Springfield Armory is well known for its excellent 1911 pistols, and the new TRP line is no different.
Springfield loaned the semi-automatic pistol to the author for review.
Naming a product is a tricky and difficult endeavor.
Is the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25″ Carry Contour a good choice for concealed carry?
It becomes even more complicated when the name is abbreviated.
When this process is done poorly, it can become the subject of memes and jokes.
When done correctly, the firearm and the name become synonymous with each other, and icons are born.
The Carry Contour has a “bobbed” mainspring housing/grip to reduce the profile of the gun under a cover garment like a shirt or jacket.
Such is the case with the Springfield Armory Tactical Response Pistol, or TRP.
When introduced, the TRP was a semi-custom version of the Springfield Professional Model.
The Pro was a Custom Shop build that became legendary with the FBI Hostage Rescue Team.
Shown here is the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25″ Carry Contour after being field stripped. You can see the major components of the pistol.
Recently, Springfield Armoryrevamped the entire line of TRP pistols.
It is now available in a wide variety of configurations, from full-size 5 models to carry-ready 4.25 variants.
Finishes include a black or coyote brown Cerakote.
Springfield Armory 1911 TRP Carry Contour works well for self-defense and concealed carry. It is chambered in .45 ACP — a cartridge many see as excellent for self-defense.
The Springfield Armory Carry Contour
I received a TRP 4.25 Carry Contour for evaluation.
In simple terms, our test pistol is a shortened 1911 with an alloy frame and an accessory rail.
The feature set of the TRP is well thought out.
The author tested the Springfield 1911 TRP on the shooting range with variety of .45 ACP loads. While these rounds all had different bullet profiles, they fed reliably in the gun.
The edges have been nicely beveled and the rear of the extractor has been contoured to the slide.
Springfield opted for three-dot tritium sights on the TRP.
The front sight is a dovetailed post with a Tritium insert.
The Carry Contour variant of the TRP is ideal for either EDC or also home defense.
The rear sight is a ledge design and Springfield has beveled the edges to remove any offending surfaces.
The rear sight has double Tritium inserts that provide a three-dot sight picture.
Moving to the frame, it is forged from an aluminum alloy.
The author found that the new Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC was everything that he expected in the TRP line of handguns.
The frontstrap features 20 LPI checkering that corresponds to the abbreviated checkering on the bobbed Carry Contour mainspring housing.
The beavertail grip safety is fit very well and has a speed bump for positive engagement.
The ambidextrous thumb safety is very positive and the left side paddle is slightly larger than the right.
The slide stop is a standard 1911 configuration.
Shooters will notice that the skeletonized trigger is made of polymer.
VZ Hydra G-10 stock panels provide a positive purchase on this M1911 pistol and are also very attractive.
The magazine well is nicely beveled to assist in reloads.
The TRP CC comes standard with three, blued steel, seven round magazines.
I found no machining or tool marks on any interior surface.
Its the small details that remind me that Springfield Armory does understand the 1911!
The trigger on our test pistol broke at 4 lbs.
with no creep and minimal overtravel.
The reset was positive and, all in all, I was very impressed with the trigger.
As with all Springfield pistols, the new TRPs feature a hammer forged barrel that is match grade.
The ammo ranged from standard 230-gr.
ball to the hot Super Vels hot 160-gr., solid copper hollow point +P load and Black Hills 135-gr.
I ran my normal 1911 testing protocol with each load.
The little TRP passed these tests with no malfunctions using both FMJ and hollow-point bullets.
The perceived recoil was also less than I expected from an alloy frame .45 ACP.
The operating controls functioned properly and I had no issues with the thumb safety or the grip safety.
The magazines functioned without any issues and ejected cleanly from an open slide configuration.
I found that the button made loading the first round more difficult than normal.
The two negatives that I found were purely subjective on my part.
First, the machine checkering on the frame is pretty sharp.
I can see after 500 rounds, or so, it could be uncomfortable.
In addition, when carried concealed, these surfaces could abrade a shirt or jacket.
The other issue I found was, with my aging eyes, I had difficulty with the sights.
The only contrast between the black front and rear sight is the small silver ring and Tritium insert.
The inserts and the same size tending to make the sight picture a little too busy.
This may not be an issue with shooters with younger and better eyes.
Our test pistol was everything that we have come to expect from the TRP guns.
Given the features and quality, the MSRP is very reasonable for 2024.
The Carry Contour is also available in black.
For those who prefer a traditional Commander the TRP Classic 4.25-inch will fill the bill.
Find one at your local dealer.
You will not be disappointed.
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