I love the 1911 but interested in a smaller 9. I read that this was the first 1911 type designed completely from ground up for the 9mm. Does anyone have one of these or has shot one to give some first hand opinions. They're not cheap, but if I hear good things about them, I'm probably going to trade or sell my Sig 220 and Sig 228 to get one.

 

Jim

Let me kno is you decide to part with ur Sig P220. Im looking for one as we speak and have permits in hand.

The grip is designed for 9mm from ground up so it fits my hands better than a 45 Officer model chambered in 9mm. It's very accurate but recoil is a bit snappy. It also doesn't like reloads unless the cases are resized exactly to factory spec.

I have the EMP 40. It is extremely well made and a great shooter. I only shoot reloads and have a great shooting recipe for this gun. The .40 is a little heavier than the 9mm since it has a steel frame. I don't have experience with the EMP 9mm, but the EMP 40 is awesome.

Kimber Solo as an option.

I've got an EMP 9mm and I can't say enough good things about them (if you like 1911's, which I do). I took mine to a defensive handgun class at SJSC about a year and a half ago. It was March, so it was cold, and it was raining (not hard, but enough to wet everything). I brought the gun unfired to the class (I also brought a couple of broken in guns, just in case) and shot 150-200 rounds through it and it performed flawlessly. Went bang every time I pulled the trigger.

 

The recoil has a little snap in it for a 9mm, but it's certainly controllable. The short sight radius can be a detriment, but the gun is way more accurate than I am. I do have a better time shooting it than I do my Kimber compact stainless (officer frame, 4" bull barrel). Since that class, I put another 200+ rounds of 9mm through it and have only had one hiccup (a shooter induced FTF that a simple tap rack fixed; my buddy limp wristed it). I've shot 115gr, 124gr, and 147gr hardball through it and it's digested it all. I've also put 50 rounds of 115gr Hornady JHP through it, and so far it hasn't had any issues.

 

All in all, it's a great little gun. I've swapped out the ambi safety for an Ed Brown tactical single side safety, so all my 1911's have the same safety setups, but otherwise, it's exactly as SA built it. They are a little pricey, but if you keep an eye on Gun Broker, you can get a new one for under a grand (I paid $900 for mine new).