1911 emp 9mm

[LeftyTSGC]

Can anyone share the pro's and con's of a 1911 EMP in 9MM?

I am interested in one of these but would like to know what others think about it. I am interested in finding an all metal compact 9mm. Average purchase price?

thanks,

LeftyTSGC

 

[moxie]

I've seen them fail twice during various handgun classes. Real jamomatics. Had to be replaced by Glock loaners. But, who knows, it could have been the operators.

 

[2wheels]

I liked mine a lot, but ended up selling it because I already had several compact carry 1911s and wanted to buy something else.

It was reliable, very well made with a great trigger, and a joy to shoot. Some people don't like 9mm 1911s, but especially in something tiny like the EMP I think 9mm is a great match. It is a tiny bit smaller than a traditional chopped down 1911, but it still worked in all of my 1911 holsters.

Don't know what they're going for now, I got mine when they were relatively new and I paid about $1200 for it.

 

[bikerdoc]

I seroiuosly considered one before I got my CZ 75 compact, (cost 425 in 2007)

The Emp had just a few stories I didnt like.

 

[tomrkba]

Can anyone share the pro's and con's of a 1911 EMP in 9MM?

The primary reason not to get an EMP is that it does nothing a Glock 19 won't do except operate like a 1911. They are nearly the same height and length and the G19 holds 16 rounds. However, if you are a 1911 person, then the EMP is a natural gun to get. It is very concealable since it is G19 sized.

The problem with the EMP is they seem to leave the factory before being properly completed. My EMP required three trips back to make it work. The gun was great once Springfield finished the job. My gun needed:

1) Barrel refitting
2) Fluff-n-buff to feed anything
3) Pinning of the (stupidly glued in) ejector

My gun ate anything after that. It was very accurate and reliable. I know people "lose confidence" in guns, but that's merely an emotional response to the behavior of a machine. I had patience and tested mine. I am thinking of getting another one rather than a full sized 1911.

 

[Johannes_Paulsen]

*Sigh*...the 9mm EMP.

Fit my hand beautifully. Trigger broke beautifully. Concealed beautifully. I was dead-on accurate with it.

Problem was that it was unreliable right out of the box. Jammed on every magazine, regardless of ammo, regardless of the magazine.

So I sent it back to the factory. (Springfield CS was very helpful, I'll give them that.) They did a laundry list of fixes to the gun, including pinning the extractor. When it came back, I ran several hundred rounds through it (of various makes,) judged it reliable, and started carrying it. I took it to the range at least once a month, took it to a 3-day firearms course with Giles Stock, ran about 500 rounds through it there and all was good.

Until it started jamming again. Just started doing it randomly. Ammunition / magazine didn't seem to matter. Again. That was the end of it for me. It was traded in a few weeks later. Now I carry a Glock, which works every time I pull the trigger.

That was several years ago. Perhaps they've worked the bugs out of the design by now? I'd love to have one that was reliable.

 

[jhb]

Mine works fine. Its an earlier version. Got it the first couple years when they came out. I thought they worked all the bugs out by now except for the glued extractor........that hasn't changed has it? It should change.....maybe one of the worst idea I've seen in a higher dollar pistol.

It's not comparable to a glock 19. Own one of those too. Emp is thin. Glock is thick. You are truly comparing apples to oranges when it comes to those who want a single stack thin ccw. Emp carries easily and comfortably and that is maybe it's strongest aspect. Glock 19 carries imho not much better than a full sized double stack. Course my build and shape allows me the luxury of carrying even a ruger gp100 4" concealed easily. So i don't see the advantages of a shorter barrel and grip.....but I realize others do.

 

[george burns]

Traded mine for $500 and a new XDS, "when they cam out like 3 years ago. I had the 40. It took some polishing but ran well. It just felt like a compromise, and too pretty to carry all day. I will add that the former owner, had sent it back, for polishing for feeding. It's a quality gun, and well made, I think it feels more solid than a Kimber, personally. I just wanted a 45 not a 40.

 

[moxie]

S&W M&P Shield = thin, single-stack, reliable 9mm (or .40) easily concealed carry gun

 

[LeftyTSGC]

WoW! really surprised to hear about "glue" and sending back such a high dollar handgun for repairs.

I am still looking and would like a compact all metal 9mm. The last polymer gun I had actually cracked behind the rear lower receiver retaining pin.

LeftyTSGC

 

[moxie]

All metal guns crack sometimes too, but it's rare for well-built guns, polymer or metal.

 

[guyfromohio]

Here I am again advocating for the CZ 75 D Compact PCR. Outstanding all metal 9mm in a Glock 19 size package.

 

[Ed4032]

Mine runs like a sewing machine. Love it.

 

[Walkalong]

Mines runs like a top as well. I had to send it to SA for a couple of issues, tight chamber, shooting either high or low (Don't remember which). They put a different height front sight on it and reamed the chamber a bit.

It will not run on fat reloads. It needs near SAMMI minimum ammo with its still pretty tight chamber. It runs flawlessly on good ammo though.

Likes 124/5 Gr stuff better than 115 for accuracy. Very easy to shoot quickly.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Three trips back to the mother ship and mine never ran right. Beautiful gun. Very accurate. Loved how it fit my hand. Couldn't trust it.
Traded it straight across for a Browning High Power. That pistol has been perfect.
I would like to try another one, but at that price, I'm not going to. If they ever make a lower cost version, like a MilSpec, I probably will give it nother try.

 

[Winkman822]

It looks like I may be in the minority here. I had one for a good long while that I, perhaps stupidly, parted with in favor of a Wilson Combat CQB. The EMP shot accurately and reliably for me right out of the box, though I did send the gun back to Springfield to have the ejector pinned. I prefer a pinned ejector in a 1911 regardless of whether it's come loose, being pinned basically guarantees that it wont come loose. In the couple of years that I owned the gun, it was 100% through a good few thousand rounds. So here's my list of pro's and cons, and keep in mind that I am definitely a 1911 guy.

Pros:
-Compact and easily concealable.
-Well fitted for the most part
-All controls function as would be expected of a 1911
-Light weight and comfortable to carry all day.
-Springfield CS will definitely come to plate if there are issues with the gun
-Three Magazines and Night Sights right out of the box

Cons:
-Severely limited options for magazines...you're stuck with Springfield since they're proprietary
-The frame is aluminum, so no +P ammo (only an issue of +P is your preferred ammo)
-Disassembly is a little more cumbersome than a standard 1911 due to the need to use the little clip doodad on the recoil guide rod
-Being a less than 4" barrel, it is easily possible to have function issues, though this is the case of any sub 4" 1911 (Colt Agents, Colt Defenders, Kimber Ultra Carry, Springfield Micro)...it's more susceptible to reliability issues.
-No witness holes or slots in the magazines. Not a huge issue, but it's something worth noting.
-No flush fit magazines, again not a huge issue, but in a concealed carry gun, I want the lowest profile possible.

 

[Ankeny]

Mine shipped with zero tension on the extractor, easy fix. Had other issues as well so I sent it back to SA twice. Ran like a top, except the top round in the magazine would slip forward and hit the frame below the ramped barrel. In order to remove a partially full magazine I had to pull on the mag hard enough to cam the round up and out of the magazine. Tried several magazines, several types of ammo, etc. in addition to the trips back to SA. Never did resolved the issue so I dumped the EMP in favor of a Shield. Best move ever.

 

[LeftyTSGC]

This is going to be a tough decision to make:banghead:

Very good Pro's but also good Con's listed. I would think at the price point they are selling at that SA would run it through a better QC before shipping. I still like it, but will have to think hard on it.

Thanks for all the input.

LeftyTSGC

 

[aarondhgraham]

...and I paid about $1200 for it.

That's the con right there.

It's a nice pistol but $1,200.00?

Aarond

.

 

[2wheels]

May be more than some people would like to pay for a compact 9mm/.40, but I don't see $1200 as too much for a brand new 1911 based handgun with the features that the EMP offers.

 

[george burns]

It's worth the money when Kimber get's the same price, and their guns are really not as well designed, pretty, but not better, IMHO. The EMP, is a fine pistol. I just didn't want to beat it up carrying it.

 

[TomJ]

I came across one at a price I couldn't turn down. It was new, but labeled a salesman's sample and if my memory serves me correct was around $900.

On the plus side, it's up there with the most accurate guns I own, including a CZ75 compact and P226. It carries and conceals well. I did have to send it to Springfield as it would not feed hollow points reliably and I could not remove the slide. They polished the feed ramp and repaired the ejector.

I've put several hundred rounds through it since it was repaired and it's been great. Since it conceals well, is comfortable to carry all day, is now reliable and accurate, it makes for a great carry piece, and I carry it often.

I would like to mention that per Springfield's customer service, you can use +P ammo, but just not a steady diet of it. Although I wasn't happy having to send a new gun in for repair, Springfield's customer service was great and if you have issues, they'll take care of you.

 

[wgp]

Outstanding pistol. Had mine 2 years or so, never failed, accurate, beautifully finished. The concept of the down-sized 1911 is a great idea. Paid about $1200 (expensive but have you priced Kimber 1911s?). To me, has nothing in common with a Glock 19 except the caliber, and I frequently carry a 19. I do think the 9mm EMP is preferable to the .40 EMP, the latter is steel and noticeably heavier.

 

[kvtcomdo]

If you like the 1911; you'll love the EMP.

There have been issues but SA CS is the best.

Wouldn't trade mine.

 

[guyfromohio]

If you want one because you simply want one, go for it. They're handsome guns, feel great in the hand, conceal well. Spotty Internet reputation to be sure. If you want one because you are looking for a CCW, there are less expensive, more reliable options out there. People generally don't buy a Cadilac because they need a car. They buy one because they like the car. Single-stack 9mm.....Sig 239, PPS, Sheild, XDs, HK P7 all would be great reliable choices.