Springfield EMP

[AZ_Gun_lover]

I just received my Springfield EMP this past weekend. I disassembled the gun and did some light cleaning with Break-Free CLP. I've heard from various forums that 1911's need a break-in period. This is the 1st 1911 I've purchased.

I started out with Fiochi 115gr range ammo. This ammo resulted in a 10% failure to fire scenario. The round would feed correctly, but the hammer strike did not seem to ignite the primer on about 1 round out of each magazine. I could not discern a pattern on which round within the magazine would fail.

Examining the primer, it did not look like the firing pin really impacted the primer.

After 100 rounds of Fiochi, I switched to Mag Tech ammo. I experienced about a 10% failure to fire from rounds 100 to 150.

Then all of a sudden, no failure to fires for the next 50 rounds of the Mag Tech range rounds. So maybe a break-in period is required before you can reliably count on this weapon as a personal defense gun.

It did shoot extremely well and was very accurate. I will continue this coming weekend to place another 200 rounds using various ammo and will place my report here.

[1FingrCHan]

Originally Posted by AZ_Gun_lover

I just received my Springfield EMP this past weekend. I disassembled the gun and did some light cleaning with Break-Free CLP. I've heard from various forums that 1911's need a break-in period. This is the 1st 1911 I've purchased.

I started out with Fiochi 115gr range ammo. This ammo resulted in a 10% failure to fire scenario. The round would feed correctly, but the hammer strike did not seem to ignite the primer on about 1 round out of each magazine. I could not discern a pattern on which round within the magazine would fail.

Examining the primer, it did not look like the firing pin really impacted the primer.

After 100 rounds of Fiochi, I switched to Mag Tech ammo. I experienced about a 10% failure to fire from rounds 100 to 150.

Then all of a sudden, no failure to fires for the next 50 rounds of the Mag Tech range rounds. So maybe a break-in period is required before you can reliably count on this weapon as a personal defense gun.

It did shoot extremely well and was very accurate. I will continue this coming weekend to place another 200 rounds using various ammo and will place my report here.

Thanks for the field report. I have seen light primer strikes in some of my guns, mostly ammo related I think. Look like your EMP should be good to go after digesting a few hundred rounds. Good to hear.



1FingrCHan

[jmj117]

I purchased this pistol 1 week ago today for just over $1k, including a box of ammo. The gun is exceptionally accurate and I have not had any jamming problems yet out of the 150+ rounds I've put through it. The only problem I've found is reassembly with the slide stop, as I cannot seem to get it back through the frame. I might be doing something wrong as this is my first Springfield (and first pistol, actually).

The size is perfect for my grip and when I get my CCW it will be a very good pistol to carry around. I wore it at the range with the dual-mag holster it came with, and I'm very impressed. If you're having the same problem or know how to easily reassemble the pistol please let me know. I'm sure I'll have an epiphany about it one night, but until then I'm a bit stumped.

[AZ_Gun_lover]

I have not had any problems with re-assembly so I can't help you out there. I just insert the slide onto the guides and it smoothly traverses the grooves. Make sure the disassembly pin is completely removed before inserting the slide.

2nd Range Report:
Fired 200 rounds of Winchester (white box) 115 gr ammo with no problems. Again, very accurate and nice to shoot.

3rd Range Report:
Fired 100 rounds of Wichester 115 ammo with no problems. Switched to Fiochii 115 gr ammo and had 3 failure to fire out of a box of 50. On those rounds, the primer did not seem to be touched. After a failure to fire I could manually cock the hammer and fire the round that was already in the chamber (the FTF round).

Tried some personal defense ammo. First started with Hornady Tap 124 gr ammo. The rounds would not feed correctly due to the steep ramp angle. Switched to a 95 gr STAR ammo and that fired well with no problems. Then switched to a Federal Premium defense 124 gr round and that fired well with no problems. Went back to the Hornady TAP 124 gr ammo and that now fires without the Failure to Feed issue. Hmmm... maybe I need to get the ramp polished.

So far, only the Fiochii and initially the Mag Tech ammo seems to have the failure to Fire issue. I may have to send it back to SA to see if they can find any reason for this.

[jmj117]

I've seen other people posting with problems with the Fiochii rounds. I use Winchester rounds and haven't had a misfire yet.

Figured out the problem - I was getting ahead of myself and I was using the wrong slot to reinsert the slide stop. Now I can break it down and rebuilt it in under a minute. Going up to the range to shoot an array of pistols, I'll post my results of the EMP when I come back to see if I see the same misfire problem.

[AZ_Gun_lover]

I just talked to the Springfield Armorer. He indicated that FIOCCHI is not SAAMI spec ammo. He indicated that if after 500 round break-in period that if I still have problems using SAAMI spec ammo, then they would take the gun back for repair.

I had no idea that FIOCCHI was not SAAMI spec and that the EMP was rated for only SAAMI spec ammo.

mike

[ChasenGreen]

I just received my EMP a few days ago and just got back from the range. Serial # in the 31XX range. The dealer advised he just got the gun early August for what it's worth. This was a great thread but ended in May. It's now August 17 so I hope everyone is still around and can provide more updates. I'm an experienced shooter with many firearms.

My range report is as follows:

After 85 perfect rounds with Winchester 115 FMJ I had a primer failure. This was disturbing. The shell was in the chamber but would not fire. I re-racked and the gun fired the remainder of the magazine. Not good if I were in a crisis situation. I then finished 75 more perfect rounds which included (15 Winchester for a total 100 rounds and 30 PMC FMJ 115 and 30 Lawman 115 FMJ). Total 160 rounds on FMJ with 1 failure.

I then switched to Defense ammo. I had one box of 20 Federal Hydra Shock hollow points. To my GRAVE DISSAPOINTMENT the very first round which was chambered fired and the second did not feed. I looked down at it in the open chamber. The remaining 18 shells worked fine.

I love this gun but after 180 rounds it's not my ugly Glock 19 which is flawless after about 2,000 rounds.


HELP - I need to hear from your all.

[D-FENS]

I do not own any 1911's, full-size or compact. However, I have read about this gun specifically and heard that there should be 500 rounds fired through it before it's "broken in".

I wouldn't worry. Put a few hundred more down the pipe and follow up, if you don't mind.

[AZ_Gun_lover]

Another suggestion is to try to polish the feed ramp also. I now have more than 500 rounds through the gun and it is now shooting reliably with Winchester ammo. I have not had 1 failure to fire or failure to feed since my earlier post!

I must admit however that I haven't tried the hollow points/ defensive ammo again. I'll try some hollow points this weekend.

This gun as well as my Sig P239 SAS DAK are now my two most favorites at the range, but due to the steep feed ramp, I don't load the EMP with hollow points for every day carry.

[ChasenGreen]

Originally Posted by AZ_Gun_lover

Another suggestion is to try to polish the feed ramp also. I now have more than 500 rounds through the gun and it is now shooting reliably with Winchester ammo. I have not had 1 failure to fire or failure to feed since my earlier post!

I must admit however that I haven't tried the hollow points/ defensive ammo again. I'll try some hollow points this weekend.

This gun as well as my Sig P239 SAS DAK are now my two most favorites at the range, but due to the steep feed ramp, I don't load the EMP with hollow points for every day carry.

AZ,

I did not want to hear that. I had hoped this would be a good carry gun with defense ammo as well as a fun gun for the range. Hopefully more owners will weigh in with their JHP defense ammo experiences.

"Green"