I've been eyeing the
Dan Wesson TCP for a while since it came out--finally got one and took it for the first range session.
Pistol details
* Aluminum framed commander, weighs about 32oz empty.
* Trigger is nearly perfect for a carry pistol--about 5lbs for an avg of 5 presses. Feels lighter since it's a short take-up and a crisp break.
* Instead of a GI guide rod and recoil spring, it uses a one piece guide rod with flat wire recoil spring system, which is supposed to soak up recoil.
* Added 2 upgrades:
- Dawson Precision F.O. front sight. The factory front brass bead sight was not as good for visibility, to my eyes.
- Wilson B.P. ambi tactical thumb safety
Range session
* 110 rounds including 115/124/147gr FMJ, and some HST/G.D.
* Three brands of 10rd mags, all worked equally well after the initial few mags: the Dan Wesson branded mags (these look like Metalform, need to confirm that), Tripp Cobra mags (what I use with other 1911's), and Wilson's ETM-V.
* A handful of failures to extract/stovepipes the first 3 mags, after that smooth sailing, all mags, all ammo types, from mags 4 thru 11. Looking around online and
reviews like this one, it's fairly common that DW's are fitted tightly and will do this the first few rounds on a new gun.
* Pistol is extremely soft shooting--softer on recoil than my steel framed 1911 commander that weighs 10oz more.
* Accuracy was excellent for first trip out. I think this thing might be a laser, eager to shoot it off sand bags or a rest and see what it can do at 25y, supported. Two of the better targets are shown below, these are 20rd each, seeing what it could do with slow aimed fire shooting offhand at 15 yards. Yeah those targets are goofy, they are the range's targets but I forgot mine and these were free, so hey don't judge me, you'd have done the same thing. :-)