Springfield Armory EMP 9mm pocket power

American Handgunner, July-August, 2007 by Dave Anderson

A century ago suits must have had big pockets. I've tried some of the automatic pistols touted back then as pocket models, such as the Colt Pocket Automatic and FN 1910. By modern standards they are not particularly light, nor are they particularly small considering they are unlocked-breech blowbacks, chambering cartridges of modest ballistics. They're okay in a coat pocket or waistband holster but don't work very well, for me at least, in a pant pocket.

But they sure were slim, trim and flat, not to mention beautifully made. Today we are blessed with an incredible choice of high quality, reliable autopistols. It's just they don't seem to make them slim and flat anymore. I appreciate double stack magazines take tip more space than single stacks. If we want high capacity there has to be some tradeoff. I wish more autopistols had slimmer slides. The slide of my Browning-marked, version of the FN 1910 measures .81" wide. The slide of a 1911 is just .92" wide. Nice.

Slide width doesn't matter in a duty gun worn openly. Even in a belt holster. I'll agree a minor difference in width isn't likely to make a crucial difference in concealability. But in an inside-waist-band holster, shoulder holster--or in a pocket--a slim gun is more comfortable to carry and easier to conceal.

A New Idea

The Springfield Armory EMP (Enhanced Micro Pistol) shares the virtues of the pocket automatics of a century ago. At 26 ounces, it's a bit heavier than the FN1910 (20 ounces, six-round magazine in .380 ACP) or Colt 1908 .380 (24 ounces, seven-round magazine). But in terms of size it's similar to the old classics--slim, trim and flat. And unlike the blowback .380s the Springfield EMP is a locked-breech 9mm with a nine-round magazine. Serious stuff, that.

The EMP shares another quality with the old classics. It's simply beautifully made, one of the best quality pistols I've handled in a long time. The aluminum alloy frame, handsomely matte-finished, doesn't have a tool mark anywhere. The slide is precisely machined. Edges have been neatly and evenly relieved. There isn't a sharp edge to cut hands or holsters, to wear holes in pockets or in covering garments. There was no perceptible play in the slide-to-frame fit or in barrel fit. Fit is equal to some custom guns I own, costing double or more the price of the little EMP. I am impressed.

The feed ramp of the EMP is integral with the barrel. At the muzzle, the 3" barrel is enlarged to mate directly with the slide. There's no barrel bushing as on a conventional 1911. The EMP design uses a double-wound recoil spring and recoil spring guide rod. A little plastic disassembly tool to hold the recoil springs captive during disassembly is provided.

The original 1911 was designed around the .45 ACP cartridge. Slide travel and magazine length (front to back) were optimized for the big .45. The .38 Super cartridge fits the same size magazine, though of course with different feed lips. The 9mm Parabellum cartridge is a bit shorter. Full size 1911s in 9mm have their magazines blocked at the rear to accept the shorter round.

The Difference

The EMP was built around the 9mm cartridge. Magazines arc slightly shorter. front to back, than regular 1911 magazines. In turn, the EMP grip frame, front to back, is a bit shorter than a standard 1911. Magazines for full size 1911s in 9mm will not fit the EMP magazine well.

The EMP comes with two stainless steel nine-shot magazines produced by Mec-Gar and carrying the Springfield Armory EMP logo. These are excellent magazines, strongly and precisely built, with plastic base pads. Both seated properly in place when I tried them, locked the slide back when empty, and dropped free (whether loaded or empty) when the magazine release button was pressed.

Operating controls follow the 1911 pattern. The grip safety has an extra hump at its base to help ensure it's released by' a normal firing grip. The ambidextrous thumb safety has a slightly wider shelf on the left side and operated smoothly and positively. The magazine release button is on the left side at the base of the trigger guard, just like we're used to. The front sight is a post in a dovetail cut. The rear sight, also dovetail-mounted, is similar to the popular Novak design. Sights carry tritium night-sight inserts in a three-dot pattern.

Did It Run?

I started shooting with Black Hills standard velocity 115 grain JHP ammunition. There were two failures to feed in the first two magazines, with the nose of the round pressed against the feed ramp. Thinking the little pistol might benefit from a break-in, I then ran 100 rounds of Black Hills 124 grain FMJ through it, mostly rapid fire. There were no malfunctions.

Switching back to the 115 grain JHPs from Black Hills, box after box ran through the EMP without a bobble. The round count now stands at about 450, all JHPs except the two boxes of FMJs noted, with no malfunctions whatever after those two in the first dozen rounds. At the 250-round mark I lubed the gun again, as I would with any of my match 1911s, but the gun wasn't cleaned until I ran out of ammunition.