Springfield’s Prodigy double-stack 1911 has been out for almost two years now. After dismissing the whole 2011/DS 1911 craze for years, I’m finally ready to put in some trigger time with an open mind. It should come as no surprise that I’m reaching the same conclusion most have known for years: these guns are wildly capable.
The Double-Stack 1911
Some background. Part of what got me into guns was the simple historic appeal of the 1911. Springfield does this homage well with their Mil-Spec 1911. These workhorse guns are inspiring and leave me feeling nostalgic for a past I never personally experienced (if only there were a word for that).
Over the last 20 years, I’ve owned a number of Springfield 1911s (I currently keep a Mil-Spec, a Range Officer, and a TRP in the stable) and reviewed even more. I’ve carried some as EDC guns and taken many with me into the woods. Some have served as truck guns. I trust the design and am comfortable with the platform in just about every respect.
As EDC guns go, you need to seek out features that overcome some of the 1911’s standard limitations. The 9mm round itself (and the increased capacity the smaller, faster round provides) is a good place to start. A rail is a must. Optics capability, too, is increasingly popular.
Springfield has guns in the traditional 1911 line that check all those boxes, but it really comes down to an increase in capacity, and that’s what’s driven the popularity of the DS 1911 craze. In a world where the micro-compact can hold 17 rounds of 9mm, the old single-stack guns feel insufficient.
Enter the Prodigy
Prodigy feels uniquely modern. This is true of most of the guns in this double-stack class. Even the TRP (which is my go-to for a modern 1911) feels a bit like an updated classic and not something entirely new. This dichotomy here is hard to capture. In the single-stack .45 ACP versions, some 1911s still feel like the inheritors of a century-old lineage. The Prodigy, though, comes across like new money.
It is in the name itself. A prodigy is a highly talented kid. Prodigal, while closely related, means wastefully extravagant. I’m going to go with the talented upstart definition.
Shooting the Prodigy
Accuracy with a Prodigy is easy to see. The gun shoots very flat. This increases the potential for repeat accuracy and decreases your split times. The Prodigy is simply easy to shoot.
I’ve been shooting the Prodigy alongside several other polymer-framed 9mms, and it shoots rings around all of them. If I were looking for accuracy alone, this is where I’d start. The platform is exceptionally easy to shoot and shoot well.
The grit texture on the grip locks into your hand as it should. The serrations are not as aggressive as some of the DS 1911s and 2011s, but they’re sufficiently deep for easy manipulation. Every time I draw this gun, my synapses fire off a signal to my brain that registers as “This is huge.” That feeling, though, is quickly erased as the first round leaves the barrel.
The trigger breaks at four pounds. The straight-back pull is easy to manage and breaks clean. 1911 triggers are easier to shoot, I think, and I have no complaints with Prodigy’s. At four pounds, it is heavy enough for carry and light enough for precision.
Practical considerations
I know more and more people who are carrying these, even IWB. The 4.25″ versions are a bit easier to conceal. I’m drawn to the larger guns with extended mags, myself.
But the frame and slide are machined from billets, which is not typical for 1911s—many of which are milled from forgings. Billet steel offers a bit more uniformity and strength.
The only thing I’ve had go wrong with this one is that I lost the fiber optic insert for the front sight (likely doing holster testing, jamming it into prototype designs over and over).
Truth is, I hadn’t noticed, as I have been shooting this one with the Hex optic. The machined optics plates were designed in collaboration with Agency Arms. While I’m not as wild about this system as I am about the direct-mount capabilities of the Echelon, these plates are better than some that I’ve used. I’ve not had issues with shifting zeros. Aftermarket plates are showing up, like those from C&H Precision.
The Prodigy magazines are built from steel and polymer. The steel has exaggerated channels stamped into the body portions to provide rigidity and strength. For those keeping score and looking for advantages over the traditional 1911, here’s another point: These magazines are far more robust than most 1911 magazines. I’ve not babied these, and they’re still showing no serious signs of wear.
Die-hard devotees to the DS 1911, too, are looking at Prodigy as a blank slate. With the relative price and availability working in their favor, they tend to use the gun as a foundation for custom upgrades. Some replace trigger components, including the hammer, sear, and disconnector. They adjust the leaf spring and recoil spring to get timing right, and the end results are guns that run even better.
What else will you need?
Spare mags. How many spares is a hot topic here at GunMag Warehouse. I’d start with 10 if you’re serious about shooting the gun. They come in 26-round, 20-round, and 17-round carry-style options.
Lights. I’ve got a ModLight on this one now. I’m a big fan of the ModLight switches. This light works well and is easy to control. I’m also a fan of the time-tested Surefire X-300 design. That works, too, and its footprint is slightly smaller, keeping the bezel even with the muzzle.
A light, though, is a must on any carry gun. Though the Prodigy hasn’t made it into my EDC lineup, as I am still not comfortable carrying a gun this big in an IWB holster like the Incog X. There are competent people who do. For me, though, the Prodigy is ideal for open carry, and night continues to happen, so get a light.
Optics. This one has a Springfield Hex optic up top. The line hasn’t taken off the way Springfield may have wanted. I’d recommend something with a larger field of view, like the Trijicon SRO.
Holsters are becoming easier to find. Safariland is making Duty Rated holsters for 2011s and DS 1911s, and the 6354RDSO has a wide, protected space for optics. It will fit just about any light, too.
The RDSO line provides Level I retention and is built to provide the perfect balance of speed and security. If you want more speed, I’d look at upgrades like the Nub-Mod (a larger thumb platform for the ALS nub). If you need increased security, the 6360 provides Level III protection.
I’ve run the Prodigy with defensive rounds and range ammo. I’ve yet to experience a failure with any of the different bullet shapes or loads. For EDC, I like Hornady’s Critical Duty. For range work, I use whatever is easiest on the wallet.
Why isn’t it a 2011?
Double stack 1911, 2011? Lots to unpack. 2011, as it happens, is a trademarked term. While most of us use it colloquially, with little regard for who owns what trademarks, this nomenclature matters to companies looking to protect their intellectual properties.
In the end, Springfield has managed to build a platform for the brand that will allow many of us our first taste of the DS 1911 craze. That accessibility has always been a core identity of the brand. It is something I respect. They’re not leaning on artificial scarcity to drive up the price.
A 5″ Prodigy lists for $1,499. They don’t stay on shelves long, either. They’re available now in coyote tan, in 4.25″ versions, and with built-in comps.
It is the price, though, that keeps this talented new version of the classic design from feeling wastefully extravagant. Extravagant, possibly. Wasteful, no.
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