Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp, Tested and Reviewed

The brand new Springfield DS Prodigy Comp is the newest within the line of double-stack 1911 9mm pistols that has actually shaken up the 2011-style pistol market. The DS Prodigy was one of many first mainstream double-stack 9mms that introduced a high quality 2011-style pistol to the sub-$2,000 worth vary. We shot the hell out of them again in 2023, and I used to be excited to get my palms on this compensated mannequin. The Springfield DS Prodigy Comp embraces the worth and efficiency of the unique prodigy, however presents us with an excellent flatter-shooting competitors gun.

Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp 4.25-inch Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capability: 17+1 or 20+1
• Motion: Single-action, hammer-fired
• Barrel: 4.25-inch, bull profile, chrome steel, built-in compensator
• Dimensions: 7.8 inches (L) x 5.75 inches (H) x 1.28 inches (W)
• Weight: 38 ounces (with empty 17-round journal and Vortex Defender ST crimson dot) (weighed)
• Body: Carbon metal, solid
• Slide: Carbon metal, solid
• Optics: Lower for optic, makes use of Company Arms adapter plates
• Controls: Proper-handed slide cease, magazine catch, ambidextrous security levers
• End: Black Cerakote
• Grip: Polymer grip module, fantastic stipple texture
• Sights: Tall, fiber-optic entrance, serrated black “U-notch” rear (drift adjustable
• Set off: Aluminum, single-action, curved shoe, 5 kilos, 5 ounces (measured)
• Value: $1,734

Key Options

• Integral compensator made by eradicating materials from the barrel itself
• Company Optic System optic plates for various crimson dot sights
• Tall, co-witnessing iron sights
• Features a 17- and 20-round journal — suitable with 2011 magazines
• Accuracy: .907 inches (common of 4 5-shot teams from 15 yards)

Evaluation Highlights

• Easy and dependable
• Compensator works nicely to cut back muzzle flip
• Thumb security match is tighter with much less play than early 1911 DS Prodigy
• Good worth for a 2011-style pistol
• Nice accuracy

Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp Breakdown

In late 2022, the Springfield Prodigy made waves as the primary mainstream 2011-style pistol within the $1,500 worth vary. It’s a double-stack 1911 chambered in 9mm that has a solid body and slide, and the brief body grip module that’s attribute of this model of pistol. The time period “2011” is trademarked by Staccato, previously STI, and the Prodigy was and is a extra reasonably priced, entry-level various to pistols just like the Staccato P and new Staccato C. 

Early manufacturing Prodigy pistols had some feeding points, however by the point we obtained our samples, these had been historical past. We’ve seen nothing however dependable efficiency from the Prodigy over a number of thousand rounds by way of two completely different pistols. You possibly can learn the complete assessment on the unique 4.25-inch Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy here, however our takeaway is that it’s a dependable, smooth-shooting pistol that brings quite a lot of worth for its $1,300 price ticket. 

Different opponents have flocked to the sector, and we’ve seen a pair completely different Turkish imports current nice values as nicely. The modestly-priced MAC 9 DS 1911 is one other good entry-level performer for 2011-style pistols, however is much less refined than the Prodigy.

Entrance and Middle: The New Compensator

Essentially the most outstanding replace to the Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp is the integral compensator. An analogous compensator was first launched on the Hellcat Pro Comp.  At first look, this comp appears to be like very like others which use a barrel that terminates in need of the tip of the slide and the place the slide itself is ported and typically has a built-in blast chamber to redirect gasses. On 9mm pistols, many of those compensators are decorative and don’t actually drive the muzzle down a lot (if in any respect) throughout capturing. 

The slide on the 1911 DS Prodigy Comp is ported, however the compensator’s blast chamber is actually milled out of the bull-profile barrel. The rifled portion of the barrel terminates about half an inch behind the muzzle, and this hogged-out fuel chamber successfully routes gasses upward.

I fired about 500 rounds by way of this pistol and the addition of the compensator makes a big distinction in muzzle flip and the way simply it’s to maintain the crimson dot within the subject of view and heading in the right direction throughout speedy capturing. I famous that the distinction is much more pronounced in smaller pistols just like the Hellcat which can be extra liable to muzzle flip. It’s probably not honest to check it to the dead-nuts efficiency of higher-end compensated weapons just like the Staccato XC, nevertheless it’s a extremely significant addition to the Prodigy. For a comparatively small improve in worth, this makes it an much more efficient and attainable entry-level competitors gun. 

Different Important Options of the Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp

There aren’t quite a lot of adjustments that we see from non-comp Prodigy fashions, however one is the usage of taller iron sights that may be co-witnessed by way of all kinds of crimson dot optics. Additionally, it’s notable that the entrance sight has been relocated again behind the muzzle compensator. This could assist a bit with sight image, however may even stop the tritium entrance sight bead from changing into caked with carbon fouling.

These pistols, like earlier Prodigies, use the Company Optic Methods mounting plates to accommodate completely different footprints. The one I examined wore a Vortex Defender-ST crimson dot sight, a pleasant optic with a large viewing window that made operating my Birchwood Casey plate rack a breeze.

This pistol has a cushty grip module that contains a fantastic stipple texture that’s grippy however not too aggressive. Controls are the identical as you’ll see on different Prodigy pistols, however I did discover that the ambidextrous thumb safeties appear higher match than these on the unique Prodigy I examined. These function crisply and when within the “hearth” place, there may be virtually no squishiness or play within the security levers — one thing that the unique Prodigy had.

The Prodigy has a set off that, by striker-fired requirements, is nice, nevertheless it’s a bit stiff for a contest double-stack 9mm. Thankfully, it’s suitable with some aftermarket mods and choices to enhance it in the event you want. 

Additionally like different fashions, the Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp comes with two magazines: one 17-round and one 20-rounder, made by Duramag. The pistol can also be suitable with the Staccato model and different 2011-style bottleneck magazines, however I didn’t expertise any malfunctions or points utilizing what got here with the gun.

Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp Capturing Efficiency

No information is nice information in the case of pistol reliability, and we’ve come to anticipate trendy handguns to be simply that. I examined this Prodigy (and others) with all common-weight bullets and several types of observe and defensive ammo. Every part from 115-grain steel-cased FMJ by way of 147-grain JHP and 100-grain Black Hills Honey Badger monolithics functioned with out incident.

For accuracy testing, I adopted our handgun protocol of averaging five-shot group sizes fired from 15 yards from a standing place, utilizing a bagged tripod for help. The Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp was surprisingly correct, averaging .907 inch teams utilizing Staccato match ammunition. For reference, many of the handguns we take a look at common between 1.5- and 2-inch group sizes at 15 yards. Beneath an inch is outstanding. When operating by way of metal arrays, I might exactly hit 8- to 12-inch metal targets at 50 yards, and accuracy is actually ample for A-zone hits at any sensible distance.

Remaining Ideas on the Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp

We’re all the time excited to see corporations add significant updates to their product strains — particularly once they’re engaging in what they got down to do. This pistol integrates a compensator that does efficiently enhance capturing efficiency, and does it at a reasonably minimal worth improve. They’re simply hitting the market, however I’d suspect that road worth will settle at 100 or 2 hundred bucks greater than the usual Prodigy. For shooters involved in competing with a 2011-style gun (or simply leisure capturing), this is a superb possibility.