EMP 40 question

[RockingRook]

A few days ago I started carrying my EMP 40. Yes, I carry it in Cond 1. Since I am the inquisitive type I started reading and trying
to find out as much info about the EMP as possible. I went from a CCW Glock 27 to the EMP which in my opinion has a couple more safeties
incorporated into the design making it a safer CCW in my opinion.

I know EMP is not a series 80 type pistol in that it does not have a firing pin safety or any firing pin block.

I did read that it has a titanium firing pin that requires quite a bit of forward inertia to fire a round.

I have seen all over the web people asking whether the EMP can safely be carried in cond 2, hammer down on a live round. Almost
everyone answers this by saying "The 1911 is designed to be carried cond 1, cocked and locked" but never addresses the initial question as
to whether the EMP can be safely carried in cond 2.

I have found that the chances of an EMP carried in cond 2 going off accidentally is remote. That the amount of force hitting the firing pin
would have to be huge to produce the forward inertia required making this almost impossible. I have also read that it would take a lot of force
to break the sear allowing for an AD as well.

I realize that the EMP/1911 is designed to be carried cond 1 but why not cond 2?

Did Springfield design the new type firing pin for no good reason? Can a post series 80 type 1911 be carried cond 2? I can never really get
a definitive answer so maybe someone here can constructively answer this question.

Chuck

[thelurker]

Hi Chuck,

I think the problem with carrying a 1911 style handgun in condition 2 lies in the fact that you would be required to manually lower the hammer on a live round. That, in many peoples' opinion, would be asking for big trouble. I never carried mine in anything but condition 1, and felt very comfortable in doing so, but that's also the way the gun was designed to be carried.

Hope you're enjoying the EMP...they are great little guns!!

[RockingRook]

Hi Chuck,
I think the problem with carrying a 1911 style handgun in condition 2 lies in the fact that you would be required to manually lower the hammer on a live round.

Hope you're enjoying the EMP...they are great little guns!!

I can understand that concern about lowering the hammer. Thanks!! Yesterday I went to the range again and fired another 200 rds. Since getting the
EMP I have been to the range 3 or 4 times for a total of about 800 rds fired, give or take. Not keeping track!!

What I am keeping track of is the magazine reliability with the different brands and type of ammo fired.

All three of my magazines have worked as designed, no failures of any kind.

In the 800 rds or so I have had zero failures of any kind. I have fired UMC, Winchester, and PMC FMJ. I have also fired about 50 rds of
Winchester Supreme Elite 165 gr hp. No failures in this either and I do know that 50 rds is a small study but they are expensive as
well. I was trying to test the ramp and the HP rounds. Some have stated that they have had some FTF in the HP rounds because of the ramp.
I have had no problems in this regard. Although I have tested only the Winchester Supreme Elite ammo.

So far the gun has performed great!! I really like it.

Took some getting used to field strip and clean the gun. I fought the strong spring tension and cursed the gun after it bit me
a few times. Could not get the take down pin back in and locked. As with all things I got used to cleaning it and then putting it back together
the correct way so now I do not have any problems at all. Was a little different than what I was used to.

Nice little gun!!

Chuck