Springfield Ronin Operator 4.25 9mm Review

With an MSRP of $849, the Ronin Operator 4.25 from Springfield Armory is a very good buy. It’s accurate, comfortable to shoot, and pretty darn good-looking.

Unlike other Operator 1911s in Springfield’s lineup, the Ronin Operator does not have an accessory rail on the frame. What it does have is a whole bunch of other top-drawer features. Let’s get into the details.

The version I used for this report is the Ronin Operator 4.25 chambered for 9mm Luger. Springfield also offers full-size Ronin Operators, and all versions are available in either 9mm or .45 ACP. The key features of the Commander-size Ronin Operator 4.25 are the 4.25-inch barrel, short slide, and lightweight forged alloy frame. The frame is finished in satin aluminum Cerakote, and the front­strap is smooth.

The pistol wears checkered wood laminate grips. The manual thumb safety is an extended type, but it is not ambidextrous. The beavertail grip safety has a memory bump. The magazine release and the slide stop are grooved, and the flat mainspring housing is checkered.

The rear sight is a ledge type that allows one-handed racking of the slide by pushing the sight against a belt, a tabletop, or some other sturdy sur­face. It has two white dots in the horizontally striated face, and the whole rear sight is dovetailed to the slide and secured with a screw.

Ronin Operator 4.25 Specs

TYPE: Recoil-operated autoloader
CALIBER: 9mm Luger
MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 9 rounds
BARREL: 4.25 in.
OVERALL LENGTH: 7.9 in.
WIDTH: 1.27 in.
HEIGHT: 5.5 in.
WEIGHT, EMPTY: 31 oz.
GRIPS: Checkered wood laminate
FINISH: Satin aluminum Cerakote frame, blued carbon-steel slide
SIGHTS: White-dot rear, fiber-optic front
TRIGGER: 5.0-lb. pull (as tested)
SAFETY: Extended thumb safety, beavertail grip safety
MSRP: $849
MANUFACTURER: Springfield Armory; springfield-armory.com