If a revolution is, as Tommy Lee Jones said in Under Siege, something that keeps coming around in your face, is the 10mm approaching a new apex? Signs suggest that it may be. There have been a number of new 10mm firearms recently introduced – from the Hi-Point Carbine to the Ruger Super Redhawk revolver. Now Springfield Armory is jumping into the pool with a 10mm pistol.
The Springfield Armory TRP 10mm Operator is a handgun that is described by the company as its “most elite production 1911.” These forged steel frame pistols will be offered in two basic models: one with a 5” barrel and a second with a longslide 6” barrel. The two share most features other than size, though the longer gun has an adjustable rear sight.
Both guns use “precision fitted” match grade barrels made of stainless steel. They have supported ramps. Both the frames and forged steel slides are finished with a Black-T process that give the guns a matte appearance while also providing corrosion resistance.
Springfield Armory uses its own Gen 2 Speed Trigger that is set to 4.5-5.0 pounds. An ambidextrous manual safety is standard. Compared to the .45 ACP versions of these guns, the 10mm models have a heavier slide and barrel combination with a tuned recoil spring to handle the power of the longer cartridge. The 5” model weighs 40 ounces (unloaded.) The longslide pistol is 5 ounces heavier.
For these pistols, 8 round magazines are standard. The company includes two with the gun, and I would recommend buying a few more to keep with the gun. Magazines tend to be a common point of failure, and you don’t want to wait a few years to discover you need a replacement. (See also Bren Ten.)
A nice set of VZ Alien grips in Dirty Olive match this pistol’s styling perfectly. They should work well with the Octo-Grip texturing on the front- and backstraps.
Like any high end gun, the Springfield Armory TRP 10mm Operator is not cheap. The suggested retail price is $1,790 for the 5” model. The 6” model is a little more at $1,842.
