“Faster and quicker until the thrill of acceleration overcomes the fear or death,” Hunter S. Thompson’s quote is applicable to many aspects of modern life. It’s particularly relevant to the firearms industry, which has an ever-growing demand for speed. This is more evident than with the relatively new.22TCM round from Armscor. The .22 TCM This 2,000-plus-feet-per-second (fps) rocket sled certainly brings the thrill of speed to the range. As a comparison, understand that 115-grain 9mm ammo generally runs in the 1,100-feet-per-second range. Although engineering lightning-fast rounds looks great on paper, it is essential to have a gun capable launching those rounds. Armscor has also entered this arena. Rock Island Armory’s parent company, Armscor has assembled a collection of 1911-style handguns that will run this unique round. The TCM TAC Ultra FS is one of the most intriguing guns in the group. It has attracted the attention of the shooting community. Meet the Family The TCM TAC Ultra FS actually consists of two guns. The gun can be converted from.22 to 9mm with a simple barrel swap and recoil spring switch. We are not here to discuss another 9mm 1911, but we want to learn more about the TCM. The acronym stands to represent “Tuason Craig Micromagnum”, a nod towards the Tuason family, which owns Armscor. Fred Craig, who was a design contributor to the Tuason family, is also included in the name. The goal was to create a handgun round with exceptional energy, speed, and low recoil. The final product was a 5.56 case based round that was then shortened at its shoulder. It looks like a combination of a rifle round and a 9mm round. This round from a handgun has a velocity in the 2,000-fps area. It has been miraculously modified to keep low recoil. The round’s only unique feature is the massive fireball it creates when it is fired downrange. The Rock Island TCM TAC Ultra FS Convertible 112 One of the guns that can run this amazing round is the TCM TAC Ultra FS. It’s a well-made 1911 that is perfect for this round. This gun is made of 4140 ordnance-steel and hand-fitted with Rock Island Armory’s skilled smiths. It is a full-sized 1911 with 5-inch barrel and includes a skeletonized trigger and hammer with an adjustable overtravel stop. Atop the slide, you’ll find a low-profile adjustable LPA rear sight with a two-dot LPA back sight and a high visibility fiber optic front sight. G10 tactical grips provide great gun control and are not too aggressive. The gun’s design features CNC angle grooves on the front and rear, as well as a full-length under Picatinny Rail to accommodate a light, if needed. The durable Parkerized coating makes it look and feel great. The gun is sold as a “combo unit”. The gun can be made into a 9mm 1911 by using the spring and barrel that come with it. This isn’t a marketing ploy. We all know how conversion kits work in guns of all types. Contrary to the norm, this 9mm conversion pistol is reliable and serious. This is important for those who fear that.22 TCM ammunition will run out and be unstocked at some point. This is unlikely. The fact that this gun can be run with 9mm ammunition should calm your nerves. Match Made in Heaven I tested this gun at my local range on a cold Ohio morning. Although I would test a variety of ammunition, the factory ammunition for the.22 TCM was limited to Armscor. The 40-grain jacketed hollow point rounds would be the best, and they would work well. With my mags loaded and the target set, I was ready to shoot downrange. Here’s what I saw during loading and general manipulations. The slide is very smooth and the light recoil spring caught my attention as it moved almost effortlessly. Interesting was the first round. Although I had heard of the muzzle flash from colleagues, it still surprised me. Because there was so little recoil, this, along with the gun’s roar created a moment of conflict in me. How is it possible for something so loud and flashy to still have such a soft recoil? This is the beauty of the.22 TCM round. It was very easy to engage second and third shots. There was very little muzzle raise. The serrated, skeletonized trigger broke quickly with no creep. It was also quick to reset, making it a very fast-shooting gun. Smooth Shooting Capabilities, TCM TAC UltraFS Rock Island did an excellent job making the gun easy to use and comfortable. The gun is just over 2 pounds in weight, which helps to manage recoil. I was not comparing ammo performance so I shot groups off-hand at different distances. The gun produced groups of less than 2 inches at 15 yards even without a rest. My ability to move quickly from one target to the next was crucial. Steel was the target of choice at that point. It rang out with each press of the trigger. The gun proved its ability to run quickly and efficiently without any malfunctions or hiccups. An orange fiber-optic sight was a solid choice, as it was easy and quick to use even at a slow pace. The single-stack design was a good fit for me, especially with my smaller hands. I have always enjoyed shooting 1911s, and the TCM TAC Ultra FS was definitely at the top of my list of great 1911s. The 1911 has enjoyed a welcome revival over the past few years. The TCM TAC UltraFS is a respected member of this team of firearms. There are three distinct upsides to this gun. The first is its iconic 1911 design. Rock Island Armory has given us two guns in one. The ability to change the barrel and spring to bring the 9mm to life is a significant benefit. The.22 TCM round is the last and most important benefit. I have had the pleasure to shoot many ammo and the.22 TCM round was my favorite. I was reminded of a dog who would bark like a mad dog but was actually very gentle with the roar and flash from this round. This 1911’s.22 TCM round is a perfect match. It has mild recoil and is built for accuracy, performance, and precision. This gun is going to end up in my collection. Armscor.com has more information. Rock Island Armory TCM TAC FS Combo Specs Caliber :.22 TCM/9mm
Barrel: 5 Inches
Overall Length: 8.75 in
Weight: 37.6 ounces (empty).
Grip: G10
Sights: White dot rear, orange fiber-optic front
Action: SA
Finish: Parkerized
Capacity: 10+1
MSRP: $891. This article was originally published by Combat Handguns in the March/April 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected]. Continue Reading Search The post.22 TCM & 9mm: Testing the Rock Island TCM TAC Ut FS appeared first at Personal Defense World.
