Preface
I guess you could say that the Springfield Prodigy is the first 2011 to catch my eye. Several friends had mentioned the double-stack 9mm pistol in conversations, and it wasn’t long until I put hands on one myself. Now years later, after several 2011’s of my own, I am back to the beginning to revisit the Prodigy. The specific model we are looking at today is the five-inch comped Springfield Armory DS Prodigy . Springfield has long made various 1911 pistols in a wide variety of models in the traditional .45ACP, 10mm and 9mm. Forgive me if I misuse 1911 versus 2011 throughout, but for basic understanding I use 2011 to describe double-stack 9mm versions. And 1911 to describe the traditional single stack design usually in .45acp. Lets take a closer look into out subject.
The DS Prodigy
With a rich history of 1911 pistols, Springfield Armory (SA) sat poised to create a fantastic entry into the double-stack 9mm market. Like most 2011 pistols, the Prodigy uses a polymer grip attached to a steel frame. A full-length dust cover also has a five-slot picatinny accessory rail for mounting weapon lights. The polymer grip module houses the double-stack magazines that hold 17-rounds or more. For 1911 traditionalists, it may seem like heresy to put a 9mm in the 1911 platform. But for those who simply love pistols it makes perfect sense. Imagine how many more world wars the 1911 could win with twice the ammo in it?
In the slide of the Prodigy, you will find a heavy match-grade bull barrel. Married perfectly to the steel slide with a fit that 1911’s are famous for. Both barrel and slide are cut for a compensator at the twelve o’clock position to keep muzzle rise to a minimum. And the slide exterior features textured cuts both front and rear, as well as SA’s AOS optics system cut for red dots. And an internal 70-series extractor is used to pull spent cases from the Prodigy’s fully supported chamber.
The model we are testing today features an added magazine flare, as well as the Steiner MPS red dot sight.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Springfield Armory |
| Model | 1911 DS Prodigy |
| Action | Single-action, semi-automatic |
| Caliber | 9mm Luger |
| Barrel Length | 5 inches |
| Barrel Type | Forged stainless steel, match grade, ramped |
| Barrel Twist | 1:16″ |
| Overall Length | 8.5 inches |
| Overall Height | 5.5 inches |
| Width | 1.4 inches |
| Weight | 38 oz. (empty magazine) |
| Frame | Forged carbon steel |
| Slide | Forged carbon steel |
| Grip Module | Polymer |
| Finish | Black Cerakote |
| Capacity | 17+1 / 20+1 |
| Magazine Options | 17-, 20- and 26-round magazines available |
| Front Sight | Fiber-optic |
| Rear Sight | U-notch, black serrated |
| Optics Ready | Yes — Agency Optic System (AOS) |
| Accessory Rail | 5-slot Picatinny rail |
| Trigger | Approximately 4–5 lb. |
| Recoil System | Two-piece full-length guide rod |
| Grip Safety | Beavertail |
| Manual Safety | Ambidextrous |
| MSRP | $1632 |
Shooting the Prodigy DS
Over the course of several range trips, we evaluated the Prodigy, shooting it alongside other 2011 pistols as well. This gave additional insight to the performance of the Prodigy.
Shootability
As a bit of a 2011 enthusiast, the Prodigy feels like home to me. Every control is exactly where I want it, and it feels fantastic. The pistol points perfectly and feels great under recoil. One of the reasons this gun is so popular is because of its flat shooting performance. It has less muzzle rise keeping it on target for the next shot.
The trigger break and reset are great, I would say not quite as good as my Staccato, but for the price it sure as hell should be better. Bigger pistols like this shoot like a dream, their heavier weight helps buffer recoil making them very pleasant to shoot.
The added flared magwell is a must have in my opinion. It makes reloads butter smooth and doesn’t affect my grip on the pistol either. The magazine release is in the perfect location, never getting hit without purpose.
Accuracy
Using a heavy match-grade bull barrel is a luxury that 2011’s can often do. And the Prodigy pulls it off perfectly. And it shows with its great accuracy. During testing I shot a variety of 115 grain ammunition types from PMC and Federal. All of them functioned well, and typical groups from 7-10 yards would average around 1-2 inches.
Reliability
2011 magazines have much to do with the pistol’s incredibly smooth operation. You can take a fully loaded 20-round magazine and by simply sliding the palm of your hand across the exposed cartridges they will slide out neatly and all over the place.
This coupled with the low friction linear movement of the slide makes this pistol feed and cycle like a dream. You can slowly pull the slide back, and gently forward and the pistol neatly loads cartridges. The same action with a typical pistol would result in a jam of sorts, as they prefer to be fast and violent in their slamming action.
I have heard many stories from the internet, as well as friends in the industry about Prodigy pistols having issues. I’ve also heard that SA repaired them making any corrections necessary for proper function. This pistol hasn’t needed any updates or alterations, and after a thousand rounds it continues to churn along like it should.
Ergonomics
!911/2011 ergonomics are fairly similar across the market. I expect the reason is that a pistol thats been in use for over a hundred years should basically be perfected at this point. The only gripe I have in this department is the slide release is just out of reach. Requiring a break of the firing grip. One must simply learn to handle these pistols, as its not hard to perform a reload well even with breaking the grip. Also, other 2011 pistols have extended slide releases that eliminate this issue. I also like that option.
The grip texture gives excellent control of the Prodigy, and the ambidextrous safety is easily operated with the thumb. A perfectly crisp snap is felt and heard when the safety is applied or removed.
Value
One could spend ridiculous amounts of money on 2011 pistols, there is even an entire sub-industry for high end 2011 pistols. With that said, the Prodigy is perhaps the best priced 2011 pistol from a big name manufacturer. I have others that cost a hundred or two less, but they are from manufacturers of another tier.
I think the Prodigy is an excellent value in that aspect. With a street price under $1500 it is hard to beat the Prodigy’s credentials. You can certainly get better pistols, but you will pay significantly more money for them.
Pros and Cons
| Smooth Shooter | Requires AOS plate for optics mounting |
| Flat shooting with compensator | |
| Optics ready | |
| Accurate shooting | |
| Great trigger | |
| Affordable compared to others |
Final Opinion
As the field of 2011 pistols gets deeper and deeper, some folks like the security that comes from a well known brand. Springfield Armory has been building 1911’s for a long time, and they’ve been around for even longer. The fact that the DS Prodigy is one of the more affordable 2011 style pistols, makes it that much more appealing. Based on my experience with this pistol, I can strongly recommend it to those looking for a double stack 9mm 1911. It offers a great value among the many different 2011’s on the market.