First Impression of the Springfield Armory EMP

I?ve been looking very hard at the Springfield Armory EMP since its introduction and I just couldn?t resist anymore when i found a new one at a great price from a reputatble dealer in FL. I had to make sure it was on the CA approved roster.

There has been some interest in it lately and i thought I’d post a report and pictures when I finally got it. These are my impressions of the EMP rather than measurements (which you can find elsewhere on the net) or even a range report. I wanted to get some pictures before I took it out to the range and it got dirty. if there is an interest, that will be the subject of another thread.

The EMP has great proportions and the satin black of the frame, sights and hammer, contrasting with the polished slide stop, thumb safety, mag release and Main Spring Housing (MSH) are set off nicely with the bead blasted white trigger, barrel and slide

The EMP is not as small as I imagined. It?s about the same size as my Kahr CW9.


As a matter of fact the CW9 is actually thinner especially with the EMP?s ambidextrous thumb safeties

It comes equipped with a Novak rear sight fitted with Trijicon night sights and a serrated front blade with a front dot


something you usually only see on custom guns is the base of the front sight is blended into the slide

the slide and frame are lightly beveled?even the ejection port has been smoothed

…and the magazine well has been beveled

Nice touches are the steel MSH, beavertail grip safety and the skeletonized hammer

I didn?t care for the drilled trigger, but I liked the subtle undercut of the trigger guard (it?s more felt than seen)

An interesting feature is what appears to be a bushingless bull barrel supported by a full length guide rod

When you retract the slide, you find that the barrel isn?t flared/belled at the front, only the top surface is relieved back to the first locking lug.

While the guide rod is a double spring affair

It looks like the initial recoil impulse is taken by the larger outer spring, while compressing the smaller inner spring in a separate tunnel

The feed ramp is integral with the barrel and the chamber is fully supported

The slide to frame fit is very nice and there is no movement when you push down on the barrel hood

The only fit issues I had were the gap between the frame and the beavertail and the end of the extractor not being flush with the rear of the slide? but then I have to remember that this pistol?s price just pushed into four figures

The EMP comes with three magazines, made for Springfield by Mec- gar

?which were the perfect length for my Ranger 127gr +P+

I liked the South American wood panels with the Springfield logo

?and the minimalistic lettering on the slide

I found it interesting that the EMP came with a checkered MSH (metal), but a smooth front strap?I?ll have to give it some thought before deciding what I might like on it. I?m also thinking about changing out the thumb safeties for a single sided one and the trigger for a solid one (maybe even a flat one). I might even be willing to suffer the lost of one round to get a flush bottomed magazine, as the butt frame has plenty of room for three fingers.

I?m very happy with this gun and look forward to wringing it out at the range. I could see it replacing my Kahr as my regular carry gun.

Written and Authorized by “9mmepiphany” over at THR