S.A. TRP VS Pro. Honest review
I posted this on another forum and figured it might interest some here.
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Some time ago I had a member here ask me to write up a little something on the Springfields I own, specifically the TRP and Professional model. Well I finally have collected my thoughts and grabbed a few pictures for you guys.
For those of you who do not know, the Springfield Armory Professional model is the 1911 that the FBI SRT picked after a heavy series of test trials. It is a 1911 hand fit to FBI specifications by S.A's top smiths. The TRP model is molded after the Professional model but in a more affordable production version. I have ran the snot out of both of them and carried them separately for years. Id say both have around 10K or more down the tube. Both rattle when shaken. Both were treated as workhorses for competition as well as for carry.
TRP
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I believe I purchased the TRP in Feb of 2010. Out of the box it looked great and was surprisingly very tight. The TRP performed flawlessly out of the box. I recall putting a few hundred down range before packing up and heading to a Defoor class which went great without a problem. The only complaint I had of the TRP was the 6o'clock hold it used for sighting. It wasnt hard to grow accustom to but was slightly annoying. The next major class I went to also with Defoor the next year really pushed my TRP to its limits. Half way through the class i broke a FP stop. There was luckily just enough metal to hang on to the FP and keep the extractor from falling out. Surprisingly she just kept chugging along without a problem. This really won my trust over to that gun. I fixed it in the following weeks and kept on carrying her. I encountered a few more problems after the gun started showing some age. Nothing that would prevent the pistol from functioning however. The plunger tube and ejector had both came unglued. However the design of the 1911 kept both pieces in place when assembled. The pistol is still in that condition and still functions fine. It now serves as a backup to my Pro when going to classes.
Pro
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Around summer of 2012 I got a call from a shooting buddy asking me to stop by. In the weeks prior he finally acquired the Pro he ordered a year or two before. I stopped by and he told me he was selling the Pro as he said it came at an inconvenient time for him. I pounced at the opportunity and bought the Pro. The Pro was absolutely gorgeous. The attention to detail is really what set it apart from the TRP. Magwell fitting being a main one. The Pro also had staked plunger tube and a pinned ejector which I believe should return to being the standard.
I would love to tell you how that Pro ran flawlessly and was the best 1911 ever made by man, however that wouldnt be the truth. The first time shooting it, it simply didnt run. I would get a few rounds out and then have a FTF. I called my buddy and asked if he had any problems, he said no and the pistol worked flawlessly for him with the 100 rounds he fired through it. Thinking it was possibly a out of spec lot I bought different ammo. I got the same results as the range trip before however. Fraustrated I began looking for the problem which I believed resided with extractor tension. I messed with that and tried again. This seemed to help, but was still having intermittent problems. The extractor tip had never been opened up or polished. Seeing this I decided a new extractor would possibly be in order so I wouldn't booger up the original.
I finally broke down and ordered a C&S extractor which I then tuned and fitted. This absolutely solved the problem and the gun began running great. I was rather shell shocked that this pistol left their custom shop in such a shoddy order in regards to the extractor, but hey mistakes happen. It took me quite awhile to regain faith in that pistol, but it has since completely won me over. Having solved the reliability problems I began shooting the snot out of it. It has since replaced the TRP as my daily carry. I have now been carrying it coming up on 2 years. The Pro has been to a Procter class and a few local classes with no issues. It is a great, reliable, accurate, and beautiful pistol which has now exceeded my expectations for a modern carry 1911.
After having a bunch of trigger time with the both of them, here are the major differences between the two:
Attention to detail. I know I mentioned this earlier, but this is the biggest defining factor between the two. Grip safety, magwell, slide to frame fit, and barrel fitting is much better on the Pro.
The Pro also has a staked plunger tube and also a pinned ejector.
Triggers on both are pretty similar with an edge going to the Pro.
Accuracy on both is superb. Im a pretty decent shot and I have a hard time telling where the Pro is significantly better than the TRP.
The action of the Pro is much smoother than the TRP.
The finish is slightly different in color IMHO. The Pro being a duller black and the TRP having a glossier black. Both have held up well. Id honestly say the TRP finish may slightly be better in terms of wearing. The Pro has more holster wear than the TRP.
Conclusion.
The Pro is my dream pistol, so obviously I feel a little more for that one. However that being said, when looking at a solely financial outlook when deciding between the two, the TRP is a much better bang for the buck. They are both dead nuts accurate and reliable. If I have to sell you on a Pro, then it simply isnt the 1911 you are looking for. Those who know about the Pro are going after more than just a very well made 1911 IMHO. If you are just after a good no bs 1911 without breaking the bank, Id point you towards the TRP.
Im not the best at reviews, so if you have any questions shoot em here.
Pics
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...psxhyg62jd.jpg
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Few more pics I found.
Pro
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...sjsy03pz9.jpeg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps13624019.jpg
TRP
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC_0257.jpg
S.A. TRP VS Pro. Honest review
Excellent review. I absolutely love my TRP, but it's a bit rough around edges or "crude" in comparison to the Wilson CQB Elite I recently fell in love with.
I've handled a couple Pro's, but never shot one.
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