Posted: 6/19/2011 7:49:19 AM EDT
| Other than the integral rail what are the primary differences in these two pistols? |
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From what I've read, the TRP has the following upgrades;
1. a bull barrel 2. front-strap checkering 3. an extended magazine well 4. stainless mags with slam pads 5. VZ brand micarta grips 6. a full-length guide rod 7. adjustable rear sight 8. and A LOT more TLC during the assembly process. All TRPs also use an "NM" frame which is American steel. The Loaded models can have either the "NM" frame, or the "N" frame which means it has been made and imported from Brazil. The first characters in the frame's serial number is where you'll find this designation. For the price difference, I'd suggest going the TRP route. Back when the MC operators were $750, it might have been a different story. |
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Quoted:
From what I've read, the TRP has the following upgrades; 1. a bull barrel 2. front-strap checkering 3. an extended magazine well 4. stainless mags with slam pads 5. VZ brand micarta grips 6. a full-length guide rod 7. adjustable rear sight 8. and A LOT more TLC during the assembly process. All TRPs also use an "NM" frame which is American steel. The Loaded models can have either the "NM" frame, or the "N" frame which means it has been made and imported from Brazil. The first characters in the frame's serial number is where you'll find this designation. For the price difference, I'd suggest going the TRP route. Back when the MC operators were $750, it might have been a different story. A couple things to fix. 1. Not all TRPs are bull barreled, only the ones with rails. Normal TRPs that don't have rails have bushing barrels, similar to what is in the MC Operator but supposedly SA puts a little more effort into the TRP barrel/bushing/slide fitting. 2. Again, not all TRPs have adjustable sights, only the ones with rails. Normal TRPs have Novak low cut night sights. 3. All MC Operators have NM frames, not just some of them. EDIT: A used TRP is hard to beat, they regularly sell for the same price as a new MC Operator ($1100), but much like the MC Operator their new prices have gone up to a point where it is hard not to justify jumping to the Les Baer TRS. If you can find a used MC Operator for around $800 that would be a great purchase for the price, as would a used TRP for $1100. |
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Thanks for the feedback, albeit implied in my post that I was referring only to the railed TRP. After all, the OP is only comparing railed 1911s.
Nonetheless, I didn't know the MC operator used "NM" frames exclusively. That's good news. It always seems to a crap shoot for me when I go to buy a Loaded model. Can you tell me what other Springfield lines use "NM" frames exclusively? Also, have some of the Loaded models always used "NM" frames, or is that relatively new? It seems most of my older Loaded models are "IMBEL BRAZIL". Thanks |
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Thanks for the feedback, albeit implied in my post that I was referring only to the railed TRP. After all, the OP is only comparing railed 1911s. Nonetheless, I didn't know the MC operator used "NM" frames exclusively. That's good news. It always seems to a crap shoot for me when I go to buy a Loaded model. Can you tell me what other Springfield lines use "NM" frames exclusively? Also, have some of the Loaded models always used "NM" frames, or is that relatively new? It seems most of my older Loaded models are "IMBEL BRAZIL". Thanks The "NM" prefix is attached to firearms that are tuned by SA's custom shop. This is SA's semi-custom shop where parts are hand fitted. The NM prefix is typically found on SA's pricier models, such as the TRP line. Not all SA 1911's have the NM prefix, but that's not to say the quality or accuracy is any lesser. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Thanks for the feedback, albeit implied in my post that I was referring only to the railed TRP. After all, the OP is only comparing railed 1911s. Nonetheless, I didn't know the MC operator used "NM" frames exclusively. That's good news. It always seems to a crap shoot for me when I go to buy a Loaded model. Can you tell me what other Springfield lines use "NM" frames exclusively? Also, have some of the Loaded models always used "NM" frames, or is that relatively new? It seems most of my older Loaded models are "IMBEL BRAZIL". Thanks The "NM" prefix is attached to firearms that are tuned by SA's custom shop. This is SA's semi-custom shop where parts are hand fitted. The NM prefix is typically found on SA's pricier models, such as the TRP line. Not all SA 1911's have the NM prefix, but that's not to say the quality or accuracy is any lesser. Not true. The TRP isnt touched by the gunsmiths in the Custom Shop. They are put together by what they term Techs in the Stateside plant. It is correct that all the Custom Shop pistols are built of NM prefixed frames. The MC Operator is the best bargain SA has going, its built as nicely as the TRP minus the frontstrap checkering for what amounts to a song nowadays. |
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Quoted:
Other than the integral rail what are the primary differences in these two pistols? I should have been more clear, obviously. I am interested specifically in a MC Operator versus a standard non-railed version of the TRP. The specific sidearms I am considering are both used with an estimated 200 +/- rounds down the pipe with the finish being excellent condition. I know from the pics the TRP has front strap checkering and the MC Op has the pach grips. The MC Op has the rail. Other than these two glaring observations I was curious if the internal build quality was similar. The cost of both is exactly the same, so the economics is moot. BTW, thanks for all of the opinions thus far. 
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| I shoot the TRP for competitions IDPA, the MC operator is my favorite though. Get the MC and swap out the grips for some vz grips of your preference; I don't like front checkering myself. The reason I don't shoot the MC in competitions are that it weighs too much for the weight limit. and the rail makes drawing it form a holster a bit trickier sometimes. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Other than the integral rail what are the primary differences in these two pistols? I should have been more clear, obviously. I am interested specifically in a MC Operator versus a standard non-railed version of the TRP. The specific sidearms I am considering are both used with an estimated 200 +/- rounds down the pipe with the finish being excellent condition. I know from the pics the TRP has front strap checkering and the MC Op has the pach grips. The MC Op has the rail. Other than these two glaring observations I was curious if the internal build quality was similar. The cost of both is exactly the same, so the economics is moot. BTW, thanks for all of the opinions thus far. The internals are the same in both models. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Other than the integral rail what are the primary differences in these two pistols? I should have been more clear, obviously. I am interested specifically in a MC Operator versus a standard non-railed version of the TRP. The specific sidearms I am considering are both used with an estimated 200 +/- rounds down the pipe with the finish being excellent condition. I know from the pics the TRP has front strap checkering and the MC Op has the pach grips. The MC Op has the rail. Other than these two glaring observations I was curious if the internal build quality was similar. The cost of both is exactly the same, so the economics is moot. BTW, thanks for all of the opinions thus far. Honestly, your choice here is a matter of whether you want a rail, or not. Since I currently don't have a railed 1911, I'd go for the MC Op. |
| You can't go wrong with the MC Operator. If it is good enough for the Recon Marines it outta be good enough for just about anybody. Install a magwell and get some VZ grips and you basically have a TRP Operator. I have around 1500 rounds so far on mine and couldn't be happier. |
A few people have asked me to make my Y-12 holster for a railed 1911. I don't have a railed 1911, so I borrowed an MC Operator from a friend. I'll have it around for a couple of weeks, so I can knock out his, and a few more holsters. It has had a couple of minor, but nice, custom touches applied to it. After seeing this thread earlier, I thought I'd take some (kinda poor) photos, to show the neat front strap texture and slide top matting. I'm definitely gonna have to get one of these...   |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks for the feedback, albeit implied in my post that I was referring only to the railed TRP. After all, the OP is only comparing railed 1911s. Nonetheless, I didn't know the MC operator used "NM" frames exclusively. That's good news. It always seems to a crap shoot for me when I go to buy a Loaded model. Can you tell me what other Springfield lines use "NM" frames exclusively? Also, have some of the Loaded models always used "NM" frames, or is that relatively new? It seems most of my older Loaded models are "IMBEL BRAZIL". Thanks The "NM" prefix is attached to firearms that are tuned by SA's custom shop. This is SA's semi-custom shop where parts are hand fitted. The NM prefix is typically found on SA's pricier models, such as the TRP line. Not all SA 1911's have the NM prefix, but that's not to say the quality or accuracy is any lesser. Apparently my NM prefix Mil-Spec is a custom shop gun. Who'd a thunk it? NM's are forgings that are imported from Brazil, with finish machining and fitting done stateside. N prefix are completely made in Brazil and imported, hence the IMBEL BRAZIL stamp. |
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I added a magwell and VZ grips which are the main reasons I would have wanted the TRP over the MC Operator. That being said, I am now almost $200 closer to the TRP and still don't have the real front checkering of the TRP. The MC Operator is so good I can live without the added features of the TRP like the bull barrel once the above mentioned mods were made. If you feel like spending a little more money get the TRP, but you won't be sacrificing anything by picking up an MC.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q25/alwayzbroken/DSC00508.jpg |