Lately I’ve been bitten by the 1911 bug again and have been looking at the Springfield Professional model. I’ve always liked this particular pistol, though it has been over 10 years since I’ve last held one at a store. It left an impression though.
Considering the expense of a Pro, I’ve been looking for one to check out again before I decide to drop that amount of cash. Unfortunately, Pros seem hard to come by in the stores and I understand there is a considerable waiting list for them now.
The closest Springfield I have been able to check out lately is the TRP - and it left a totally different impression. Mainly, I found the 20 LPI front strap checkering sharp. Uncomfortably so. I understand this sort of checkering lends itself to those who shoot wearing gloves, but I seldom wear gloves when I shoot pistol and would at least prefer the option not to. I’ve used other aggressive grip patterns before (skateboard tape, G10 Gunner Grips, other front strap treatments) but this one is just not for me.
I also wonder what this checkering would do to my concealment garments…
Does anyone know how the front strap of the TRP compares to the Pro? I know the TRP is more of a factory pistol than the Pro, which has more work done in house by the Springfield Custom Shop. If the 20 LPI is as aggressive on the Pro, I may look elsewhere to scratch my itch.
You can always go through their Pro shop, and custom order the pistol however you want. It wont be a “FBI Pro” model exactly but you can order the same stuff + whatever else you want.
Yes, certainly considering that option. Also thinking about picking up the MC Operator (which has a smooth frontstrap) and sending it to the Custom Shop for tweaking.
I think you would be better off going with a straight custom shop job because by the time you pay to have another gun modified it would cost about the same, and if you later decide to sell it a modified cheaper gun wont have the value of a full on custom shop pistol.
BTW Ive owned two TRP’s and a Pro rail gun. They are certainly good pistols for being 1911’s, and SA has excellent customer support.
The 20 lpi checkering on the front strap is aggressive however your hands will get used to it, even if you shuffle papers all day (no offense if you do). 20 lpi is pretty sharp at first but does allow for a great grip once you toughen your hands up.
More good points. Since you have the TRP and the Pro to compare though, do they essentially have the same checkering? That’ll certainly help drive my decision making. I’m pretty sure the checkering on the TRP is machine cut - not sure if the Pro is machine or hand but could make a difference.
My soft living may be catching up to me here, but there is 20 LPI and there is 20 LPI. Other pistols I’ve picked up besides the TRP with this level of front strap checkering don’t seem to have the same bite. My impression, of course.
The Pro has checkering done by hand and is not, in my experience(1 Pro & 1 TRP full rail), as aggressive as the machine checkering on the TRPs. One gentleman on another forum asked SA Custom Shop to “smoothen” the checkering on his Pro and last I heard he was very pleased. My Pro is one of my favorite guns. I say go for it.
The Professional has 20LPI hand checkering while the TRP is machined 20LPI. In my experience the Pro’s hand checkering feels a bit sharper than the TRP.
This. Machine checkering is always more dull compared to a hand checkered pistol. I’m sure you could ask them to tone the sharpness of the checkering down with a file or sandpaper.
Actually, I have a Custom Shop Springer, and I talked to Deb about the 20 LPI machine vs the 20 LPI hand checkering.
I’ve handed several Pros and TRPs. The TRP feels sharper than the Pros. I commented about this to Deb, and she agreed that the hand checkering 20 LPI is a little more dulled over the machine checkering.
I much prefer the checkering on the Pro - it’s not quite as razor sharp.
I ended up going with 25 LPI hand checkering on mine, though.
I own two TRPs and several 1911s with hand cut 20 LPI checkering. Both depend on depth of cut and how “pointed” the peaks are developed to determine the sharpness. Emery cloth will take the peaks down, but the gun will have to be refinished. Not a problem if you order it from the Custom shop. For what it is worth, I like mine very sharp and shoot them all without gloves.
As to concealed carry, the checkering is hard on jacket linings and other clothes. I believe checkered mainspring housings causes the most damage to clothing. I like them 20 lpi and sharp also.
Carried a Pro tucked in for two years. The Black-T finish makes the 20LPI feel slightly less sharp, but your hands would get used to it anyway. The checkering will also wear down over time (>5k). There was very slight wear on clothing, but nowhere near enough to warrant replacing a shirt.
To those carrying and worrying about jacket linings… get some good leather and sew (or have sewn) pieces where the grips/checkering will rub…saves a lot of jackets…old timers trick and yes I’m an old timer!
I also have both and agree the TRP is a bit sharper feeling than my Pro. I haven’t had any issues with it being my daily carry gun, even when worn IWB or in a holster that holds it tight against my body. I put about 800 rounds through a few weeks ago in an LMS course and only got very slightly sore at one spot on one of my fingers. That was near the edge of the checkering and at a joint so it was pressing that line of checkering against a bone.
A good pair of gloves takes some of the sting out, but you can’t rely always having gloves on.
I use roofers gloves fingerless first and middle finger and a piece of the thumb…padded for use with nail-gun maybe not hard use gear.
I suggest this to JSGlock34 as a inexpensive way to adjust to the ‘Teeth’ …or lay a strip of tape on the 20lpi teeth.
Beware the ambi-saftey if your right handed it is a fang when you overhand rip the slide back will tear flesh unless paying reallly close attention, or until you ‘bob’ them.
The checkering isn’t really a problem for me since I have callouses on my fingers. You should be fine, I think.
The very aggressive set of VZ grips that I put on my PRO did tear at my support hand (palm) pretty bad after about a hundred rounds though, so today I wore some batting gloves at the range.
I have two Professionals, one that I carry daily IWB during fall, winter and spring. No clothing wear after about 5 years. The 20 lpi checkering is something that I never even notice. My skinny office hands have never complained during a class. 20 lpi is the way to go in my opinion.
I don’t find significant amount of wear on garments but they will wear. I find that the key to cover garment life isn’t the FRONT strap bu the outside surface finish on the grip panel and the mainspring housing finish. I like Larry Davidson’s very aggressive grips on my TRP, too. I did take a fine file and gently work the sharpest edges on the grips that were either too sharp for my hand or for my cover garments. But then I put grip tape on the left hand side of all of my polymer pistols such that the grip (once secured) does not slip easily at all. Not for everyone, obviously.
