Dan Wesson .45 acp TCP thoughts?

[spiro]

This is simply incorrect.

I've read several threads on this forum 20 plus pages of frustration with 1911s in 9mm. It's how I found this forum.

Maybe I just don't have enough experience with them.

[Sensei]

A couple of thoughts. First, Dan Wesson historically makes a product that sits perfectly in the inflection point of diminishing returns. Anything more is giving you incrementally less return on your investment. I say that owning tens of thousands of dollars in 1911 pistols from SA Custom Shop, Wilson, Nighthawk, Les Baer, etc. If you want a good value, the Dan Wesson Valor and Specialist have been hard to beat with honorable mentions to the Colt CCU and SA TRP lines. Of course, the .45ACP will maximize the return on investment, 9mm will approximate it, and 10mm will minimize it. I have no idea what .38 Super does as I’m not a Boomer who spends every waking moment (and some sleeping) in a rocking chair on my front porch.

Having said that, anyone who plans on purchasing an ultralight, alloy frame, short .45ACP really needs to shoot that pistol before taking the plunge. This are not fun to shoot. If you want a carry .45ACP, you can have a 4.25” length barrel or an alloy frame, but not both as something will often give. At the very least, short and light 45ACP 1911s will make you slow and inaccurate on follow-up shots, and often less reliable. Thus, my Ed Brown Kobra Carry sits on the ragged edge of comfort and reliability at 35 oz, SS frame, and 4.25” barrel. Those looking for lighter or shorter should seriously consider the Glock 30, IMHO.

[Cory]

I want something sexy and different.

So you carry a wide variery of stuff. 9 and 45, 1911s and double stacks. And you want to try out a DW. I get it man. They're sweet. Mine has the duty treat, and I really like the finish.

Those are good articles, I agree with a lot of it. Im not too worried about it though 😉

I suggested reading those articles because a carry rotation that isn't driven from capability or need is pretty dumb. But, obviously do what you like. The forum is driven by those who want to improve their capability as much as possible. Defensively, but also just from a marksmenship and practical shooting stand point. You seem unconcerned with improving your defensive capability. That's cool, maybe you're skilled enough and experienced that the change over doesn't degrade your skill. Whatever, not my problem.

What are you hoping for from the DW from a shooting perspective? Improvred ergonomics? Better transitions, or splits? Do you shoot any practical shooting matches?

I don't know if I could go through the headache again of trying to get a 1911 in 9mm to run reliably. They work good in a sterile environment but as you take them outside and run the snot out of them they can be a big disappointment. The mags are terrible even the expensive ones.

Would this be your first "semi-custom" or high end production 1911? The price range your talking about seems to have sorted out the 9mm 1911 for quite awhile now. I think I would look to DW, Wilson Combat, Alchemy, or a 2011 for 9mm stuff.

[spiro]

So you carry a wide variery of stuff. 9 and 45, 1911s and double stacks. And you want to try out a DW. I get it man. They're sweet. Mine has the duty treat, and I really like the finish.



I suggested reading those articles because a carry rotation that isn't driven from capability or need is pretty dumb. But, obviously do what you like. The forum is driven by those who want to improve their capability as much as possible. Defensively, but also just from a marksmenship and practical shooting stand point. You seem unconcerned with improving your defensive capability. That's cool, maybe you're skilled enough and experienced that the change over doesn't degrade your skill. Whatever, not my problem.

What are you hoping for from the DW from a shooting perspective? Improvred ergonomics? Better transitions, or splits? Do you shoot any practical shooting matches?



Would this be your first "semi-custom" or high end production 1911? The price range your talking about seems to have sorted out the 9mm 1911 for quite awhile now. I think I would look to DW, Wilson Combat, Alchemy, or a 2011 for 9mm stuff.

When I said double stack I meant striker fired compacts. Glock19 gen 3, czp10sc, MR920 elite, and the psa dagger. I don't have the money for a decent 2011/double stack 1911. I have been watching the platypus closely. I might actually hold off and see what they bring to the table with shot show coming up. Some are saying they may introduce a bull barrel and steel frame.

The Dan Wesson TCP just looks cool to me. The ergonomics, duty coat, bull barrel, checkering, and the price. It's cheaper then a duty coated specialist. My only concern is recoil that is why I asked. After reading this thread I think I'm going to cross it off my list.

The reason why I'm not concerned with rotating platforms I want to try it all. I've never owned a .45 or a pistol that costs more then 1k. I'm still getting my feet wet. If I carry a piece I'm going to put the time behind it first.

[Trooper224]

I've read several threads on this forum 20 plus pages of frustration with 1911s in 9mm. It's how I found this forum.

Maybe I just don't have enough experience with them.

For decades I held the same opinion, and justifiably so. Nine millimeter 1911s weren't ready for prime time. Thankfully, that seems to have changed. I've owned a Springfield Range Officer, in 9mm, for about twelve years. It runs with incredible reliability, which has honestly surprised me. I don't shoot it much for other reasons, but family members do. It's been cleaned maybe three times in twelve years and thousands of rounds and simply won't stop. It's well lubed but usually filthy.

I recently purchased two Tisas Commanders in 9mm and they seem to be cut from the same cloth. All three pistols run fine with magazines from Wilson, Checkmate, Mecgar and don't seem selective in that regard. They're not finicky about ammo either. We can throw in my sons Tisas for a sample size of four. There are many Staccato owners who seem to be happy with their 2011s, for examples at the other end of the price spectrum. If your 9mm 1911 won't run it's about execution, not design.

None of these would be considered top tier offerings, except Staccato, but reliability isn't an issue.

If you do get a Dan wesson, spring for the Duty finish. It's well worth the extra cost.

[TC215]

I've read several threads on this forum 20 plus pages of frustration with 1911s in 9mm. It's how I found this forum.

Maybe I just don't have enough experience with them.

I’ve had multiple Wilson Combat 9mm 1911’s that had issues and had to go back to the factory. I’ve had over a dozen 9mm Dan Wessons over the last 11 or 12 years, and they’ve all run fine.

[Trooper224]

I’ve had multiple Wilson Combat 9mm 1911’s that had issues and had to go back to the factory. I’ve had over a dozen 9mm Dan Wessons over the last 11 or 12 years, and they’ve all run fine.

Over the last decade I've seen enough problematic Wilson's in .45 that the brand is off my list entirely.

[spiro]

For decades I held the same opinion, and justifiably so. Nine millimeter 1911s weren't ready for prime time. Thankfully, that seems to have changed. I've owned a Springfield Range Officer, in 9mm, for about twelve years. It runs with incredible reliability, which has honestly surprised me. I don't shoot it much for other reasons, but family members do. It's been cleaned maybe three times in twelve years and thousands of rounds and simply won't stop. It's well lubed but usually filthy.

I recently purchased two Tisas Commanders in 9mm and they seem to be cut from the same cloth. All three pistols run fine with magazines from Wilson, Checkmate, Mecgar and don't seem selective in that regard. They're not finicky about ammo either. We can throw in my sons Tisas for a sample size of four. There are many Staccato owners who seem to be happy with their 2011s, for examples at the other end of the price spectrum. If your 9mm 1911 won't run it's about execution, not design.

None of these would be considered top tier offerings, but reliability isn't an issue.

If you do get a Dan wesson, spring for the Duty finish. It's well worth the extra cost.

I have the Tisas Stingray and love it! I sent it off to a smith to have reability work and a few other adjustments. I bought the etm vickers mags. It functions flawlessly indoors. When I take it outside and do fast reloads, tac reloads that's when I get bobbles.

[Ichiban]

I have several Dan Wesson 1911 bob-tails in commander length. That roughly translates to VBOBs, Guardians, and ECPs. When shooting the steel framed VBOB next to the aluminum framed Guardian, I'm quicker with the Guardian when comparing them in .45acp. Not much of a difference with 9mm. The two guns are sprung very differently with the Guardian being much harder to rack. That is the case with all of the aluminum framed 45s.

I have had zero gun related malfunctions with any of the DWs in any caliber. If you want to hear about problems with 1911s, I do have some Para-ordinance stories from my early 1911 days.

[Robinson]

I still don't get the idea behind adding a new gun to the so-called "carry rotation" just to stave off boredom, but whatever. Not my problem.

My carry gun is a Dan Wesson Pointman Carry 45ACP, which is an all steel CCO (Commander slide on an Officer frame). I also have a companion piece to it for training/practice. Very good guns, no problems whatsoever. A 4" 45 with a lightweight frame will be snappier to shoot, louder, and might have slightly lower muzzle velocity depending. But the quality should be good.