Gun Review: Springfield Armory Ronin EMP 3″ 9mm 1911

Carry pistols seem to get smaller with each iteration. With the introduction of pistols like SIG’s P365 and Springfield’s Hellcat pushing the envelope, it forced a revolution of sorts in the gun industry. That revolution meant smaller and easier to conceal guns with increased capacity. It was only a matter of time before the venerable 1911 got the same treatment.

It used to be that if you wanted to carry what many would call John Browning’s finest achievement, you’d opt for a 1911 sporting a 4- or 5-inch barrel or limit your capacity to 6+1 with something like a Detonics Combat Master with 3-inch barrel.

Other manufacturers made smaller 1911s, but the capacity was never quite there, or they were harder to carry double stacks. Making matters worse for some is the stouter felt recoil associated with the .45 ACP in smaller packages, and the fact that most people just don’t shoot as often as they should.

The obvious answer, then, was a smaller 1911-esque pistol chambered in a caliber other than (gasp!) .45 Auto with higher capacity. One of those pistols is Springfield Armory’s EMP line.

Springfield Armory’s EMPs (Enhanced Micro Pistol) aren’t exactly technological breakthroughs. They’ve been a few other pistols sporting the EMP name and I’ve shot most of them. I owned the now-discontinued EMP4 Lightweight Champion for a few years before unforeseen expenses forced me to sell it.

Politics aside, I’m convinced that Springfield Armory builds some of the best mainline 1911s available on today’s market. They may not have all the bells and whistles but if you want a gun that works, won’t break the bank, and is pleasing to the eye — then SA is a good place to start.

This time around we discuss the SA Ronin EMP 3″, a packable, three-inch barrel 1911-style pistol. While the EMP 3 doesn’t break any capacity records, it has upped the amount of bad guy stoppers you can carry to 10 (9+1) in a small, concealable package.

The Ronin EMP 3 gets its start as a two-tone pistol with an aluminum frame and forged carbon steel slide that, according to Springfield, was built around the 9mm Luger cartridge. In my humble opinion, this is a very attractive pistol you’ll be proud to carry.

Unlike the other EMPs I’ve fired, the Ronin EMP 3 has no front strap checkering or dimples present. I didn’t really miss them, though, due to the gun’s weight (24 oz.) and being able to wrap all of my fingers comfortably around the grip.

Riding on the silver Cerakoted aluminum frame is a blued steel slide with a rounded, matte finished top to help reduce glare while shooting in bright light.

Another spot where this EMP is different from some of the others is that there is no tool required for takedown — a huge plus in my book since I lost the one my old pistol came with during the first week. Speaking of takedown, it’s fairly straightforward and easy once you’ve gotten the hang of getting the recoil spring/guide rod assembly out.

Simply pull the slide back to the appropriate spot (if you’ve ever pulled a similar gun apart you know what I’m talking about and if not, YouTube is your friend), pop the pin, and push the slide off the frame. From there, you finagle the recoil spring assembly out of the slide, push the barrel link down, and slide the barrel out the front.

Reverse the process for assembly, and a function check will reveal a nice, crisp trigger pull that I’d estimate to be around 3-5 pounds, though I don’t currently have a working gauge.

Speaking of the trigger, it is skeletonized (as is the hammer) and adds to the overall aesthetic of the pistol.

One thing that Springfield Armory has seemingly been in tune with customers about is stupid branding. What I mean is my old EMP 4 Lightweight Champion had an in-your-face attitude screaming the make and model of the pistol from the slide. The Ronin’s text is much smaller and more understated.

There’s no GRIP ZONE here — thank goodness — and folks in the lanes next to you at the range will only notice that you’re shooting a 1911.

I had zero issues with the 9-round Mec-Gar magazine that shipped with the pistol. That’s been my experience that Mec-Gar makes fine magazines and these is one is certainly no different. The main issue for me is that only one mag is included with the gun for the MSRP of $917.

I’m a firm believer that every defensive handgun needs to ship with at least two magazines, if not three. Personally speaking, it’s a disservice to customers to only include one mag.

My other gripe with the gun is its lack of ambidextrous control. Left-handed people exist, and they’d likely love this pistol if they were able to manipulate the safety as easily as righties can.

Even with the two drawbacks listed above, the Ronin carries and shoots very well and vigorously ate the three different types of munitions I fed it (listed below). I haven’t experienced a single malfunction with the gun.

This pistol sports a 3-inch bull barrel. While it isn’t something I’d enter into long-distance shooting competitions with I’d have every confidence carrying it for self-defense. I stepped it out to 10 yards with minute-of-man accuracy and would feel confident carrying this pistol around for defensive scenarios any day of the week.

For a sub $1,000 1911 that you easily can carry and trust with your life, I’d say that Springfield has done a very good job with the Ronin EMP 3. If you’re one of the legion of 1911 manual of arms devotees who likes single action and carrying cocked and locked, the EMP 3 will likely be right up your alley.

Specifications: Springfield Armory Ronin EMP 3 1911

Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 9+1 rounds
Barrel Length: 3″
Overall Length: 6.6″
Weight: 24 oz.
MSRP: $917

Ratings (out of five stars):

Aesthetics * * * * *
This is an empirically good-looking pistol. There’s something about the iconic design of Browning’s most popular handgun that people naturally flock to and the Ronin EMP 3 is no different. The two-tone color scheme and wood grips are pleasing to the eye. And the fact that they skipped the in-your-face branding is a huge bonus.

Ergonomics * * * *
The 1911 is one of the most ergonomically ideal handgun designs ever conceived. That said, I’m not a lefty. And lefties were left out in the Ronin EMP 3’s design process.

Reliability * * * * *
I fired hundreds of rounds and it worked with each press of the trigger. I fed it 124 grain PPU, 115 grain Federal American Eagle, and 124 grain Federal Punch JHP personal defense ammo. The Ronin EMP 3 just kept going.

Accuracy * * * * *
This is an everyday carry personal defense pistol. I test fired it at 5, 7, and 10 yards. I shoot 1911-style pistols well and this gun was no different. The short, crisp trigger lends itself to very accurate shooting, particularly for a gun with a 3-inch barrel. And because the 9mm recoil was mild, I was able to get back on target for fast, accurate follow-up shots. I shot several magazines one-handed and the accuracy did not suffer at all.

Overall * * * *
Again, the only knocks against the Ronin EMP 3 are the single magazine that’s included and the lack of an ambidextrous safety. If you’re right-handed and don’t mind shelling out more cash for more the minimum number of magazines you should have for your carry pistol, this is a five-star gun.