Editor’s Choice: Springfield Armory Ronin Operator

by
posted on April 14, 2020
** 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. **
roninopr.jpg

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY is upping its 1911 game with the Ronin Operator series.

Offered initially with 5"-long, forged stainless steel match barrels in 9 mm Luger or .45 ACP, the Ronins’ blued carbon steel slides and stainless frames are also forged—giving the guns a classy two-tone look and long-term durability.

Sights are a fiber-optic front and a “Tactical Rack” rear with two white dots, and both are dovetailed into the slide. The reddish laminate wood stocks bear the Springfield Armory crossed cannons and are half-checkered, half-smooth.

Standard is a skeletonized “Gen 2 speed” trigger, while the hammer is skeletonized as well. Magazines come with a basepad, and the .45 holds eight rounds and the 9 mm holds nine. These are really good-looking renditions of the M1911, and it’s hard to beat the MSRP of $849.

As if the fullsize guns aren’t impressive enough, the Commanders have aluminum alloy frames, making them true lightweights.
springfield-armory.com

Latest

Crosman Raiden 01
Crosman Raiden 01

Affordable, Full-Auto Fun: The Crosman Raiden BB Gun

Over the past two decades, the world of BB guns has gotten way more sophisticated than the simple muscle-powered models of our youth. A case in point is Crosman’s new-for-2026 Raiden.

New Dragons: Managing Muzzle Flash From Today's Suppressors

Muzzle flash has always been an issue for those who employ firearms seriously, and with today's crop of suppressors, there are design elements to be aware of.

Gun of the Week: Mossberg 590R Chisel

For those who are seeking a shotgun that's a bit more heavy-duty, Mossberg's 590 line offers plenty of options, and one of the latest is the striking 590R Chisel.

The Armed Citizen® June 12, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

A Cathartic Journey Back to Midway Arms & the MidwayUSA Foundation

NRA CEO & EVP Doug Hamlin returned to MidwayUSA, a place he first visited decades ago in the early 1990s as publisher of Guns & Ammo magazine alongside the late, great Robert E. Petersen.

Review: Steiner MPS-C

The new Steiner MPS-C is the compact but rugged, closed-emitter optic we’ve all been waiting for.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.