The 1911 platform is best known for its original .45 ACP chambering, but things have changed a lot over the years. Today you can get a 1911 in pretty much any caliber, and one of the more popular recent chamberings is 10mm. While 10mm is by no means new to the 1911, it’s enjoying renewed interest, with more guns offered in it. The Tisas 1911 D10 is one such gun and we’ve done the heavy lifting of a hands-on review to fill you in on all the details.
What is the Tisas 1911 D10?
The Tisas 1911 D10 is a government-sized 1911, meaning it has a five-inch barrel and a full-size frame. Contrary to some gun owner’s belief, that doesn’t make it impossible to use for defensive purposes. Not only can you carry a gun this size on your belt, but you can also conceal it IWB (inside the waistband). It’s all about having the correct holster and gun belt. Pros of using a full-sized 1911 include reducing felt recoil and getting improved ballistics courtesy of the barrel length.
This handgun is chambered in 10mm and is a single-stack, giving it the sleeker width of a classic 1911. It’s part of Tisas’ proven line of handguns. Tisas is a Turkish firearms manufacturer that’s been designing and manufacturing guns since 1993. Guns are shipped all over the world with United States imports being quite popular. The great thing about Tisas is that their guns really are made with attention to detail and they have a reputation for reliable performance.
Tisas 1911 D10 Specs
As a single-stack 10mm, the Tisas 1911 D10 has a capacity of 9 +1. The five-inch barrel grants the shooter fantastic ballistics and the capacity is more than enough for handgun hunters. Statistically, it’s likely to be plenty for self-defense as well, but it’s never a bad idea to carry a spare magazine. If you do choose to carry a spare mag, make sure you have a holster for the mag rather than just putting it in a random pocket.
This gun has a forged frame and slide, and hammer forged barrel. Internals are based on the original Series 70 1911. For a better grip, the gun has G10 custom textured grips with 25LPI checkering on the frame. To further facilitate a firm, high grip, the beavertail is extended. Angled serrations are located at the front and back of the slide for easier manipulations and the skeletonized hammer is also ridged to reduce chances of slipping during use. The trigger is also skeletonized.
Other features of the gun include an undercut, contoured trigger guard, an ambidextrous safety, and a lowered, flared ejection port. Guns ship with a standard LPA Bomar adjustable rear sight and a serrated black front sight. The Tisas 1911 D10 has an overall length of 8.25 inches and an empty weight of 38 ounces.
How does it shoot?
As a 10mm 1911, this is a gun that’s meant for more than only range use. During testing both on the range and in the field, a wide variety of ammunition was used. Loads included Aguila 10mm 180-grain FMJ, Hornady Custom 10mm 155-grain XTP JHP, and Federal Fusion 10mm 200-grain bonded SP. Other loads were used as well. Throughout testing, the gun experienced no failures of any kind. In fact, it cycled everything, including loads of significantly varying weights and bullet types. That is significant, especially for a 1911.
The aggressive G10 grips are layer-laminated and durable, and while they do dig into your hands a bit, that’s not a bad thing. Your grip isn’t going to slip on this handgun, even when your hands are wet or sweaty. The size of the gun works well for my hands; it fits comfortably and the width allows proper finger placement on the trigger. Generally speaking, this is a handgun that should fit a wide variety of hand sizes with no problem.
Thanks to the overall design of the gun, felt recoil and muzzle rise are negligible. That’s not to say there isn’t any, only that it isn’t excessive or unpleasant to shoot at length. The factory trigger has a nice, crisp break and short reset. Factory sights are also sufficient although some shooters might want to swap them out for a set of fiber optic or tritium sights. However, the blacked-out factory sights work well and the gun shoots nicely right out of the box.
On target, this is an accurate gun with the greatest accuracy on paper going to the aforementioned Hornady load. This is fantastic for hunting as well. As long as you’re familiar with the drift and drop of your specific load, you can easily use it for chasing feral hogs or coyotes.
Tisas designed this gun to be comfortable enough to shoot that you can easily run it for extended live fire without issues. This is great news for fans of the 10mm and also for shooters considering getting into the caliber. Part of what helps mitigate felt recoil and muzzle rise is the overall weight. While this isn’t a truly bulky gun, it’s heavy enough to offset recoil somewhat.
For carry purposes, it’s better to use a holster like the Galco Kingtuk Deluxe IWB Holster. A key part of successful carry of a larger gun like this is having a sturdy gun belt, so make sure you wear one. Depending on your build, you might need to carry OWB (outside waistband) instead. A cover garment can be used to conceal an OWB gun.
Should you get a Tisas 1911 D10?
Overall, the Tisas 1911 D10 is a well-made handgun that checks all the boxes to recommend it such as reliable cycling, durability, and ergonomic comfort in the hand. You might not have considered a Tisas before — or even heard of it — but as it turns out, these are great guns. Everyone should have at least one 10mm handgun in their collection and if you favor the 1911 platform, this gun is a good way to get one in your hands.
10mm isn’t just for handgun hunters or range time, either. Many gun owners use it for home defense or self-defense in general. If you intend to use it for defensive purposes just make sure you’re familiar with the way your chosen defensive load performs and stick to the rules of safety. You are responsible for every shot fired, and that applies regardless of the caliber of gun being used.
Consider checking out the Tisas 1911 D10. It’s a great pistol that surpasses its price point in performance.
