moniker a nod to the Marine Raiders special ops unit that was issued the M45A1 at one time. The other is the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH that I tested—a full-size, single-stack 1911 with an 8+1 capacity—and it’s an updated version of the Raider.

One of the updates is that the slide of the B45RDG TH is cut for optics on the Shield RMSc/Holosun K footprint. It also features a threaded barrel for mounting a suppressor.

A Clone

While the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH is an M45A1 clone, there are some significant differences. While the M45A1 used a dual recoil spring system for enhanced durability, reliability and recoil reduction, the Tisas uses a single spring. That saves cost, and since the Tisas pistols won’t be fielded in combat, the single spring should suffice.

The M45A1 was also a series 80 1911, with an internal firing pin safety mechanism. This additional safety compromises the trigger pull, and many shooters prefer the smoother, crisper pull of a series 70 1911 trigger, which is what the Tisas has.

Unlike the M45A1, the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH does not employ a match-grade barrel—another cost-saving measure. However, the Tisas barrel is hard-chromed, and it proved plenty accurate during my testing.

The 1911 Duty B45RDG TH is constructed of a forged stainless steel frame and slide. It’s 9.2 inches long, with a 5.5-inch .578x28 threaded barrel fitted with a thread protector. The gun is 5.3 inches tall and 1.39 inches wide across the ambidextrous thumb safety. The grip measures 1.28 inches across, and the slide is 0.91 inch wide. The gun weighs 37.3 ounces empty and without an optic.

Design and Finishes

The flat dark earth Cerakote finish is well executed. It’s accented by black sights, a black trigger, the black thread protector, a black extractor and black magazine base plates. The G-10 grip panels are primarily flat dark earth, but vertical black lines help break up the solid color and give the pistol some added style.

The slide is topped with a Novak front sight and a dovetailed rear sight. Unlike the M45A1, which had tritium night sights, the Tisas uses a serrated, blacked-out rear and white-dot front . The slide cut is set up for a direct mount with the appropriate optic—no adapter plate required.

Front and rear slide serrations provide a non-slip grip for checking the chamber or racking the slide. Except for the flat dark earth color, the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH’s smooth, rounded slide is what you’d expect of a 1911. It fits tightly to the frame, with little wiggle as I tried to rock it from side to side.

The frame features a four-slot Picatinny rail for mounting a light or light/laser combo, and the controls will be familiar to anyone used to shooting a 1911.

Controls and Grip

The ambidextrous thumb safety is oversize and serrated. It clicks positively on and off. It’s big enough to engage and disengage intuitively, without being so big that it’s in the way.

Some right-handed shooters loathe the ambi safety because it can rub against their shooting hand. But this type of safety is the hallmark of a fighting pistol because it’s important for lefties and also for righties who are forced to shoot left-handed due to injury or other circumstance.

The grip safety features a memory bump, making the safety easy to disengage even without a perfect grip. The slide stop is where you’d expect it to be. It’s serrated to prevent slippage and is big enough to reach with either thumb to send the slide forward. The round, checkered magazine button is situated in the normal spot on the left side of the frame between the grip panel and the trigger.

The aluminum trigger is curved, with serrations on its face. Although smooth and clean breaking, the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH’s trigger was heavier than I expected. According to my NRA trigger weight system, the trigger broke between five and 5.5 pounds of pressure.

Trigger

That’s rather stiff for a 1911, but the trigger was certainly manageable and far better than the trigger on virtually every other type of pistol. The skeletonized hammer is serrated, which affords you a sure grip should you opt to thumb-cock the pistol or lower the hammer.

While it’s mostly for looks, the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH has the M45A1’s lanyard at the back of the magazine well. On the M45A1 it was a last-ditch method to keep the pistol from falling into the wrong hands, falling to the ground during a parachute jump, or falling overboard during maritime operations.

An extended beavertail protects the web of your hand from the hammer, while facilitating a high hold on the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH—which facilitates fast shooting by minimizing muzzle flip. The heft of a 1911 also makes it easier to control as well, and the way a 1911 feels in the hand is a big reason the platform is still going strong 115 years after its introduction.

The 1911 Duty B45RDG TH’s G-10 grips are thinner than the wood panels found on most traditional 1911s or the rubber Pachmayr grips found on the original M45 pistol. G-10 grips are also more aggressively textured, which helps lock the pistol into your hands. This is particularly advantageous during inclement weather or when wearing gloves. A groove in the left panel steers your thumb to the magazine release button.

Well-Balanced

Traditional 1911s rely on a barrel bushing to help keep the barrel properly aligned. The 1911 Duty B45RDG TH’s bushing is matte-finished stainless steel, as is the recoil spring plug.

The 1911 Duty B45RDG TH runs on standard 1911 magazines. It ships with two eight-rounders with plastic extended base plates. I prefer this to flush-fit magazines, which tend to be both harder to seat and harder to strip from a pistol’s magazine well if they don’t fall out when you hit the release. The 1911 Duty B45RDG TH’s magazine well is beveled for easier loading.

The flat mainspring housing sports vertical grooves that, along with the G-10 panels’ texture, provide a sure grip. The frontstrap and beavertail grip safety are smooth. The combination makes the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH comfortable to hold.

In true 1911 fashion, the Duty B45RGD TH is substantial but well-balanced. 1911s tend to point naturally for most people, and I’m not sure there has ever been a pistol with better ergonomics. The 1911 B45RDG TH is no exception. I am sure there’s no better trigger. The 1911’s single action trigger slides to the rear, as opposed to pivoting at a hinge like most other pistol triggers. Since the goal when shooting a pistol is to press the trigger straight back, the sliding trigger reigns supreme. While some people prefer a flat trigger, the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH’s curved trigger conformed nicely to my finger.

Accuracy

For accuracy testing, I mounted a Shield RMSx red dot sight to the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH and bench­rested it at 25 yards. I fired four five-shot groups with three loads of varying weights. Groups ranged from one inch to 3.2 inches, with the overall average group size registering a respectable 2.1 inches.

Sometimes a 1911 can be finicky with certain types of ammunition, particularly hollowpoints, which can hang up on feed ramps because of their squared-off design. I experienced this a couple times with Federal’s Hydra-Shok Deep, which has a flat nose and is not as smooth-feeding as a roundnose like Federal’s Syntech or Hornady’s Critical Duty, which have more pointed bullets. When the slide failed to go into battery, a tap on the back of the slide was the remedy.

Whether due to the pistol needing a bit of a break-in period, lacking lubrication or some other variable, this issue reinforces the importance of thoroughly testing the load you plan to carry in your defensive pistol. Just because you pair a quality pistol with quality ammunition doesn’t mean they will work well together.

Off the bench, the 1911 Duty B45RDG TH was a pleasure to shoot. With the resurgence of the 9mm Luger cartridge in defensive pistols, there are more 9mm chambered 1911s being made than those chambered for the .45 ACP. While I prefer the 9mm because it produces less recoil and affords me more ammunition compared to .45 ACP, there’s just something comforting about that slow, .45 ACP recoil impulse, which feels more like a push than a snap.

The Package Deal

The 1911 Duty B45RDG TH ships in a hard plastic case with two magazines and a bushing wrench, along with a cleaning brush, a patch rod, a trigger lock, a chamber flag and an owner’s manual. It’s backed by a Tisas one-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Whether you’re a history buff on a budget or just a fan of modern 1911s but don’t want to fork over thousands of dollars for an M45A1, the economically priced 1911 Duty B45RDG TH is worth considering. With a suggested retail price of $880, it’s way more affordable than a decommissioned M45A1.

It gives you M45A1 look, feel and performance at a fraction of the price. It also gives you the option of using a red-dot sight and a suppressor, which the M45A1 does not. The 1911 Duty B45RDG TH is more than a clone. It’s a fitting tribute to the last 1911 issued by the USMC.

Tisas 1911 Duty B45RDG TH Specs

• Type: 1911
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Capacity: two 8-round mags supplied
• Barrel: 5.5 in., hard-chrome coated, threaded .578x28
• OAL/Height: 9.2/5.3 in.
• Width: slide, 0.9 in.; across safeties, 1.4 in.; grip, 1.28 in.
• Weight: 37.3 oz. (empty)
• Construction: forged steel frame and slide w/FDE Cerakote finish; G-10 grip panels
• Sights: Novak front, dovetail rear; optic cut Shield RMSc/Holosun K footprint
• Trigger: curved aluminum; 5.0–5.5 lb. pull (measured)
• Safety: ambidextrous thumb, memory bump grip
• Price: $880
• Manufacturer: Tisas, TisasUSA.com
• Importer: SDS Arms, SDSarms.com

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