Posted: 11/15/2025 9:23:58 AM EDT
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Operator v. TRP, what's the real difference in quality and reliability? So I sold a very nice Range Officer Operator that I should have kept. I hate it when I do that. Now I'm looking for a replacement and I want to be able to mount an optic now that I'm sold on the optic idea. I'm going to carry it all the time so I'm leaning towards a TRP or an Operator. Depends on what my budget is after I sell a couple of Glocks I don't want anymore. One of them is apparently selling for a lot of money these days. Is the TRP really worth the extra money over the Operator? it will be in .45 ACP by the way. |
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No one...bump I'm interested because I have an Operator  From what I have read is TRPs are more of a hand fitted, more TLC vs like an Operator which is a production gun Never hear anything bad about a TRP. I think the older ones were put together in their Custom Shop |
I was born in Birkenhead and I was poor , I was dressed from the local army and navy store and I can tell you its no fun going to school dressed as a Japanese admiral-UKjohn
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“Operator” just means that it has a rail. “TRPs” are the same level of gun that the “loaded” guns used to be. Just pick the configuration you like best. They all have different combinations of sights, rails, serrations, front straps, and mag wells. Internally, they are the same gun. I really like then “Long Beach Operator” which is now called the “Loaded Black.” |
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As others have mentioned above... TRPs are a little more than the loaded variant. Had a Loaded and a TRP the same manufacturing cycle and the TRP is different. Loaded did not come with a checkered front strap, magwell or Armory coat finish. My sample size of two TRPs. Frame, barrel, and slide are fitted and kept together during the whole assembly cycle. They are engraved with matching numbers. There is MIM parts, but if it breaks, send it back to SA for a warranty claim. They will make it right. I haven't looked at the new line of TRPs with the optics platform as I have 2011s. IMHO, they weight a lot for carry as compared to a plastic fantastic. YMMV Oh another thing, if you're involved in a shooting, you won't see your gun for at least two years. That's a lot of coin to sit in an evidence locker.  
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I have a current gen Operator and handled the TRP. As far as I can tell from handling them side by side, the main difference for the TRP is the front strap checkering and some other cosmetic features like the slide top serrations and roll marks. Yeah, the TRP comes with different stocks and a mag well, but I didn't care for either. If you're into tinkering, you can quickly upgrade the Operator. A Chen SI magwell, for example, is far superior to the Springfield two-piece style. I don't like the TRP stocks, so take your pick from Lok or VZ (or go wood, as I did). Whatever tuning might have been there for the trigger went out the window when I fitted new trigger, sear, disconnector, and hammer from Harrison. Also swapped the safety for an EGW model. The only thing that's not relatively easy replaced is the front strap checkering. Even then, you can get a better checkering job done for less than the difference in cost between an Operator and TRP. |
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Thanks for the insight guys ! Mr. DOE, it's interesting that you posted the pic of the Prodigy since it's also on my short list. In fact I'm leaning towards the Prodigy as of this writing due to magazine capacity and ammunition compatibility and cost. The parts that fail on the prodigy are pretty well documented now so I know what I need to do to give it my own reliability upgrades. Whatever I get will have an optic straight away. I'm currently carrying a Glock G45 COA and I'm completely sold on pistol optics now. I'm in the process of divorcing my Glocks including the COA. I'm going back to a pistol with a 1911 trigger. I can shoot a Glock decently but it's a lot of work. The Glock grip actually hurts my hand after a hundred rounds or so. I have really tried to commit to Glocks this year. I've carried them off and on over the years. Really enjoy the reliability piece of mind you get with the Glocks. I just don't care for them however. On the other hand, I love my archaic 1911s. Points so well and just feels right. I was planning on going back to a 1911 in .45 ACP but 9mm seems so much more practical at this point. So much cheaper to buy and practice with. I have a Dillon (in a box in the garage) and eventually will get around to reloading 9mm. If I do go with a .45 1911, I planning on an Operator AOS, especially based on the feedback in this post. Thanks. |
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In the past I've owned the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec(converted to an MEUSOC clone), a "Loaded" model, an EMP, a TRP Operator and now I’ve consolidated down to only a standard TRP(no rail) and a Springfield Custom Shop Pro Rail model. The TRP is much closer to the Custom Shop Pro than it is to their “Loaded” model. The TRP’s front strap checkering alone is worth the extra money to me but they also have more slide/frame/barrel hand-fitting than the Loaded model. There’s like 10 or more new TRP configurations. Pick whichever feature set you want and go for it !! If you want to save some money look for a gently used example on the various exchanges local to you. Single-stack .45's aren't exactly flyin' off the shelves these dayz.. There's deals to be had !!! . |
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So as of right now I've got the list down to three. A Single Stack 1911 or an HK VP9 A1 F. Two wildly different handgun designs. The HK is the only striker fired pistol that interests me and it's being strongly recommended due to being more drop safe. The HK gets a nod due to reliability, magazine capacity/compatibility, and being more drop safe than a 1911. I rented one to shoot the other day and liked it a lot. So much nicer than a Glock. But emotionally I want that 1911 trigger. Whatever I get will be carried everyday and on the church "safety team". Also needs to be optic compatible. |
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Originally Posted By m499: That's only two... What's the third option? . Originally Posted By m499: Originally Posted By EMSflyer: So as of right now I've got the list down to three. A Single Stack 1911 or an HK VP9 A1 F... That's only two... What's the third option? . I figured maybe i was dumb ans missed it. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ag04blast: I only have the experience of a TRP. The fit and finish on mine is excellent and I love shooting it. Mine is from 2015ish. Some people who shoot it do not like the very aggressive checkering. I like it though. Clearly not real men.  |
Have the earlier VP9 Tactical that I bought an OEM Optic slide for. It's a tack driver. 15 yards - 18 rounds.  You'll need some reloads if carrying for Church Team. We ran into this issue with our team and had to spell out a mandatory mag count for single stacks. |
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I always carry two extra 17 rnd mags for the Glock I'm using now. Would do the same for the HK. If I go with a .45 single stack I'll have at least 4 extra mags. Sadly we don't have a lot of standardization on the team. Hoping that some of us newer guys who are more switched on and come from a more standardized professional background can influence that over time. |
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Ditto in the reloads. When I carried a TRP and then a HK45CT, I carried 3 reloads of 10 rounders plus the original 8 for 38 rounds. Makes for a heavy load. Get a good belt. The same load out for a G45/19 was 52/50 rounds. It’s being able to extend the fight to buy time or to end it. The crazies will generally be armed with an AR type weapon with at least 30 rounds plus their load out kit. Luckily our church asked LE to start it and for guidance. |
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| I currently own a 2019mfg TRP Operator/adj sights, Bull bbl, half rail model, with much desired Armory Kote, bought it brand new then. Have since bought and sold Springfield's LW Op, and Emissary, all are/were Gov't size guns. The TRP is probably THE BEST mfgd 1911 made, hands down. Blows the DW Specialist I just sold out of the water, and the other SA's as well. Go TRP Gov't size gun in 45acp and don't look back Brother👍🏻 |
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Originally Posted By EMSflyer: Well..... I had decided not to get a 2011 but it happened anyway. Will report back after I get to shoot it in about a week. Funny how that shit happens 
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I was born in Birkenhead and I was poor , I was dressed from the local army and navy store and I can tell you its no fun going to school dressed as a Japanese admiral-UKjohn
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@rock71 Hey there my fellow South Carolinian. Been while. I have both the 9mm Operator 5" and a TRP Traditional and Full Rail. The TRP's definitely have better fit and finish Only real difference I found between basic operator and trp.. is when the TRPs are built, they engrave the last 3 of the serial numbers on the Frame, barrel, slide as they are hand fitted. Whereas the standard Operator is mass produced. |
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I wish I had just bought the Operator instead of the Romulus. Romulus is a fun "race gun" but not reliable enough to carry for self defense. Sold it and impulse bought a nice used Glock G20 and put an optic on it. The G20 requires a lot of effort from me to shoot well. It is absolutely 100% reliable however. 10mm is a lot of recoil. Split times are poor. A 5" 1911 with an optic would have been a better fit for me. Going to have to work on that. |
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Originally Posted By EMSflyer: I wish I had just bought the Operator instead of the Romulus. Romulus is a fun "race gun" but not reliable enough to carry for self defense. Sold it and impulse bought a nice used Glock G20 and put an optic on it. The G20 requires a lot of effort from me to shoot well. It is absolutely 100% reliable however. 10mm is a lot of recoil. Split times are poor. A 5" 1911 with an optic would have been a better fit for me. Going to have to work on that. Is it the Glock ergo/trigger that causes the shooting issue or just the 10mm recoil? If you like the Glock except the recoil, why not just get a Glock 17? If you like the overall size of the Glock, but not the recoil or the trigger, why not just get an Echelon 4.0FC or VP9? |
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It's the trigger on the Gen 5 G20. I have a Overwatch Precision PolyDat trigger with a Glock minus connector and it's still kinda terrible. The Polydat was an improvement over stock however. The recoil doesn't bother me it's just harder to overcome the recoil and get the sight picture back so drills are slower. I remember being able to run a 1911 faster. But it's been a long time now since I shot USPSA with the 1911. I do have a very well used G17 Gen3 that I carry all the time. It's actually got a pretty decent trigger (for a Glock) and I shoot that one pretty well. I'm still planning on getting an Operator, I just got kinda side tracked with the big Glock. |
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Originally Posted By EMSflyer: It's the trigger on the Gen 5 G20. I have a Overwatch Precision PolyDat trigger with a Glock minus connector and it's still kinda terrible. The Polydat was an improvement over stock however. The recoil doesn't bother me it's just harder to overcome the recoil and get the sight picture back so drills are slower. I remember being able to run a 1911 faster. But it's been a long time now since I shot USPSA with the 1911. I do have a very well used G17 Gen3 that I carry all the time. It's actually got a pretty decent trigger (for a Glock) and I shoot that one pretty well. I'm still planning on getting an Operator, I just got kinda side tracked with the big Glock. Understood. I really like the 1911 platform as well and find it to point very naturally. |