The Springfield Armory 911, now in 9mm!
At the official SHOT Show 2019 range day I set out to shoot the smallest pistol I could find… Actually, I didn’t, but I think I did coincidentally shoot the smallest pistol out there. That pistol would be the Springfield Armory 911 in 9mm.
Ever since Springfield Armory introduced the 911 in .380ACP, customers have been asking for a 9mm version. While the smaller cartridge lends itself to pocket pistols, some feel it is underpowered and would like to up their concealed carry game. Springfield Armory has listened and in 2019 they’ve delivered.
While the 911 is offered with a black nitride lide, the one I shot was stainless steel.
Of course, there is no free lunch. So while the 9mm version of the 911 is small, it is a slightly bigger version of the .380 ACP. By the numbers, compared to the .380 (in parentheses) it is:
- Height: 3.9” vs (3.9”)
- Length: 5.9” vs (5.5”)
- Weight: 15.3oz vs (12.6oz)
- Barrel: 3” 416R Stainless Steel Black Nitride vs (2.7”)
- Slide: 416 Stainless Steel
- Frame: 7075 T6 Hard Coat Anodized Aluminum
- Sights: Pro-Glo Tritium/Luminescent Front & White Outlined Tritium Night Sight Rear
- Recoil System: Full-Length Guide Rod with Flat Wire Spring
- Magazine: 6 round Flush & 7 round Extended, Stainless Steel
- MSRP: $659 ($599)
I will say there are some nice features on the 911. For starters, compared to other pocket pistols, the safety is enlarged. Not so much so that it is unwieldily but just large enough to be confidently manipulated without being so bulky as to get in the way.
The ambidextrous thumb safety of the 911 moves distinctly between “safe” and “fire.”
Additionally, I do like their use of the G10. The Hogue scales of the 911 are made of a G10 with a pretty aggressive slanted grip texture. This is good for a pistol of this size but also a double-edged sword I will speak to later. Also of note, is the G10 trigger with the small lightening cuts on either side.
The 911 uses a partially skeletonized trigger made of G10.
So how did this 911 perform for me during my little time with it? First off, it shoots! The sights are bright and easy to pick up and I had no problem hitting a variety of steel plates at about 10 yards. The trigger is clean with a distinct reset.
All that being said, it is now a full power 9mm in a little package, which as a result creates some pretty snappy recoil. The aggressive texturing on the grips, as well as the front and back strap of the frame, make sure the pistol stays in your hand. Because of this though, it would not fall into the category of pleasant guns to shoot.
But that isn’t its intended role. It isn’t made for plinking, it is purpose-built to be a “formidable self-defense tool.” For those that want the footprint of the 911 coupled with the stopping power of a 9mm. And to that end, Springfield Armory has generously delivered.
The front strap and back strap feature Springfield Armory’s Octo-Grip texturing.
For more information on the 911 in 9mm visit
Glad to see this more affordable option offered in 9mm. Well done, Springfield.
Really wish he wasn’t saying 9 m m. 9 millimeter, 9 mil…. Saying 9 m m makes him sound ignorant. That said, It is sharp looking and it is priced less then the Sig. That makes it a better deal. Also, the Sig doesn’t offer have the ambidextrous safety, unless you pay extra, or the fiber sights.
Looks interesting. Waiting to see how it handles when Clay is testing it.
Just a little late to the dance Springfield. A follower, not a leader. Why not something a little bigger, say Kahr CW size that’s not 30 oz.
Ya see how fickle we gun nuts are? It seens only yesterday ( it wasn’t) that everyone couldnt possibly go on living without a double stack hi cap pistol.Never fell for it and continue using what I used as a teenager-a single stack 1911.Oh the shame . Now we have these micro pistols in battle calibers and we call it progress.But lately-late at night when no one is around, I hide under the covers and and look at pictures of the Sig 938 Emperor Scorpion. I hope nobody finds out what a pervert I am.
Not that this looks exactly like the Sig 938.
You are forgiven if you’re not around all of these guns enough to be able to tell the difference. Just like with the .380 911, people always jumped on the “It’s a Sig P238!” bandwagon. Firstly, the Sig P238 wasn’t original either. Colt did it first with the Mustang and then Kimber with the Micro 380, and this, the Kimber Micro9 also exists. But hey, let’s stick with the P938 since apparently it’s wrong now that someone who isn’t Sig decided to jump onto this platform. In case you didn’t notice, the trigger guard on this is much larger than that of the P938. The same improvement they made in the .380 version when compared to the original… the Colt Mustang… then eventually the Sig P238 which was 2 copies after… But it’s ok, because we like Sig so they are allowed to copy things… Except Springfield actually did make a change to it, the trigger guard like mentioned, and they also change up the profile of the slide to taper up toward the top, making it a bit sleeker looking. I haven’t tried out the 9mm version, but the .380 version had a nicer feeling trigger when compared to the original… Again, the Colt Mustang, then the Kimber Micro .380, and also compared to the copy-of-a-copy-that’s-ok-because-Sig-did-it Sig P238. Lastly, it comes standard with front and rear strap texturing, not all of the Colts, Kimbers, or Sigs have that unless you pay more for an upgraded model. And it also comes standard with night sights. Another feature not present on all of the others unless you pay extra… But personally I don’t care much about the sights since close-range self-defense shooting is mostly point shooting anyway, but it’s a nice feature. My favorite upgrade is the larger trigger guard. That’s the one thing I really disliked about the miniaturized 1911’s like the Colt Mustang, Kimber Micros, and the Sig P238/P938. Going from a finger off the trigger grip to putting your finger onto the trigger was like threading the needle on them, but on the 911 it actually is very easy… So hey, if your eyes cannot see those differences, I don’t blame you, not everyone is really that well-versed on the details of every gun. I’m sure there are people who confuse the different kinds of polymer guns as well…
The .380 haters have moved yet another manufacturer to provide another 9mm. Where does it end? The modern .380 cartridge is as effective as any other defensive bullet when placed properly. The myth that it does not is just that, a myth.
“When placed properly.”
That’s a big statement. Of course, any round, with proper placement, can be effective. That’s the thing about self defense…you don’t know what the situation will be. Though I love the .380acp round, and truly believe it’s much better than carrying nothing, it fails penetration tests time and again. If given the option between .380 and 9mm, with essentially the same carry footprint, I’d take the 9mm. Further to that point, 9mm has SAAMI specs for +p, where the .380 does not.
Where is Clay at? His reports from Shot Show are the best
Couldn’t make it this year.