When Springfield Armory’s Enhanced Micro Pistol (EMP) exploded onto the market back in the 2000s, it rapidly gained a name for itself among the die-hard 1911 crowd. In the process, this “crossover” concealed carry mini-1911 helped to entice some who were on the fence to explore the delights and effectiveness of the platform.
Admittedly, there are those who carry full-sized, all-steel 1911 pistols daily and have adapted to the challenges — and rewards. But it takes no small amount of dedication to manage it, and I do admire their tenacity.
I am someone who has carried guns for well over 50 years, including my career as a cop. If you’re like me, you’ve found the luster of the idea of carrying soon loses its shine. For most, it’s more of a chore than a delight. However, if you commit to it, there are options.
Personally, I’ve found over the years that a combination of light weight, effective caliber and comfortable carrying definitely strikes the right chords. Finding something that can achieve all those disparate goals is no easy task, though.
The EMP checks off a lot of boxes when it comes to being an important contender in the daily carry race. The stock pistol is ready to go right out of the box, with one of the latest editions — the lightweight Ronin 3″ version — fitting well into what I’d call a “best” category when it comes to 1911-style carry guns.
From the satin aluminum frame, forged steel blued slide, ramped match grade barrel, excellent sights and nine-round 9mm magazine, there’s lots to like. Factor in the feathery 24-oz. weight and amazing accuracy, and the Ronin EMP platform nails it all.
The EMP isn’t just a cut-down, full-sized 1911, which can often compromise reliability when taken too far. The EMP was engineered specifically for the 9mm cartridge and has been carefully scaled down, with 11 proprietary parts designed specifically for this model. When you wrap your hand around the grip, I promise you’ll smile. While I favor the 3″ version, the EMP Ronin chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge is also available as a 4″ version with a 10-round capacity.
Stan Chen Magic
Even the most elegantly designed objects can often benefit from careful customization touches, and the EMP Ronin is no exception. I’ll be the first to admit the stock gun does the job handily, and mine has done just that for some time. But when I found Stan Chen — that top-tier custom ’smith — was offering a cross-section of custom touches just for the EMP, I had to try them.
Stan’s sheer knowledge of what makes a 1911 run is legendary. His custom builds hold up even when scrutinized with a 20X magnifier. My own tests with his guns have revealed a level of accuracy almost defying belief. I once shot 60 rounds at 25 yards into just under 1″ from one of his custom guns.
This expertise, when matched with his designer’s eye for improvements, has managed almost light-year leaps in comfort, ergonomics and performance for the 1911. Now, Stan brings that skillset and background to the excellent little EMP.
At the moment, Stan Chen Custom offers a Shooter-Installed (SI) Magwell with matching VZ grips designed specifically for the EMP’s reduced 9mm-sized grip frame, an enhanced thumb safety design, a custom-designed and enhanced mag release, and sight options. I asked Stan if I could try them on my personal gun, and the game was afoot.
Speeding the Feed
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the “Shooter Installed” SI magwell (for which Chen is famous) has been adapted to the EMP platform and its proprietary, 9mm-sized grip frame. It is priced at $199.99 and comes packaged with a set custom VZ Grips in black or black cherry that are cut to match up with the magwell.
If you can detail strip your 1911, you can install this innovative magwell. Stan said he made some specific changes to accommodate the EMP. The first is a redesign of the front contour to specifically work extremely well with Springfield Armory magazines and a wider baseplate profile.
I was surprised by how the round butt profile of the magwell really contributed to comfort and, when combined with the full-profile VZ grips, offered a very secure grip.
The magwell shows the expected Chen attention to detail, too. He’s eliminated any sharp edges on it, added precision checkering at 25 LPI on the mainspring housing, and CNC machined the whole affair from solid, heat-treated steel.
Not only does the new magwell addition offer a huge chute to offer a generous ramp to guide mags in during a fast reload, but in combination with the grips it offers a surprisingly comfortable feel to me. I have always been a big fan of the slim-profile stock grips, but these thicker grips allow a bit more purchase, especially if you’re shooting snappy loads.
In Your Sights
Let’s next discuss one of the most obvious parts of any handgun, the sights. The stock Ronin sights have a classic white dot rear with fiber optic front. They are bold, easy to pick-up and easily adjustable for windage with a set screw. The Chen Full Custom Rear Sight is similar, but with a few changes I want to note.
Priced at $54.99, Stan’s “Full Custom” rear offers a simple, black serrated rear face. There’s also a bit more area to that face, and I find the all-black sight picture to be comfortable for me and easy to pick up for precise work when needed.
The sight exhibits a very smooth and sleek profile with hand-finished, rolled edges like you’d find on a true custom hand-made sight. The blade is angled slightly to help avoid glare in bright sun and is crafted for one-handed slide manipulation. While not significantly different from the stock sight, it does offer a few custom touches I appreciated.
Safety Change
I’ll confess right off I’ve never been a big fan of extended thumb safeties on 1911 pistols. I think some of that is the fact I cut my teeth on stock guns over the past many decades.
The Chen Thumb Safety, priced at $74.99 to $79.99, is offered in blued or stainless steel and in lengths full- or mid- or short-length. The latter was one we fitted the EMP out with, and I like it. It has a slightly enhanced surface platform, and I’d call it a nice balance between the stock design and an extended one.
While having the same features of their longer-length safeties, I think this shorter design mates extremely well to the smaller-statured EMP. The slight curve follows the thumb’s natural bend, and it’s fully dehorned. When correctly fitted, the design allows that crisp “snick” on and off we 1911 shooters like to hear and feel.
A New Catch
Next up is the Chen Angled Mag Catch, which is priced at $49.99. The angled serrations are inclined toward the shooter’s hand so, when you press, they engage the skin of your thumb without any fuss or slipping. If you have to “flip” the grip a bit to reach the release, it’s especially effective.
I also would never have thought of one design element of it. The inside left edge of the release is extensively cleared to prevent the highly unlikely trapping of a magazine, even if the button is pushed hard during a hectic reload. I had honestly never thought of that before, and it’s a clever modification to the design that helps take an absolute worst-case scenario off the table.
Installation
I’m blessed because I have the skills and tools to install these parts. The magwell is, honestly, easy to install with just a punch and small hammer, so fear not, you can do it! If you’re careful, the rear sight goes on easily, too. If you can detail strip a 1911, then the mag catch won’t be too much of an issue. Just use care so you don’t bugger up the screw head!
On the other hand, the thumb safety isn’t a drop-in affair, and has to be fitted by someone who knows what they’re doing. I like to start by using the original part to measure the engagement surfaces for a starting point. Then, by carefully filing the appropriate ledge area to within a few thousandths on the new safety, you can do test fits, file a tiny bit, test fit, etc. until you get that satisfying “snick” we all enjoy. But unless you know how to do this, do take your favorite EMP to a gunsmith you trust. It’s money well invested.
All of the Chen parts are meticulously manufactured in-house on high-end CNC machinery capable of mold-making precision. Multi-axis machining techniques allow for amazing dimensional consistency, leading to more precise fitting to the pistol. They use the highest quality materials (heat-treated 4140 chrome-moly and 416 stainless steel) for durability, and frankly, it shows in the fit, finish and design of their parts.
Custom Conclusion
The gun shoots as well after the installation of the Chen parts (call it a 1.75″ gun at 20 yards depending on the load), as it did before. But the ability to quickly feed in a spare mag, the change in grip ergonomics, sight picture, the feel of the thumb safety, and even the bit of extra assurance the enhanced mag catch offers, all further contribute to the thorough sense of trust I have in this little gun.
I’ll come right out and say Springfield Armory guns are my favorite factory-made guns, and that’s not because I’m writing here — it’s because it’s true. When I was editor of American Handgunner, I often fielded questions from readers.
When asked, “Which factory made 1911 should I buy?” I always pointed them at a Springfield. If they want to take an excellent factory-made 1911 and ramp it up a bit with some thoughtfully designed enhancement parts, then in this case I’d point them at two places … Springfield and Stan Chen Custom.
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