A classic pistol built for fighting with updates for modern defense sensibilities, the new Springfield Armory 1911 TRP AOS hits the mark
by Rob Reaser
Journalists loathe to admit bias in their work, and while most of us try hard to delineate the objective from the subjective, it can be a difficult task.
Regarding handguns, I have a clear bias and am not ashamed to admit it. The 1911 is my hands-down favorite handgun platform. Nothing in the wide, wide world of pistols feels better, shoots better, or instills more confidence in my hands than a double-fistful of precision-machined steel in the classic John Moses Browning configuration. Call me a snob, call me silly, call me collect and we’ll fight about it, but I’m standing by my convictions on this matter.
That said, my 1911 leanings are basic, salt-of-the-earth stuff. I don’t own any high-speed, custom-built, elite brand 1911s. Oh, I’ve shot plenty of them, and am slightly envious of those who can afford the thoroughbreds of the breed, but with a gun as perfectly designed as the original 1911, the marginal gains offered by custom-fitted slides and ultra-tweaked triggers are lost on me given my level of handgun marksmanship. In short, I’m perfectly satisfied carrying a classic, government-style 1911 on my hip every day.
Occasionally, though, a gun comes along that makes me ponder strategies to siphon off some of the household budget…ways to bleed off funds without the missus getting wise. Once such gun is the just-released 1911 TRP AOS from Springfield Armory.
An Updated Tactical Response Pistol
The TRP is the acronym for Tactical Response Pistol. For those of you who aren’t steeped in all things 1911, the TRP is a 1911 platform series developed by Springfield Armory that originated from the company’s 1911 Professional handgun. The 1911 Professional was a response to a callout by the FBI in the 1990s for a severe-duty .45 ACP intended for the agency’s Hostage Rescue Team.
That inspiration led to the current 1911 TRP series pistols that have been on the Springfield menu for many years. This year, Springfield has rolled out a variant of the TRP intended to satisfy the growing demand for optics compatibility in EDC pistols.
Agency Optic System
The highwater mark for the new 1911 TRP is the Agency Optic System, or AOS. Developed by Agency Arms, this system utilizes heavy-duty optic plates configured for a variety of pistol-mounted optic footprints. Each plate also includes a drift-adjustable rear sight. The beauty of this system is that you don’t lose backup sight capability when you add an optic. As each plate is compatible with a specific optic style, so, too, is the rear sight height. This means a clear, open sight picture for whichever electronic optic you intend to mount. It eliminates the typical hassle of trying to find an open sight system that will work with our chosen optic, assuming the optic would even allow for an open sight.
For our test, I decided to go big in the optic department and use this opportunity to evaluate the new Burris FastFire E enclosed emitter red dot (full review forthcoming).
Given the optic’s Aimpoint ACRO footprint, I deployed the A18B AOS plate for the interface. The installation proved simple enough: remove the slide cover plate, install the AOS adapter in the slide cut, and install the optic. The optic sat low in the slide, offering a fine view with the open sights through the optic lenses.
1911 TRP AOS Variants
The 1911 TRP AOS launches with eight different models. Buyers can choose between 9mm and .45 ACP chambering, 5-inch barrel (standard) or 4.25-inch barrel (Contour Carry), and Black or Coyote Brown Cerakote.
While I favor the brute force of the .45 ACP, the 9mm chambering holds the most sway in the EDC universe, as does a more compact profile for concealed carry use. So, for this test, I chose the 9mm Contour Carry model in Coyote Brown.
Profiles and Ergonomics
The Contour Carry version is the prefect choice if you intend to run the 1911 TRP AOS concealed. As anyone who carries a full-size 1911 knows, the bottom corner of the grip tends to poke loud and proud from beneath a covering garment. The bobbed profile of the Contour Carry goes a long way toward minimizing this, assuring more discreet concealment. Add in the abbreviated 4.25-inch barrel length and the gun hides quite well with a close-fitting OWB or IWB holster. Interestingly, that steep grip angle does not compromise hand positioning or shooting performance.
You’ll also notice here the aggressive 21 line-per-inch stippling along the front and rear straps. This pattern sticks to your hand like nobody’s business and guarantees a positive lock on the grip to deliver excellent control, retention, and draw performance.
Further aiding in retention and hand positioning are the VZ Grips Hydra G-10 panels. The high-profile texturing, again, provides a no-slip grip, and the two-tone lamination ideally complements the gun’s Coyote Brown and black color scheme.
Mechanical Considerations
Operational controls on the TRP are top of the game. Serrations along the top of the skeletonized hammer, safety, slide release, and mag release give positive traction when manipulating. Left-hand shooters will also appreciate the ambidextrous safety lever.
The one thing I don’t dig is the polymer trigger shoe. It’s not that it detracts the function in any way, but for a 1911 with a $1,999 MSRP, a steel or aluminum trigger should be part of the build list.
As you would expect from a modernized fighting gun, the 1911 TRP AOS includes a Picatinny rail as part of the frame forward of the trigger guard. Although I don’t use pistol-mounted lights or lasers, I did find the rail handy for mounting Steiner’s Tor-X laser with integrated MantisX technology. This allowed me to use the MantisX app for some dry-fire practice and to get more familiar with the trigger.
Polymer construction aside, the trigger performance is downright delicious. Try as I might, I could detect no creep. The sear break is sharp and the reset pleasantly short. No complaints here.
Open Sights or PMO…Your Choice
Although the 1911 TRP AOS’s claim to fame is its AOS optic compatibility, you can certainly run this gun just fine right out of the box with the factory open sights. The rear sight is a beefy piece with a U-notch and blackout serrations. A flat angle up front allows for one-handed slide manipulation when pressed against a firm edge. To adjust windage, if needed, simply loosen the dovetail set screw and drift the sight left or right to shift the point-of-impact.
The front sight is easily visible and centers nicely in the rear sight notch for precise sight alignment. There is a small tritium vial in the front sight to assist in low-light aiming. I didn’t find the visibility to instill much confidence, so if low-light aiming is something you must have, it is better to make use of the AOS and add a red dot or secure a laser to the rail.
As for takedown and maintenance, this pistol is straight-up traditional 1911. It uses the GI-style recoil system, so no tools are required for disassembly.
Range Test
Range day with the 1911 TRP AOS involved failure drills (two torso shots, one head shot) on IDPA targets at 10 yards. I zeroed the FastFire E for Fiocchi’s 115-grain Hyperformance Defense loads. I chose this lighter load to see if the hefty FastFire E would negatively impact the cycle of operation in a 9mm-chambered pistol. It didn’t happen for me, as I experienced zero feeding or ejecting malfunctions. My cousin, though, experienced three failure-to-feed malfunctions using the same ammo. I just chalked it up to “operator error.”
In addition to the lighter 115-grain load, I stayed with Fiocchi ammo and shot several mags’ worth of 124- and chunky 147-grain FMJs through the 1911 TRP AOS — again with zero malfunctions. The gun handled fast, came quick to target, and put the shots right where they mattered most.
The 1911 isn’t everyone’s bag, and I get it. But if you’ve got a hankering to try one out for EDC duties, Springfield’s 1911 TRP AOS would certainly be one to consider. Yes, the gun carries a premium price, but the quality construction and modern features combined with the top-shelf Agency Optic System make a good case for parting with a few greenbacks.
Springfield 1911 TRP AOS Specifications
- Caliber: 9mm
- Color: Coyote Brown
- Barrel: 4.25″ Forged Stainless Steel, Match Grade, Fully Supported Ramp, 1:16
- Slide: Forged Carbon Steel, Coyote Brown Cerakote®, Optics-Ready
- Frame: Forged Aluminum Alloy, Carry Contour, Coyote Brown Cerakote®
- Sights: Tritium Front, Black Serrated Rear
- Recoil System: Commander Length GI Style
- Grips: VZ Grips® Hydra™ G-10
- Magazines: (3) 9-Round
- Weight: 27.3 oz
- Length: 7.9″
- Height: 5.5″
- MSRP: $1,999
