Springfield Armory Ronin 4.25" - Review and Range Test 

I never knew that. Now I have something new to watch for.

So far, mine has not been picky at all. In any case, I hope the.SP 2022 works well for you!

@@hrfunk Oh, it will. SIGS always run 110%.... My Ronin wouldn't even run with the mags it came with.

PS: i got lucky and got a very good trigger on mine, my digital gage showed under 2# after 500 rounds and using weapon shield on the trigger bar and sear hammer contact areas after each cleaning.

@@willwilliam217 Love my buls and my SA's

I think it’s appearance is rather striking. Thanks for watching!

Agree with the two-tone finish - looks splendid! I actually receive compliments at the range about mine. Don't often get compliments about the looks of my guns. LOL Mine has a few scratches around the spot to line up the slide release. That thing is a BOOGER to put back in!

I don't know. That would probably be a good question to pose to their customer service representatives.

Yes they are, got mine first-line retired military and it came with three mags.

Will do Sir. Thanks for the sub and welcome aboard!

Ha, ha! That one will be coming soon!

Those to handguns would make for a good day at the range! Thanks for watching.

You're welcome Frank. I am sure you will see it again on a better day!

You’re welcome. Thanks for subscribing and welcome aboard!

Cause DA/SA sucks.

Thanks Dan!

I think my preference would depend upon how I was intending to use the handgun. I Really liked the M&P pistols for duty sidearms. All of the attributes you noted, as well as a business like finish that wouldn't bring tears to your eyes if the pistol were dropped, dinged, scuffed, etc. made it utterly practical. Of course, those same qualities would apply to the M&P for CCW duty. Personally, however, I rarely carry one of my M&P's for that purpose. I guess after carrying such a utilitrian pistol at work for so many years, I prefer nowadays to carry something a little more stylish. I guess too, being such a devotee to the creations of Mr. Browning, I just enjoy carrying my 1911's and P35's (not to mention the occasional wheelgun). Still, if I'm going out on an inclement day or engaging in dirty/sweaty work, I opt for something like my M&P pistols.

@@hrfunk Thank you very much, sir, for this excellent and very logical answer. I wholly agree with every point you made (and I appreciate your addition of the “ware and tear” argument). Moreover, I completely understand your feelings re a firearm that is “something special,” not just entirely function but ordinary. In fact, just yesterday I spent 15+ minutes in my shop, admiring my really superb Smith “special edition” 627 (1989 model, pre-Hillary, five inch barrel, gold dot sight, non-fluted cylinder, full under-lug, gorgeous hard wood stocks, great machining and fitting, etc.). It’s big, heavy and only has a six round capacity, BUT it’s also superbly accurate, reliable, durable . . . and a it is a real “work of art.” I suppose - at least for now - I’ll stick with my M&P for EDC. However, the funny thing is, several times a month I’ll opt for a full-size GP-100 or N Frame. Their capacity isn’t ideal and they are large and heavy, but I really cherish them. THANKS, again.

Glad it was helpful!

I would enjoy that. Maybe I will see if I can get one to review.

My pleasure, Eric. Thanks for watching!

You’re welcome Ricardo!

They are actually taking me a little bit of time to get used to. I'm so accustomed to the larger ones, and these just "feel different". Then, again, I am also one of the weirdos who likes an arched main spring housing.

@@hrfunk Haha! I prefer arched as well, but I can't stand the Glock 'hump' and I don't have a good answer as to why.

@@TheGunfighter45acp The Glock grip angle and contour has just never worked well for me.

I will be taking that pistol back out on a better day. I suspect the results but also be better.

@@hrfunk I have a full size government Ronin in .45 and after about a 100 round break in it is a tack driver.

So far, I am quite enjoying this one. If I did not already have several in. .45 ACP, I would not have opted for the 9mm version. But, since I do, I really wanted to give this one a try.

@@hrfunk it seems like a good pistol, and the carry round you use is excellent I use the underwood version of it. I have a couple of handguns with fiber optic sight. For me they are outstanding in the daylight but act as a plan sight in lowlight conditions. I have changed then all out to night sights because of that issue. What’s your opinion on them at night?

@@americanpatriot477 I might end up doing the same thing. I also might swap out the trigger and sear for upgraded parts. Still, the OEM parts work well enough that I don't feel any urgency in doing those things.

Hi AP, I was in the same boat all my 1911's in .45acp, got the Comander size in 9mm, LOVE it.

Me too, I want a less than full size in .380acp.

Thanks John! Now I want to watch that movie. I agree, personally Robert De Niro is not someone I would invite to a party. But he is a very good actor.

Semper Fi! For what it's worth, I really like my Tisas Tank Commander. Here's a link to Part 1 of that review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9YTwG7Ok1yo.htmlsi=IXtpSGGBVCcpprBw

@@hrfunkThank you!

It's a Dreary 50° and raining here today. If I had to carry a Glock in these conditions, the combination might be intolerable.

On days like this, and the one in the video, where I was on the range, I very much wish I was there!

Probably not all that much different as it is overcast with drizzle and 49 degrees. Really liked that Ronin Operator for all the reasons you stated,.

Yep, that’s about the same as it is here today. We are also getting some Highwind. I really like that pistol too! The only reason I’m not carrying it today just because I’m going to have to leave it in the car. I don’t want that one to get stolen if someone breaks in.

Thanks Scott!

That sounds really cool! I would love to see it. How does it shoot?

@@hrfunk It shoots really well. I generally get close to a 1" group at 25 yards, shooting from a rest, and a slightly larger group shooting freehand.

@@deadeye566 That’s great accuracy!

Thanks, John! I saw one of the EMP pistols at a gun show a few weeks ago. Now that you mention it, the trigger pull on that one was pretty stout too. I would guess it was a good pound or more heavier than the pistol I reviewed in this video. I wonder if there was/is some reason Springfield Armory is putting heavier triggers in the smaller EMP. Maybe they're using the hammer spring to reduce the velocity of the lighter slide. If they did that, rather than incresing the tension of the recoil spring, it would allow easier hand-cycling of the slide and still help reduce wear & tear on the pistol (not to mention the shooting hand). Just a thought. In any case, I'm glad yours is now more to your liking. I might end up replacing the trigger and sear in my pistol, but I'm going to shoot it for a while first. Thanks for watching!

I’m glad you did. Thanks for watching!

They are very good handguns. I have one, and it is excellent.

Good. I hope it serves you well for a long time.

Thanks Chris! I’m a life-long 1911 fan. It’s simply one of the best handguns ever designed.

@@hrfunk way to easy to shoot. Unfair to all the other platforms!

I might replace it in the future. I’ll see how things go as it breaks in.

Good! Maybe Springfield is coming around!

Good for you! I hope it serves you well for a long time.

It sounds great I’ll keep my eye out for one.

Semper Fi Toby!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Good for you! I’m glad you found one.

Thanks Brian! I agree, there's just something bout the 1911. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.

Thanks Jim. You too. I hope you like that new Ronin!

Thanks Geoff!

CDNN has some on sale as well, with base pads. Geoff Who is thinking about a 9mm, but dental work looms ominously.

Ironically, I saw one at a gun show two or three weeks ago.

Basically I agree with your last point, but I will say a lot of one’s ability to conceal any firearm is dependent upon his/her physique and the clothing dictated by the climate in which they live.

The thumbs forward grip was used since 1960 by Elden Carl. It just got widely spread later on. What one chooses depends a lot on ergonomics and what brings the wanted results is the right individual choice.

Thanks Brother Tom! You're showing your age with that "operator" joke. Next you'll be telling people your "platform" is something you stand on to elevate yourself above the crowd. I don't know if you caught the video I made a while back where I was comparing stances and grips. However, I am to the point where I think the "thumbs forward" grip works great for competition, but as you noted it has some issues when it comes to gunfighting. The "thumb over thumb" grip was developed for combative use where functional relaibility trumps both speed and accuracy. Recently, I've given this topic a good deal of thought. It occurs to me that most of us spend far more time shooting on a range (in either training or competition) than we ever spend shooting in a gunfight. For that reason, we gravitate toward practices and techniques that make us feel good about ourselves when we are shooting targets of one sort or another that are not shooting back at us. As an instructor I know I am swimming against a stream here, but it occurs to me that we should perhaps, rethink techniques such as the "thumbs forward grip". I think this is particularly true, when we are instructing armed citizens who might end up carrying myriad different handguns. It seems more important to ensure we are teaching techniques that will lessen the potential for "shooter induced malfunctions", than to bolster their/our ego by helping them (potentially) fire faster follow-up shots. I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on this topic. I like those targets too. I made another recent video discussing targets. I would like to see the concept of this type of target more fully developed. Photographic targets persenting images of persons in different postures/angles as well as the precise location of internal organs would be tremendous. It would be even better if the company producing such targets could get some input from the medical community (IWBA?) as to the reletive effectiveness of shots striking those organs. This all may be wishful thinking, but it would be nice. By the way, don't worry too much about the Desperados. I'm sure they will come sneaking back around! Take care.

@@hrfunk Having owned a school that taught over 28,000 private citizens over 20 years, and knowing they could be using any type of firearm after they left my class, I taught thumb over thumb exclusively. I taught the technique that way to all my police recruits. It works with all types of handguns and closely mirrors what people will do naturally. I was never convinced that rapidity of fire was as big a deal as it became after the advent of affordable shot timers. I think they can be an excellent tool for tracking your progress in learning a new technique, but I am not convinced they belong in beginner's education. Nor do I feel that we should be telling new people that how fast they can fire X number of shots is important. Like learning a martial arts move, they should be shown the skill demonstrated, and should be allowed to practice it as slowly as they like, with speed coming as a natural result of practice. Over the years I was given a lot of crap from other trainers for all of these positions, but I knew that some of the most experienced and renowned trainers who taught defensive pistol use agreed with me. Sadly many of them are retired doing from live classes, as am I. Many other trainers are quite talented, but may not b the best resource for beginners. I'll just say this. in the real world when I have held suspects at gunpoint, and there have been lots of times, both of my thumbs have been securely locked down over each other on the gun. Those times that I have had to use my support hand to sweep a protectee behind me, I still had my strong hand thumb locked down on my pistol. I'm 100% with you on the use of more realistic targets. The B27 we both grew up with is too large, and the "Eight and In" scoring system is far too generous. Many police qualification courses have been moved in to 15 yards, which is also a mistake. When I started in law enforcement, we had to shoot out to 50 yards, which may have been excessive, but I think 25 yards is reasonable. At my age and eyesight I can still qualify on a 25 yard course with a small 9mm such as my Kahr P9, so I see no reason a young, strong police recruit with young eyes shouldn't be able to do the same with a duty pistol. Well that's all for now. I need to tell some teenagers to get off my lawn, lol.

Ha, ha! Those teenagers better look out! On a serious note, it’s amazing how similar we are in our thinking. Thanks for the reply. I’m always interested in hearing your opinions.

@@PPISAFETY Although I would not consider myself in yours or HR's leagues, I do share some of your experiences. Thumb over thumb is intuitive, whereas thumbs forward feels unnatural. Riding the safety likewise feels unnatural. Plus thumb riding the safety is inviting a malfunction if the thumb contacts the slide. During the last application of deadly force(the 3rd attempt on my life in this neighborhood)I drew a SR-1911 carrying 9 rds of Critical Duty 220gr .45 ACP +p and presented, then aimed at the driver of a blacked out car that highbeamed us.Simultaneously sweeping my lefthand to the rear in order to get my stepson and a neighbor to get behind me as the driver punched it. Strangely enough, I don't remember how the pistol got into my hand. Just recall aiming. At this point, where I was starting to put pressure on the trigger, the vehicle swerved and crashed into a yard. The driver was milliseconds from me ending his life. I walked towards the driver door, still aiming and keeping my finger on the trigger. All the while warning the driver about the dangers of speeding down a residential street. Why I did this, I've not the foggiest notion. The driver backed out and took off the way he came. Shortly after, a joint task force rolled up nearly all the tweaker in Twilight Trails. Due to me calling it The Twilight Zone. People who live in and nearby refer to it as simply "The Zone ". The Block Watch has since disbanded due to me becoming elderly and stoved up. Six years later nobody screws with me nor with my lawn.😉

Happy Memorial Day,. Thanks for the story. Marines are always Marines. I’m sure your uncle did whatever he thought was necessary. Semper Fi.

@@hrfunk Thank you ! A very happy memorial day to you...🇺🇸

Thanks Sean! There’s an Ace Hardware nearby. I’ll look for those gloves the next time I’m there.

@@hrfunk You're welcome.

My pleasure Jeff. Thanks for watching!

How did your EMP perform for you? good I hope.

@@hrfunk it’s going to have to be revisited…. I got to fire two 10 shot magazines, amoung sighting in a RDS On the Benelli M4, and Ruger PC9. I’ve had a couple of other SA 1911’s like the MIL-SPEC that I started as a base pistol for upgrading… that had good triggers out of the box…. This EMP, not soo much …. And from a rest the sights are not the factory point of Aim/ point of impact that is the usual ( center hold) this from what I could tell was 6’oclock hold regulated , and about 2” left… so That will have to be further investigated. Function was 100% in those scant few rounds. The pistol has some sharp edges that will cause A cut… 5 minutes at the factory would have taken care of that detail. Its not cheap… but it was assembled on Friday after the paychecks were passed out, as the used to say at the Youngstown GM plant.

My pleasure. I’m glad they got that straightened out for you. I have had good luck with their customer service in the past.

My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

Thanks Mark! I'm glad you enjoy the new Colt! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!

Thanks Mark!

Ha, ha! Yep, it's always an adventure.

That’s a great price. I hope you like it!

​@@hrfunkwhen I was a kids back in the 70's IPSC was the big thing & all the pros shot two toned 1911's...the reason being the frame was hard chromed to prevent rust but the slide remained blued because that's the part that required more repairs...

From Action Target (Formerly Law Enforcment Targets).

Thanks! I think I’ll just stick with the .38 Super magazines for training.

Thank you! I think I'm heading to a gun show today. It seems like a good day to stay indoors!

HR Funk have a great time at the Show maybe you will find another Springfield 9mm.

Thanks Clint. I may do some trigger work on it in the future. For now I'm just going to shoot it and see how things go. Thanks for watching!

Thanks Troy!

You have the EMP version. That was one of the reasons I was specicically looking for the 4 1/4" Ronin. The older I get, the less tolerance I have for guid rods. Otherwise, the EMP is a pretty slick little package. Thanks for watching!

Nope. No world famous relatives. So far as I know, I’m not related to the dictionary people.

The Ronin feels very controllable chambered in 9 mm. I’m surprise your buddies cold feels that way.

Thanks Alfonso. So far I really like it.

Thank you!

Merry Christmas Ken! I hope he brings you one too!

Congrats on the Tagua holster. I have been carrying mine almost exclusively in the last several weeks. The thumb safety is a fairly easy swap. There are many replacement options. If you check. Brownells, Midway, or Optics Planet, you will probably find a lot of different versions.