We all want to spend money on things that makes us feel like we got more than what we paid. The cost of everything from gas and groceries to vehicles and houses are going up and showing no signs of reversing course. How and where we spend money on things that aren’t the day-to-day necessities is under as much scrutiny as many of us can remember.
When Springfield Armory brought a relaunched TRP family of 1911 pistols to the market, I was immediately struck by how much gun was available for the price. I wanted to know more.
While modern production and improved material management has raised the bar for most all products, and it has become difficult to end up with a true lemon of a product, premium products have largely retained their price point, and separation from the balance of the market.
This is what makes the TRP line so intriguing to me. A 1911-pattern pistol with custom features and feel, but without the custom price tag.
Details
The relaunched Springfield Armory TRP lineup has several variants. The 1911 TRP is available with a 5-inch forged stainless steel match grade barrel or a 4.25-inch version. The smaller also has a snip out of the corner of the magwell to reduce printing. You’ll also find a pic rail for accessories. Both models are available in black or coyote brown.
You can also choose a 1911 TRP Classic, with 5-inch or 4.25-inch barrels. Here, you’ll forgo the pic rail, as well as the snip on the frame.
Three California compliant versions are also available. For our purposes though, we won’t talk about those much as I did not have any of those on hand to test.
Aside from the aforementioned model-specific features, the TRP line offers a robust standard package. The fit and finish is instantly noticeable, and the attention to detail in the design is evident. The frame and slide are both forged, but then married by hand to ensure a fit and performance. The pair is then numbered so they are certain to remain together through the balance of the build. It shows.
Also notable, is the Gen 2 Speed trigger. Very little slack, a solid wall and crisp break are really all I want from any trigger, and that’s what we have here.
Serrations in the top of the slide, and 20 LPI checkering on the front strap add those custom shop features that so many off-the-shelf 1911s are lacking. Not only do these serve practical purposes of reducing glare and improving grip, they also give the pistol a refined, finished look.
Shooting
The beauty of having a platform with different configurations is that you can really hone in one the tradeoffs of things like barrel length and how it affects the shootability of a gun. Make no mistake, the attention to detail in the overall 1911 TRP design makes for a very shootable platform.
The Gen 2 Speed trigger really showed out during range testing. The smooth function and clean breaks made for some tight groups. It was certainly a highlight of the gun.
I found the entire line a pleasure to shoot. The 4.25-inch variants were a little more assertive in their recoil, as was to be expected, but it was well within reason. The aggressive grip texturing helped keep the pistol seated in both gloved and ungloved hands.
I recruited my younger sister for some shooting as well, just to see what she thought. A capable shooter, but of small frame, and with small hands even for a lady, I wanted her feedback. She was amazed at how shootable the gun was. She was anticipating much more felt recoil and trouble with follow-up shots. While she first thought the grips were a bit much, after putting a box of rounds downrange, she was happy with the overall experience, and credited the grips for helping tame the recoil.
The two-piece magwell helps with those reloads as well. The bevel funnels the magazine into place without having to take the eyes down and away from the target.
I’m not one to make a point to go into details about group sizes or accuracy with a handgun review unless something is just way out of whack. I want to put some rounds into a bullseye target and run some basic drills. The TRP performed well in all of the above. I did notice a difference in my ability to get accurate follow-up shots on target was somewhat lessened by the shorter barrel, but not in any significant way.
All told, the TRP, in both the 5-inch and 4.25-inch configurations, was a pleasure to shoot, reliable and more than accurate enough.
Where To Buy
Specs
Model: 1911 TRP/TRP Classic
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action: Semi-auto
Overall Length: 8.6 in.
Overall Height: 5.5 in.
Barrel Length: 5 in.
Capacity: 8+1
Unloaded Weight: 39.2 oz.
Finish: Cerakote
Grips: Hydra VZ
MSRP: $1,999/$1,899
Model: 1911 TRP CC
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action: Semi-auto
Overall Length: 7.9 in.
Overall Height: 5.5 in.
Barrel Length: 5 in.
Capacity: 7+1
Unloaded Weight: 27.3 oz.
Finish: Cerakote
Grips: Hydra VZ
MSRP: $1,999
Model: 1911 TRP 4.25 in. Classic
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action: Semi-auto
Overall Length: 7.9 in.
Overall Height: 5.5 in.
Barrel Length: 5 in.
Capacity: 8+1
Unloaded Weight: 35.5 oz.
Finish: Cerakote
Grips: Hydra VZ
MSRP: $1,999
Ratings
Fit & Finish – *****
The 1911 might be the peak of pistol aesthetics, and the TRP line adds some modern touches with classic lines to deliver an exceptional looking pistol. All models tested were clean, straight, and well-fitted.
Reliability – *****
With almost 1,000 rounds through the group I tested, I was unable to create a failure, misfeed, or issue. Both FMJ and JHP rounds of various weights and brands were tested, and the TRP line ate all without issue.
Accuracy – *****
Most any modern gun is capable of far more accuracy than most shooters are able to extract (sorry about your ego), and the TRP group is no different. The aggressive texturing on the grip might not be attractive to all shooters, but it certainly helps anchor the pistol under recoil and improves follow-up shot accuracy.
Handling/Comfort – ****
Smaller-handed shooters may need to adjust their grip more than they would like to manipulate all of the controls, but this isn’t uncommon on 1911 pistols of any stripe. The textured grips are aggressive, and while I wouldn’t say they are uncomfortable, some shooters may find them a bit more than they like. They do their job, but it is a tradeoff.
Value – *****
For years, my biggest gripe about the 1911 platform is that so many that came to market needed an equal investment of the purchase price to make them run as well and as accurately as most shooters wanted. The rise of the custom-1911 shop was an answer to that, but the price tag that came with it put them out of reach of most shooters. The new TRP line from Springfield Armory bridges that gap nearly flawlessly. The fit, finish, quality parts, and thoughtful design you get in the TRP line is absolutely a value when compared to the historic price tag of a 1911 of this tier.
Overall – *****
In broad terms, while I appreciate the 1911 platform, I am hardly what you would call a fan, let alone a fan boy. As previously mentioned, for so long it seemed that out-of-the-box performance left so much to be desired that I found better options in other places. The TRP line changes that math for me a bit. The custom-shop feel, without the sticker shock that typically comes with it, makes the TRP an interesting option to add to the safe. In general, I’ve softened on the 1911 in recent years, as I’ve grown older, and my tastes and needs have evolved and matured, I’ve found my appreciation grow. The idea of having a quality 1911 to pass on to my boys is one that grows on me almost by the minute. The new TRP line from Springfield Armory not only offers enough variants to suit whatever your 1911 preference is, but does so in a beautiful sweet spot of within reach from a budget standpoint, but still delivering features and benefits that not everyone at the range will have on their piece.
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