After a couple weeks of scheduling issues, I was finally able to get a few rounds through the Rock Island Armory TCM TAC Ultra FS Combo. Not only was this my first experience with the 22 TCM round, it was also my very first experience with a Rock Island Armory handgun.
As a little background, the Rock Island Armory TCM TAC Ultra FS Combo is a 1911 style pistol that is chambered in 22 TCM, but comes with a 9mm conversion barrel. It features a 2-dot adjustable rear LPA sight, TRUGLO high visibility front sight, an ambidextrous safety, combat hammer and extended beavertail.
My time was fairly limited during this range trip, so I decided to limit myself to 50 rounds. The question was, should I go with the familiar 9mm or jump right in to the new 22 TCM? Well, come on… how could I not go with the 22 TCM?!
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll go ahead and tell you that I had a few preconceived notions about the firearm and caliber. As it turns out, they proved to be totally incorrect.
This is definitely a full-size handgun with thick, aggressively textured grips. My fingers are on the shorter side, so I was afraid that I might not feel comfortable shooting this 1911, especially if the 22 TCM round produced a significant recoil.
As it turns out, shooting this handgun is an absolute pleasure! The recoil is extremely manageable, making follow-up shots super-easy. As for it feeling a bit too big for my hands… After a few rounds, that thought was gone. In fact, I’m excited to get my wife to the range so she can spend some time with this handgun. I’m guessing she is going to be just as surprised as I was.
The purpose of this range trip was really just to give me a chance to become a little more familiar with the 22 TCM round. I certainly wasn’t planning on showing off any of my targets. But I was so impressed with the results, I felt they were worth showing off! Keep in mind, the above target shows the very first 15 rounds that I fired from this pistol. They were fired from a standing position.
So far, I’ve put 50 rounds of 22 TCM through this handgun, with no malfunctions and some promising accuracy. Over the next few months we will put many more rounds through it, including 22 TCM and 9mm. Stay tuned for those range reports!
Rock Island Armory TCM TAC Ultra FS Combo Specs:
- Model: 51961
- Caliber: 22 TCM / 9mm
- Rounds: 10
- Sights:
- Front: Orange Fiber-Optic
- Rear: Elevation & Windage White Dot
- Length: 8.75 inch / 222.25 mm
- Height: 5.5 inch / 139.70 mm
- Grips: G10
- Frame: Parkerized
- Slide: Parkerized
- Barrel Length: 5 inch / 127 mm
- Grooves: 6
- Trigger Pull: 4 – 6 lbs / 1.81 – 2.72 kg
- Length of Twist: 1 in 16″
- More Info: Rock Island Armory