When you say “9mm 2011,” folks either lean in or their eyes glaze over. I admit I’m the old guy who grew up on .45 1911s, but I also get the appeal: double-stack 9mm is the new kid on the 1911 block, and the 2011 feels like the natural next step.
If you’re one of the purists who thinks anything but .45 in a 1911 is sacrilege—well, Colt put a 9mm Commander out in 1950, so history’s already got your back. With NATO’s rise and the flood of double-stack 9mm pistols, a 9mm 1911 was inevitable. I own both styles, and I like them both.
Today, we’re looking at a solid example: the MAC 9 DS Duty, sold by Military Armament Corporation (an SDS Arms importer line that sources guns from Turkey; think sister brands like Tisas and Girsan). My experience with these imports has been positive: they are reliable, well-built, and priced about 10–20% below many competitors, with lifetime service plans included. Finish isn’t boutique, but for the money, I’ll take it.
Quick look: MAC 9 DS Duty
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel/Length: 5″
- Magazines: 2 × 17-round (compatible: Staccato 2011, Springfield Prodigy)
- Sights: suppressor-height
- Notes: solid build and reliability at a value price
And yes, apologies for the gray photos. I shot these on a gray bench. Here it is: the MAC 9 DS Duty.
Specifications
- Action Type: Semi-Auto
- Operation: Single Action
- Caliber: 9MM
- Frame/Receiver-Slide Finish: QPQ Tenifer
- Sights: Fixed – Rear Black – Front Fiber Optic
- Optics Ready/Cut: AOS Plate System
- Capacity (w/ Included Mags): 17+1
- Barrel Length: 5″
- Threaded: N/A
- Barrel Finish: QPQ Tenifer
- OAL: 8.5″
- Height: 5.8″
- Width: 1.5″
- Weight (Unloaded): 2.36 lbs. (38 oz)
- Downloads: MAC9DS-2025-OWNERS-MANUAL.pdf
- Now, some extra features…
- – Forged Steel Frame and Slide
- – 70 Series Colt and STI® 2011 Compatible Parts
- – Machined Internals – Target Crowned Bull Barrel
- – Skeletonized Hammer and Trigger
- – Extended and Oversized Controls
- – Agency AOS Plate System w/ Integrated Glock Dovetail Rear Sight
- – Tisas Dovetail Front Sight
- – Co-Witness with Most Optics
- – 1yr Warranty/Lifetime Service Plan
Where To Buy
Includes: Soft Case – Agency Arms RMR Optic Plate – 2 Magazines – Cleaning Kit – Owners Manual
MSRP: $1119.18
Flip the soft case’s middle “leaf” over and get to the good stuff…
MIM?
OK… I’m no machinist or metallurgist, but one of our sons is. He’s an engineer, very much into shooting and reloading. He knows his construction. One of the selling points that Tisas makes (the company that makes this pistol) is that the internals are not MIM, but forged. I’ve never had an MIM part fail – I know other shooters who have — but I am impressed that they don’t use that technology here. So, not only are the slide and frame forged, but so are the internals. We’ll leave it at that.
In terms of compatibility, the MAC 9 DS can share parts with a Stacatto 2011, and uses the Colt Series 70, not 80, system. This helps the trigger pull, no doubt.
Photos
The one-piece polymer grip and mainspring housing. The aluminum mag well is prominent and helps funnel mags in:
Sights
We have suppressor-height sights here, along with an optics cut and plate for an RMR red dot. We have a fiber optic front and serrated rear with a square notch. I found they shot low for me, but a red dot would fix that. I found that the front sight, at least, is a proprietary Tisas design. So, again, a red dot might do the job.
Sight Picture:
You get a clear picture with the issue sights. That fiber optic up front just pops.
The trigger and controls. The flat-faced trigger has minimal take-up and no creep. It broke at an average of four pounds, six ounces. Note how the controls are extended… the slide and mag releases are easy to reach. (You may not be able to tell from the pics, but the mag release is larger than normal and sticks up, away from the frame. That’s great for competition.) The safety is mirrored on both sides of the frame and is positive. All in all, everything worked just as it was supposed to – I had no glitches.
Range Time
I am blessed to have ammo provided for my reviews by Black Hills. They make some really good stuff… I especially like their HoneyBadger defense ammo. (No typo – that’s how they spell it.) I recently did a review of that… look for it here.
I find that it is typically the most accurate of whatever loads I shoot, even though it uses the lightest bullets at the highest velocities. I like 5-shot groups when I’m shooting handguns, so that’s what I shot.
Here is a sample HoneyBadger 25-yard target…
It had just rained, so everything was wet. I also shot some of the Black Hills 115-grain FMJ and their 124-grain JHP, but the HoneyBadger had the best groups. That is not a bad thing… top accuracy from your carry load is always a good thing!
Summing Up
I like this pistol. It performed very solidly, seems to be well-built, and shares compatibility with some top-notch parts. A 17+1 9mm 2011 isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you are looking to get started in competition (or want a high-capacity 9mm with a great, single-action trigger), this gun deserves a look.
It sure hit above its weight class when I shot it. Granted, I’m not the best shot in the room, but the potential is there. Find a load that likes this pistol and run with it. Whether you like to carry 1911s concealed, are into competition, or simply like a sweet-shooting pistol, the MAC 9 DS is worth looking into. It’s made a believer out of this old shooter!
Links To Items Used In This Review
Bear Creek Arsenal Paper Target, 25 Pack, $10
Birchwood Casey Shooting Bags Filled, $40
Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 8 Inch Bull’s-Eye Target, 26 Targets, $9
Black Hills Ammunition
Caldwell E-Max Low-Profile Hearing Protectors, $33
Caldwell Ultimate Target Stand, $33
MTM Case-Gard High-Low Shooting Table, $160
UpLULA universal pistol magazine loader, $35
Read the full article here
