48 years ago, a watchmaker in Berryville, Arkansas decided to pursue a passion. The passion was high performance 1911’s. Our watchmaker by trade was none other than Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat. Bill Wilson went on to be one of the most well-known and sought after gun makers in the world. His pistols would win championships around the country and the demand for them would be endless. Now Wilson Combat has opened a new chapter. The plan is to push innovation boundaries while still maintaining the Wilson Combat standard. This is the new Wilson Combat Division 77 and the first gun is the Project 1.

Testing the Newest Pistol from Wilson Combat

Introducing Project 1. This gun and program represent a new standard for Wilson Combat. The feature list on this gun is long. First, it uses an all-new innovative optic pin system that allows seamless transitions between RMR, RMSC, and DeltaPoint Pro footprints. The gun also has an increased rear slide width, and a relocation of the optic to the rear of the slide for unobstructed chamber access is ideal for SROs and longer red dots. The precision-cut ported slide seamlessly fits their integrated compensated barrel. It is engineered precisely for low recoil and quick target acquisition. It is designed to provide perfect ergonomics and function tailored for speed and accuracy.

Stronger Sight Platform

If you choose not to run an optic, they still have you covered. The Project 1 has a newly designed cover plate with dovetail rear sight and integrated firing pin stop. This unique design allows for a stronger iron sight platform that allows the user to transition from optics to iron sights without having to re-zero or drift the rear sight. The integrated firing pin stop gives the cover plate more integrity by creating a sturdy cover plate/iron sight platform that is movement-free, maintaining zero through removal and re-installation.

Unique Guide Rod

Project 1 is further enhanced with WC’s advanced “RPG” guide rod. This unique design allows for a longer one-piece guide rod. This, in turn, improves reliability and ease of use. The reduced diameter allows the guide rod to tilt out of the slide assembly for easy removal and installation.  It also allows the removal of the guide rod without removing the reverse plug. The longer shaft has shown increased recoil spring reliability, longevity, and an all-around improvement in the firearm’s function.

Other features of the gun include an integrated mag well and a flat trigger. The barrel and slide parts are PVD coated for enhanced durability. The Wilson Combat Division 77 series—Project 1 has aggressive TRAK pattern front and back straps and user-changeable TRAK pattern grip panels. Lastly, it includes a new 18-round base pad with precisely machined grooves on both sides of the extended pad. This is to facilitate faster, smoother mag changes.

Wilson Combat Division 77 Series – Project 1 Recoil

The Wilson Combat Division 77 series—Project 1 is more than a pretty face with nice features. It is the product of extensive, cutting-edge testing. Project 1 was tested with an all-new Dynamic Recoil Analysis System (DRAS), a state-of-the-art testing device designed to measure and analyze pistol recoil with unprecedented accuracy.

Unlike conventional recoil testing that relies on a single peak angle measurement, DRAS collects 2,000 pressure data points within a 350-millisecond window, capturing the entire recoil event in fine detail. By utilizing pneumatic cylinders in a push-pull configuration, the system achieves a free-floating state, enabling real-time suspension of the pistol to simulate true recoil dynamics.

This approach allows DRAS to generate a comprehensive recoil curve, which provides invaluable insights into how compensator barrels differ from standard barrels over the entire recoil cycle. The result is a detailed graph that represents not just peak forces but the complete behavior of the pistol during recoil, offering a more accurate and in-depth understanding of performance characteristics. This information, in turn, is used to fine-tune the design to create an incredibly smooth shooting gun.

Wilson Combat Division 77 Series – Project 1 On The Range

Project 1 proved to be more than just a pretty face on the range. The mix of excellent ergonomics, ported barrel, and great trigger made for fast, accurate shooting. The first noteworthy point is the fit of the gun. That term is thrown around quite a bit, and I have even heard it used on guns that sound like maracas when they shake. Wilson Combat takes great pride in the slide-to-frame mating. That was the case here, as the action was like glass with no slop or yaw. The fit is excellent but not so tight that it affects reliability nor too loose that it affects accuracy. While I loathe shooting handguns from a bench, I wanted to check accuracy. At 25 yards, I could quickly and consistently shoot a 1-inch group. This is absolutely a solid performance for a defensive handgun.

The gun ran well in close-quarter drills and single hand-on-steel shooting in a more fitting test. Coming in at just over 41 ounces, the Project 1 soaked up the recoil like a champ. Ammo wise: I ran 125gr HAP Bill Wilson Signature Match ammo. It ran flawlessly, as expected—one quick side note on ammo. If you purchase a very nice, relatively expensive gun, it will help you not to shoot garbage ammo through it. I know that ammo is expensive, but if you are serious about your guns, you must feed them well-made ammo to get the best performance and extend their life.

Excellent Grip Texture

The grip texture allowed me to purchase the gun very consistently. It also allowed me to have an anchor-like grip on the gun as I cycled through the 125-grain ball ammunition. While a single-day trip to the range is no basis for long-term reliability, the pistol ran with no malfunctions of any kind. The trigger was very nice, and following just a slight take-up, it broke in the three-pound range.

Wilson Combat Division 77 Series – Project 1 – Tested

Overall and in detail, the gun ran very well.  At the end of the range session, I found myself looking at the pistol. I have had the pleasure of shooting countless pistols from Wilson Combat, yet this felt different. This gun represented the future of Wilson Combat and the innovation they are pursuing. If this is the future of Wilson Combat, they are poised for great success. The Division 77 Project 1 is a winner in my books, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

For more information, visit:https://wilsoncombat.com/division-77.html

Wilson Combat Division 77 series – Project 1 Specs