SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PRODIGY 1911 DOUBLE STACK
The Springfield Armory Prodigy is a modular, wide body, double stack ultra capacity 1911 pistol. Colloquially known as a 2011 style pistol. The original patents for this modular style 1911 pistol were granted back in 1994. Ironic since that was the start of the 94 Assault Weapons Ban. Think about it..what a time to develop and release an ultra capacity pistol. None the less, the 2011 race gun style pistols from companies like STI, SVI etc, dominated the USPSA/IPSC shooting games. These guns, especially in the unlimited “anything goes” class, introduced and made norm things like electronic optics, compensators and ultra capacity magazines, and magwells. These 2011 pistols were are radical concept at the time. Their modularity meant that users could easily customize them. I remember seeing some of the top shooters have pistols with grips that looked like a Lisa Frank notebook. Looking good while shooting fast and accurately was important but the technical stuff behind the scenes was what made these pistols so awesome.
The revolutionary part came in the modular design and the single part grip module. Basically, the grip module is a polymer shell that is thin on the sidewalls. This allows an extra wide magazine upping the capacity. However, since everything is molded in one piece, the outside diameter is practically the same size as a standard traditional 1911. You might think that that is impossible but remember the traditional 1911 has a thin metal frame and adds girth with the grip panels. The polymer one piece design is also the work surface where stippling was born. Instead of checking, shooters could carve into the polymer to create unique grip surfaces. The polymer also acts like a shock absorber since it flexes slightly during recoil. Added in with the great ergonomics that made these pistols easy and fun to shoot even in Major calibers like 38 super. Modularity also means that it is easy to change the grip module to something that suits the end user. Can you imagine an aluminum grip module, or a module that accommodates different magazines?
As great as these pistols are one of the main draw backs of the 2011 style pistol has always been price. The 2011s that were available from different manufactures were in actuality a bespoke product. Prices for these style pistols start in the two thousand dollar range and can easily climb to over four grand….without optics or a full complement of magazines. What Springfield Armory is doing today is literally going to shake up the market segment. Not only are they going to bring the larger scale manufacturing power to flood the market with modular 1911 pistols, they are doing it at an unheard of price point. The first in the series release offers four options for consumers. The prodigy comes with either a 4.25inch barrel or a 5 inch barrel with each having the same grip length. The second option for each length includes a Springfield Hex Dragonfly red dot. Pricing is easy: $1,499 msrp without the red dot & $1,699 with. Wow, to put that in perspective, some of the “cheaper” 2011 style pistols average around $2,400 sans a red dot. Add a red dot and you up the average price to around $2,800. On the flip side, price doesn’t mean anything if firearm is a dumpster fire, does it?
Here is where Springfields manufacturing might has been brought into bear. Springfield Armory as a company knows how to manufacture a quality 1911. They recently have invested millions on a new state of the art manufacturing facility that made sure they are at the forefront of quality. The Prodigy is no different and has a check list of features to make sure that the quality is topnotch with a fit and finish second to none. The Prodigy’s slide and frame are both forged from steel and coated with a matte black Cerakote for protection. The bull barrel is also a forged stainless steel that is match grade for longevity and accuracy. In my own testing the Prodigy has stood up to harsh firing sequences including when the slide was too hot to even touch. The accuracy was still better than I as a shooter will ever be.
Let’s touch back to the price of the Prodigy. Yes, the Prodigy’s price point puts it into a league of its own. But that lower price point does not mean squat if it means sacrificing reliability. In the couple weeks that I have had the Prodigy, I have had the opportunity to fire over a thousand rounds through the pistol. I would like to take the moment to thank twobirdsoutdoors.com for the sponsorship. Without them, it would not have been possible to do the extended shooting when testing the Prodigy. Each time at the range I tried to test the pistol’s ability to function. This meant everything from taking a brand new never been fired Prodigy, locking the slide open, and then dropping it into a pile of rocks and dirt. Then, to make sure it got good & dirty, I kicked it with even more dirt and gravel. Oh don’t worry I filmed it for our upcoming video. But here’s the real kicker…I did not like the first take so I did it two more times until I was happy with the dirtiness of the pistol. With the slide locked open, the fine dust covered everything. The second thing I did was use a mix of multiple brands and types of ammo just shoved into magazines randomly. After around 250 rounds when I inspected the pistol the resulting goop that was coming out of the slide was a nasty tar like mixture of factory gun oil, dirt, stone powder and carbon fouling. To truly put the pistol to the test, I continuously fired strings of over a 175 rounds at a time. Only stopping to reload 7 STI Staccato and my two Duramag Prodigy magazines. The pistol got so hot that the slide release could not be used without gloves.
The magazines that the Springfield Prodigy use are the latest generation of 2011 magazine pattern. Springfield has chosen to partner with Duramag www.dura-mag.com as the OEM manufacture of the Prodigy magazine. Prodigy mags are set to have an MSRP of around $60 and should be available shortly after release. The Prodigy comes with one 17 round magazine and one 20 round magazine. Springfield will also be offering a 26 round magazine for those of you who need ultra mega capacity. Duramag has confirmed on social media that the Prodigy magazine were tested with all major brands of 2011 pistols and they were found to be comparable. In my testing, Gen 3 STI staccato magazines functioned perfectly in the Prodigy.
All Springfield prodigy pistols come standard with an optics cut, so you do not have to choose between iron sights or optics. Springfield teamed with Agency Arms to use the Agency optics System. The AOS consists of 6 optics mounting plates that run the gamut of fitment for practically every red dot foot print. A bonus is that the AOS system allows most red dots to allow co witnessing. Different AOS adapter plates will be available via the Springfield Armoy website store.
Did you know that the Prodigy can trace some of its lineage to the Springfield Hellcat? It sure does. On online forums many people commented on the fantastic looking grip module. I can attest that it not only looks good, but also feels rock solid in your hand. If you notice the texture is the same texture used in the Hellcat pistols. Want another piece of technical trivia? The Prodigy front sight is a modified Colt Novak dovetail. You can actually install the sights from a Hellcat OSP on the AOS optics plates of the Prodigy and vice versa. Since the Prodigy also shares its lineage with the 1911, many standard 1911 parts like sears are interchangeable.
I have it on good word that the Prodigy is the first in a new series of pistols. STI started out as a company that catered to the competition crowd, and then basically abandoned their segment doing a 180 degree about face for the tactical market. Yes, you had other companies pop up and try to cover the competition market like Masterpiece Arms and others but again prices are astronomical. My prediction and something I would love to see is the resurrection of the competition style 2011’s like the Grand Master model especially in 38 super. Can you imagine what Springfield sponsored shooter Rob Leatham could do with that type package? How about a compact Prodigy that used magazines the size of a Hellcat, or even a 45 acp caliber Prodigy? The possibilities are endless and I am excited about the future.
The Prodigy will be released as one of the cheapest 2011 style 1911s on the market. It is going to disrupt that segment of the firearms market. At a minimum, it will force other manufacturers to reflect on current prices. Although Springfield may not replace those companies, if they take a large chuck of the business away, surely it force other makers to lower prices. Springfield Armory will come in as one of the largest manufactures to enter the 2011 pistol market. With that many 2011 pistols, it pushes the 2011 design from the bespoke to the mainstream. Mainstream also means more aftermarket parts and custom options. Lower prices and a plethora of accessories is better for the shooting world in general
While the Prodigy might not be for everyone since it is a full size duty pistol, those that need this type of pistol will get the most bang for their buck. Right out of the box the Prodigy is already set up for duty use and Safariland already has holsters that will work with the Prodigy. On the civilian side, Black Point holsters has you covered including holsters that allow you to carry with a light and optic mounted. Now living with and shooting the Prodigy I can tell you with confidence that this pistol is going to be a winner. Several Springfield executives can attest I have been begging Springfield Armory to create this pistol for a couple years. I have know there has been a need and a want for this style pistol. Springfield just scratched that itch. Now on to my next demands. Where’s my Pistol Caliber Carbine that uses XDM or now maybe Prodigy magazines? And a Springfield Suppressor?….Damn I am never complete.
A detail breakdown of the Springfield Armory Prodigy showing all of its components
