Sa Trp

[skief]

Looking for opinions on the SA TRP. Comparing 1911s and found one, very slightly used, for 1k. Was looking at Kimbers and eventually the Les Baer Concept V. The TRP, like the Kimber are available now, the Baer at 4 months or so. I have compared the LB Thunder Ranch side by side with the TRP and like the TRP in hand over the LB. The TRP and Kimber are comparable in $ and the Baer is + 750. The price is an issue to the extent that you get what you pay for, but at the level of the TRP or Kimber is there really that much difference? I am leaning toward the TRP at this point.
Thanks for any input!

[Big Sky Rancher]

Welcome to the forum skief!

I can compare Kimber's TLE/RL and Springfield's TRP Operator, although I'm not too sure how much my impressions will relate to your decision. The TRP is a considerably better gun imo, however it cost about $1200 whereas the TLE/RL was $800.

If they cost the same, without hesitation I'd choose the Springfield. It's a better gun in build quality, slide to frame fit, it has a better trigger, an ambi safety, magwell and the finish is considerably better.

The TRP is also a more unique and interesting pistol imo. The bull barrel is different the full length rail and the way it mates with the full figured slide gives it a unique look. The adjustable night sights are a nice touch too and again unique in that the rear sight is mounted a little more forward than your typical adjustable sight to prevent knocking them accidentally.

I don't know if I was just lucky and got a good one, but my TRP Op's slide to frame fit compares favorably to my Springfield Professional, which costs considerably more.

Hope this helps.

[skief]

Thanks BB for the input. I opted for the TRP. What you said reinforced my line of thinking. Can't wait to get to the range! Thanks again, Skief.

[Big Sky Rancher]

Happy to be of some assistance. Look forward to hearing how she shoots for you. Have a blast breakin' her in.

[harytaint]

Do keep in mind that the Operator is much different that the standard TRP. From what i have heard form gun smiths ect I should have got the Operator and not the regualr TRP. Personally I would go for the TRS, I would sell you my TRP for 900 bucks with out question and buy one for myself if you are really stuck on the TRP. Hell i'll go 850 on it. Thats Half way to the gun I should have bought the first time.
The bull barrel that Brass Balls is reffering to is only in the Operator model. This is what many think makes it so much better and like I said it must be true from what I have read and heard. Do keep in mind that the TRP has MIM parts in it and that really upsets me since it costs so much money. The Baer is all steel parts, soemthing thats preference but it makes sense to me.

[skief]

HT,
What is the dif between reg and bull on a pistol? Same idea as long arm? Also, didn't see a TRS on the SA website. Would you enlighten me? Might have a buyer if you want to unload. Mine has been paid for, brought home, stripped, inspected, cleaned and waiting for the range. I can let you know within the next day or so. I'll check regardless. Whats the condition of the gun? I really do appreciate all the effort and input. What a great forum. Thanks for the info and the chuckle (ht).
Skief

[harytaint]

OK bull barrel is a much thicker sized barrel so that it eliminates the need for the bushing at the end. Some say that it provides for a better and longer lock up when the gun cycles since the barrel is tappered. Basically as the slide slides reward it is still tight and locked up since the tappered barrel. The bushing provides protection to the sldie since the barrel doesnt have direct contact with the it but still many people includign my gunsmith said I should have bought that Operator. They say like BrassBalls that it compares to high end 1911's but personalyl I felt one and it has some play in the slide and frame fit.

TRS is Les Baer thunder ranch special, they run for about 1500-1600 bucks. The parts are much higher quality than SA and they are all hand fitted. You will never feel a better gun in the SA line up.
You choice is still not a bad one at all I love my TRP and it is the same as yours with out the light rail and bull barrel. It is a shooter for sure but having bought a Super Tac Les Baer recently it simply can not compare.

The condition of the TRP is very good over all. The one thing I will admitt is that when I was a Newb and got a squib(stuck bullet in the barrel) i tried to get it out myself and made a mark in the center of the barrel. I was pissed and took it to the smith. He lapped the barrel for me and said it wouldnt affect anything at all. I can not see any difference with its performance at all and if it were that big of a deal another SA barrel is like 70 bucks. I have had no reason to replace it since it shoots so well so i have put it behind me. It is real hard to notice the mark but when the barrel is mirror shinny clean and you shine light down it you can see it.

This would be the reason for selling it below 1000 bucks.

Good luck with you gun and have fun. Mine shoots perfectly and is very reliable. The sights did have to be redone by SA since they installed ones that made it shoot low. Check yours out and they will take care of you regardless of what issues may come up. Oh yeah after the booboo in the barrel happened is when i sent it in for SA to test the accuracy of it and make sight adjustments. They sent it back with groups touching each other and I still have the target.

[Big Sky Rancher]

You chose a very nice 1911, skief. The TRP stakes out a strong position, price wise, in the middle ground of 1911s. It has all of the nice features of a custom gun yet retains strong value by delivering these features at a lower price. Sure more expensive 1911s will be nicer, however each dollar you spend beyond the cost of your TRP will buy less and less of an increase in performance. In other words a 1911 that costs twice what yours does may only be 25% better overall.

Did you get the stainless steel model or the Armory Kote (black)?

[Big Sky Rancher]

btw here's a picture of a bull barrel from the business end. Notice how much thicker the barrel is and the lack of a barrel bushing.

http://home.comcast.net/~capilla/TRP_OP_MUZZLE.JPG

[harytaint]

Lol, Brass Balls you show off!
Right back at ya
http://www.jetpaint.com/displayimage.php?album=236&pos=6

[6285108]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/6285108/DSCN1046.jpg

[Big Sky Rancher]

Sweet Baers! Are those both Super Tacs?

[harytaint]

Mine is and it sure looks like the other is too. Unless he Bear coated a premier model.
Sorry for the off topic last threads. Good luck Skief with your TRP and have fun with it. I'll tell you what I shot mine yester day and cant beleive how tight it groups. I love the Baer but since I have had the TRP longer I shoot better with it at this time.
A good point was made to me about those MIM parts in SA guns. They have a life time warranty so if it breaks call them and get a free part. Thats what I plan to do and if you carry it for one I doubt you would ever need to use it and 2 i doubt when if oyu needed it to a part would break. Now if you are a cop and draw it daily with the intent to shoot I would have its parts swapped out with solid steel ones. I just have fun with it and hope California will let me carry it one day.

[skief]

Thanks BB and HT for all the info.
I finally got to the range and had a go. I was shooting winchester 235 fmj at silos and pistol targets around 10 yds. I started with the bullseye pistol targets and shot very consistent. Everything was close to 4" low. After a couple clips, any jitters gone and no change in elevation, I started adjusting aim up to hit specific areas on the target. It took aligning the rear site with the top of the barrel to get the shot in the "bull". I started aiming at the info box toward the upper left hand corner and was able to put 5 shots within the box. I shot 100 rds and had 3 ftes.
I took the gun back to where I bought it, they have a smith on staff who is very knowledgeable and helpful. We ran through the scenario- how was I aiming, how many rounds, did I clean it and inspect prior to firing etc... They know the person who traded it in very well and said he had run around 200 rds through before spoting something else he just had to have. At first he said the gun hadn't been broken in yet (only 300 rds). But after talking and explaining the scenario, he offered to take it apart to clean, have a looksee and then to the range. I met him the next day and he found- the gun was shooting low and extermely (with a capital E) dirty. (I had taken the gun apart and cleaned it prior to my range trip and then put 100 rds through before taking it in. I would assume it to need a wipe down but extremely dirty? Maybe the shells?) He also replaced the clip with a wilson, had no fte. ( the gun actually came with a wilson and I bought a second, which I didn't use at the range due to the fact I left it at home).
The gun has the fixed trit nites, low profile, which aren't adjustable. I decided to purchase a similar style, only adjustable. I plan on using the gun quite a bit in the next month and may put the originals back on and send it back to the factory after.(any experience with factory turn aroud?) There was also quite a noticable bit of burring at the rear, upper end of the mag well? He smoothed it out and also suggested that some of the other surface areas be softened. Good idea? My TRP is stainless. As soon as I get it back I will post a few pics. If foresight was 20/20 I would have gone with the TRS. He had one in stock for $1650.00. I liked the feel of the TRP better and it was less expensive at the time. With the new clip and sights I am in for another $200ish, getting close to the concept V I was contemplating. I really do like the TRP though. The groupings were low but still very tight windage wise. Anyway a wise man once said "I spent too much money not to like it!" Thanks, Skief

[harytaint]

I hate to say I told you so but I would have doen the same with the TRS. My mag well looks like hell also and like i said it took 5 weeks to get it back for shootign low like yours. SA offers pretty good guns at a good price but their quality control is crap. I am a bit pissed that upon thinking that if I saved more money and bought an expensive gun to start with I would avoid all these problems but still had them. I dotn want to sell the TRP since I will take a loss in money and now that I ahve had it fixed by SA it shoots very very well. It just gives you a bad taste in your mouth so early in the game. Trust me just send the gun in and get it fixed first. Tell them that sight comes loose and shoots way low. This was you will prevent the rear sight drifting like mine did in the future. I wouldnt mess with the adj sites. Let me tell you when it came back it looked like I added 10 years of experience to my shooting skills, they really dialed it in.
Dont be down man I have OCD when it come to my guns and I cant lie I shoot this gun more than my Super Tac. My Tac is my baby but this TRP is a really good shooter. Sure I would like the 1400 back toward a TRS but thats over with now and if I want another gun I will save up and add to the collection. I suggest you send it in and move on you will end up loving it I promise. I still have yet to see anyone else with a nice gun than my TRP at the range and they all druel on how smooth its action is. I laugh and then show them the Tac but again thats the difference of hand fitted vs production guns.
Dont sweat it man and send it in dont mess with it. Plan on a 5 week turn around and call them weekly to push them on it. When i called they were all on vactaion and that was 4 weeks into it sitting there, lol. It was all free though they give you the UPS code to send it both ways for free as well.

[6285108]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/6285108/DSCN1046.jpg


THIS ONE IS FS ON GUNBROKER!!!!! :)

[milquebon]

Hi folks, I hope I have come to the right place, I had posted a pic elsewhere of my Springer and got no replies. I recently purchased a used Springfield Operator with full length light rail, green frame, bull barrel (it is a Wilson Combat, but the frame doesn't have ANY wear in the bushing area, so I think it had a bull from factory), Novak sights (possibly added), and it does NOT say TRP anywhere on it. Except for the frame color it looks the same as a TRP operator. Was this the predecessor to the TRP operator? Any ideas? This thing shoots very well BTW.Thanks for any help.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/milq/operator1.jpg

[Big Sky Rancher]

Nice lookin' Springer, milquebon. Welcome to the forum. :)

[milquebon]

Thanks Brass Balls, that is the replacement for a new "Enhanced" 1911 of foreign manufacture. The only thing it enhanced was my patience levels (and the jury is still out on that). After the beating I took on trading it in......I should have started with a Springfield first. Looks like Dad was right when he mentioned the old "You get what you pay for" speech.