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Anyone own and/or carry one of these?

I have always been a 1911 .45 kinda guy, but recently bought a Hi Power and Love it! Thinking now about one of these EMP's as I always like to have at least 2 pistols of the same caliber.

I see that Sportingarms has 2 in stock at 1017.00 each (two different model numbers and not sure of the difference). Also, those advertised at Sportingarms only come with 2 mags where most all I see on GA come with 3.

Anyone know of better prices in the DFW area?

Comments about the pistol in general?

EDIT: Just spoke to Becky at Sportingarms and they have none in stock. Back ordered from Distributer and also from Springfield.
Also spoke to the Bullet Trap in Plano and they have 2 in stock @ 1129.00 each!

Only thing I can say, and I heard this through the grapevine, is that they don't handle +P ammo. I'd be very leary of a gun that will not. I haven't personally verified that information. Just throwing it out there.

You may be onto something there.......

Here is a email from Springfield to a request for information from a SIG Forum member:

"I emailed Springfield Armory about using +P ammo in the EMP.I was planning on using 124+p GDs so i wanted to make sure.Here is there reply..."

"Good morning!

We do not recommend use of the +P ammunition in the shortened slide 1911-A1 models. They cycle too fast to use this type of ammunition.
Thank you for your interest in Springfield!
Enjoy the day!
Best regards,

Patti
Ext. 8924
1-800-680-6866
Customer Service Representative
Springfield, Inc.
email: pattI@springfield-armory.com"

Now, will Wolff come out with a different spring setup for +P in this pistol like they did for the Browning Hi Power?

Just noticed on another forum that many are not happy with the Night Sights on the EMP (and other Springfield pistols) because they do not have white circles around the tritium vials. They are complaining that it makes the sights very hard to see in daylight.

Any comments on this?

There is one setting in the gun case at the Hewitt Gun Shop right now. Been eying it myself.

AEA wrote:You may be onto something there.......

Here is a email from Springfield to a request for information from a SIG Forum member:

"I emailed Springfield Armory about using +P ammo in the EMP.I was planning on using 124+p GDs so i wanted to make sure.Here is there reply..."

"Good morning!

We do not recommend use of the +P ammunition in the shortened slide 1911-A1 models. They cycle too fast to use this type of ammunition.Thank you for your interest in Springfield!
Enjoy the day!
Best regards,

Patti
Ext. 8924
1-800-680-6866
Customer Service Representative
Springfield, Inc.
email: pattI@springfield-armory.com"

Now, will Wolff come out with a different spring setup for +P in this pistol like they did for the Browning Hi Power?

Huh?

The cycle rate is determined by the recoil and hammer springs.

The slide may move rearward a little bit quicker with +P ammo, but after the spent casing is ejected...the slide will pick up the next round and put it into battery at the same rate for all ammo.

What am I missing here?

Does the EMP have any MIM parts per chance? (A more likely reason)

Well.....when the slide moves back "a little bit quicker"........ this is the problem.

Although she did not express it well, the problem would lie with this reverse travel that the standard springs may not be able to handle and the slide would beat the frame (causing unusual wear & tear).

Same goes for the Hi Power, and that is why Wolff developed a 18.5# recoil spring for it as opposed to it's standard 17# spring.

AEA wrote:Well.....when the slide moves back "a little bit quicker"........ this is the problem.

Although she did not express it well, the problem would lie with this reverse travel that the standard springs may not be able to handle and the slide would beat the frame (causing unusual wear & tear).
Same goes for the Hi Power, and that is why Wolff developed a 18.5# recoil spring for it as opposed to it's standard 17# spring.

True of every S/A and not slide length specific. +P ammo reduces service life, its just a fact that everyone needs to consider.

A heavier recoil spring would fix the "quicker" problem, but I suspect it's the shortness of the cycle that is the problem.

I don't doubt that the EMP is strong enough for +P, but if there's a problem with reliably feeding +P, it would take some careful balancing between ammo and recoil spring. The shorter the cycle, the less forgiving it is.

This is interesting, because I've been interested in the EMP. I'll keep an eye on developments.

KBCraig wrote:A heavier recoil spring would fix the "quicker" problem, but I suspect it's the shortness of the cycle that is the problem.

I don't doubt that the EMP is strong enough for +P, but if there's a problem with reliably feeding +P, it would take some careful balancing between ammo and recoil spring. The shorter the cycle, the less forgiving it is.
This is interesting, because I've been interested in the EMP. I'll keep an eye on developments.

Absolutely!

Its hard enough to put together a short cycling auto that has any measure of reliability... considering the many different ammo choices.

If a person wants to "run" +P ammo ONLY through their micro-pistol...then a careful combination of recoil spring AND hammer spring can be found that will reduce battering.

You don't want to have such a powerful recoil spring that it causes the slide to "outrun" the magazine spring though.

The recoil (rearward) part of the "cycle" really just involves how much your weapon gets battered..and how far your brass gets ejected.

The return stroke (forward motion) is where the "timing" comes in. Its a delicate balance in micro-guns to be sure.

The EMP is marketed as a carry gun, not a target pistol. My carry gun will get fed the best ammo available. If that's +p ammo then so be it. A little frame battering and/or slide peening isn't going to bother me as long as the gun keeps running. If the gun becomes unreliable, then I'll carry a different gun.

HighVelocity wrote:The EMP is marketed as a carry gun, not a target pistol. My carry gun will get fed the best ammo available. If that's +p ammo then so be it. A little frame battering and/or slide peening isn't going to bother me as long as the gun keeps running. If the gun becomes unreliable, then I'll carry a different gun.

There ya go!

CodeJockey wrote:Only thing I can say, and I heard this through the grapevine, is that they don't handle +P ammo. I'd be very leary of a gun that will not. I haven't personally verified that information. Just throwing it out there.

It's true that the EMPs don't like +P ammo ESPECIALLY Gold Dot 124gr +P. SO WHAT! The barrel is so short you don't get any benefit out of the sharp recoil of +P over standard pressure ammo.

*American Handgunner, Jan./Feb. 1998, "The Minus of +P" by Charles E. Petty. Petty concluded that only the .38 Special caliber benefits from the use of +P ammo, because manufacturers have devoted more time to bullet design with +P velocities than they have with standard pressure rounds.

Once I determined that I couldn't shoot 124gr +P Gold Dots in my EMP (Yes I own 2 of them, my wife carries one and I carry one occasionally) I moved on.

There are plenty of good standard pressure carry ammo choices that will get the job done and shot placement is the key.

My EMPs love:

- Fed HS 124gr
- Fiocchi 147gr HP
- Fed Nyclad 124gr HP
- Remington 124gr HP

Regards,
James

AEA wrote:Just noticed on another forum that many are not happy with the Night Sights on the EMP (and other Springfield pistols) because they do not have white circles around the tritium vials. They are complaining that it makes the sights very hard to see in daylight.

Any comments on this?

I do not have an EMP, but I do have the SF micro-compact 1911 in .45 (just slightly larger than the EMP) with the night sights. In my opinion, the sights are just fine in the day time. The sights do indeed have a ring around the tritium vials, but the color is more silver than white (it looks more metallic than painted). Ultimately this comes down to a personal preference though.

Thanks for all the replies and information.
I guess if I ever see one of the puppies in person, I will then decide if it is for me, notwithstanding the +P stuff as I agree that 10 rounds of standard velocity Federal 124gr HS should do the job if I do mine.