If you’ve read any of my articles on handguns, you know I’m a Glock guy. My first experience with the iconic 1911 came from Rock Island Armory and it’s not chambered in the original .45ACP. I own an FNX Tactical and wasn’t interested in another .45 caliber handgun. I wanted something a little different. And Rock Island Armory had a pretty cool option that I handled at SHOT show 2018. The TCM TAC Ultra FS HC Combo. I know that’s a mouthful so I’ll refer to the handgun as the TCM TAC Ultra from now on.
The video below pretty much sums it up:
Rock Island Armory TCM TAC Ultra Specs courtesy of armscor.com
- Caliber: .22 TCM & 9mm
- Capacity: 17 +1
- Sights: Dovetail fiber optic front sight / LPA MPS1-Type adjustable rear sight
- Weight: Unloaded 3.0 lbs / Loaded 3.62 lbs.
- Dimensions: Length 8.5″ Width 1.41″ Height 5.5″
- Grips & Finish: Grips G10, Slide Parkerized, Frame Parkerized
- Barrel: Length 5″, Grooves 6, Twist 1 in 16
- Trigger: 4-6 lbs.
- MSRP: $940
This pistol is chambered in the Armscor original .22 TCM. This hot little round exits the barrel with an angry vengeance. 2000 feet per second followed by a healthy dose of a fireball. It was a blast to shoot (no pun intended). The night shooting really showed the Hollywood style flame exiting the 5″ barrel. With very little recoil, the .22 TCM cartridge was easy to manage. As one would expect from a 3-pound handgun. Additionally, this flat shooting high-velocity round continued to maintain practical accuracy out to 100 yards.
Armscor .22 TCM Specs:
- Caliber:Â 22 TCM
- Grain Weight:Â 40
- Bullet Type:Â JHP
- Muzzle Velocity:Â 2,000 fps
- Muzzle Energy:Â 354.9 ft/lbs
- Velocity at 100yds:Â 1,511 fps
The bonus is the TCM TAC ULtra’s versatility. In a minute or so, you can swap the .22 TCM barrel and recoil spring for the included 9mm parts. And voila! Your second pistol awaits. Also packing 17 rounds in the same steel magazine as the .22 TCM. In 9mm configuration, the pistol behaved as expected. Manageable recoil coupled with excellent accuracy at typical pistol distances. The TCM TAC Ultra performed flawlessly in both calibers throughout testing.
Armscor 9mm Specs:
- Caliber: 9mm
- Grain Weight: 124
- Bullet Type: FMJ
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,092 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 348 ft/lbs
- Velocity at 100yds: 946 fps
It’s hard to go wrong with an MSRP of only $940. Essentially, you get two 1911 pistols for the price of one. I loved my time testing the TCM TAC Ultra but had a difficult time finding a holster that would fit its full rail profile. BladeTec was a huge let down after receiving a holster that didn’t fit. Their customer service was unwilling to take back a brand new holster because I was 2 days over the 30-day return policy. Despite originally informing them of the issue the same day I received it. Live and learn. When I find a good holster, I may consider adding this pistol to my collection.
For another opinion of the Rock Island Armory TCM, take a look at our friend Graham Baates review
