By Donovan Mullen

U.S.A. –-(Libertyreport.co)-Armscor is well known for their 1911 platform handguns, they have 1911’s in .45, 9mm and .22 TCM, I was sent a .22 TCM TAC Ultra FS combo. This is one of the top of the line .22 TCM 1911 platforms, it fires both 9mm and .22 TCM with a simple barrel and spring change. I was also sent 250 rounds of 9mm and .22 TCM. I received the firearm at my local gun shop and while waiting for my background check I opened up the case. First thing I notices is how clean the finish was and how clean the reviewer’s firearm was, it only came with two magazines but when purchased the firearm will come with three magazines. I took the handgun home and immediately began to fiddle with it after clearing it for the third time that day.

The barrel that was in the firearm was the 9mm barrel, I have minimal experience with the 1911 platform as I have never broken one down or even gave one a deep cleaning. I had to look up a video on how to break it down so I can check out the internals ad see how to change out the barrel. Once I figured out how to break it down I was able to do the simple barrel and spring change. Both barrels are marked for their matching rounds, but the springs are not, so when changing out the barrel make sure you keep the springs close to their assigned barrel. Putting it back together was simple.

While doing some dry fire training I noted two things, first the slide is a smooth as butter, unlike other 1911 and full metal framed handguns I’ve worked with in the past this one does not have signature sound of metal on metal, it sounds as if it floating on the guide rails but still hold tight with a good fit. I also noted how good the trigger felt, with very little travel until it breaks, and when it breaks it surprises you every time. I also love how this version of the .22 TCM comes with an ambidextrous wing safety. It was natural for me to activate and deactivate the safety which is good because being a left-handed shooter I have become adapted to my Glocks which lack an external safety.

Finally, range day came, I had my ammo in hand and a Chronograph ready to go. But I made a mistake I left the tripod for the chronograph at home. From Armscor website, they state that the .22 TCM has 2,000 feet per second at the muzzle. There is only one other handgun we had readily available was the FN 5.7×28. The FN 5.7×28 has 2,350 feet per second at the muzzle. When I first started loading the magazines the first five rounds went in fairly easily, rounds six through ten went in much more difficult, I was using an Uplula magazine loader and even with that it was still difficult, while trying to get the rounds in I felt that I was on the edge of setting the actual bullet back, but looking into it, newer magazines do have the issue of being extremely stiff, with use the magazines should loosen up. 

Shooting the .22 TCM was an experience that is hard to describe. It felt like I was shooting blanks, the recoil is minimal due to the weight of the 1911 which is on average around 44 ounces fully loaded. All these factors combined made the recoil for both the 9mm and .22 TCM non-existent, but the .22 TCM creates a massive fireball when fired.

This is my one complaint about this firearm, the fireball although quick can make it difficult to get back on target immediately even with the minimal recoil. This is not an issue with the 9mm but only with the .22 TCM. The sights that come with this model are extremely good, they are among the best sights I have used on the firearms I’ve shot. It comes with an orange dovetail fiber optic for the front sight and an adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation. This makes the sight really easy to use and accurate, I was on target and hitting where I was aiming all the time.

I compared this 1911 to the FN 5.7 for a few reasons, similar rounds, there are models of the .22 TCM that have a higher capacity and the recoil. As I already stated the .22 TCM has minimal recoil that is handled well by the weight of the firearm and the size of the rounds. The FN 5.7 has less recoil for a more powerful round, this was surprising to me as I figured the weight of a full size 1911 would handle the recoil better than the polymer frame of the FN 5.7, but the difference is negligible.

My final thoughts on this firearm. This firearm is great and with all 250 rounds, I never had a failure to feed and no jams. I think this firearm is perfect for the 1911 enthusiast who wants something unique but still usable as a very small game pistol, or if you want to start someone off on and teach them the basics of shooting while also not going the traditional route of the inexpensive or overly expensive .22 handguns. This handgun comes in at just under $900 at $891 from the Armscor website. While a high price you are getting a 9mm and a .22 TCM in one firearm.