Hi guys,

First post here in the Handgun section of the board.

Anyway, I'm looking at buying a TRP Operator, and am wondering about a few things:

After looking around on the board, I see that there are two kinds of people: Those who use Wilson Combat mags, and those who use Chip McCormick Power mags.  I think I'd be buying the Chip's, because they're cheaper through Brownells.  What do you guys think?

Next up would be the Grips.  I'm going to go with OD Green Simonich Gunner's.  Input?

Here's my lineup of parts I'd like to replace out of the box:


Part # 087-000-009 Ed Brown HardCore Hammer

Part # 087-045-200 Ed Brown One Piece Guide Rod

Part # 087-011-150 Ed Brown Oversized Tactical Magazine Catch

Part # 965-601-045 Wilson Combat Extended Slide Stop

Part # 965-602-045 Wilson Combat Extended Ambi Safety

Part # 965-313-004 Wilson Combat Grip Screws


What other parts should I look at replacing?  With Wilson Combat or Ed Brown?  Extractor, ejector, firing pin and stop, trigger, sear, sights, anything?

Also, what SureFire lights will fit this pistol?  I mean, the rail's just picatinny, right?  Which SureFire lights are picatinny and not "Pistol Specific"?

Any other input about the pistol is greatly appreciated.

While I'm at it, has anyone heard anything about the HRT Operator?  Hobbs mentioned it, and I couldn't dig anything up.

Thanks!

Brad

Both Wilson and CMC PowerMags are top notch.  I use Wilson as I've always used them, and I have some loyalty to them.  However, the PowerMags are great.  You can't go wrong with either.

Grips are completely subjective.  I've had VZs, used Gunners, and have owned just about everything else.  Gunners have to be about the most popular out there, but I'll take the VZs any day.  It's really just personal preference.  If you like those kinds of grips, look at Davidson's grips too.

davidsonknives.com/grips/grips.htm

As far as replacing parts go, Wilson and Ed Brown are both great, so go with what you like, whether that's from a looks standpoint, cosst, or reputation.  I would caution you about an extended slide stop.  Without getting into it too deeply, they usually cause more harm than good.  Unless you have half a thumb or something, they are an unneccesary addition that can cause premature slide lock, and to many they are the mark of an amateur.  I'm not saying this to flame, but most would agree.

As far as guide rods go, full length rods, 1 piece or not, really only have the advantage of adding additional forward weight.  The Operator is already a pig in the weight department, especially upfront.  Also, some feel the gun cycles smoother or locks up tighter.  Cycling smoother is an illusion.  You no longer feel the spring rubbing the dust cover inside the gun, but it still rubs the rod.  It's no better or worse.  Most aftermarket rods are bigger in diameter than a GI unit, which can take some slop out of the barrel/frame/slide fit.  Most times it's no big deal, but sometimes the head is too big, causing sluggish slide velocity and leading to FTF or FTE.


Replacing the hammer and the slide stop a re a good idea, since they are MIM, and in my opinion prone to breakage a little more in high impact or high stress areas.  MIM is not by nature a bad thing, but  I prefer not to have MIM hammers or slide stops.  

Replacing the rest depends on you.  The factory trigger is not fitted neary as tight as it could be, as it's basically a drop in unit.  The ejector is MIM, and I suppose the extended finger could pbreak prematurely, but I have not seen it myself.  The extractor is MIM, but it's not a high stress part, and MIM extractors work quite well if properly tensioned.  I've had three SA mim FP stops break over the last ten years, and no others.  All three were on guns that got a fair share of dry fire.  They all cracked on one corner, and were still functional long after they cracked.

Anyway, by the time you replace all those parts, you spend a lot of money.  Consider getting a Rock River Arms gun.  It will cost less in the long run.  

As far as lights, it's a standard Picatinny rail, though many eraly Operators were out of spec, with too wide of lugs.  Anyway, I use a Surefire X200A, and anything they make that fits a weaver rail will work.  

Good luck.  Let us know what you get, and remember, pictures are a good thing.

ETA:  In the latest edition of Combat Handguns, they have a small piece on the HRT Operator.  It's not available to the public yet.   Here's a pic of my Operator with the X200A.

Alright, on your advice I've since replaced the extended slide stop on the list.

Could you explain the term "MIM"?  I've seen it used on here, but don't know what it means.

Also, do you know which SureFire lights fit straight weaver/picatinny?  When you do a search through their pistol mounted lights, the same few lights will come up, but with slightly different names (IE "M104" for the Sig P226, and "M105" for the Springfield XD), is there any difference between the lights?

I've just been rooting around on Brownells, and here's a "Revised" list.  Please tell me what's not needed.


Part # 087-000-009 Ed Brown HardCore Hammer

Part # 087-045-200 Ed Brown One Piece Guide Rod

Part # 087-808-001 Ed Brown HardCore Firing Pin

Part # 087-809-100 Ed Brown HardCore Firing Pin Stop

Part # 087-813-070 Ed Brown HardCore Extractor

Part # 087-825-100 Ed Brown HardCore Sear Spring

Part # 087-811-000 Ed Brown Match Disconnector

Part # 087-812-000 Ed Brown Match Sear

Part # 087-814-000 Ed Brown Pin Rebuild Kit

Part # 087-000-012 Ed Brown Match Trigger

Part # 087-011-150 Ed Brown Oversized Tactical Magazine Catch

Part # 965-414-000 Wilson Combat BulletProof Slide Stop

Part # 965-602-045 Wilson Combat Extended Ambi Safety

Part # 965-313-004 Wilson Combat Grip Screws


(Part numbers are Brownells numbers)

Brad

On Surefire's site, click on unversal/picatinny for gun model.  They show only the X200.  I know there is a Nitrolon that will work, since i used to have one.  I would recommend checking with Dawson Precision.

MIM means Metal Injection Molded.  I only know what I've read, and I know nothing about metalurgy.  I won't go into the details,a s there are plenty of websites that can explain it better than I.  I just know what I've seen of parts breakage with my guns, those of friends, and those that go in and out of two large gunsmithing shops here.  I've seen a couple slide stops break, but not on my guns.  I've broken hammers, ambi safeties, and FP stops.  I've seen the same break on others.  I've never broken a cast or barstock hammer, slide stop, ambi safety, or FP stop.

I've yet to see any other MIM parts break, but I'm sure others have experienced it.  I for one see nothing wrong in a casual use gun with MIM.  In a carry or duty gun, I replace the the hammer and slide stop as a matter of routine.  In those same guns, if they are for someone else, I advise replacing the safety if it's an ambi, and I advise on replacing the FP stop, the ejector, and that's it.  Replacing the disconnector and sear makes for a much longer lasting and consistent trigger pull, and replacing the extractor makes for a much longer lasting tension tuning.  

As far as necessary parts in your list, I would find it uneccessary to relace the firng pin, the sear spring, the pin kit, and the grip screws, but I would say get them if they make you happy.  They don't detract from the gun.  As far as the extended slide stop, don't delete because of me.  Just realize that with the grip that many use, you can easily bump the slide stop up during recoil.

Hobbs,

Just emailed them.

What do you guys think I should replace in the way of springs?  Does Wolff make the best product?

Which weights would be the best suited, in all the different springs?

What are the sights like on the TRP Operator?  If I were to replace them, which sights will drop in without further machining of the slide?

Quoted: What do you guys think I should replace in the way of springs?  Does Wolff make the best product? Which weights would be the best suited, in all the different springs? What are the sights like on the TRP Operator?  If I were to replace them, which sights will drop in without further machining of the slide?

I see no need to go with anything other than Wolff.  ISMI makes great springs, but I would not say they are better, and since Wolff has been around forever, I have loyalty to them.  If you can get ISMI cheaper, than go for it.  Unfortunately, I've never used Wilson Combat springs, but I hear they are good.  

With all the different springs, weights are dependent on what you are looking for.  In a recoil spring, 16.5 is factory standard, and most run with that or more commonly, 18.  Wolff's site explains the hows and whys of determining the recoil spring weight.  I run 16.5 in mine, but I also stay on top of replacing them, and like where they eject.  There are arguements on both sides.  Most in the 18lb camp cite increased durability and less recoil. The first is true, the second is not.  You get more felt recoil with 18, but it's hardly noticeable, as in 99% of shooters could not tell the difference.  Let the distance of ejection determine which spring to get.  

In mainsprings, factory standard is 23 lbs.  I don't recommend going below 19 lbs, but that should be left up to a smith doing the trigger work.  Anytime you change something in a 1911, there is an effect.  Something as simple as changing the hammer, or mainspring, will have an effect on slide velocity/timing, trigger pull, firing pin strike, etc.  Staying with a 23 lb. is a good idea.  

As for the rest, I don't worry about mag springs with stock SA mags, becasue I won't use them.  I don't like the feed lip geometry nor the followers.  If you do stay with them, they are not a bad thing per se, just not optimal.  I use Wilson Combat mags exclusively, but had a short stint with McCormick PowerMags, which are awesome.  There are a few others that have a decent reputation, like Novak/ACT, MecGar, Tripp, etc.  I wouldn't know, so I'll let the others comment.  Anyway, if you're gonna replace mag springs, use the Wolff extra power mag springs.

As for the rest of the gun, do not feel the need to replace springs.  They are all good.  One thing to consider is Brownells Pro-Springs.  They sell a pack that has all the 1911 springs in it, and they are made for Brownells by Wolff.  They are every bit the quality of the regualr Wolff springs as far as I can tell, and I like to replace my springs in any used 911 with these, as it's cheap insurance.

As for the sights, they are Bo-Mar.  I can't imagine why you would replace them, and I have no idea what you would replace them with.   You can't replace them with Novaks, Heinies, or any other popular carry sights, as the existing sight cut is way too huge.  The only way aroiund this is to get the MC Operator, or find an older loaded or Mil-Spec Operator.  With the TRP, you are stuck with the Bo-Mar sight cut, and putting any other Bo-Mar type sight in there is pointless, as Bo-Mars are hands down the best adjustables made.  The others, like STI and Smith Enterprises, can only hope to be as good, not better.

Hobbs,

Again, thank you very much!  I'll start addressing my questions to you specifically!

EDIT:

Do you own Gunner grips?  For use with extended magwells, I'd imagine that you need the flat bottoms as opposed to the taper, eh?

Quoted: ETA:  In the latest edition of Combat Handguns, they have a small piece on the HRT Operator.  It's not available to the public yet.   Here's a pic of my Operator with the X200A. img77.imageshack.us/img77/5751/gunpics20991il.jpg

Any word on when that'll be out and how much it'll cost?  Looks like it would be a nice companion for my TRP.

I don't know that it's going to come out, but I would imagine that they would capitalize on their contract with the FBI.  It would be silly for them not to sell the exact gun, or a civilian version.  Give them a call and ask, as it cannot hurt, and it might help the prospects of them bringing one out to the public if they get a bunch of calls.

I shot mine for the first time today. It takes alot to impress me, and this one did.

The ONLY thing I will change ,is the slide stop. I am going with a Wilson Extended.

It works so good out-of-the-box , I dont want to mess up a good thing here.

Keep us posted on how yours goes.I would also like to see pics with your list installed.

Good Luck !