I’m in the market for a single stack 9mm and have narrowed my choices primarly down to the Sig 239 and the SA EMP. Does anyone have a fair amount of expereince with either fo these?
There’s another current 239 thread running that you may find helpfull.
Eric
Buy the SIG. I had a DA/SA P239 a few years back in .357SIG (Not my choice of calibers, it was what was authorized). It was the last SIG that I have purchased. I must say that it had the best trigger of any DA/SA SIG that I have ever shot. Although I am not the biggest fan of SIG anymore I will say that you will be buying a professional grade concealable pistol. I found that I had to put Hogues on it to make it comfortable to shoot but it was a better shooter than the P229 DA/SA I was carrying as a primary at the time. I think the P239 would be an awesome pistol if SIG or someone made a compact double stack frame for it.
Springfield armory all the way!!!
Go with the SIG.
The EMP is not a 1911, but a scaled down one. It shares very little parts with one and is a completely separate pistol.
The Sig will be much easier to get parts for and easier to work on.
The P239 is a proven and time tested pistol that will be around for a long time. The EMP???
I also don’t like how the EMP only comes in two tone finish. I also hate Springfield’s huge ass writing and logo on their pistols.
If you want something like the EMP, I would get a 9mm Colt officers or a Colt Government .380.
“Springfield armory all the way!!!”
That was useful. You back that up with what? unbridled enthusiasm? The number of officers, agents, etc. that carry it professionally? Its proven track record? The fact they build the XD? What?
While far from an empirical study, every single person I know personally who has owned an EMP has eventually regretted the purchase. I’m sure there is someone out there in the interweb who claims he’s fired five bazillion rounds through his without a single stoppage, but I put “reliable EMP” up there with “unicorn” on the list of things I expect never to see in my lifetime.
I had a reliable EMP until I had to send it back to the factory for a machining error. Great little pistol, very fun to shoot and accurate. Bought it for my wife. Don’t think I’d compare to a Sig though.
I’ll post when I get it back. The machining error never should have made it through QC.
To paraphrase LAV:
- 1911’s in 9mm should be considered nothing more than toys
- 1911’s in compact configuration are problematic and unreliable
Of the two choices you mentioned, I’d prefer the P239 by a mile. My P239 was bought before the switch at Sig. It’s a good, reliable handgun, although it likes a bit more lube than many of the plastic options on the market. While it’s a good handgun…I don’t like it any more than the S&W 3913. The one real advantage the P239 has over the 3913 is the availability of CT grips.
I chose the EMP after a similar decision to yours. Know that the rumors are true, chances are an EMP will need to be tuned by Springfield. Mine had some issues in the first 200 rds. I called Springfield, they took it and had it back to me in a week. Paid postage as well, so no charge whatsoever. Their smith did the kind of work I’d expect on a comp pistol, matched feed ramp to frame etc. It feeds any ammo I run through it and is ridiculously accurate. Anyone who has shot an EMP will agree it is a pleasure to shoot.
Another thing I looked at in the decision is the Sig 239 does not share the profile of other Sigs. Concealment holsters are specific to it alone. With the EMP any of the micro 1911 holsters will work. The other thing I looked at is company support. Springfield is great to deal with and has a reputation for that. Also I’m a lefty so the EMP is good to go out of the box. I’ve shot Sigs and don’t find them lefty friendly at all. Not a huge issue but an issue nonetheless. Last, I like the aluminum, stainless combo on the EMP. For a carry gun in FL that is less worry about rust.
Hmmm, maybe I’ll just dig up a Smith 3913 or 3953
SA mc operator!!!
Uh no. I’m not looking for another government model 1911.
I think it may not be a high round count training class gun but it’s certainly wicked accurate and carries well. It’s pretty damned fun to shoot.
Correct me if I’m wrong but another issue with the EMP is that it is not +P rated
Also I think for that price SA ought to do their reliability packages or whatever before the guns are shipped out! Do they think some people buy the guns just to stare at them or use them as stylish paper weights :rolleyes:?
Sadly, they would be correct in that line of thinking
After going to work for an agency that fielded 9 mm Sigs, I bought a 239. It was OK - if you like widgets on your gun - but I traded it for a G19 and never looked back. I wouldn’t take a chance on the EMP from what I hear others say. I’ve not seen anyone put any large number of rounds through an EMP, though.
sweet! i’ve owned both these platforms…
I sold the sig and kept the emp. I do not carry the emp though… I’m the big bafoon who likes staring at it. 
I wouldn’t carry either of the two or take courses with either but I’ve shot both a bit and logged it in my shooters journal.
I put 630 rounds through the sig with 2 failures to feed (both were ga arms factory reloaded ammuntion)
I’ve put 450 rounds through the EMP with 0 failures to feed or eject. (Similar ammo brands to the stuff used in the Sig, some factory new some factory reloads)
Both guns were very comfortable to shoot
Both guns were easy to carry (single stacks are nice on the hip, inside the pants)
I like the trigger on the EMP vs the Sig but the EMP is only single action where as the sig was d/a and s/a (this could be a deciding factor) The EMP trigger was better even compared to the sig cocked and locked.
Accuracy is better with the EMP but not by a significant ammount over the sig.
I would have a hard time recommending the Springfield to you because of all the bad comments out there, I have had really good luck with mine but that is a sample of one and not something I would lend a ton of credence to. I am not a fan of springfield 1911’s either but this little EMP just always makes me smile to pull out and shoot.
When I carry compact, I carry a G26 and I would recommend it without hesitation over either of the other two. The sig and the emp were both fun to shoot though and would probably be more comfortable on the hip if you haven’t carried before.
Yeah I understand what you mean. And I suppose it is more cost effective to turn out a slew of slightly, to not so slightly, rough guns, then to do the reliability package on all of them, when only a relatively small segment of buyers take the effort to send the gun back to be made right, I’m guessing.
Sorry for the tangent, but I think this is an amusing anecdote based on my thought above. I was listening to Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk on the radio yesterday. This man calls and asks what he should do about his Taurus 24/7 that can only feed ball ammo reliably. So Tom’s advice was, and I’m paraphrasing: “Well, you know, I’ve taken a lot of self defense courses, with the likes of Clint Smith, etc., and you know what they all carry in their guns? Ball ammo. So the question you have to ask yourself is “does it really matter that you can’t shoot JHP’s”. I mean you are already shooting a big heavy bullet”. At which point the caller says “yeah that’s what my buddy said, who cares, you’re shooting a .45”. Tom then told him that he may consider taking the gun to a gunsmith to get it too feed JHP’s, but the gun was designed for ball ammo, and if it was him, he’d just use ball ammo in the gun. At no point did he even suggest sending the gun back to Taurus.
Anyway, this is not meant to criticize Tom Gresham or Gun Talk, but I use the anecdote to emphasize that lots of people probably just settle with what they’ve got, and if the gun doesn’t feed well, oh well.
I carry a full size M&P daily and use a 26 at work as a BUG. I’m looking for a single stack gun so that I have something that’s thinner and a bit lighter