Compact 380 pistols are still a very hot
segment of the firearms market. While many people opt to carry a
handgun on a regular basis, most are aware that they will never
actually have to use the gun in a fight, thus most also opt for
something light and compact, and the 380 fills the bill for
many. The 380 has adequate power for a close-range defensive
pistol, and while I prefer to carry a larger handgun every day,
I know that most people do not, and I would prefer a 380 pocket
pistol to being unarmed. Close up and personal, the 380 can get
the job done if needed, and there are many good choices
available in a lightweight, compact 380 pocket pistol. One such
choice is the subject of this review: the Springfield 911.
The 911 is a single-action semi-automatic
pistol, meaning that the hammer must be cocked before the
trigger can release the sear to fire the weapon. The 911 has
ambidextrous safety levers, and is intended to be carried
cocked-and-locked, meaning hammer cocked and the manual safety
in the “ON” position. To fire the weapon, release the safety
and press the trigger.
The 911 is made primarily of metal. It has a
steel slide and an aluminum frame, finished in a matte black,
and wears durable textured G10 grips. The frame has a generous
beavertail to protect the hand from hammer-bite, and the hammer
is a rounded type, serrated laterally for a positive feel when
cocking the hammer manually. The safety locks the hammer in
place, whether cocked or not. The magazine release is on the
left side, behind the trigger guard, where it belongs. The front
and back of the grip area is also textured for a positive grip
in any weather.
One area that is often overlooked on compact
pistols is in sighting. The 911 has an excellent set of
tritium-illuminated night sights,
made out of steel. They are black with the familiar three-dot
pattern, with luminous circles around the green tritium inserts.
Perfect.
The folks at Springfield paid attention to
details on the 911. The trigger pull is excellent, having a very
crisp release with just four and three-quarters pounds
resistance on the sample pistol shown here. The feed ramp is
polished for smooth feeding from the stainless-steel magazines,
two of which are included; one is a six-shot which fits flush
with the grip frame, and the other a seven-shot extended
version.
Critical
specifications for the Springfield 911 are listed in the chart
below. Weights are listed in ounces. Linear dimensions are
listed in inches. Trigger pull is listed in pounds of
resistance, as measured with my Lyman digital trigger pull
scale. Height includes sights and standard flush magazine base.
Maximum width is measured across the ambidextrous safety levers.
Chambering |
380 ACP |
Weight with Empty Magazine |
13.9 ounces |
Barrel Length |
2.82 inches |
Barrel Diameter |
0.468 inch |
Overall Height |
3.92 inches |
Overall Length |
5.54 inches |
Grip Width |
0.94 inch |
Slide Width |
0.795 inch |
Maximum Width |
1.04 inches |
Trigger Reach |
2.36 inches |
Trigger Pull |
4.75 pounds |
Magazine Capacity |
6 and 7 |
Magazines Supplied |
2 |
Sights |
3-Dot,
Windage-Adjustable Night Sights |
Manual Safety |
Yes, Ambidextrous |
Loaded-Chamber Indicator |
Yes |
Accessory Rail |
No |
Magazine Safety |
Hell No |
MSRP as of December 2018 |
$599.00 US |
I
fired the 911 with every brand and type of 380 ACP ammunition
available to me to check for reliable function. I fired several
types of ammunition over the chronograph to check velocities,
with the results listed in the chart below. Velocities are
listed in feet-per-second (FPS), and were recorded ten feet from
the muzzle of the little 911. Bullet weights are listed in
grains. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint bullet. TAC-XP and DPX are
Barnes hollowpoint homogenous copper bullets. FMJ is a full
metal jacket roundnose bullet. FP is a full metal jacket
flat-point bullet. PB
is Cor-Bon Pow’RBall. HC is a
hard-cast flat-nose lead bullet. Velocities were taken at an
elevation of 541 feet above sea level, with an air temperature
around the thirty-two-degree Fahrenheit mark, with eighty-two
percent relative humidity.
Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
Remington JHP |
102 |
932 |
Super Vel JHP |
90 |
960 |
Barnes TAC-XP |
90 |
910 |
Cor-Bon JHP |
90 |
963 |
Cor-Bon PB |
70 |
1112 |
Cor-Bon DPX |
80 |
1121 |
Handload JHP |
88 |
997 |
Buffalo Bore JHP |
90 |
1023 |
Buffalo Bore FMJ |
95 |
906 |
Buffalo Bore HC |
100 |
976 |
Buffalo Bore TAC-XP +P |
80 |
1223 |
Buffalo Bore JHP +P |
90 |
1157 |
Buffalo Bore FMJ +P |
95 |
1004 |
Buffalo Bore HC +P |
100 |
1034 |
CCI Blazer Brass FMJ |
95 |
893 |
The
Springfield 911 pistol functioned flawlessly with every type of
ammo tested. Every cartridge fed, fired, and ejected perfectly.
The slide is very easy to operate to chamber a cartridge. The
magazine loads with very little effort. The trigger pull is a
perfect single-action pull. There is no long, stacking, trigger
pull on this weapon; just a light, crisp, short trigger pull,
like a 1911, because it IS very close to a1911 in operation.
Using the seven-shot magazine, the grip is long enough to get
every finger on the pistol for easy control, even with my large
hand. Even while using the Buffalo Bore Plus P ammo, the pistol
is easy to fire, and easy to fire accurately. The 911 also
conceals very easily and comfortably, with the slide being just
a hair over three-quarters of an inch thick, yet having a barrel
that is long enough to squeeze more velocity from a 380
cartridge. Springfield
also thoughtfully put an ambidextrous safety on this pistol for
those of us who shoot with the left hand.
The 911 is a dandy little 380 pistol. It has an excellent
feel, great sights, easy controls, and is reliable with a wide
variety of ammunition. Springfield got this one just right.
Check
out this and other Springfield Armory firearms and accessories
online at www.springfield-armory.com.
For
the location of a Springfield dealer near you, click on the
DEALER FINDER at www.lipseys.com.
To
order the Springfield 911 online, click on the Gun Genie at www.galleryofguns.com.
To
order quality 380 ACP ammunition, go to www.buffalobore.com,
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com,
www.luckygunner.com,
and www.doubletapammo.com.
Jeff Quinn
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