Some of the more attention-grabbing 1911 pistols that SDS Arms imports are the replica US military service models including the Tisas 1911A1 ASF, the MAC (Military Armament Corp.) 1911 JSOC and the Tisas Raider B45RDG, all of which I’ve been fortunate to review for NRA Media, going back to 2023.
Coincidentally, MAC answered my wishes because in the conclusion of my Tisas 1911A1 ASF review on American Rifleman, I mentioned how I wished SDS Arms would carry on with its momentum and roll out a MEU(SOC) clone. I had seen what they did with the 1911A1 ASF and the 1911 JSOC, so I figured a MEU(SOC) gun wasn’t impossible.
Imagine my surprise when I finally found out these pistols would indeed be launching. Among all 1911 fighting pistol builds, MEU(SOC) models are just perennially cool, and now shooters have access to an affordable and faithful MEU(SOC) 1911 clone.
MAC MEU(SOC) 1911 Overview
The MAC MEU(SOC) 1911 is a single-action, .45 ACP, full-size, single-stack 1911 Series 70 pattern pistol built on a government frame with a 5-inch barrel. It is a military-style 1911 through and through. Aesthetically, the MAC’s MEU(SOC) 1911 replica encapsulates the first-generation MEU(SOC) variants built by the US Marine Corps 2112 Rifle Equipment Team/Precision Weapons Section armorers at Quantico.
Original MEU(SOC) 1911s were built with existing government frames and slides that were deemed suitable by the 2112s. This is why both the MAC clones and the original pistols retain a look that’s similar to a classic M1911A1, the difference being upgraded small parts that enhance shooting. After all, that was the intention of Col. Robert Young’s M1911A1 upgrade guidelines that helped to kick-start the MEU(SOC) program in the first place.
MAC MEU(SOC) Observations
My MAC specimen has a decent overall fit and finish. Beyond that, its level of detail is impressive, considering that Tisas reproduced all of the small parts save for the Pachmayr GM-45 Signature rubber wraparound grips. The Commander-sized hammer, King’s Gunworks style 201-A ambidextrous safeties, Wilson 66 style grip safety, flat and checkered mainspring housing (with lanyard loop), Videcki style skeletonized trigger, RET/PWS style rear sight and the Millet-style staked front sight all look the part. And speaking of looking the part, MAC MEU(SOC) pistols come with a modern nitrided QPQ finish that is more durable but still emulates the dull dark gray phosphate parkerized finish of original military pistols.
After the first 150 rounds or so, the single-action trigger on my MAC MEU(SOC) averaged with a 4 pound, 10 ounce break according to my electronic trigger-pull scale. I found it just a tad heavy, but not unreasonable for a duty-grade sidearm, and I didn’t deem it enough to hamper my shooting. The qualities of the trigger were remarkably consistent; take-up was very neat with no slop and the trigger crisply reset. Aside from its Marine Corps special operations focused theme, this gun was an honest reminder of why we all fell in love with single-action 1911 triggers in the first place.
The only minor complaint I have about this particular handgun is that its magazine release felt rather rough initially. It was dragging and made both inserting magazines and depressing the button itself harder than it ought to be. However, it does seem to be wearing in and improving with more use.
Shooting The MAC MEU(SOC) 1911
Like most 1911s, some break-in by shooting is required. However, I found that it didn’t take much for this gun to get to its initial wear-in point. Keep in mind, I only shot 205 rounds for this review. I can’t say this MEU(SOC) is 100% broken-in yet, but this gun definitely began feeling more vibrant after the first box and a half of ammunition.
I used three different 1911 magazines for this review: an eight round Chip McCormick Shooting Star, a seven round Wilson Combat 47 (rebuilt with Tripp springs and followers) and one of the included eight round unmarked OEM magazines. Interestingly, the included magazine was the only one to cause any stoppages. I got to a point where I just shot the remainder of the ammunition with the Wilson and Chip McCormick magazines–without any issues.
Other than 40 my 200-grain LSWC handloads charged with 4.2 grains of Clays–a true and smooth joy to shoot, I primarily shot Fiocchi’s 230-grain Training Dynamics FMJ ammunition for this review. After all, the standard diet of the military .45-caliber 1911 had always been a 230-grain ball round. I’ve included this “standard” Fiocchi load across every Tisas/MAC military 1911 review I’ve conducted, and I’ve been more than pleased with its performance across the board.
I also took the time to sample some modern defensive jacketed hollowpoint ammunition that included both Hornady’s 185-grain Critical Defense and Federal’s 230-grain Punch rounds. Both of these rounds cycled reliably and although Hornady manufactures high quality and consistent cartridges, it appears that this MEU(SOC) clone fares better with heavier bullets in the 200+ grain range. It is a fixed-sight gun with a military heritage, after all.
The MAC MEU(SOC)’s Shooting Quirks
During shooting, the MAC MEU(SOC) maintains the feel of a military 1911. I have no doubt that Tisas modeled the pistol internally and sprung the pistol to the standard specification for 1911A1 pistols because recoil-wise that’s exactly how the pistol felt and functioned. Of course, this gun includes the benefit of a larger grip safety, a Commander-style ring hammer, ambidextrous safeties and a pair of iron sights that work substantially better than USGI-style M1911A1 sights.
With that said, inside of 10 yards, the “hold” with standard 230-grain ammunition lies somewhere in the “middle” of the front sight. Perhaps I’m telling on myself, because I’ve become spoiled by modern front sights with a fiber-optic insert or an eye-catching fluorescent dot on the front sight. Admittedly, I had some trouble shooting certain targets precisely by being slightly off on my hold. It also happened at 25 yards, even from rest, on a couple of strings. I have no doubt that putting this handgun in a ransom rest could clean up those groups even more.
Learning to shoot these sights well is something that can be fixed via regular practice, and I’m not about to blame the gun itself. It’s deliberated patterned after 40-year old US Marine Corps Force Recon specs. Naturally, even the front sights on actual MEU(SOC)s evolved, especially because the old-school style staking isn’t as resilient as sliding in a dovetailed front-sight.
Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable
Marine Corps special operations units including the Force Reconnaissance and MARSOC (Marine Raiders) fielded these upgraded 1911s between 1985 and 2022. During this period, MEU(SOC) 1911s evolved through four different iterations. Earlier guns were built with a combination of original military and commercial components. As more parts wore out and had to be replaced, one could find an increasing number of commercial parts on later MEU(SOC) pistols.
I can’t emphasize enough the great job Tisas/MAC did vis-a-vis the smaller parts and its MEU(SOC)’s overall details. The reproduction grip safety keeps the same profile as the original Wilson 66, the reproduction ambidextrous safeties maintain the same angle as the original King’s Gunworks 201-As and the MAC’s sights resemble the staked Millet style front sights along with the in-house RET/PWS-fabricated rear sights.
Besides the rough magazine release, my only other actual critique of this pistol has nothing to do with the gun itself. I didn’t care for the generic unmarked 8-round magazines included with the pistol. For the sake of heritage and homage, I think SDS Arms should have shipped the MAC MEU(SOC) with actual Wilson Combat 47 7-round magazines, which equipped the original pistol.
The MAC MEU(SOC)’s retro-tactical look is its big draw and its charm. For not too much money, one can have a funreplica that’s full of military heritage. It provides that enthralling feeling of shooting a grey, steel single-stack military .45-caliber 1911, but with better accoutrements than the typical standard M1911A1 clone.
MAC MEU(SOC) Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Military Armament Corp./Tisas
- Country Of Origin: Turkey
- Importer: SDS Arms
- Action Type: Single-Action Semi-Automatic
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Capacity: 8 rounds
- Frame: Steel
- Slide: Steel
- Finish: QPQ
- Barrel Length: 5 inches
- Sights: Drift-adjustable rear sight, USMC RET/PWS pattern, Millet-style fixed front sight.
- Trigger Pull Weight: 4 pounds, 10 ounces
- Length: 8 ⅝ inches
- Width: 1 ⅜ inches
- Height: 5 ¼ inches
- Weight: 40 ounces
- Accessories: Two magazines, bore brush, cleaning rod, bushing wrench, mat, cable lock and documentation/manual
- MSRP: $774.99
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