A Matter of Choice, probably. Which one?

[blackops]

Sig hands down.

 

[wesessiah]

Yes, I do have experience with small 1911s. I found the two examples I had to be very picky about running right. Therefore I stick to Government & Commander sized models.

i agree with your initial assessment. i thought it was fairly widely known the smaller the 1911 gets the less reliable they are. it has to do with the mass of the slide being decreased causing it to not go into battery, not strip the round from the mag reliably or something similar. seems like a simple fix, heavier recoil spring, but then they tend to run into ejection problems...
** disclaimer about my previous paragraph to the hyper sensitive people of the forum**
i don't claim this to be an issue with every compact 1911 made, i know that's not true... but when you're around enough of them it becomes clear these things happen more the shorter the barrel is.

i like 9mm better than .40, and .45 better than both (with the exception of some specific guns) but i would take the sig in this scenario. i like sig, but i prefer the 1911 (specific full size models) to any model sig normally.

 

[Quickstrike]

+1. If I can't afford one of the newer HK's.

 

[vidi0t]

I went with the Sig too. I like the fact that it's easy to change calibers and the 22lr conversion would make for some great cheap practice shooting. The 226 is a tried and true platform as is the 1911 design obviously. If considering this for concealed carry I might suggest looking into the slightly smaller Sig P229 though.

As someone else stated earlier these are 2 very different designs and one might suggest that you just get both of them.

 

[JellyJar]

To all those that think that 3" inch 1911s are inherently unreliable you need to remember that the EMPs were "specifically" designed to use a 3" barrel and the shorter OAL of the 9MMp and 40 S&W cartridges.

Also, all the 1911s or close copies I have owned have all been 3 inchers and I have never had any reliability problems with any of them. I stopped using them because I couldn't handle the recoil of the 45acp in such light weight handguns.

P.S. I did have problems with a Kimber CDPII. It was chambered in 40S&W and the only magazines that were available for it were crap! There were no aftermarket magazines available for them then.

The problem with the magazines was that the follower would jump around the slide stop so the gun would never lock open on the last round. No such problems with my EMP 40 as the magazines are not modfied 45 caliber magazines. Other than that the Kimber worked just fine. Would have kept it if there were decent magazines for it.

 

[David E]

"Do you have extensive first hand experience with the EMP that backs up your claim?"

Yes, I do have experience with small 1911s.

But I asked if you had extensive experience with the EMP specifically....

I, too, have several short 1911's and they all work well. (The V-10 required a new spring plug, but has been 100% ever since)

I had an EMP in the shop and the owner said it was ok to shoot it, so I did. It worked great! A friend has one and likes it quite a bit.

I agree that the shorter 1911's had some initial teething problems, but they have been solved.

That said, one should thoroughly test any gun used for self defense, regardless of barrel length.

 

[doc2rn]

I have extensive experience with both. Not all 9mm are the same the EMP just wasnt accurate enuff for my liking, especially with its pricetag. The Sig is a descent platform and I have had many a round through mine and the only one I remotely like is the P220 dark elite, good luck finding a holster for one that fits properly! Personally I would go with an FNP 9mm but what do I know....

 

[Strahley]

I like SIG better, so that's what I would choose if I wasn't trying to meet certain criteria

However, those two are very different. There are different situations where I would choose one over the other

 

[fatfreddiescat]

Thanks for all the input. I asked because I am considering trading one of these for a 1911 in .45, full size. (5.5" bbl). I know, all of you rich folk would say keep em both, but I'm not deep enough in the pocket, so one will have to be the trade in.
Thanks

PS-for the carry factor, I think I might keep the EMP, and trade the sig. If it were a little more comfy to carry, I'd keep the Sig, and trade the EMP.

 

[wesessiah]

^ if it's the only gun you have you feel comfortable carrying i would change my vote for keeping the emp. btw, which 1911 are you looking at?

 

[fatfreddiescat]

After talking to a pal/gun shop owner, I'm thinking about keeping the EMP, trading/selling the Sig P226, and going for a Kimber Custom II in Black. Still just thinking. Argue me out of it. I want 'em all, but don't have any more $$$ to put in???!!!

I'll tell you why~ I bought a Milt Sparks VM2 IWB for the EMP, and unless you've tried that for a carry, you don't really know what pure comfort is. The EMP is accurate, well made, and eats everything I feed it. (After a small adjustment to the extractor to fit the magazines....) Now.....Its PERFECT. I know, its 'only' a 9mm, but with Gold Dots HP, its as lethal as anything. On the other hand, the Sig is also a great handgun, but it seems that it might be more logical to keep one small, (EMP) and one big .45 (1911), instead of two larger, harder to carry guns!

AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGG.
Maybe I'll buy a lotto ticket today.

 

[fatfreddiescat]

Its Come Down to THIS

A pal that owns a gun shop has made the offer: A Kimber Custom .45 ACP, NIB straight across for my like new SA EMP 9mm.

????????????????

 

[fatfreddiescat]

"and the winner is........."

I now have an EMP in 9mm, and a Springfield PX9109L in .45!