Ordered subject gun from Tombstone Tactical last Thursday and picked up at my LGS this past Monday. Cleaned her up Tuesday and loaded up magazines then for range trip today. Also left slide locked back those two days as well. Commentary between photos and my thoughts are at the end.
To warm up, I fired 115 rounds through my Beretta Px4 CC (LTT version) mainly to rotate my carry ammo. First was 50 rounds Federated Ordnance 124g FMJ and then 65 rounds Federal LE Tactical HST 124g. I ran this drill twice, first with FMJ, then with HST, then used my old carry ammo (more HST) to shoot 5 strings of 2 to center, 1 to head @ 3yds.
3 yds - 5 left shoulder, 5 right shoulder
5 yds - 10 center
7 yds - 10 center
15 yds - 5 center
3 yds - 5 strings of 2 to center, 1 to head
Next I moved on to the real reason for this range trip…trying out my new SA Emissary AOS .45 4.25”.
Here is the first 50 rounds at 7 yds. PMC Bronze 230g FMJ, 830 fps
Here is the same target after 50 more rounds of PMC Bronze 230 FMJ, 830 fps @ 15 yds.
Next target was at 7 yds, 5 rounds at each number in order coming back to #1 for the last 5. AAC 230g FMS 830 fps.
And to finish up the 200 rounds I set out to fire out of the Emissary today, I ran the same drill as I started out with (Beretta at the top) with 50 rounds of Federal American Eagle 230g FMJ 890 fps. The two low center shots were at 15 yds.
My thoughts on the SA Emissary AOS .45 4.25”.
1. First time EVER, I’ve had a new 1911 shoot 200 RDS with zero…and I mean absolutely ZERO…malfunctions. This comparison includes some Wilsons, Dan Wessons, Smith & Wessons, and Colt, all of which had some issue or other at the beginning, some minor and a few major.
2. Love the iron sights. Front sight so easy on these old eyes that uses RDS as a crutch too often. Though I already have a brand spanking new Holosun 507C gr Vulcan ready to mount on this gun, now I’m not sure I really want to…my range is only 15 yds max (indoor) and I’m now afraid I might get bored with an RDS on THIS gun in that setting. I’m thinking I might find it more of a challenge to go irons. We’ll see, as I’d already told myself I wasn’t going to mount an RDS until after 500 rounds.
3. I’ve really missed a 1911 trigger
.
4. PMC Bronze and AAC ammo, while accurate, smokes really badly. 100 more rounds of PMC and it’s all American Eagle going forward. Makes even more sense as I’ll use Federal HST if I ever carry it.
5. I am really, really, really glad I did not get the 9mm version. I think I would find it very unchallenging to shoot. Even with .45 and no RDS, follow ups were exceptionally quick. Center shots at 5 and 7 yards were all fired at speed. If I find a gun boring to shoot, it doesn’t stay with me long. Just long enough to trade for something else I want to try.
6. If all Springfield 1911s are like this gun, I’m likely to end up with another…or two. I can already hear a faint echo of “TSP” “TSP” “TSP”…
7. Next time around, I’ll mix in some HST and just do a short follow up.
8. Most excellent range trip!
To warm up, I fired 115 rounds through my Beretta Px4 CC (LTT version) mainly to rotate my carry ammo. First was 50 rounds Federated Ordnance 124g FMJ and then 65 rounds Federal LE Tactical HST 124g. I ran this drill twice, first with FMJ, then with HST, then used my old carry ammo (more HST) to shoot 5 strings of 2 to center, 1 to head @ 3yds.
3 yds - 5 left shoulder, 5 right shoulder
5 yds - 10 center
7 yds - 10 center
15 yds - 5 center
3 yds - 5 strings of 2 to center, 1 to head
Next I moved on to the real reason for this range trip…trying out my new SA Emissary AOS .45 4.25”.
Here is the first 50 rounds at 7 yds. PMC Bronze 230g FMJ, 830 fps
Here is the same target after 50 more rounds of PMC Bronze 230 FMJ, 830 fps @ 15 yds.
Next target was at 7 yds, 5 rounds at each number in order coming back to #1 for the last 5. AAC 230g FMS 830 fps.
And to finish up the 200 rounds I set out to fire out of the Emissary today, I ran the same drill as I started out with (Beretta at the top) with 50 rounds of Federal American Eagle 230g FMJ 890 fps. The two low center shots were at 15 yds.
My thoughts on the SA Emissary AOS .45 4.25”.
1. First time EVER, I’ve had a new 1911 shoot 200 RDS with zero…and I mean absolutely ZERO…malfunctions. This comparison includes some Wilsons, Dan Wessons, Smith & Wessons, and Colt, all of which had some issue or other at the beginning, some minor and a few major.
2. Love the iron sights. Front sight so easy on these old eyes that uses RDS as a crutch too often. Though I already have a brand spanking new Holosun 507C gr Vulcan ready to mount on this gun, now I’m not sure I really want to…my range is only 15 yds max (indoor) and I’m now afraid I might get bored with an RDS on THIS gun in that setting. I’m thinking I might find it more of a challenge to go irons. We’ll see, as I’d already told myself I wasn’t going to mount an RDS until after 500 rounds.
3. I’ve really missed a 1911 trigger
.4. PMC Bronze and AAC ammo, while accurate, smokes really badly. 100 more rounds of PMC and it’s all American Eagle going forward. Makes even more sense as I’ll use Federal HST if I ever carry it.
5. I am really, really, really glad I did not get the 9mm version. I think I would find it very unchallenging to shoot. Even with .45 and no RDS, follow ups were exceptionally quick. Center shots at 5 and 7 yards were all fired at speed. If I find a gun boring to shoot, it doesn’t stay with me long. Just long enough to trade for something else I want to try.
6. If all Springfield 1911s are like this gun, I’m likely to end up with another…or two. I can already hear a faint echo of “TSP” “TSP” “TSP”…
7. Next time around, I’ll mix in some HST and just do a short follow up.
8. Most excellent range trip!
