Gunner Quinn
Shooting
I shot the Ronin EMP 4″ model using five different ammo types over several outings. As for subjective handling, I wasn’t disappointed. Even with the price-point-enhancing design changes, this pistol still shoots like a high-end model. The weight soaks up recoil, the action is smooth and I had no malfunctions of any kind. This one came straight out of the box, received no care, cleaning, or lubrication and went to work.
I mixed up bullet styles and weights to identify any obvious ammo sensitivities.
First up was Federal’s Syntech Defense load. This one sways toward the heavier side for 9mm, weighing 138 grains. The blue-polymer-coated bullet is designed to fragment into three distinct wedges upon impact. I’ve gel-tested it in the past and it does precisely that. From the 4″ pistol (as are all the following velocity and accuracy numbers), I measured its speed at 1,051 fps. From 15 yards, it was printing 2.0″ five-shot groups when shooting using the iron sights and a Ransom Multi-Caliber rest.
Next up, I checked out Federal 124-grain Training Match ammo. At 15 yards, I got an average of 1.59″ five-shot groups and an average velocity of 1,124 fps.
Black Hills HoneyBadger is a solid-copper projectile complete with novel cuts designed to violently displace fluid in targets much like a drill bit. As expected, they zipped right along, measuring 1,198 fps and printing 1.48″ groups at 15 yards.
Norma MHP 108-grain defensive rounds are designed for maximum expansion. They averaged 1,133 over the Competition Electronics ProChrono DLX and printed 2.25″ groups at 15 yards.
Last but not least, I finished up with some more traditional ammo, the Federal Punch 124-grain defensive round. This traditional jacketed hollow point bullet averaged 1,114 fps and printed five-shot groups of 1.43″.
If the EMP has been out of your financial reach, the Ronin EMP is your huckleberry. With some creative design tweaks and repackaging, Springfield Armory has knocked nearly $400 off the MSRP of the original EMP pistol. Coming in at $899, this Enhanced Micro Pistol is more accessible to shooters who want a high-end carry pistol. With eyes closed, one would be hard-pressed to feel the difference.
Springfield-Armory.com
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