Hey all,
I just picked up a Springfield TRP Operator and am putting together my list for the SACS but I’m torn on a couple things. You guys mind lending your opinion please? This is my second 1911 but first time making bigger changes.
Definitely doing:
10-8 Rear sight
VZ Operator II grips
S&A Arched mainspring magwell
Flush cut and crown barrel
Nub/FBI style slide stop
Standard carry bevel
Checker underneath trigger guard
Torn on:
Matte barrel finish: I’m blacking out all visible parts (trigger, etc) except the barrel and think a nice matte would look good. Hard chrome?
Convert from bull barrel to bushing: Mainly so I can use it in IDPA. If I did the conversion could I swap back and forth when wanted? Before someone says “Just call SACS and ask them” I would except I’ve been kicking this around in my head for several days and went to call them today but missed them by 8 minutes. Plus you guys are pretty knowledgeable.
Carry cuts: I’m not big on FCS and I really like the look of carry cuts on the standard TRP but with the rail I’m concerned it won`t look right and be esthetically pleasing. Pictures below for reference. Thoughts?
Also, before someone possibly brings up why I bought a TRP Operator if I didn`t want FCS or bull barrel and the answer to that would be I wanted a rail and neither are a deal-breaker for me. I thought about going with a Dan Wesson Specialist but the price on the TRP was too good.
So there it is. Any constructive input is greatly appreciated!
If I were you I’d black the barrel just to be different. Regarding the FCS I’d leave them for the reasons you mentioned unless you’d be willing to pay to have filled and remilled, but I’m not sure if SACS does that. Lastly, regarding the bushing on my operator from 2011 IIRC the slide was milled out to accept a bushing so in theory Yea I could have swapped back and forth between it and the original bull barrel I do believe.
In regards to going all black. I had a friend who had a Springfield milspec, an old wide body one, worked over by their custom shop about 8 years or so ago. Went all black, everything, and I do mean everyting. First, I will say the gun was damn good looking. Second, if it is night, and their is no moon, DON’T drop that mofo because you will never find it in the dark. Third, I don’t know the package he had done to it, but the damn thing was a tact driver.
That said, for competition, I might err to Hard chrome just because I would think it might hold up better under hard use. As far as bull barrel VS bushing. I am majorly partial to bushing, so I am not going to be any help to you there.
I’ll start by saying I’ve had three TRPs (two slick front and one Operator) as well as worked on a couple others and every one of those guns were accurate and very reliable out of the box. TRPs are a great value, hard use capable pistol. In my opinion, you did well choosing the TRP over the Dan Wesson. You can’t go wrong sending your gun to Dave Williams. I’ve had the Springfield Custom Shop refinish quite a few guns for me over the years and their finish work is impeccable. They can do any and all the modifications you want- the Custom Shop’s machining/smithing is as good as it gets, in my opinion.
My 2 cents on your “Torn on” list:
Any finish you apply to your barrel will wear at the chamber in short order if you intend to shoot the gun a bit. I’ve tried about every finish there is on guns/barrels over the years. Any of the phenolic resin finishes (Armory Kote®, Black T®, Armor Tuff®, etc) will show substantial wear on the barrel in fairly short order. Here is what Black T® looks like after about 10,000 rounds on my hard use Pro.
I’ve had a couple barrels hard chromed back in the day. In my experience, hard chromed barrels don’t develop the heavy wear marks as quickly as bead blasted stainless/carbon, blued/blackened or “painted” barrels. In my opinion, there is really no reason to hard chrome a barrel unless you plan to really run the hell out of your gun or are going to be exposing it to salt water or something like that. You might consider just having the outside of the chamber bead blasted (like on the Kart match barrels) and leave it at that.
As far as putting a standard barrel/bushing in the gun- that’s what I did to my TRP Operator pictured below.
The TRP Operator’s bull barrel adds some weight to the muzzle which is nice in a hard use gun, but I’ve always been partial to hand fitted, bushing/barrel systems. The Custom shop can definitely put a barrel/bushing in your gun and generally, you could drop the factory bull barrel back in. I should add that a hand fit barrel, bushing, slide stop, frame and slide are fit to each other in a few different places and you may alter some of the key wear points if you toss that factory bull barrel barrel back in the gun for a few thousand rounds. I’ve never really seen a guy interchange barrels on a 1911- but that’s just me. If I had the Custom Shop hand fit me a match barrel/bushing, I’d leave it in the gun.
I would suggest you think twice about having the front cocking serrations removed. If you look at where the front cocking serration cuts begin on the TRP Operator, the front cocking serrations start farther back than the end of the frame’s dust cover. In my opinion, you won’t get a very good looking Hi Power cut look when the Hi Power cut doesn’t match up with the end of the frame’s dust cover. The slick front TRP you pictured has a very well done Hi Power cut as the cut ends right at the dust cover.
the.batman,
I really appreciate your thorough response!
I’ve decided on leaving the bull barrel since it gives me a good of excuse to buy another down the road, plus I have other IDPA legal pistols. Still undecided on the barrel finish. This will be my “battle” (for lack of a better term) 1911 and down the road I’ll pick up a DW for IDPA and more of a show pistol to tinker with. As such I’m also going to leave the FCS. Once my magwell and sights gets here I’m shipping it off!
What 10-8 sight are you planning on? I thought all TRP operators were adjustable sights? I though Harrison Design was about the only game in town for TRP op’s and RO’s going from adjustable to fixed.
The 10-8 sights are awesome for the trp. I wish they made them for the loaded. I have a Long Beach waiting on me. I would love to have them undercut the triggerguard and checker the front strap 25lpi. I love the TRP. I planned on picking one up but got a screaming deal on the Long Beach. I think you are right on with the mods and the Bull Barrel is stupid accurate. I have shot two different TRPs and shot a lot of rounds through them. They were both awesome and super smooth shooters.
I went with Harrison for the front and this for the rear:
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
1911 Modular Rear Sight. Replaces adjustable rear sights with a unique 2 piece design that allows the sight to be installed in the pocket cuts popular in custom 1911s. The design permits easy swapping of the removable, interchangeable sight leaf while the base remains in place on the pistol. The user can easily swap out the sight leaf with only a flat head screwdriver or the rim of a .45 cartridge casing. The height of the rear sight blade approximates .325" “standard” height 1911 LoMount rear sights, and permits use of existing front sights. Once installed, this sight behaves as a fixed sight.
Fits Bomar base fits guns with Bomar style adjustable rear sights, including Les Baer, STI Trojan, Springfield Armory TRP Operator, Colt Gold Cup, Ed Brown, and countless others. If you are not sure which base your pistol has, we suggest contacting the manufacturer. You can also check the photo gallery to compare the dovetail to your existing sight.
That Rogers gun is beautiful! The only thing that occurs to me is that the dust cover on your TRP is a bit thicker (to make the picatinny interface) than one that is slick- I’m sure Dave Williams will know if the cut in the slide will make the slide thinner than the frame’s dust cover where they would overlap. The Custom Shop will know if it will look “right”.
Be sure to post a picture when you get your gun back!
I’ve re-re-decided on the carry cuts. After looking over that Rogers gun I got to looking at mine and think it could look pretty good. The end of the dust cover slants at the same angle as the FCS, and the carry cuts would, so even though the cuts would be behind the end of the cover I think the angles just might pull it off.
Now my big debate is on the color scheme and I need to decide by Monday when I ship it out. I’m seriously considering ripping off the colors on that Rogers. In fierce competition with that is going all black, like the pistol below.
The girlfriend voted for that one as well. Nearly every gun and knife I have is black on black so I really should change it up. I’m leaning towards this on the TRP then once I get a DW Valor I’ll black it out.
I asked around about carry cuts on my Operator but nobody I talked to was willing to do them. I don’t know how I missed out on that 10-8 rear. Looks awsome. I have a ton of 10-8 parts across several types of pistols and had never noticed that rear. Probably because I don’t have a TRP OP but it’s good to know it’s out there.
I want to send my 9mm RO 5" off to SACS for some carry friendly mods and your list looks pretty similar to mine.
I called SACS several weeks ago to inquire about carry cuts on an Operator back when I first got the TRP itch and the woman I spoke with said they could do it. She may have been mistaken so I’ll reconfirm when I call them Monday.
