I've never really gotten too entangled in the great 9mm/.45 ACP debate that shooters and gun writers like to drag out every so often. Both cartridges are accurate. And when shots are properly placed, they will do the job. When not properly placed, neither will stop the action with one hit.

I have often suggested that if a person were to carry a big handgun, it ought to be in a big caliber. Or, at least, it should be in the biggest caliber that the shooter can handle efficiently. And that's why I prefer the .45 ACP for large service pistols.

But, with that said, for some time I have thought that the natural vehicle for the 9mm cartridge would be a slim, compact handgun suitable for concealed carry. It would be something small and flat that could be tucked away under a shirt or in a pocket.

Springfield's new 9mm Enhanced Micro 1911 is not just a "chopped off" version of a standard 1911. It's been reengineered from the bottom up. To enlarge this image, please click HERE

Over the years, several companies have introduced double-action auto pistols and striker-fired pistols in 9mm that have sought to meet these concealment needs. But being sort of partial to the 1911 design, I was very pleased to receive a brand-spanking-new, little 9mm 1911 from Springfield Armory.

A Classic Design Is Enhanced
Springfield's new pistol is called the "EMP" (for Enhanced Micro Pistol). This slick little pistol has a 3-inch barrel and weighs only 23 ounces, yet it has a 9-round magazine capacity and a large enough grip that your little finger doesn't dangle helplessly in the air.

To put the EMP in proper perspective, you need to realize that a Walther PPK/S in .380 ACP weighs a tad over 22 ounces and is only slightly shorter and thinner than this new pistol. The new EMP measures 6.6 inches long. In effect, Springfield Armory has designed a 9mm 1911 pistol that is only slightly larger than a .380 pocket pistol.

To accomplish this Springfield made alterations to some 15 different parts of the 1911 pistol. The slide is shortened, and in doing so, the Springfield design engineers also had to shorten the extractor, the firing pin, and the firing pin spring.

The EMP's frame has also been shortened, and this also required the shortening of the trigger bow. (Springfield refers to this new shortened and enhanced firing mechanism as a "short-action 1911" kind of like the way riflemen have been referring to the different action sizes of bolt-action rifles.) Also shortened was the plunger tube and spring that interacts with the slide stop and thumb safety.

Springfield EMP Semiautomatic Pistol
Manufacturer:	Sprigfield Armory
Model:	EMP (Enhanced Micro Pistol)
Operation:	Recoil-Operated "short-action" autoloader
Caliber:	9mm Luger
Barrel Length:	3 inches
Overall Length:	6.6 inches
Weight, empty	23 ounces
Safety:	Manual safety, grip safety, passive firing pin block
Sights:	Fixed combat sights with tritium inserts
Stock:	Checkered cocobolo
Magazine Capacity:	9 rounds
Finish:	Anodized alloy frame, stainless-steel slide
Price:	$1253

Springfield also reduced the diameter of the pistol's grip frame. Grabbing a standard 1911 pistol that has thin, concealment grips, I compared the circumference of the grip frames. The EMP's grip frame diameter was 1/4 inch smaller.

The EMP's stainless-steel slide has had all of the sharp edges radiused for shooter comfort. And dovetailed into the slide is a set of fixed combat sights with tritium inserts. The EMP is fitted with an attractive set of thin cocobolo grips that are checkered and have the Springfield logo.

The EMP's frame is anodized alloy, and the black frame with the stainless-steel slide gives a pleasing two-tone look to this pistol. The frame is also fitted with ambidextrous thumb safeties and a beavertail grip safety.