In the early 1990s, I spent several 115-degree days shooting with Springfields Robbie Leatham outside Phoenix, Arizona.
One of my favorite 1911 pistols is the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec chambered in .38 Super.
This is a no-frills pistol with no extra doodads and fixed, military-style sights.
The easy-shooting 1911-A1 9mm, the compact EMP 9mm, and the extremely accurate Range Officer .45 ACP impressed John a great deal.
Actually, it shot too well.
It does everything I need, just the way it is.
In fact, its so satisfactory I ordered a mate to it, another Mil-Spec in .45 ACP.
The Springfield Armory 1911-A1 9mm ran fine and John was impressed with the accuracy for a bone-stock gun.
9mm 1911
Lately, I have been shooting and immensely enjoying a trio of Springfield Armory 1911s.
It has long been my desire to have a full-sized 1911 chambered in 9mm.
I know originals are very pricey now.
John shot the EMP 9mm at 7 yards since it’s essentially a defensive pistol.
So, I wanted a full-sized 9mm, Springfield Armory offered me one, and thats that.
I now have a stainless steel 1911 9mm with fully adjustable target sights and in the 1911-A1 configuration.
The front sight is set in a dovetail allowing for easy windage adjustment or even replacement if desired.
The Springfield Armory 1911-A1 9mm mates up well withEl Paso Saddlery leather.
The stainless steel slide is polished bright on the sides with a glare-reducing matte finish on top.
The hammer is also lightweight and skeletonized.
The mainspring housing is an original 1911-straight-style and is checkered, while the frontstrap is smooth.
The easy-to-carry EMP comes with a very usable plastic holster and double-magazine pouch, directly from Springfield.
With the relatively light recoil 9mm, the checkered backstrap combined with the checkered grips works just fine.
I tested the 9mm with 18 different types of ammunition from nine different manufacturers.
With its 41-ounce weight, Springfield Armorys 1911-A1 9mm was exceptionally easy to handle and comfortable to shoot.
The Range Officer .45 ACP delivered stunning accuracy for a gun in the price range of $900!
This is certainly a pistol one could shoot all day in comfort, no matter which loads were selected.
Range Officer
Next comes one of Springfield Armorys latest 1911s, the Range Officer.
This is also full-sized, however its chambered in .45 ACP.
Sights, hammer, trigger, slide lock, and beavertail grip safety are all identical.
Trigger pull on the .45 is a smooth, creep-free 5 3/4 pounds.
Both holster and magazine pouch are also screw-adjustable for tension.
Springfield Armory advertises their new Range Officer as being suitable for competition without any unneeded extras.
The magazine release also works very easily and positively.
Shooting the Range Officer was pure pleasure.
This pistol is definitely a keeper.
Enhanced Micro Pistol
Finally, we come to the EMP (Enhanced Micro Pistol).
Available in both 9mm and .40, I went with the easier shooting 9mm.
Over the years, several gunsmiths and manufacturers have chopped the 1911, making pocket-sized .45s.
The complaint is simply that the cutting of existing 1911 parts to make a smaller gun results in malfunctioning.
I have no problems with mine, but treat them accordingly.
The EMP features a 3 stainless steel, match-grade, heavy bull barrel with a fully supported feed ramp.
The trigger is long, of aluminum, match-grade quality and is set at 5 3/4 pounds.
Three 9-round stainless steel magazines with bumper pads are supplied.
Safety features are an ambidextrous extended thumb safety matched up with a beavertail grip safety.
The mainspring housing is of the straight variety, and checkered.
Grips are the standard cocobolo diamond pattern.
I shot the Springfield Armory Enhanced Micro Pistol with a full dozen different 9mm loads from five different manufacturers.
Felt recoil was relatively mild, even with +P loads.
For a days pleasant shooting with several hundred 9mm rounds, I will reach for the 1911-A1.
For concealed carry use, I wont hesitate to go with the EMP.
Go to forum thread
1911EMP
1911Range Officer Operator
