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The MAC 9 DS 1911 by Military Armament Corp has been out since early 2024, but I recently got a chance to do an in-depth breakdown that I will now share with you. Mac 9 1911 DS or Double Stack is another way of saying Military Armament Corporation built their own 2011. Some of you may think of STI, Infinity, Staccato, Prodigy, or others when you hear 2011, but the basic idea behind all of them is the same, a modular 1911-style pistol that has a standard capacity of at least 17 and can go up over 30 rounds with larger magazines.
Table of contents
Starting with the Sights
In this write up I will go over every part and aspect of this pistol, and I like to go from the top down starting with the sights. The MAC 9 Double Stack comes with iron sights that feature a rear sight plate system. Each plate has a rear sight installed; the rear sight-only plate has a suppressor height rear sight with a Novak dovetail. This sight is made in a configuration that would allow the shooter to rack the slide one-handed if needed.
The second plate has a Glock rear sight and is machined with the RMR optic footprint, both rear sights are fixed but could be replaced with adjustable options. The front sight is fiber optic also and features a Novak dovetail if you choose to replace it. One thing missing from the front sight is blade serrations, it just has a plain surface facing the shooter. All of the sights are suppressor or optic height compatible.
Fit of the Gun
The slide, frame, and barrel fit are very good for a production gun. When handling a 1911 or 2011, the first thing many people do is check the fit of the gun. Loose fit is regarded as cheap or sloppy and is generally unacceptable to most buyers. On the Mac 9 1911, there is zero play in the barrel fit and at the rear of the slide. At the front of the slide, there is some left-to-right play, this area is the hardest to make perfect with zero movement. The guide rod is a full-length rod that requires a small L-shaped tool (supplied) to remove it from the slide. The guide rod is hollow, which is unusual but may save a small amount of weight.
The front of the gun showing the muzzle, guide rod, and reverse plug are standard looking with the normal fit that you can expect from a production gun. The blending of the rear of the gun when the slide, frame, extractor, ejector, and grip safety come together is very nicely done and presents nicely to the shooter.
Slide Cuts and Features on the Mac 9 1911
The slide serrations and cuts are fairly standard, but paired with a Hi-Power cut at the front of the slide give the gun a modern look. The slide and extractor are a series 70 design, the same design JMB originally put in the 1911.
Another nice touch on the slide is the bevel that was added to the front of the stripper rail. This is what strips the round from the magazine, it also contacts the disconnector and pushes it down as the slide travels forward during recoil. The bevel is a nice touch because the slide will travel smoother over the disconnector.
Barrel Profile and Ramp Cut
The Mac 9 1911 barrel is a bull barrel that has the Clark/Para-style ramp to it. The ramped barrel is particularly important as it has been proven to make the 2011 extremely reliable.
The ramp on this gun seems to be set into the frame further than most other brands. I believe that the ramp was cut this way to mitigate possible interference with various brands of magazines. Some custom gunsmiths achieve the same solution by filing the bottom right corner of the ramp on the barrel. I did measure barrel lug engagement and found .035 of engagement. There was no barrel springing found between the barrel and the slide.
Grip and Frame of the Mac 9 1911
Moving down to the frame and grip is what makes this gun somewhat modular. Unlike a 1911, the frame and the grip are two pieces that are mounted together and secured with grip screws and a trigger guard screw. The Mac 9 DS 1911 frame follows the patterns of other common frames. Aftermarket grips, screws, and magwells will work with this frame and grip. I was able to drop the frame right in a Cheely stainless steel grip.
The MAC 9 DS does come with a well-thought-out polymer grip. The trigger guard has been undercut allowing for a nice and high grip on the gun. The lines are clean and the texture has a good feel. Being polymer, the grip will be easy to stipple to one’s liking. Included magwell is low profile carry type, and will work with base pads and longer magazines. The button on the mag release is somewhat extended for easy operation.
Frame Features to Know
The frame has a 1913 picatinny rail on the dust cover for light/laser setups. It is important to note that the grip safety radius on the frame is the .220 or Wilson radius. Most other 2011s have a .250 radius, so if one wants to upgrade the grip safety, you’ll need to order the Wilson style.
The grip safety, or beavertail has an extended grip swell on it and only needs to be depressed about halfway in to be deactivated. As long as the shooter has somewhat of a decent grip on the gun, the safety will work as intended. Some grip safeties must be pressed all the way in, and that can be problematic for shooters with smaller hands.
My only critique of the frame is the vertical impact surface, it has a 90° corner on it and it should have a small bevel to it. This creates a relief where the barrel and frame impact each other under recoil and aids in ultimate reliability.
Ejector, extended but not shaped
The ejector in the frame is an extended version, which is common for 9mm 2011s. It has a flat front that allows the brass to eject somewhat randomly. It could be filed and formed to create a very consistent ejection pattern. The ejector is also installed with a roll pin rather than a solid pin.
Ambi Safety
This gun features an ambi thumb safety. Fit on it is excellent, and it goes on and off easily. The interface between the left and right sides is one that I have not seen before, but it did seem to snap together securely. The profile on the safety paddles is standard width, not either a slim carry or wide paddle by any means.
Fire Control System or Ignition of the Mac 9 1911
The ignition system on the Mac 9 1911 consists of the hammer, sear, disconnector, hammer strut, sear spring, and main spring. All of these parts came out of the gun and the fit to the gun was well done. The parts appear to be drop-in as they don’t have any appearance of polishing or enhancing.
The hammer hooks measured at .025 of an inch, which leaves room for shaping and dressing them. The sear also could be improved with some stoning.
The trigger pull out of the box averages 5 pounds and 9 ounces. It is an average trigger for a production gun, with a little creep, but a decently clean break. In the hands of a knowledgeable smith, this trigger could be enhanced quite a bit.
Trigger tuning
The actual trigger itself has a flat face and a nice look to it, the trigger shoe is made from aluminum, and the bow from stainless steel. The trigger shoe on the trigger is somewhat long for a production gun, if you have short fingers it may need to be replaced.
There is an over-travel screw in the trigger, but it was not set, the end user will have to do this. Also missing is any type of adjustment for forward travel that most modern 2011 triggers have. With forward travel and over travel options, shooters can fine-tune the feel of the trigger to their preference.
Wrapping Up the Mac 9 1911
The various spring weights I found were as follows. 12-pound recoil spring, 19-pound mainspring, and 28 pounds of extractor tension.
See More: Taurus GX2 Review (Shooting Video)
The coating and finish on the gun and small parts is a QPQ coating. This is a very modern and hard coating that will prevent rust. The downside to such a hard coating is making modifications to the parts is more difficult on tooling.
This gun looks and feels like a 2011. It is definitely on par with other guns in its price range. Most of the parts will be easily upgraded or interchangeable with other 1911 or 2011 parts. There are some well-thought-out features on this Mac 9 1911, especially at this price point.
MSRP $1099.99
Click here to read about and see photos from Military Arms Corp about the MAC 9 Double Stack.
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You don’t show a photo of the barrel. From other reviews, I seem to recall it is not a bull barrel but merely has a bulge at the front. This, combined with the hollow recoil spring guide, take away weight where it is useful to help control recoil and keep down the muzzle flip that slows shot to shot recovery. All in all, it looks like a cheap attempt at competing with SA’s Prodigy, which is not perfect but a much better build.
Anything drastically different from the Para 1911 P14-45 besides a basic 3 more rounds?