Global Defense Thunderbolt GDTBBL455 45 ACP

A wide selection of 1911 handguns with a rail for mounting combat lights are considered thoroughly modern and useful by many shooters. Those who would like to own a gun with a rail often find a mix of rail types and very expensive handguns. In this test we shoot two affordable handguns with rails and find things we like about both. In common with many other inexpensive 1911 handguns, each could benefit from judicious upgrading, but whether that’s worth it is up to you. Here’s what we found when we fired a Global Defense Thunderbolt, $740, side by side with a Tisas Raider, $630.

Prior to the test firing, we lubricated both pistols along the frame rails and frame ways, barrel hood, cocking block, and barrel bushing. The Thunderbolt is supplied with a single Mec-Gar magazine, with the Tisas arriving with two unmarked magazines. We added a half dozen Mec-Gar seven- and eight-round magazines to the test. The primary test ammunitions were Fiocchi 230- and Winchester 230-grain ball. We usually test pistols with full-metal-jacketed ammunition first to confirm reliability. If a pistol doesn’t function with typical FMJ loads, something is very wrong. We used a Galco TAC slide for most of the range work. The large light rail doesn’t fit most rail-gun holsters.

In accuracy testing, we used three loads. These included the Black Hills Ammunition 185-gain JHP, Federal 230-grain Punch, and Hornady 200-grain XTP. This is a good mix of bullet weights and velocity. We settled on the MTM Caseguard K-Zone shooting rest and fired five-shot groups for accuracy. 

Global Defense Thunderbolt GDTBBL455 45 ACP

$740

Gun Tests grade: C

The Thunderbolt is an interesting 1911 with many desirable features. One of our raters, an experienced gunsmith, noted that the magazine funnel is fitted to high standards, practically flawless. The machine-cut checkering on the front strap is very good. We were not happy with malfunctions with some ammunition.

Global Defense in Pompano Beach, Florida, was the importer for our pistol, but we could no longer find an online listing for it on the GD website. The pistol was made by Shooters Arms Manufacturing, or S.A.M., in the Philippines (SAM.ShootersArms.com.ph/). S.A.M. is sometimes referred to as “the other maker” of Philippine 1911 handguns because Armscor/Rock Island Armory is the more widely recognized manufacturer. S.A.M. offers G.I. 1911 types as well, but the Thunderbolt is an improved 1911 and is described by its “All Blue” cosmetics. There appear to be two S.A.M. versions, one with fully adjustable rear sights and one with fixed sights, and some with stainless-steel slides in a two-tone configuration. If you prefer a fully adjustable rear sight, this may be an attractive option, but we have not tested it as yet.

The Thunderbolt here is a full-size Government Model 1911 45 Auto. The pistol features a steel frame and slide, in contrast to the cast frame and slide on many inexpensive 1911 pistols. The pistol features forward cocking serrations. They seem well done and offer good leverage for racking the slide. The finish is evenly applied Cerakote that is darker than most. The pistol is what is commonly referred to as a Series 70 action. Pre-Series 80 or G.I. type would also be correct. There is no firing-pin block or drop safety. Many shooters prefer the Series 70 action because it makes it easier to achieve a good trigger action. The front-sight post features a fiber-optic insert. The sight base is dovetailed in place. The rear sight is similar but not identical to the Novak Lo-Mount type. The rear face of the sight is serrated. Windage adjustment is accomplished by loosening a small set screw and drifting the rear sight with a punch or sight tool. The sight picture is good and sharp. The design of the rear sight, which we have seen before on Pacific Rim pistols, slightly shortens the sight radius compared to a true Novak. 

Barrel fitting is good. The locking lugs seem well positioned and slide into the fittings in the barrel easily enough. A 1911 handgun must exhibit a 1⁄32-inch gap between the two halves of the feed ramp for proper feed reliability. The Thunderbolt pistol has the proper gap. The barrel bushing is easily removed by hand for disassembly. It isn’t particularly tight, but it seems snug enough.

The Thunderbolt features a speed safety. It is larger than the small G.I.-type lever, but it’s not quite a gas-pedal type as seen on competition guns. It is ideal for a carry gun or range gun. The skeletonized hammer is sometimes referred to as a lightweight style. The grip safety is a beavertail. The design is pronounced, with a large upsweep and memory groove. The beavertail is remarkably smooth and is without sharp edges. This grip safety helps funnel the hand into the firing grip and slightly lowers the bore axis. Those who adopt a thumbs-forward grip sometimes form a cup in the palm that raises the hand off the grip safety. A well-designed beavertail such as this one ensures that the grip safety is depressed. The beavertail grip safety properly releases its hold on the trigger halfway into compression of the grip safety.

The only sharp edges are on the lower bottom section of the slide. A feature we were very impressed with is the mainspring housing and magazine guide. The magazine guide is a one-piece design with a monolithic back strap and magazine funnel. The design is as identical as we are able to determine to the classic Smith & Alexander magazine guide. The fitting and finish of this magazine guide are very nicely done. The pistol also features a nicely checkered front strap. The diamonds are sharp and offer an excellent fit to the palm. The grips are simple checkered stocks. Just the same, they work in balance with the checkered front strap and magazine guide.

The pistol features a full-length guide rod. While the FLGR may complicate field-stripping, it may stiffen the handgun’s lockup as well. It is a solid unit rather than the type with a fitting in the end that easily disassembles into two halves. Neither is there a paper clip hole for disassembly. To disassemble the pistol, unload the magazine and clear the chamber, then check again. We first twisted the finger-tight barrel bushing over to remove the recoil-spring guide and release tension on the FLGR. While the bushing isn’t too tight, the recoil spring is a bit difficult to depress. You must use a stiff barrel-bushing wrench to do so. A plastic type, as supplied with the Tisas, actually bends too much for easy use. Bump the slide lock out and remove the slide assembly. Then pull the FLGR and recoil spring out. The barrel bushing is twisted, and the barrel pressed out forward. Disassembly is more complicated than a G.I.-type gun or modern guns without a FLGR, but it isn’t a terrible drawback if the FLGR is an advantage.

The trigger is a mostly solid unit, not a skeletonized target trigger, but it does have a sliver of a cut out. The trigger action exhibits minimal take up and has no trace of creep. Reset is rapid. Trigger compression is a smooth 4.5 pounds. The action is one of those that feels lighter than it is.

The Thunderbolt features a heavy light rail that does not fit most 1911 rail-gun holsters. It is a true Picatinny design rather than the universal type. Our impression of the pistol was good, but that was tempered by the pistol’s cost in comparison to other handguns. This pistol costs more than G.I. guns but has features commonly found on high-end pistols. 

The Thunderbolt gets on target quickly and handles well. We rated the sights very good in speed shooting. Sight regulation was good at 10 yards. We poured ammunition into the X-ring beginning at 7 yards. Firing was extended to 10 and 15 yards. We fired 50 cartridges of each load, 100 rounds of FMJ total, into the targets during the combat firing test. A pistol weighing 42 ounces should not exhibit uncomfortable recoil. We found the Thunderbolt easy to handle. Speed loads were executed with good results. The extended magazine guide helped our speed and expedited handling. Speed loading and control by virtue of its weight were their own advocates for range use. The pistol turned in good combat shooting performance. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. 

Accuracy at 25 yards was good, but not outstanding, with groups consistently falling into 2.5 inches. We did not experience any feedway jams. However, we had originally intended to use a +P load, the Black Hills Ammunition 185-grain TAC +P, and we experienced an odd malfunction with the slide locking to the rear and the slide lock jumping into the slide’s locking notch. This occurred several times firing 15 rounds of +P off the bench. We fired another 20 rounds of +P ammunition, this time Speer Gold Dot 200-grain +Ps, offhand in combat firing. We experienced six slide locks in that count of +P cartridges. All raters were careful to keep their support thumbs off the slide lock because hard recoil sometimes bounces the thumb into it. We fired one handed as well. Same problem. Something was wrong. We tested the slide lock by turning the pistol upside down and moving the slide to the rear, with no magazine inserted. If the slide lock engaged, we had a loose slide-lock lever fit. It did not engage. 

Our Team Said: The Thunderbolt fired 140 rounds of standard-pressure loads out of the box without a problem, but it had problems with +P fodder. Just the same, the raters were enthusiastic concerning the pistol’s fit, finish, and overall robust appearance. On the downside, the pistol is not left-hand friendly because it does not feature an ambidextrous slide lock, which the Tisas has. 

During the test, we noted that the Thunderbolt was easier to rack than the Tisas Raider. We guessed the recoil spring may not have been proper for use with heavier +P loads, so after the test had concluded, we ordered a variable rate recoil spring from Brownells.com. The result was improved function in the Thunderbolt. We need to proof the pistol further, but a couple of magazines of +P ammunition felt better and functioned better. If you decide to buy a Thunderbolt and upgrade it yourself, keep this in mind.

All groups were fired at 25 yards from a benchrest position using a MTM Caseguard K Zone pistol rest. We used a Competition Electronics Pro Chrony to measure velocity. The first screen of the chronograph was 10 feet from the muzzle.

Written and photographed by Robert Campbell, using evaluations from Gun Tests Team members. GT