Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory 911

by
posted on April 21, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
In 2018, Springfield Armory Inc. introduced a new recoil-operated, semi-automatic compact handgun onto the market, the 911. While not a true 1911, the Springfield 911 does have several design features that are borrowed from the 1911, which is no surprise, given Springfield's extensive 1911 catalog. However, instead of sharing the size of the 1911 with its .45 ACP chambering, the 911 is smaller and chambered for .380 ACP.

A right-side view of the Springfield Armory 911.
A right-side view of the Springfield Armory 911.

Weighing in at only 12.6 oz., the 911 has a 2.7" barrel and an overall length of 5.5". With this small size, the 911 is geared for comfortable concealed carry without adding too much size and weight. Unlike a 1911, the 911 lacks a grip safety on the back strap but does retain a few similar controls for those versed in that 1911. This includes the slide catch on the left side of the frame, exposed hammer and bilateral safety.

Shooting the Springfield Armory 911.
Shooting the Springfield Armory 911.

The barrel and slide of the 911 are made of stainless steel while the frame is made of aluminum. Yet, not all of the normal components are made of metal as might be expected. Part of the way Springfield managed to save weight in the design was with the inclusion of more G10 in the construction, which includes the use of G10 for the front and back strap as well as the trigger shoe. The trigger itself is single-action, with a pull weight of 4 lbs. 8 oz.

A closer look at the frame with G10 panels installed.
A closer look at the frame with G10 panels installed.

The side grip panels are also made of textured G10, which help give solid purchase in the hand. The slide includes reversed-chevron serrations machined on the sides for manipulation and a small loaded chamber indication tab on top. Unlike some other handguns in the category, The Springfield 911 has removable dovetailed iron sights instead of sights machined into the slide. Tritium front and rear sights come included with the 911, with two smaller dots on the rear and a larger dot on the front sight. 

A view of the Springfield 911 hammer and tritium rear sight.
A view of the Springfield 911 hammer and tritium rear sight.

The 911 feed form either a standard six-round, single-stack detachable box magazine that is flush with the frame, or an extended seven-round magazine that acts as a grip extension. The Springfield 911 comes with slide color options of either stainless or black, as well as different grip panel color options. For more information on the Springfield Armory 911 sub-compact handgun visit springfield-armory.com.  

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Marlin Mad Pig 1894 01
Marlin Mad Pig 1894 01

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pigs Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

I Have This Old Gun: The Southern Derringer

People carrying small firearms for personal protection is not a new concept, and in the middle of the 19th century, many pocket pistols were designed with self-defense in mind. One such gun, the Brown Manufacturing Southern Derringer, was among the earliest cartridge-firing self-defense guns.

Affordable & Feature-Rich: The Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Springfield Armory entered the world of modular, striker-fired handguns in 2023 with its Echelon line of pistols, and for 2026, Springfield is introducing an entry-level Echelon model with the Alpha 4.0C.

5 New SBRs for 2026

It has never been easier for gun owners to buy and use short-barreled rifles, and for the occasion, we have five of the latest SBRs on the market right now.

Review: Military Armament Corporation MAC-5K

SDS Arms, under its Military Armament Corporation (MAC) brand, imports Turkish-made roller-delayed handguns of the H&K MP5 pattern called the MAC-5K.

8 New Revolvers for 2026

Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.