Review: Optics-Ready TRP AOS .45 and 9mm 1911 Pistols

I purchased my first Springfield Armory 1911 TRP many years ago. It was the fulfillment of a longtime desire to own that flagship pistol from Springfield — the one everyone coveted. Everyone knew that the TRP, which stands for “Tactical Response Pistol,” was the 1911 to have if you were a serious shooter. While a lot of things have changed over the years, one steadfast anchor in the world of firearms has been the high quality and desirability of Springfield’s 1911 TRP.

The new Springfield Armory TRP AOS pistols are available in both .45 ACP and 9mm. Shown is the 9mm Carry Contour lightweight variant.

Being a company that never rests on its laurels, Springfield Armory is now introducing two exciting new features to the legendary TRP line: the addition of the Agency Optic System (AOS), and (in addition to the classic .45 chambering) the ability to own one in 9mm! Every offering in the current TRP line — short of the two “Classic” variants, for obvious reasons — is available with these two features.

Springfield Armory TRP AOS review red dot sight — AOS stands for Agency Optic System — the mounting system used by Springfield Armory to securely attach red dot sights to the TRP AOS 1911.

As a little background, the TRP was inspired by the custom Professional 1911 pistol developed by Springfield Armory for the FBI back in the 1990’s. FBI regional SWAT teams wanted a 1911 that was accurate, rugged and reliable, and the Professional was produced to fit their demanding needs. In addition, the pistol was also used by the FBI’s highly respected Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). The TRP was developed to bridge the gap between the custom-grade Professional and a 1911 that had many of the features of the custom gun but at a price more attainable for the average consumer.

Moving Forward

In early 2024, the entire TRP line was refreshed to take the classic design and modernize it with new features. All the new pistols are built on the same solid foundation as all TRP pistols. Firstly, all pistols come with forged frames and slides for strength and durability, as well as forged stainless steel barrels. Also, each frame and slide is hand-selected for fit and numbered to marry them with their matching components throughout the build process.

Springfield Armory TRP AOS review VZ Grips — The new Springfield Armory TRP AOS pistols are fitted with Hydra G-10 grips from VZ Grips. They offer excellent purchase and long-term durability. A 5″ railed model is shown at rear, while a Coyote Brown 4.25″ CC model is up front. Image: Author

In addition, all pistols feature Hydra G-10 grips from VZ Grips, as well as the 20-line per inch (lpi) checkering on the frontstrap for which TRPs are known. Also, all the pistols feature finely cut sighting plane serrations along the top of the slide matched up with a tritium front sight and a black serrated rear sight. And lastly, except for the Carry Contour models, all the TRPs feature two-piece extended magwells.

Springfield Armory TRP AOS review trigger — All Springfield Armory TRP AOS models are fitted with the Gen 2 Speed Trigger. Image: Author

The 4.25” Carry Contour (CC) models are probably the most radical deviation from the original TRP line. With its abbreviated slide length and nicely bobbed grip on its forged aluminum frame, the CC model is ideal for carry and personal defense.

In all, there are eight new TRP AOS models offered in two primary configurations. One is the full-size 5” light rail variant featuring a Cerakote finish in either black or Coyote Brown, and chambered in .45 ACP or 9mm. The other is the lightweight 4.25” CC model featuring a lightweight forged aluminum frame, Cerakote finishes in either black or Coyote Brown, and is also chambered in .45 ACP or 9mm. Now, there are a lot of new options for TRP fans. So, let’s dive into the details!

AOS on the TRP

At first glance, very little has changed with the profile of the 1911 TRP — until you take a closer look. At that point, you will notice that the rear sight is dovetail mounted into a removable plate. The 1911 TRP is now optics-ready!

Springfield TRP AOS review mounting plates for red dot sight — Shown here is the new Springfield TRP AOS with a number of AOS mounting plates. You have the option of running the factory iron sights or adding any number of popular red dots.

AOS allows virtually any red-dot optic to be easily installed on the pistol through a series of interchangeable plates with integrated rear sights. (You can find all the plates here as well as a handy compatibility chart.) Each steel adapter plate is fitted with its own rear sight of the same design (serrated, with U-notch) that is dovetail mounted into the slide. This means that it can still be adjusted for windage if needed, and can even be replaced if necessary.

The AOS system consists of the pre-milled cut into the forged steel slide, complete with a large key for stability. The matching keyway in the adapter plates locks the plate onto the slide, which is cut with tight tolerances. It comes as close to having the optic be part of the forged slide as I’ve ever seen.

mounting red dot on Springfield TRP AOS — This image shows how a pistol optic and mounting plate works together to affix a red dot sight to the slide of the new TRP AOS pistol.

Each pistol comes with a cover plate that matches the original contour of the slide, and purchasers get a coupon with their pistol that entitles them to purchase the plate of their choice at a discounted rate of $49. Each plate is designed to fit a particular footprint of optics design, such as RMR or Holosun, etc. The integral rear sight on each AOS plate offers proper optic height and intuitive sight picture for a visible co-witness in nearly all optic configurations. I’ve used several different-fitting optics with the AOS, and every one I have used co-witnesses perfectly.

Make Mine a Nine!

Forgive me if I’m burying the lead here, but the other big news on the 1911 TRP AOS is that these models are not only offered in .45, but also 9mm! Yes, I know that the 1911 is deeply associated with the big .45, but the ballistics of the 9mm round has improved so much over the years that it has become the chambering of choice for many shooters. Affordability is another benefit of that chambering.

A pair of Springfield TRP AOS pistols. On the left is the 5″ model chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. On the right is the 4.25″ CC model in 9mm Luger, sporting a Coyote Brown finish. Image: Author

Over the years, Springfield Armory has offered many models of their tried-and-true 1911s in 9mm, and I’ve tested almost all of them. It’s safe to say that the folks at Springfield have a great deal of experience in the marriage of the Parabellum round to the action of the classic Browning gun. What I personally notice and enjoy when shooting a 1911 chambered for 9mm is the reduction in recoil versus the traditional .45 ACP loads. This makes the 9mm 1911 TRP a great option for those who prefer a more manageable round. This, in turn, means follow-up shots can be faster, too.

For the 9mm, Springfield has re-engineered the gun a bit to optimize the cartridge and firearm mechanics. The barrel has a fully supported ramp for both the 4.25” and 5” versions. Also, with the smaller diameter of the cartridge, the magazines for 9mm hold more than the .45 pistols — nine rounds total. The full-size .45 holds eight rounds, while the .45 CC model packs in seven in its magazine. Each pistol in .45 or 9mm comes with three magazines.

Specifications

Chambering	9mm, .45 ACP
Barrel Length	4.25”, 5”
Weight	26.3-39.2 oz.
Overall Length	7.9”-8.6”
Sights	Tritium front dot, serrated black rear (AOS)
Grips	VZ Grips Hydra G-10
Action	Single-action
Finish	Cerakote (Black, Coyote Brown)
Capacity	7-9+1 (three magazines included)
MSRP	$1,999

At the Range

I tested two of the new TRP AOS models extensively at the range. One was a full-size 5” railed TRP in traditional .45 ACP finished in the beautiful black Cerakote, and the other was a 9mm 4.25” CC model in the striking Coyote Brown color option.

author shooting Springfield Armory TRP AOS during this review — The author got both the 9mm and .45 TRP AOS pistols out on the range during his review. In this image, he is shooting the Springfield Armory TRP AOS chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. Image: Author

Of course, both pistols are 1911 TRPs and, as such, they share all the same common standard features. The 20-lpi checkering and VZ Grips, the 5-lb. Gen2 speed trigger and ambi safety — these are all shared across the TRP family. I fitted out both pistols with Trijicon RMR red-dot optics, mounted on the appropriate AOS plate. This kept my sight picture consistent between both guns.

I started with the 5” .45 ACP TRP, and put a variety of loads through it — ranging from training-grade ball ammo to top-shelf self-defense loads. I fired a couple hundred rounds or more in all, with excellent performance. It immediately felt familiar to my hands, reminiscent of my old personal 1911 TRP. The big difference was that this one had an electronic sight on it! That’s an advantage that wasn’t even a fantasy back when I bought mine. Having the AOS on a TRP is without a doubt a plus.

TRP AOS Targets — The author found both the 5” .45 ACP and 4.25” 9mm versions of the 1911 TRP AOS to be accurate and reliable. Image: Author

To test the accuracy of the 1911 TRP AOS 5” .45 ACP handgun, I shot three five-shot groups of three different loads (all high-end defense ammo) from a distance of 15 yards. I rested the gun in a CTK Precision pistol rest and made use of the Trijicon optic. Results were good, with the best group in two of the three loads coming in at under an inch. In addition to the three, 5-shot groups, I also measured velocity of each load using an additional 10 rounds. With a minimum quantity of 25 rounds of each defense load tested, there were no malfunctions.

The 5” TRP in .45 ACP has earned its place at the top of the list for a reason, and was a joy to shoot. The nearly 40 ounces of gun feels well-balanced in the hand and makes the recoil feel smooth.

author shooting TRP AOS during review — The new TRP AOS and its ability to accept red dot optics speaks to the resiliency and adaptability of the 100+ year old design. Image: Author

Next up, I performed all the same tests with the 4.25” CC TRP AOS in 9mm. I shot a higher volume of range ammo, partly as an extended test with the new caliber offering, and partly because I was just having a really good time.

The shorter pistol isn’t short on the TRP features by any means. The 4.25” CC has a short G.I.-style guide rod versus the two-piece full-size guide rod of the 5” guns. It also has the bobbed grip frame shape. My hands aren’t big enough to really feel that difference when shooting, but it makes a huge difference when carrying it concealed — as does the lightweight aluminum construction of the CC pistol’s frame.

bullet leaving barrel of 1911 pistol — Range testing proved both the 5” .45 ACP and the 4.25” 9mm TRPs to be accurate and reliable. Image: Author

I shot all the same accuracy tests with the 9mm pistol as I did with the .45 ACP. Despite the shorter barrel, the results were remarkably good. The average for all the shots tested was just a hair over one inch! The best group of the day was made with Hornady Subsonic 147-gr. XTP at less than 3/8” — leaving just one ragged hole in the target. And just as with the .45 ACP gun, the performance was excellent.

Conclusions

For many years, the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP has been a top-shelf pistol, sought after by professionals and amateurs alike. Well-known as one of the finest production 1911s made, it’s easily one of the most sought-after Springfield Armory 1911 pistols.

Springfield TRP AOS review — The author found the AOS option is the natural evolution of the legendary flagship Springfield Armory 1911 TRP.

These two new changes to the TRP line are both highly significant. Adding optics-ready capabilities to the pistol ensures that it will continue to be the go-to choice for the demanding user well into the future. And because the AOS method of optics mounting is so good, there are no sacrifices made to achieve that.

Simultaneously introducing the 1911 TRP AOS 9mm is like having two front pages on the same newspaper. It’s a move that makes perfect sense in a world where more people want the perfection of a high-end 1911 in the even more versatile caliber of 9mm.

I was impressed by both guns’ performance and quality, and I can’t help feeling that the AOS is a natural evolution of the classic TRP. The cover plate is done to perfection, not only matching the color and finish of the slide, but also continuing the anti-glare serrations of the top of the slide. That’s the attention to detail that one expects from the 1911 TRP, and that’s exactly what Springfield Armory delivers.

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