Springfield Armory has a long line of 1911 pistols, but the firearms manufacturer wanted to try something new with its 1911 Range Officer.

Now featured in the new 9mm version, the Springfield 1911 Range Officer is more affordable for entry-level competition shooters and has all of the features they need, with none of the things they don’t.

The release of the 9mm Springfield 1911 Range Officer comes on the heels of the .45 ACP version, which is already on the market.

The 1911 9mm Range Officer features a 5-inch, stainless steel, match-grade barrel, fully adjustable target sights and a 5- to 6-pound trigger and includes two nine-round magazines. The handgun weighs in at 41 ounces, is 5.5 inches tall and 8.6 inches long.

When comparing it to other members of Springfield’s 1911 family, the 1911 9mm Range Officer has an identical slide frame and barrel.

As far as competition shooters go, Springfield Armory went ahead and added specific needs to the 1911 9mm Range Officer, like a click-adjustable rear sight. The adjustable sight is a bit of a rarity for Springfield Armory, as most of the firearms it produces have fixed sights.

The 1911 9mm Range Officer also features a match hammer, a lightened match trigger and an over-travel adjustment. It comes with a single-sided thumb safety, as opposed to an ambidextrous safety.

The large beavertail of the 1911 9mm Range Officer that not only helps on the draw and provides a strong grip, but also helps reduce recoil — another great feature for all competition shooters.

Springfield went ahead and took away all the other frills from its 1911 line to put money back into the shooter’s pocket where it belongs. Priced around $960, the 1911 9mm Range Officer give shooters a serious option at a competition-ready 1911 without taking out a second mortgage to pay for it.

For more on the 1911 9mm Range Officer and other products from Springfield Armory, visit http://www.springfield-armory.com/index.php.