Springfield EMP 3": Initial Range Report

[MattyD380]

I'll dispense with any sort of contextualizing preamble:

It feeds FMJ fine. Doesn't come close to feeding hollow points.

I cleaned it, lubed it, put 200 rounds of FMJ through it: Blazer Brass, WWB, Federal, range reman. No problems. Then, FTFeed on the first round of Hydra Shok. Round stopped at the very top of the feed ramp (well, it's more like a slightly angled wall), just before going in. It was clear they just weren't going to feed.

Now back to that contextualizing preamble...

After spending some quality time with a Browning Hi Power for the past 6 months, I've become more interested in 1911s. Specifically, carry-oriented specimens in 9mm. Basically, my logic was this: I love the way my HP shoots, I love the slender slide profile, wouldn't it be great to a smaller single-stack version? Well, obviously, the closest thing is a 9mm 1911.

The EMP wasn't initially at the top of my list. But the promise of a grip properly proportioned for 9mm (and requisitely, small hands) made sense. And I got a really good deal on one.

I'd heard that they could be temperamental, in terms of feeding. Figured I'd roll the dice. Well... not exactly snake eyes. But... meh.

I liked the way it shot and felt, overall. And I love the form-factor--barely notice it in my cheapo, catch-all Blackhawk neoprene at 1:00. That's one of the biggest reasons I'm becoming more interested in 1911s/BHPs--the narrow slide is so much more comfortable IWB.

While I think it would be perfectly reliable with FMJ, at this point, I'd never trust it with HPs. Break in, maybe? I dunno--after 200 rounds of FMJ, I think it should be GTG. But who knows. It's pretty tightly fit. I'll probably contact Springfield to see about sending it in for a tuneup.

So, if the recent 9mm 1911 craze has put the EMP on your list... it's fine. It's well made. It shoots pretty good. Just don't expect it to work with HPs.

[ChaseN]

That's a shame, but not unexpected. I've been experimenting with 9mm 1911s for a while now, IMO what you're looking for is either a 3" 9mm 1911 with a ramped barrel and thin grips (annoyingly hard to find - any of various older STI 3.0 models, current S&W Pro, etc) or a Sig P938, which seem to run surprisingly well given they are TINY, and modern Sigs.

I have a brace of 9mm STI Duty Ones (one 4.0 and one 3.0) with thousands of rounds through them. They're slim, utterly reliable, stupid accurate, easy to carry. Shooting them borders on telepathic for me. If you need smaller than a 3.0/defender size gun, the P938 micropistol is the next closest thing out there that runs, but frankly when my gun gets that small I prefer a G43 because the safety on the micro "1911s" is just too small.

That said if the EMP size worked for you just get one of the modern 3" format 1911s, the size difference is minimal and the good ones work surprisingly well in 9mm - but .45 less so.

[MGW]

Send it back to Springfield. Their customer service is typically very good. Rumor is the custom shop does return work on their 1911’s.

[RevolverRob]

Blah, send it back to Springfield, because almost certainly the barrel is improperly timed.

Make sure you stipulate you want the barrel lugs, link, and slide stop (and slide stop hole) inspected for proper dimensions and either replaced or re-fitted. Otherwise they might try to short-cut it and file the mag catch to raise the magazine up. That might solve the feeding issue, but it's not the problem.

Wouldn't hurt to have them check and tension the extractor if necessary, too.

[JHC]

I'll dispense with any sort of contextualizing preamble:

It feeds FMJ fine. Doesn't come close to feeding hollow points.

I cleaned it, lubed it, put 200 rounds of FMJ through it: Blazer Brass, WWB, Federal, range reman. No problems. Then, FTFeed on the first round of Hydra Shok. Round stopped at the very top of the feed ramp (well, it's more like a slightly angled wall), just before going in. It was clear they just weren't going to feed.

Now back to that contextualizing preamble...

After spending some quality time with a Browning Hi Power for the past 6 months, I've become more interested in 1911s. Specifically, carry-oriented specimens in 9mm. Basically, my logic was this: I love the way my HP shoots, I love the slender slide profile, wouldn't it be great to a smaller single-stack version? Well, obviously, the closest thing is a 9mm 1911.

The EMP wasn't initially at the top of my list. But the promise of a grip properly proportioned for 9mm (and requisitely, small hands) made sense. And I got a really good deal on one.

I'd heard that they could be temperamental, in terms of feeding. Figured I'd roll the dice. Well... not exactly snake eyes. But... meh.

I liked the way it shot and felt, overall. And I love the form-factor--barely notice it in my cheapo, catch-all Blackhawk neoprene at 1:00. That's one of the biggest reasons I'm becoming more interested in 1911s/BHPs--the narrow slide is so much more comfortable IWB.

While I think it would be perfectly reliable with FMJ, at this point, I'd never trust it with HPs. Break in, maybe? I dunno--after 200 rounds of FMJ, I think it should be GTG. But who knows. It's pretty tightly fit. I'll probably contact Springfield to see about sending it in for a tuneup.

So, if the recent 9mm 1911 craze has put the EMP on your list... it's fine. It's well made. It shoots pretty good. Just don't expect it to work with HPs.

You might try it with Hornady Critical Duty. They are highly regarded defensive loads and don't have the JHP profile.

[JHC]

Send it back to Springfield. Their customer service is typically very good. Rumor is the custom shop does return work on their 1911’s.

Definitely worth trying and SACS process makes it very easy and almost painless. As painless as anyone could.

[MattyD380]

That's a shame, but not unexpected. I've been experimenting with 9mm 1911s for a while now, IMO what you're looking for is either a 3" 9mm 1911 with a ramped barrel and thin grips (annoyingly hard to find - any of various older STI 3.0 models, current S&W Pro, etc) or a Sig P938, which seem to run surprisingly well given they are TINY, and modern Sigs.

I have a brace of 9mm STI Duty Ones (one 4.0 and one 3.0) with thousands of rounds through them. They're slim, utterly reliable, stupid accurate, easy to carry. Shooting them borders on telepathic for me. If you need smaller than a 3.0/defender size gun, the P938 micropistol is the next closest thing out there that runs, but frankly when my gun gets that small I prefer a G43 because the safety on the micro "1911s" is just too small.

That said if the EMP size worked for you just get one of the modern 3" format 1911s, the size difference is minimal and the good ones work surprisingly well in 9mm - but .45 less so.

I always thought the short STIs were cool. I had my eye on an Escort, for a while. I haven’t tried the micro SAO 9s—like the 938 (and the ones that Kimber and Springfield have). But yeah... I really like the form factor. I’m hoping Springfield can it straightened out.

[MattyD380]

Blah, send it back to Springfield, because almost certainly the barrel is improperly timed.

Make sure you stipulate you want the barrel lugs, link, and slide stop (and slide stop hole) inspected for proper dimensions and either replaced or re-fitted. Otherwise they might try to short-cut it and file the mag catch to raise the magazine up. That might solve the feeding issue, but it's not the problem.

Wouldn't hurt to have them check and tension the extractor if necessary, too.

Interesting. I did notice the barrel lug engagement seemed kinda “grabby.” Don’t have enough experience with 1911s to know what’s normal and what’s not...but, my Hi Power feels smoother. I figured it was just a function of a tight lockup.

Ive already got a shipping label from SA. I’ll include a note with points you mentioned. Thanks.

[MattyD380]

Send it back to Springfield. Their customer service is typically very good. Rumor is the custom shop does return work on their 1911’s.

Yeah, that’s kinda what I gathered. I was half expecting it to need a tuneup. In a way, it’s free custom work.

At least that’s what I’ll tell myself.

[RevolverRob]

Interesting. I did notice the barrel lug engagement seemed kinda “grabby.” Don’t have enough experience with 1911s to know what’s normal and what’s not...but, my Hi Power feels smoother. I figured it was just a function of a tight lockup.

Ive already got a shipping label from SA. I’ll include a note with points you mentioned. Thanks.

If it's "grabby" then it hasn't been fitted well enough, yet.

It should unlock and lock smoothly. When it does, then what should happen under a controlled feed principle is that as the round moves up the feed ramp, the barrel starts tilting back upwards from it's lowest position, it will catch the nose of the round and support it, while the case rim slides under the extractor and everything chambers. A mistimed barrel will thus not support the round properly during feed and cause the nose to jam right into the barrel feed ramp.

It's "close" because it runs ball, which is slippery enough on the nose to slide past the hiccup caused by the not properly fitted barrel. I bet if you looked close, there is a spot on the feed ramp with some extra copper on it from the bullets hitting.

You can "cheat" your way into functioning, by raising the magazine up higher and making it a "straighter" shot into the chamber, or by 'polishing' or throating the ramp to eliminate the speed bump, but it's all unnecessary if the barrel is fit right. FWIW, Wilson mags work, by short-circuiting the controlled-feed and delivering the round higher and straighter into the chamber. It's one reason they work so well across even problematic guns, because lots of 1911 barrels aren't timed right, but are "close enough" that you can get them to work.