As many readers will know, Springfield has wasted no time in 2016 with a salvo of daily launches of new products in the first quarter of the year. Today, January 16, Springfield officially unveiled its new EMP.

Springfield was kind enough to send James of TFBTV a pre-run sample so he could get some trigger time with this new gun and record a brief, hands-on segment before SHOT Show.

The press release is below. Special thanks to Springfield for sending us this (and several other!) 1911s to try out before they actually hit the market. Keep your eyes on TFB, as more surprises from Springfield are on the way!

Springfield Armory® Adds New Enhanced Micro Pistol (EMP)

GENESEO, IL, January 16, 2016 – New for 2016, Springfield Armory® presents a dramatic improvement to the EMP®, arguably one of the most popular and shootable pistols ever. Perfectly proportioned extensions of length and height make the new EMP® four-inch Lightweight Champion™ easier to shoot while adding ammunition capacity.Springfield Armory® engineered the original EMP® with an all-new patented short action. Seventeen parts later, the EMP® came out a smaller, more comfortable, and more concealable package optimized for the smaller 9mm cartridge. Among the community those who know, it has earned a reputation for controllable concealability.

The all-new EMP® offers a longer four-inch barrel that presents a longer sight radius and simplified practical accuracy. Depending on specific ammunition choice, the extended barrel length will also add an extra 20 to 60 feet per second of muzzle velocity. That helps premium self-defense ammunition perform up to its designed potential. Springfield Armory® CEO Dennis Reese notes, “While the original EMP® three-inch models are surprisingly easy to handle, we wanted to continue to make it better. The extra weight up front on the new four-inch model not only helps dampen felt recoil, it helps control muzzle flip, allowing shooters to complete faster and more accurate follow-up shots.”

The frame height has also been carefully increased with similar proportions. The new grip allows plenty of room for a solid two-handed hold, even for shooters with larger hands. While the original EMP® 9mm held nine rounds in the magazine, the new four-inch model fits ten plus one in the chamber. The new model retains the same slender grip circumference that made the original EMP® so popular. Like the original, the EMP® four-inch sports slim-line Cocobolo wood grips and two-tone forged 416 stainless steel slide and 7075 black anodized aluminum frame. A fiber optic front sight and two-dot, low-profile combat rear sight for effortless target acquisition.