New Springfield EMP

[TomJ]

Towards the end of October, I stopped in a LGS to look at a SR1911. I wound up purchasing a Springfield EMP 9 on an impulse instead, as they had one for $200 lower than the best price I'd seen. I had to send it in to SA, as it wouldn't feed hollow points reliably and the slide would not come off. They had it back to me in about 10 days, and I finally had a chance to put it through it's paces Monday. I put about 400 rounds through it, and it's feeding everything now and functioning perfectly.

SA hit a home run with the EMP. The quality is exceptional. The trigger is smoother than anything I've shot, and the accuracy for a 3 inch barrel is outstanding. I also shot my SA Mil Spec 1911, Glock 19 and 27 that day. The groups on the EMP were tighter than any of the others, with almost everything staying in the X and 9 ring on a B29 target at 21 feet. I'm an average shot on my best day, and that's about as well as I've shot with any handgun.

It's become my go to concealed piece. It's large enough to shoot well, but small and flat enough to conceal easily. 9 +1 of 9mm is plenty of capacity, and the magazines are small enough that it's easy to carry an extra 1 or 2 for more capacity than I think I'll ever need. If you're in the market for a compact 1911, I'd absolutely recommend taking a look at these.

 

[jhb]

I got one years back. Still got it. One fine well thought out feature wise pistol. I don't carry it anymore as I just have too many handguns. Still kept it though as its one reliable single stack. Easy to carry and conceal and is fun at the range too.

Congrats on yours. Enjoy it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The only change I'd like to see is the option to use +P ammo.

I didn't know we shouldn't be doing that...maybe I should take the Ranger +P+, that I carry it with, out.

It really is a nice pistol and has become my default carry gun.

The only changes I've done to mine is replace the ambi thumb safety with a single sided one and I've blacked out the rear night sights. Oh and I've added some VZ grip panels.

I'll eventually replace the rear sight with something I can use for racking the slide and put a flat faced trigger in it.

the thing I keep putting off is having at least one of my mags converted to a flush fit

 

[wgp]

I've had my 9mm EMP a couple of years, great pistol. When it was brand new the front sight fell off, but Springfield replaced it in a few days and there has never been another issue. I have never figured out whey the Kimber Solo has gotten so much favorable press and the EMP does not seem to get much notice (maybe it's the cocked/locked thing with the EMP, or perhaps the price of the EMP).

 

[TomJ]

I didn't know we shouldn't be doing that...maybe I should take the Ranger +P+, that I carry it with, out.

It really is a nice pistol and has become my default carry gun.

The only changes I've done to mine is replace the ambi thumb safety with a single sided one and I've blacked out the rear night sights. Oh and I've added some VZ grip panels.

I'll eventually replace the rear sight with something I can use for racking the slide and put a flat faced trigger in it.

the thing I keep putting off is having at least one of my mags converted to a flush fit

I'm wondering if I'm wrong about the +P. Their manual recommends not using it in 1911 A-1 Ultra Compacts with barrels under 5 inches in length, but they classify the EMP as a micro compact. It's worth a phone call to them tomorrow to clarify.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Ultra Compacts are built on the .45ACP sized frame and have different feed issues...they need the extra reduction in slide velocity to increase their window of functional reliability

The frame of the EMP is downsized to the 9x19mm cartridge length and has different feeding dynamics

 

[TomJ]

I spoke with SA this morning. Sorry about the incorrect information, but I'm glad to be wrong on this. You can use +P, but they don't recommend a steady diet of it. It's only the Ultra Compacts they were referring to in the manual, not all of their 1911's with barrels under 5 inches. I edited my OP to remove that statement, as i don't want to pass on inaccurate information..

 

[Dentite]

Nice...I just picked up one recently as well. I think it will make a return trip back to Springfield for a little custom work one of these days.

 

[mike28w]

I had one a couple of years ago.....very nice.....

There was a fellow ( internet name of Logman , I believe) who could trim your mag down so that it was flush. You lost one round but it was nice for concealed carry. I had him do a couple for me and left a couple original. He did good work. I think you can just Google Logman and eventually hunt him down. He doesn't have a website.

I contacted him through a gun forum but don't remember which one.....mike


PS: I found him on the 1911 forum,fwiw

 

[9mmepiphany]

He's also a member here

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree they are nice guns and work well. I bought mine specifically to carry but the very heal of the butt jabs me in the back. I went back to my P7 instead until some time when will send it in to Springfield for a bit of rounding on the butt end.

Very nice gun and I agree quite reliable.