July 21st, 2022
6minute read
The 1911 is a .45.
The .45s home is, and always will be, the 1911.
These statements might sound like opinion to some, but to many they are simply fact.
So there you have it.
But what about all those popular 9mm-chambered 1911 pistols you see on the market now?
Also, how about the potential issues of chambering the shorter 9mm cartridge in the longer.45 ACP-based design?
All these shooters cant be wrong, can they?
Was the 1911 as it was designed and the .45 cartridge not the best choice?
Enter theSpringfield Armory 3 EMP 1911 pistol.
It is an optimized concealed carry version of the epically cool line of combat handguns.
EMP stands for Enhanced Micro Pistol.
There are eleven unique proprietary parts that define this patented design.
When selecting a concealed carry gun, the devil is always in the details.
Some folks want a lightweight, striker-fired, high-capacity, polymer heater or nothing at all.
Springfield Armory can indeed hook you up with one of those.
However, some of us prefer to hearken back to an earlier, simpler time.
If you might dream it, the wizards at Springfield Armory have you covered.
But the Ronin EMP guns fit a certain unique niche different than the traditional 1911.
In the world of carry guns, geometry is everything.
Weight certainly matters, and the aluminum frame keeps things lightweight and packable.
When JMB designed the 1911, steel was the only choice.
These days, lightweight aluminum is a real option, and one of which the EMP takes advantage.
However, in addition to weight, its slide and grip length that determine comfort and concealability.
Additionally, in this strange little world one size definitely does not fit all.
NFL linebacker could conceivably hide a modest howitzer on his person.
cheerleader needs something more petite.
Thats why Springfield Armory offers the Ronin in seven major variations.
In the 9mm compact carry realm, the handgun is available with either 3 or 4 barrels.
The smaller stubby 3 gun is 4.8 high and packs a 9-round single-stack magazine.
This is the smallest production9mm 1911in the world.
The 4 version sports a full-sized 5.1 grip and 10-round magazine along with a generous base pad.
Which gun is best for you is driven by your body habitus, personality, and ballistic proclivities.
Size Does Matter
I despise that phrase.
It is the most overused and utterly depleted of double entendres.
That may seem like a small thing.
My own collection is liberally littered with cool-looking guns that are too bulky or too unpleasant to tote.
I have wandered about armed for three decades now.
Trust me, if you cannot carry a gun comfortably you wont stick with it.
The ideal carry gun will let you forget it is there until you need it.
In the world of 1911 pistols, the 3 Ronin 9mm EMP is as good as it gets.
If the barrel and slide are excessive then it mashes into your butt cheek whenever you sit down.
The rub is that practical performance on the range is inversely proportional to these two parameters.
The original 5 1911 is a big gun with a big grip.
Shorter grips are easier to hide but tougher to grab, particularly when rushed, sweaty and terrified.
Shorter barrels are more comfortable to sit on, but degrade velocity.
Shorter slides also equal a more abbreviated sight radius that adversely affects accuracy.
However, each of these liabilities can be mitigated through exceptional design.
Springfield Armory is indeed synonymous with exceptional design.
Technical Details
The handgun is built around a forged steel slide and a forged aluminum frame.
The frame is finished out in silver Cerakote to complement the base material.
Some might worry that the aluminum might wear faster than steel.
Your grandchildrens children might eventually notice something like that, but you certainly wont.
The interface between slide and frame is literally flawless.
The front blade has a fiber optic insert.
The Tactical Rack rear unit is serrated to minimize glare and includes a pair of bold white dots.
it’s possible for you to tell at a glance that this tube is more substantial than standard.
The dual captive recoil spring includes a rigid full-length recoil rod.
The Gen 2 speed trigger wrings every bit of performance out of John Brownings classic design.
An extended left-sided thumb safety facilitates safe Condition 1 carry.
Recoil is brisk without being unpleasant, and the grip geometry drops into my hand like an old friend.
Denouement
The EMP takes John Moses Brownings proven 1911 design and turns it in a new direction.
Is the original all-steel 5 1911 a beast of a pistol very different than the svelte little 9mm?
But, they share much of the same DNA.
Id say they succeeded.
Go to forum thread
