Tisas SDS 1911

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  • Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,561
    Harford County, Maryland
    Just bought one, picked it up about two weeks ago. The Mil Spec Defender Springers are in short supply so I thought I would try this one.

    Not a bad pistol. Externally decently fit and blended. Inside...not so much. If you do your own work you can make a decent blaster. I had to do a trigger job to feel comfortable enough to shoot it. Anyway, final target and some before, after and between pics.

    Target, shot standing at:
    7 and 10 yards - yellow ring
    17 yards - holes unringed
    25 yards - red ringed holed

    A list what was done.

    1.) Polish frame/slide rails, no appreciable metal removed.
    Frame/slide clearances as measured with a dial indicator:
    vertical: front .006”, rear .004”
    rear: front .009”, rear .004”

    2.) Deburr trigger track and trigger pad cutout in frame.
    Minimize vertical and lateral movement in trigger.
    Smooth trigger/frame contact surfaces.
    Smooth and polish back of bow.
    Deburr and smooth lockwork area of frame.

    3.) Remove grip screw bushings and stipple front strap.

    4.) Mainspring housing: Flatten, blend and stipple.

    5.) Reblue stippling on frame and mainspring housing. Install new grip screw bushings.

    6.) Action job: Hook height reduced to .018”.
    True hammer hooks. Tune disconnector. Correct blade height.
    Stone sear nose, correct and polish. sear leg length.
    Set pull force: 4 pounds 4 ounces.

    7.) Grip safety: Tune engagement, release position, recontour and defang spur. Bob hammer slightly.

    8.) Thumb safety: Adjust engagement, tune/polish release and engagement area. Blend curve and bevel to frame.

    9.) Mag catch: Smooth internal and exterior.
    Mag catch lock: deburr and polish contact surfaces.
    Mag catch spring: clip off 1 1/2 coils.

    10.) Fit slide stop, every aspect was needed. Internal lug cutout in frame needed. Work on slide stop definitely needed.
    Smooth sharp corners to prevent frame rub.
    Add detent installation groove.

    11.) Extractor: Tune, polish, adjust.

    12.) Firing pin stop: upper bevel added and polished.

    13.) Barrel: Measure for max link length (already standing on link).
    Select fit link #4) per derived needed length.
    Check barrel time: good.

    14.) Fit barrel bushing.

    15.) Recoil assembly.
    Recoil spring: Check for spring bind. Measure - 15 pound.
    Recoil spring guide: deburr and smooth.
    Recoil spring plug: chamfer mouth and deburr interior.

    16.) Installed dd grips..rosewood?
     

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    Furious George

    Active Member
    May 10, 2010
    340
    Considering getting one of these but have not actually seen one.

    Is the factory finish parkerizing or cerakote?
     

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,561
    Harford County, Maryland
    I think its park under paint paint or cerakote. The surface is hard as blazes. The sight just about destroyed a file or two.m
    Forged slide and frame, good foundation. It they would have modernized the barrel fit and closed the frame/slide clearances a little...make the front reflect the rear - it would a very good foundation.

    The way yhe pistol is set up now it is growing on me.
     

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,561
    Harford County, Maryland
    Nothing wrong with it. It is actually growing on me. I liked the pistol in the display case. Seeing it peaked my curiosity about it. I wanted to see its capability with minimal cost and proper efforts. Several hours labor, though. Truth be known, I just like improving and building 1911’s. Can’t keep them all.

    Most go to gunshows looking for deals on guns. I do, but moreso 1911 parts.
     

    babalou

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 12, 2013
    16,016
    Glenelg
    been looking at one of those at kygunco the sds imports. Actually, I had two others put on the list in January from last summer. Reviews seem nice and not a ton of money put into something you hate.
     

    Valmet

    Member
    Mar 4, 2017
    11
    Crofton, Maryland
    Wow - nice job going all out on the improvements. I am going to pick one of these up next month. I want a cheap WW2 style 1911 to abuse - these seem to scratch that itch quite nicely. Local shop had them for $419.99 - not bad.
     

    babalou

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 12, 2013
    16,016
    Glenelg
    Wow

    Wow - nice job going all out on the improvements. I am going to pick one of these up next month. I want a cheap WW2 style 1911 to abuse - these seem to scratch that itch quite nicely. Local shop had them for $419.99 - not bad.

    That is a great deal. Where?
     

    babalou

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 12, 2013
    16,016
    Glenelg
    Thanks! Even with that distance and gas- still cheaper than what I have seen at gun shows- with the transfer fee, as well.
     

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,561
    Harford County, Maryland
    I used this pistol in the WWII shoot at AGC this past June.
    Took it with me yesterday. After some shoot the zombi with about 8 rounds I did the trajectory check from 9 to 25 yards. One shot each at 9, 12, 15, and
    2 rounds at 25 yards. Composite target…
     

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    wabbit

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 29, 2010
    5,203
    I just got a new SDS 1911 Duty model in .45 ACP, it's the model with a rail on the dust cover. I haven't shot it, but have noticed some things like the magazine release are a bit rough and stiff, so I think some of the internals need polishing and touching up. Thanks OP for the list of work, I'll see if I can do some of the same to my gun.
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,746
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    Annnnnd a year later, here we are …

    $320 SHIPPED at time of this posting:

     

    Magnumite

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 17, 2007
    6,561
    Harford County, Maryland
    I just got a new SDS 1911 Duty model in .45 ACP, it's the model with a rail on the dust cover. I haven't shot it, but have noticed some things like the magazine release are a bit rough and stiff, so I think some of the internals need polishing and touching up. Thanks OP for the list of work, I'll see if I can do some of the same to my gun.
    Good luck. How is it coming along
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,746
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies

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    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,746
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    Also $330 w FREE SHIPPING!!!!!!!


    Good grief! I can’t take it any longer; we have on the order of near a dozen 1911’s and albeit most from Bullseye days I’m hearing too many good reports on these so, guess I gotta bite for a .45acp burner ….

    Meditator, I’ll prolly go with that one you posted

    This video didn’t help :-/
     

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