Springfield EMP

I waited weeks for Buds to finally ship a gun I'd ordered when it was in stock. This was right around New Years and the gun madness was peaking. it took a lot of patience, especially because there seemed to be no standard for shipping. some guys were getting guns in a week, some were waiting longer than that.

the worst part was there was no way to get any info from Buds let alone talk to a human being.

that being said, i'm happy i waited now that i have it.

I got an email from Bud's a couple of weeks ago letting me know a shotgun I put on the "notify me" list in January 2012 came in.

Remember its not Buds gunshops fault.
Its this darn panic buying frenzy that everything screwed up.
The EMP's are made in batches by Springfield, and you have to wait till they make a batch.
The first thing to do to the EMP is polish the feed ramp to a mirror finish or count on it to jam with hollowpoints.

The first thing to do is never, ever take the advice from someone on a forum to do something until you have familiarized yourself with the firearm and discussed any possible issues with the manufacturer.

The second thing you do is get the qualifications and experience from anyone telling you what to do to a brand new firearm.

Had one and sold it. I would rather have a G19 and some ammo for the cost of the EMP. Still have my G19. Personally would not drop that kind of change for the EMP. But if you have it and want to spend it, then go ahead. What may work for me will not work for you.

Noticed u are a fellow central ohioian.Id cancel out of principal,then goto Vances get a used cop sig sauer for $569 i think they were

I would have a different opinion of the EMP. Mine has probably 1500 rds. thru it over the last 2 1/2 years...mostly at local IDPA matches and has been both very accurate for a 3" bbl. and completely reliable. Drops empty mags cleanly and a good...not great...trigger. Hard to ask for more. Oh...It conceals VERY well in a IWB, also.

Mine runs fine on all ammo, no polishing done. Pricey, but if the 1911ish design is your thing its hard not to appreciate it. That said id take my glock 19 and a few other 9mm overit if I couldn't have them all. For one reason only mag capacity. I just like more rounds above everything else that is bout perfect on the emp.

All pistol orders are taking for ever. I ordered my wife a Gen 4 Glock 19 at the end of January. Its still not here. Shes using my 19c for now.

If you want to pm me I can give you my LGS info as he has a EMP in 9 and 40 in stock and is very reasonable on prices.

There is really no comparing the EMP to a 19. Apples and Oranges..The springer is smaller, thinner and weighs about the same fully loaded. Yes, you give up 6 rounds fully loaded. (10 vs 16) If you cannot do it in 10, that extra six probably wont help much either.

How well does it fit you better than say a Glock or M&P?

I'd wait, and save myself from kicking myself in the rear later, if its what you really want. Just keep calling Buds every once in a while so you know what's going on.

Guns and certain accessories are just hard to get right now. Just the way it is for the time being.

Or, take Tarosean's advice. Keep your order with Buds, but try and source another. If you do, buy it and then cacel your Buds order.

I had a Springfield EMP 9mm and a 40.
I liked the 40 better; it has a steel frame and is a little heavier, but that reduces the recoil.
I probably should have kept that EMP 40.

I don't have the patience to wait months for a pistol.

I have to echo the sentiments of a few others:

I would definitely NOT polish anything on a 1911 type pistol, ever. Kitchen table gunsmithing is only asking for trouble, especially monkeying around with the feed ramp on a 1911, which is critical to the proper function of the pistol.

Shoot the pistol and if you have any issues return it to Springfield.

Having said that, my 9mm EMP is a fantastic gun which has digested anything I've fed it, harball or hollow points.

The question I have is IF I buy a used Springfield, what if any warranty support would I be able to get from Springfield?

Click to expand...

They stand behind their product. you would be fine.

A word of caution about chopped 1911s

These pistols were designed to function properly with slides and barrels in the 4 to 5 inch range. 3 inch pistols have tolerances that are right up against the wall. All it takes is a slight variance in the assembly process like an extractor that's not properly tensioned or a bit lose in the channel and your pistol isn't going to run reliably. They are much more sensitive to fouling and proper (Emphasis on PROPER) lubrication. Some will run all the time, some will run some of the time and some won't run at all. Many are ammunition sensitive. Most manufacturers will tell you not to bother to call them until you have "broken" the pistol in for at least 500 rounds. Some manufacturers (Kimber) will only warrant the pistol to run with ball ammo. My Kimber would only fire ball after 1000 rounds and then it was only reliable for about the first twenty rounds. Once the feed ramp got fouled with powder residue that little bitty slide did not have either the inertia or the spring power to reliably feed a 230 grain ball round into battery. FTFs became the order of the day. This is the fundamental problem with a 1911 format pistol that has been chopped to a 3 inch barrel. Do yourself a favor. If you intend to carry this to protect life and limb, forget the EMP and get yourself a Glock. It will go "bang" every time you pull the trigger!

Mine had several problems that the factory fixed. The feed ramp needed to be recut and polished, the ejector had to be pinned in, and they had to change the link to center up the firing pin with the primer. It was a pretty bad build that should not have left the factory, but it worked beautifully with everything from Tula to Gold Dots after they fixed it.

As I understand it, the Springfield EMP is not a "chopped 1911". It is a new design with a few different parts, with smaller slide and frame. It is certainly not a 1911 designed for 45 ACP retrofitted for 9x19mm. It was designed around the 9x19mm and 40 S&W cartridges. It does not accept standard 1911 magazines for 9x19mm.

As other posters have said: if it has problems, call Springfield and they will take care of it.

I have been through what many would consider proof of what 9mm stated...the 9mm EMP I purchased was close to new when received 3 yrs ago. Many rounds of IDPA and target practice later (800-1000?) possibly more, I finally decided to clean it. The inside was so disgusting I cannot believe the EMP still ran...and it did...just like the day I got it. Never an issue of any kind...except it almost strips a round from the magazine when doing a tactical reload. I hope I never need just one more.

My only complaint on my EMP is the butt of the heal digs in my back when I carry it. Someday I will send it back to Springfield and have them round it out and maybe a few other custom tweaks.

To the original poster, it is worth the wait, but if you really want one, just start hitting the net. They are out there.

Slightly changing the cant of the holster might help...

Peter M. Eick said:

My only complaint on my EMP is the butt of the heal digs in my back when I carry it. Someday I will send it back to Springfield and have them round it out and maybe a few other custom tweaks.

To the original poster, it is worth the wait, but if you really want one, just start hitting the net. They are out there.

Click to expand...

I like your signature. While off topic, I agree very much.

*Built from the ground up, not a 45 cut down

...

*And that is why they command, and get, top dollar -

I bought my EMP 9mm soon after they came out and mine was in the first early batch where SA changed the angle of the feed ramps.

Mine is on its 3rd return spring with 7700 rounds and the book calls for replacement at 3000 round mark and my first, original return spring went 3950 when I heard and felt some slide slaps. So at 6750 I replaced it again.

I found out a very interesting thing when I ordered 3 sets of return springs which was, IF you want both the small and long you need to order the complete return-spring guide/rod as it is a captured guide rod system - WITH THE EXCEPTION of, one need only replace the long outer spring and it has worked just fine, now thru 7700 rounds.

So just order the outer long spring and you can stay with your original guide rod and little inner spring - This, told to me, by my gunny, 1911 specialist and its worked perfectly for my gun.

Ammo sensitive - yes, some have tight chambers, mine does, and I use only new 115gr or 124gr FMJ for range practice and 124gr JHP's in Federal Premium or Speer Gold Dot.

I had issues with Hornady TAP 124gr JHP's as they, being a tad shorter, length wise, and the narrow cone / \ shape bullet vs the 2 mentioned that are a tad longer and have the more round/bullet shape ( ). The Hornady's bit/bite into the feed ramp and jammed along with left scare like hits across the feed ramp.

I found that using 600 or 800 black wet/dry, but wet, sand paper by hand/finger/lightly, up and down only, took out the scars, smoothed up the feed ramp, which, I then used some Flitz gun polish via Q-tip on the ramp until all the black was gone and the Q-tip remained clean, let polish dry, then with dry Q-tip clean out barrel chamber (only twice so far) and use a clean small part of cotton T-shirt for ramp, again, only up and down motions.

I Flitz the ramp every 1000 rounds and have had no problems with new FMJ ammo and no problems with the 124gr JHP's mentioned.

Side note: tried some Winchester Ranger sub-sonic 147gr but had a few FTFC issues, so test out your JHP's for sure and IMHO stay away from any re-loads.. ommv

Great gun, totally dependable/reliable and dead nuts accurate








You will enjoy, as mine and many others 9mm's are a well proven gun, keeping the rails, guides, and barrel lugs lubed, with the in-between total cleanings/lubrication cycles, using the add oil vertical-method every other week, if on stand-by, then cycle slide 4 or 5 times, wipe clean, load-up and go with confidence.

They go boom every time, at-least in my experience, so far.


Ls