My love affair with 1911s started the day my dad showed me his WWII Springfield. It was worn and a little nicked, but it felt magical in my hands. Since that day, I’ve had a passion towards these classic guns. Fast forward a little, and I have the wonderful opportunity to review and shoot many of these great firearms. The Springfield Armory Emissary is one example that immediately comes to mind. The Springfield Armory Emissary 4,25-Inch 1911 When I was asked to write an article on a new Springfield pistol, I felt as if I had come full cycle. The Emissary 4.25″ is one of the latest additions to the popular 1911 line. Bridging the Gap The gun was built with solid Springfield DNA. Springfield Armory describes the Emissary as “a bold and capable addition” to the Springfield Armory 1911 family. It is built with durable forged steel for its barrel, slide and frame. It is a defensive pistol that has an air of refinement. The pistol features a beautiful two tone finish with a blued steel slide and stainless steel frame. It also has a squared triggerguard. The slide is “Tri-Top”-cut to give it a custom-grade look. A heavy-profile bull bar ensures maximum accuracy while reducing felt recoil. The gun is equipped with Springfield Armory U-Dot sighting, which includes a tritium-front sight for low-light situations. I was initially a bit sceptical, but have grown to appreciate this sight design. The hammer has been skeletonized in order to improve locking times. When I say it is skeletonized, that means it’s one of the thinnest I’ve seen. Springfield included the popular Gen 2 Speed Trigger, with its simplified and streamline design, just as it did with the full-size pistol. It is a flat, solid trigger with a good texture on the face. The trigger broke on the bench at a comfortable 4.5 lbs with very little creep. The gun is equipped with a heavy-profile barrel that has been designed to maximize accuracy and reduce muzzle flip. The barrel is equipped with a fully supported feeding ramp to increase strength and durability. The grip texture of the Emissary has a grenade-like texture for firm control under any conditions. The slim grips are made from G10 while the mainspring housing, front strap and mainspring housing are also machined in the same material. Holstering the Springfield Emissary Springfield sent an Emissary for me to test drive and gain a better understanding of the gun. The only challenge I faced right out of box was finding a holster. The square triggerguard is retro and cool, but it makes holster selection difficult. Springfield provided a Mitch Rosen Express leather holster after they visited them. It was well-made and beautiful. Springfield knows that holsters are going to be a problem for a long time, so they have the 5JR on their website. Range Workout With everything rigged, it was now time to hit up the range. After a little pre-shooting lubrication and a few test shots to determine my point-of impact, we were ready to go. It is pointless to discuss muzzle rise with this gun because it barely exists. This model is supposed to be more jumpy because Springfield has shaved off three-quarters an inch from their full-size gun. This is not the case. This, coupled with a nice, short trigger, allowed me to really push the pedal. After a few magazines of focused speed shooting, I saw a fist-sized grey impact zone on the freshly painted targets. It took me a few minutes to get used to the gun’s lack of movement. It is a Commander-size pistol that uses 230-grain ammo. I think the fact that it still has some weight to it, despite being a smaller package, allows it absorb a lot of recoil. The heavy barrel and trigger made accuracy easy. The sights were easy for the user to grasp and use. The grooves on the top of the slide do more than just look good. They help to break up any reflections from the sun or light when you are pointing in. It is very clever and works well. Running Drills The 5JR Holster was a great combination for running drills. Kydex is a great material, but leather and 1911s go together like Captain Tennille and Captain. It’s a little dated, but it still works for you. As you would expect, the holster was snug. Even by the end, it started to run more smoothly. I felt compelled to shoot at distances that the gun wasn’t designed for, as it shoots so tight. The range I was at had a maximum distance of 100 yards, for better or for worse. I was able to punch the center mass of a two-thirds size IDPA steel silhouette at that distance with minimal effort. This is not applicable in the real-world. It is a great way to test the trigger control and overall accuracy of a firearm. It is also a lot of fun. The numbers When the business turned to groups written on paper, it was the gun that continued to shine. I used three different types of ammunition that day. I used three different types of ammo that day: Winchester 230 grain White Box, American Eagle 230 grain Syntech, and Hornady 185 grain XTP. The Hornady was the winner with a group measuring 1.5 inches. All three flavors performed well. The gun was flawless in terms of its functionality. I can’t say a few days on the range is a true test for durability, but they are a good indicator. This gun is almost unstoppable with good ammunition, good magazines and proper lubrication. I mention lubrication, because it’s essential for a pistol to work. I’ve seen it in countless classes, and during other training that the main cause of 1911 malfunctions is lack of lubrication. The shooters then blame the gun for not being maintained. This rant belongs in another article. The Springfield Emissary is an Easy-to-Handle 1911 In the operational category the gun was easy to shoot. It has no sharp edges and was easy to get in and out of a holster. I used the Emissary for my EDC and found it comfortable. I was able carry it outside the waistband since we are in the middle of winter in Arizona. This allows me to wear a lighter jacket without looking out of place. It weighs just a little over 38 ounces so you know that it’s there. The holster holds its shape well and does not flex. Leather is one of the reasons I like it. It feels better on your skin. I always carry two extra magazines with me when my EDC revolves around a 1911. The Emissary’s 8+1 capacity is average for a 1911. Some people think this means the gun is relatively small. Many of these naysayers carry micro blasters that have the same or lower capacity. It is important to always have an extra magazine, no matter what pistol you carry. Parting Shots As I packed up the Emissary to ship it back to Springfield I thought about all the things I had learned with the gun. It was a joy to shoot. It was easy to use, accurate, and comfortable to carry. Springfield’s Emissary 4.25″ pistol is more than just a marketing gimmick to sell matching 1911s. This gun is a stand-alone and would be a great EDC pistol. If you’re like me and love the 1911 for everything it has to offer, you should check out the Emissary 4.25″. For more information, visit Springfield-Armory.com. Springfield Emissary 4.25″ Caliber:.45ACPBarrel: 4.25 in
Overall Length : 7.73 Inches
Weight: 38.6 Ounces (empty).
Sights: U-Dot
Grips: VZ Thinline G10
Action: SA
Finish: Two-tone
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $1,349 Performance LOAD VELOCITYACCURACYAmerican Eagle 230 Syntech8301.75Hornady 185 XTP9701.50Winchester 230 White Box 835 2.00 Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second (fps) and accuracy in inches for best 5-shot groups from 25 yards. This article was first published in Personal Defense World’s June/July issue 2022. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected]. Continue reading Didn’t get what you were looking? Search The post TESTED – The Springfield Armory Emissary 4.25-Inch 1911.45 ACP appeared first on Personal Defense World.
