Patron's Choice: Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5" in 9mm
- Graham Baates
- Jul 5
- 6 min read
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When Patron funding reaches a certain point I survey then poll Patrons to decide what should be done with the funding. Recently GBGuns Patrons voted for a Tisas 1911. Having already reviewed about 20 models of Tisas firearms I knew I could expect a quality firearm at a competitive price. I opted for the "1911 Duty B9R Double Stack" model in 9mm with a 5" barrel because it had been a while since I'd reviewed a 5" 9mm (something I've always enjoyed) and I hope to do a comparison with the 4.25" Carry B9R reviewed previously using AccuShoot.
Why a 5"? There are a couple of reasons to enjoy a 5" 9mm:
If you use irons it's a longer sight radius which makes it easier to aim accurately
More energy on target: Why not hit harder? If you shoot in matches that require knocking over steel or bowling pins, the extra inch helps.
There's something different about the recoil impulse. While quick slides can be a positive, there is definitely something to be said for a slower-moving slide being a smoother shooter.
What Is It? This double stack 1911uses a steel frame for a little extra nose weight similar to the BUL Armory TAC reviewed previously. The "Duty" trim model, in contrast to the "Carry" trim previously reviewed means broader slide serrations, a single rail slot, a fiber-optic front sight, and a bull barrel instead of a bushing barrel. In contrast to the Witness 2311 Match, the Tisas does not use a full-length dust cover. This helps manage weight. A full-length dust cover adds nose weight which some love, others don't, but can't be dropped. Weight can always be added in the form of a light as commonly seen on YouTube by shooters wanting a smoother shooting experience. The 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack is also optics-ready with a direct-mount RMSc-patter optic like the Viridian RFX 11 or OSight S or SE.
Who's It For? The name of course implies this as a duty pistol, but I think this pistol could flex into mroe roles. Weighing just over 2lbs, it might be a bit heavy for a daily carry, but as a range or competition pistol I think it would serve well. The Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack uses Colt series 70 and STI 2011 pattern parts, which means this pistol could easily be built into any grade of gun. The price point is well below the average for a gun of this form factor which also makes it an inviting build project or entry into the double stack 1911 world.
Take a look at the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5" in the tabletop video below. Rumble Link.
Specifications:
Action Type: Semi-Auto
Operation: Single Action
Caliber: 9MM
Frame/Receiver - Slide Finish: Cerakote
Sights: Fixed - Black Rear - Green Fiber-Optic Front
Optics Ready/Cut: Holosun K - RMSc
Capacity (w/Included Mags): 17 + 1
Barrel Length: 5"
Threaded: N/A
Barrel Finish: QPQ Tenifer
OAL: 8.6"
Height: 5.7"
Width: 1.5"
Weight (Unloaded): 2lbs 2oz
MSRP: $841.99
Online Prices as of date this article was written
(click links for current pricing)
WOW! Prices differ by up to more than $200!
When I began the tabletop video I wasn't yet familiar with the differences between the "Duty" and "Carry" models, but what surprised me the most was the slide hanging up on the disconnector (I suspect). That flaw is something I've come to expect from an early Springfield Prodigy or early Girsan, but every Tisas I've owned has been excellent. Would that cause an issue on the range? With the Girsan I was able to push through using hotter range ammunition. Would that be the case with the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5"?
I had both a postitive bias towards Tisas, and a negative preconception from dry-handling. The only fair way to review of course would be the GBGuns range protocol including:
Cold Shots: Truly my first shots through the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5".
Full Magazine +1: Suprisingly some modern guns still struggle with this. It's a test of how much play is in the magazine as well as how the slide cycles with pressure. This is also when I do my best to learn the trigger.
Multi-Mag: Because the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5" accepts 2011-pattern magazines, Checkmate and DuraMag magazines were included in the range video, but first they need to be proven to work with the gun.
What's For Dinner™: A test to see what ammunition the gun will eat. Does the gun feed the round from slide lock, will it cycle and feed another round of the same type, does the slide lock to the rear on empty, and is there any notable point of impact change with different loads.
For this gun the following ammunition was used:
Priced and linked where found at the time this article was written
90gr Underwood Xtreme Defender $27.85 / 20 at Widener's
95gr Magtech JSP $21.85 / 50 at Widener's
100gr Blazer Reduced Recoil $17.89 / 50 at Palmetto State Armory
115gr Sig 365 JHP $19.99 / 20 direct from Sig
115gr Hornady American Gunner $22.85 / 25 from Widener's
124gr Federal Premium HST $39.95 / 50 from Widener's
124gr PMC SFX JHP $24.85 / 50 from Widener's
135gr Hornady Critical Duty $29.85 / 25 from Widener's
147gr Winchester Defense JHP $25.85 / 50 at Widener's
165gr AMMO, Inc. /stelTH/ $21.25 / 50 at Target Sports
Standard range ammunition was PMC Bronze 115gr FMJ $249.99 / 1000 at True Shot
Sights & Trigger Control: on a 6" spinner target at a distance of 12 yards. We got this from Titan Great Outdoors and use it to gauge how learnable the trigger is and usable the sights are for forced, timed, precise shots.
Practical Accuracy: Five shots from a distance of seven yards at a one inch target. This isn't so much about printing a tight group as it is a culmination of the shooting experience and time for to collect thoughts prior to making a conclusion.
After Shots: Final impressions and reflections from the range session.
See the process yourself from my very first shot as I explore the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5"in the Shooting Impressions video below. Rumble Link
On the range I was quickly reminded of my love for 5" 9mm pistols. There's just something about the recoil impulse that makes them super-easy to shoot, and the steel frame of the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5"certainly added to that. The longer sight radius and fiber-optic front sight combined with a blacked-out reat also added to ease and joy.
The slide hung up once in my experience, but the slide stop itself was what caused it. Even with the PMC Bronze 115gr, a relatively low-powered load in my testing, the Tisas ran fine. Accuracy was excellent, and the recoil soft and enjoyable. The grip texture is on the low side of adequate for my preference, but that's easy to fix.
As seen in the thumbnail, and teaser clip at the end of the Shooting Impressions video, after the review I mounted the OSight SE for future use and with that vision assist the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack 5" really began to shine. I plan on a comparison with the 4.25" Carry model reviewed previously in the near future to be shown on the 2nd channel on YouTube and on GBGunsRumble. This is a fun pistol at a great price.
The intro page link for the "Micro Compact Pistol Guide Update" takes us HERE to the Tisas pistol review instead...........................elsullo
Once again the throughput from Rumble is so pathetic the video is simply unwatchable for me. Every time I try to watch your content on Rumble the videos pause and get completely out of synch with the soundtrack - extremely herky-jerky viewing experience. I'll just have to be patient and wait for the video to drop on YT. Much as I hate YT at least I can count on whatever they deign to allow to be easy to view.