Any SA EMP 4" 9mm owners in the house?

fieldgrade

fieldgrade

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I've always been enamored with these, but shied away due to the proprietary design, meaning I can't easily change the thumb safety, easily find mags, or add a magwell that I am aware of.

Any owners here? School me on any inaccuracies in my assessments, because I think I'd like one, if I'm not limited to running it in its stock configuration.
 
I have an EMP4 Lightweight Champion. LOVE it. Grip is just a little smaller than a standard 1911, that's why I got it. Built like a brick sh*thouse, it is solid and well made. Mine is unmodified except for a black oxide treatment on the slide so the gun is all black; I don't shoot in competition and have not felt a need to change anything. Takedown is a little fiddly, requiring a tool to keep the spring compressed. It is one of very few 1911-style guns that fits my stubby fingers. If I had to sell everything off, this would be the last one to go. No, belay that - i would find a way to keep it.
 
fieldgrade said:
I've always been enamored with these, but shied away due to the proprietary design, meaning I can't easily change the thumb safety, easily find mags, or add a magwell that I am aware of.

Any owners here? School me on any inaccuracies in my assessments, because I think I'd like one, if I'm not limited to running it in its stock configuration.
Click to expand...
Are you wanting to use it in IDPA?
 
58A956FC-368C-4873-81DE-FE2E5C44924E.jpeg

While I don’t have the 4” version I do own AND CARRY the orginal 3” version. I’ve taken a couple classes running it ... shot a few BUG competitions with it ... carried it 95% of the time for the past 2 1/2 years. With the shorter 3” barrel length the sight radius is not as good as a full sized 5” version but I can hit steel at 25 yards fairly easy and 10 to 15 yards runs are A and C zones hits 90% of the time ... when I’m on misses arent the EMP’s fault and the factory Tritium night sights are very good. It was tight for the first couple hundred rounds but it now is around 1500 rounds and eats anything (but run Speer short barrel 124gr for SD). Overall it runs just like a full size 1911 except I do sometimes ride the slide release causing it to not lock open on lastvround but that is my grip’s fault. The thumb safety is a positive and distinct “click” and easy to manipulate. The trigger is a good factory Springfield for having that stupid ”ignition switch ILS setup but still measures a decent 5ish pound with clean break and positive short reset.

I love mine and will not let it go ... even to my wife.
 
fieldgrade said:
I've always been enamored with these, but shied away due to the proprietary design, meaning I can't easily change the thumb safety, easily find mags, or add a magwell that I am aware of.

Any owners here? School me on any inaccuracies in my assessments, because I think I'd like one, if I'm not limited to running it in its stock configuration.
Click to expand...

Ah, still searching for the perfect 9mm 1911! I have fondled the EMPs and heard lots of good things. Which makes sense since they were designed for the cartridge. I have also seen some pics and threads of shoddy construction. But that can happen for any gun. I'd say grab one. The only down side could be that you are rumored to be a bigger guy and the smaller grips may not work your you. But they usually have one in a case at Fuquay G&G so go try one out. I've almost bought one a few times, but then realize I can get a normal CZ for much less $$ or a fancy CZ for a little more. But the EMPs look sweet. If you don't like it you'll have no problem selling it here.
 
I had the original 3 inch model. Was such a dissappointment for me for such an expensive pistol.

Ran FMJ's perfectly. Wouldn't get through a mag without at least 3 malf's per mag, and didn't matter what brand hollow point. Sent it back to Springfield, they fixed it, and I immediately sold it. I'd lost all confidence in it.

I was heart broken about that one. When it worked, it was a real pleasure to shoot.
 
TRaGiK said:
I had the original 3 inch model. Was such a dissappointment for me for such an expensive pistol.

Ran FMJ's perfectly. Wouldn't get through a mag without at least 3 malf's per mag, and didn't matter what brand hollow point. Sent it back to Springfield, they fixed it, and I immediately sold it. I'd lost all confidence in it.

I was heart broken about that one. When it worked, it was a real pleasure to shoot.
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I was deeply coveting one of these when they first came out. I had an opportunity to speak with Rob Leatham in a one on one with nobody around and asked him if they worked....he looked all around like he was going to tell a "bad" joke and said...Sometime. I thanked him for saving me a few "Huns". He winked and we went on shooting.
 
I love mine. No issues with factory ammo, but my 115gr RNL reloads will fail to feed once in a while. Mine came with the thin wood grips, but I replaced them with a set from VZ.

While up at Camp Perry last year I picked up a bunch of mags cheap from SA, Inc on vendor's row

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