First thing to say is I don’t review airsoft guns, you can check other sources who focus more on that sort of thing such as ATRG or Toronto Airsoft if a thorough break down is what you’re after. Personally I just buy replica guns that I know will either perform to a high standard and be reliable out of the box, or can definitely be made to do so with the right parts and knowledge. Plus of course I want to aesthetically replicate some type of firearm that I enjoy, which is often going to be something that civilians in the US can buy. If the aesthetics aren’t quite there out of the box I also want to know that I can change parts in order to get the look I’m aiming for in the end.
TM pistols fit neatly in to that category of performing to a high standard and being reliable right out of the box. While playing at games I have seen just about every other brand do a pathetic job of wheezing a BB 10m down range, and that’s if they don’t first vent all their gas or break part of their trigger mechanism.
I can’t remember why, but around 2008 or so my first ever airsoft pistol was a TM 1911A1, which I still own and it still works very well indeed. That model represents the earlier days of the 1911 in US service whereas the M45 represents the end of that dynasty and for me personally the ergonomics of any proper (i.e. single stack) 1911 do just work.
Fortunately some updates have been made to the Tokyo Marui pistol line since the 2000s and the M45 in Tan represents the first major upgrade to the 1911s. The plastic for the slide and frame is far more matte and realistic looking than before. Also the paint finish on controls like the thumb safety and slide lock lever is really quite nicely done considering these replicas cost well south of £200.
Sadly the grip panels are a rather thin and unimpressive plastic when examined up close, but from a looks perspective they do their job and more importantly TM 1911s are all compatible with real 1911 grip panels. This includes the proper VZGrips G10 panels, as long as you get the correct grip screws.
Accuracy should be slightly better than all TM 1911 models that pre-date the M45 as there’s a new hop unit and outer barrel design that don’t require bending the outer barrel to fit the hop and inner. Plus there’s a bushing at the front (separate and additional to the bushing present in the real pistol) to steady everything.
Another significant upgrade on the M45 compared to all previous TM 1911 models is to the nozzle/blowback unit, which has been redesigned and now runs on rollers. I don’t know exactly what that achieves as the badly-translated manufacturer description doesn’t really specify and other reviews often contradict, but I would imagine gas efficiency and/or recoil are slightly better than on older models.
Markings and overall styling are pretty close to a real USMC issued M45 while in service, which means anyone trying to replicate that gun or put together a certain 2010s MARSOC loadout using an M45 will be well served here.
Being almost entirely made from plastic and not being spot-on with the little details, this replica won’t appeal to the hardcore clone gun enjoyer. But for anyone who wants a pistol that works extremely well when playing airsoft and also looks close enough to the M45 that 99% of people can’t tell the difference (or indeed just a nice modern 1911 in tan), this is a top drawer option.
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