TFB Review: Magnum Research 1911 - Does A Better 1911 Exist?

Few guns are more unapologetically American than the 1911, yet the Magnum Research 1911 is made in Israel. Does this make it a lesser 1911? How does it stack up against the 1911s I’ve previously used? Is it worth someone spending their hard-earned money on? All these questions and more were reeling through my mind as I went to pick up the 1911G Magnum Research had just shipped me. After testing it for a few months, I’ve taken it to the range multiple times and can confidently say why you should or should not purchase a Magnum Research 1911 pistol. Let’s get into it.

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When I opened the hard case to see the classic series 70 matte stainless steel slide and frame staring back at me, I felt like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning again. Most 1911s have a majestic, classic look, and the MR1911GSS doesn’t disappoint in the looks department.

For the build quality, I must say the Magnum Research 1911 I’ve been testing is well worth the money. My initial exposure to a 1911 was my grandpa’s custom 1911 pistol, which he had built in the early 2000s by a local gunsmith. It’s been a while since I fired that gun, but from what I remember, the MR1911 is comparable. It’s also similar in price to many mainstream brands 1911 pistols. After my initial range visit, I was surprised the Magnum Research 1911 didn’t cost more, especially considering how solid it feels.

The 36 oz. empty gun isn’t too heavy for a day at the range (the weight of the G Model helps curb the recoil a little), but I wouldn’t want to carry a loaded MR1911G on my hip all day, every day (Magnum Research offers the C and U models that are lighter and more compact for concealed carry). I’ve emptied and shaken it multiple times, and I don’t hear any rattling happening when this pistol moves, so I know all the parts fit together well. I also love how it feels in my hands. The G10 grips are just grippy enough to ensure the firearm stays secure, but not so grippy that it hurts my hands. I get giddy with excitement every time it’s in my hands!

I surprised myself when the first few shots I fired were right on target. I’ve never been accused of being a marksman, especially with a pistol (still trying to break my bad habit of pulling low and to the left), but I sure felt like I knew how to shoot with this pistol in my hands. The skeletonized trigger looks cool and is smooth and crisp but not too light. I’m sure many shooters would prefer it to be so light that a gentle breeze will set it off; it’s stiffer than that, but not so stiff that you’re overly focused on squeezing the trigger.

However, that also brings me to one of the downfalls of this 1911—the sights. I’m not a fan of a black front sight. I wear glasses, and it’s difficult enough for me to center the front sight with the rear sight quickly, but adding on top of them being the same color (black) really slows me down. Seeing them in low-light conditions or when the target is dark is also challenging.

As I said, I’ve taken this pistol to the range several times over the last few months and have been really impressed with it. However, on one trip, I decided to test various ammo. It cycled well and was reasonably accurate using FMJs of multiple weights with rounded noses, but when I slapped a magazine of FMJs with a flatter nose into the MR1911, it jammed after the third shot. After clearing the jam, I finished a couple more magazines of the same ammo without another hiccup. Maybe this was a fluke, but I’ll keep this in mind when buying more .45 ACP ammo.

All MR1911 models (G Model, C Model, U Model) are offered in .45 ACP or 10mm Auto in matte black or matte stainless steel and come with two mags. Each model includes a stainless match barrel and beavertail grip safety, solid guide rod, G10 grips, skeletonized trigger and hammer, extended safety lever, extended magazine release, lowered and flared ejection port, checkered frame and mainspring housing, and slide front cocking serrations.

The G Model weighs 36.3 oz and is equipped with Novak-style sights. The C model is the mid-weight model, weighing 33.9 oz, and also uses Novak-style sights. The U Model is the lightest, weighing 25.8 oz, and has an adjustable rear sight. The C and U models use a bushingless bull barrel, while the G model does not.

Parting Shots

Overall, I’ve been very impressed with the MR1911. It’s functioned well (besides that one failure to load), and I surprised myself with how accurate I can be with this pistol despite the less-than-ideal sights (a simple fix is to paint the front sight white).

I would recommend the Magnum Research 1911 to anyone looking for an upper-mid-tier 1911 because it has treated me well so far and shows no signs of slowing down after a few hundred rounds through it. However, I wouldn’t recommend the G Model for EDC; it’s too bulky and heavy for my taste.