Tag: 9mm

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1911 2011 9mm Fusion Firearms handgun XP Pro

The Fusion Firearms XP Pro Has Finally Surpassed 1000 Rounds!

We’re currently at 1011 rounds, all FMJ.

There have been no failures to feed or extract. Hell, I don’t remember the last time the gun was cleaned or lubed, but it’s doing fine, so far!

The gun is supremely controllable. I was able to do some really nice double taps tonight, without scattering rounds on paper. I’ve looked at the video footage and I’m able to easily control recoil, shoot quickly, and also simultaneously shoot accurately.

We actually shot 217 rouds tonight, which is a lot of ammo for me in one range session, especially out of one gun. The gun was actually pretty hot after maybe 20 minutes of shooting (because I wasn’t giving it a break).

So, what next? I’ll be working on a 1000 round review of this gun. I’ll give myself two weeks to create a script and record footage, as well as hunt for lots of B roll footage. If I struggle, it’ll take longer, but I want this done well since I’ve noticed that a lot of my visitors have been gravitating toward my XP Pro blog posts and XP Pro videos.

I’ll post the resulting review on both Rumble and YouTube, but I’m wanting to give up on Rumble. That platform just doesn’t get the a lot of traffic/views. I want to stay away from YouTube but Rumble is NOT a good replacement. I was trying to make an effort to use Rumble but every time I look at my channel stats, I get discouraged. I suppose whenever I post to YouTube, I can also post to Rumble and hope that my Rumble channel gains some views.

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1911 2011 9mm Fusion Firearms XP Pro

Have A Look At This!

This range session was the Sunday before Labor Day 2025.

This was at 10 yards, shooting at a 1″ orange dot, at a semi-rapid pace while still trying to be as accurate as possible.

I think this is the tightest grouping I’ve ever shot quickly at 10 yards. It’s tight enough to where you can pick any of 5 and they’ll be close to one another. Most of those are stacked on top of each other. I’m becoming super familiar with the gun – there’s not all that much recoiling in the footage, I’ve been working on my grip discipline, and I’ve been experimenting with trigger finger placement and trigger pull. As well, due to the minute recoil, and new grip texturing, I’m able to get quick and accurate follow-on shots.

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1911 2011 9mm double-stack double-stacked Fusion Firearms XP Pro

I’m Still Evaluating the XP Pro, But Here Are A Few Video Snippets!

I’m just under 700 rounds through it. At the 1000-round mark, I’ll collect my thoughts and conduct a 1000-round assessment.

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1911 2011 Fusion Firearms XP Pro

Extra Parts For the Fusion XP Pro Are Inbound!

I frequently monitor the Fusion Firearms pages to see if new parts are being stocked.

When checking earlier in the week, I saw that Fusion Firearms had a single sided thumb safety in stock. Sadly, they had none in hard chrome, so I bought the tennifer (black) one. If I find I don’t like the black one, I’ll buy the hard chrome one when it comes back in stock.

Note that this part is $50.

As well, they’ve a new grip module. It’s aluminum and it’s called the Prickle Dot V1. It’s not cheap, at $250. In looking at the pictures and comparing the pictures to my gun’s grip, I feel that FF could’ve done better. They made the side texturing more aggressive, but didn’t put that same texturing on the front or back strap. This is a common thing with gun manufacturers. They always overlook the front and back strap texturing or make it odd (the trend is that they tend to add vertical strips instead of horizontal – horizontal will be better for gripping). I decided to pass on buying the Prickle Dot grip.

Since I passed on buying the new grip module, I went ahead and bought the HandleIt grip enhancement tape for my current grip module. I’d rather not have to tape up the grip, but I want better texturing. While the grip isn’t slippery when I shoot it, if my hands ever get sweaty or dirty, that grip will surely be a challenge to control.

I ordered on 8/12/2025. The parts are on their way but will not arrive until 8/18/2025 (this coming Monday). This weekend, I’ll probably take apart the gun so that it’ll be ready for me to install the thumb safety.

I’m still considering buying the ported barrel but I really think that they missed the mark on that one…the ports are small and more along the sides of the barrel, not the top.

UPDATE (8/19/2025): Below are pictures of the upgrades…

HandleIt Grips, single sided thumb safety, no magwell
HandleIt Grips, single sided thumb safety, no magwell
Single sided thumb safety, no magwell
Single sided thumb safety, no magwell
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1911 2011 Bul Armory double-stack Prodigy DS SAS II Ultralight Springfield Armory

Current Status of Assessing The Prodigy DS Compact

I believe I’m ready to switch over to carrying the Prodigy DS Compact. Right now, I’ve begun to use the Tenicor Certum to carry the gun, but will eventually remove the Streamlight from the Ultralight so that I can install it onto the Prodigy DS – I’ll need to do that to use the More Discreet holster.

I might remove the HS507K from the Ultralight, as well, and install it onto the Prodigy DS, but that would mean that I’d have to re-zero the optic for use on the Prodigy.

I also tested more Hornady Custom XTP 124-gr ammo with the gun. The gun has shot 49 rounds of that ammo. One round of that ammo didn’t feed. I unsuccessfully tried 3 times to get it to feed. When I looked at the round (I still have it), it appears that the projectile has a defect that is making the round out of spec. There are also barbs on the case lip. This is not an issue with the gun. This is also not an issue with that particular box of ammo. Sometimes things aren’t perfect, manufacturing-wise – shit happens. As long as the whole box of ammo wasn’t flawed, it’s OK.

I also bought another box of Speer Gold Dot 124-gr (we now have 2 boxes of that) and a box of Federal HST 124-gr – I’d been using Federal Hydra-Shok but my ammo store was out of that model of ammo. I have not yet tested the Speer GD and the Federal (Hydra-Shok OR HST) through the Prodigy DS, but at least we know that the Hornady Custom XTP works.

I now have 656 rounds thorugh the gun. There have been no feed or extraction issues. The gun is accurate. The trigger has lightened but I also slightly tuned the sear spring (although I did that after the trigger felt that it lightented a bit). Still, the trigger is nowhere as good as the trigger on the Ultralight. The springs are heavier in the Prodigy than the Ultralight, too. I’ll address that after I’ve reached 1000 rounds (will probably add lighter springs, although this is probably a mainspring issue).

Once I’ve begun to carry the Prodigy, I’ll begin the process of finding a gunsmith that can fix the grip safety issue on my Ultralight. I think I might have to send it somewhere reputable, though…there aren’t all that many 1911 gunsmiths around here, and I’m not willing to muck with the gun since I don’t know where to begin.

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1911 2011 9mm double-stack Fusion Firearms XP Pro

The Platypus Isn’t the first to use Glock Mags!

One thing I folks keep saying when I’m reading discussions about the Fusion Firearms XP Pro is that it’s a copy of (or is similar to) the Platypus 1911.

It is not a copy nor is it similar.

Firstly, the XP Pro is actually 2011-patterned. The Platypus is not – it is Para-patterned and is actually a 1911.

Stacatto trademarking only applies to companies that manufacture guns, but I can call it a 2011 because I’m not a gun maker and it IS essentially a 2011. Just as a Ruger AR-556 is considered an AR, although it isn’t branded by Armalite (it is), the XP Pro is considered a 2011, because it is.

Some folks also use the argument that 2011s that use Glock mags aren’t really 2011s. The mags do not define the pattern. What defines the pattern is that 2011s consist of a frame and a grip module.

As well, the Platypus isn’t the first 1911/2011 to use Glock mags. The Alpha Foxtrot S15 holds that trophy. No, the S15 isn’t a 2011, but neither is the Platypus, right? 🙂 The Platypus is the first to use Glock 17 mags…not Glock mags outright, though. The first 1911/2011 to use Glock mags IS the S15.

The Platypus and XP Pro are nothing alike. The only thing they have in common is that they use G17 mags and are chambered in 9mm.

Using Glock mags is besides the point. Anyone hanging onto that gimmicky “It takes Glock mags!” mantra doesn’t know WTF they’re talking about. You’ll see a shitload of folks on YouTube titling their videos with “It takes Glock mags!”, and many of those folks are competent, but they’re also purposely titling their videos that way so that they can gain views.

Yes, there’s a purpose to using Glock mags – they’re super cheap while also being durable. As well, most folks own Glocks and many folks have lots of Glock mags, so they can reuse those mags with this gun instead of having to buy 2011 mags, which usually are priced in the $60+ range.

The XP Pro is more attainable than the Platypus, as there’s a LONG wait list for them at Stealth Arms. As well, the XP Pro is arguably the better gun. Yeah, the Platypus has many custom options and a fancy customization page, but again, it’s not actually 2011-patterned and Fusion Firearms is also ramping up lots of custom options (they only just started making the XP Pros).

I’ve seen videos of folks attempting to compare the Platypus with the XP Pro and they NEVER compare an XP Pro (straight from the factory – no mods) with a base Platypus (straight from the factory with no mods). IMO, the best thing to do (if forced to compare them – again, they’re not on equal footing, so I think the comparision is unrealistic) is to compare a BASE Platypus with an XP Pro. I’ve yet to see anyone do that, but they’ll sure as hell compare the XP to a built Platypus.

I’m not trying to take away anything from folks who may desire a Platypus, but I’m all about fair comparisons and know enough of things to realize that by the time you customize a Platypus with desireable parts, it is no longer an equal comparison with an XP Pro.

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1911 2011 Cyelee Optic Prodigy DS Springfield Armory

I Wanted To Share A Video of the Prodigy DS Compact

Check this out:

I took the Prodigy DS Compact to the range today and brought 150 rounds. The Prodigy ate all of it without issue – no fails (was Magtech 115gr FMJ). There are now 270 flawless rounds through the gun.

A Cyelee CAT is mounted to the DS. These are two mags of some good groups (for me and this particular gun).

I still don’t like the trigger, but I may have adapted to it (or learned to ignore what I don’t like about it). I’ve also been working on my support hand grip. Yeah, my support thumb isn’t glued to the gun – I’m fine with that, as THM says that doesn’t matter…what matters is that other portions of the support hand being glued to the grip. I noticed that I didn’t fidget with my support hand as I normally do. Also, my strong side thumb isn’t resting on the thumb safety. My thumb does not like sitting up there (I’ve developing arthritis)., so I let it sit wherever it’s comfortable…I’m OK with that.

I’m shooting at orange 1″ pasties at 10 yards. My goal was to try to stack the rounds. I also challenged myself by trying to shoot at a decent pace. The first mag, I was shooting at the top orange pasty. The second mag, I was shooting at the left-side pasty. I was quite surprised, especially as it was toward the end of the range session, when I typically tire and start shooting badly.

UPDATE (4/25/2025): I did a detail strip of the Prodigy DS Compact yesterday, to check which parts were MIM, but also compared the sear spring with an EGW sear spring for Commander-size 1911s. The EGW was a tad taller and would not fit in the gun – I know, I tried – it didn’t work. I then looked at and very slightly tweaked the middle tine of the sear spring and then put the gun back together. When I did a function check, I immediately noticed that the weight of the trigger was less – the trigger wall didn’t see as bad as before. I checked the trigger weight via Lyman’s gauge…it’s at 3 lb 2 oz now. It dropped a full pound. It feels GOOD! I’ll be visiting the range tomorrow (at 10 PM) to test it and put more rounds through the Prodigy. I want to be at 500 within the next 7 days (I’m at 260 now).

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1911 2011 Fusion Firearms Prodigy DS Springfield Armory XP Pro

A Few Things About the XP Pro…

I was able to detail strip the gun. The only things I didn’t remove were the frame from the grip (couldn’t determine how to get them apart).

I was also not able to remove the firing pin stop from the slide, so I couldn’t remove the extractor or firing pin.

I detail stripped the gun because I wanted to see the internals and verify the parts were bar stock.

I found no MIM in the gun…that was no surprise but some folks think Fusion Firearms is lying when they say the gun has no MIM. Nah, they’re not lying. A video of the internals is below.

I also attempted to mount the Viridian RFX45 to the XP Pro. I was unable to. That optic is not compatible with the adapter plates that Fusion Firearms provides. The RFX45 also uses the Acro footprint, which means that I’d have to stack the Viridian Acro-to-RMR adapter onto the XP Pro adapter…I’m not wanting to stack adapters (and both of them are thick adapters).

This means that I’ve to find a compatible optic. I was initially contemplating buying the 507C, 507 Comp, or 508T, but was thinking I could just settle for the 407C. I then watched TheHumbleMarksman’s XP Pro video and saw that he’d mounted a Cyelee Wolf X Pro to his XP Pro. I think I’m going to buy either that optic or the Wolf EDG. A sub of my YT channel also recommended the Cyelee Chameleon, which has a WIDE viewport — I like that a lot and it’s cheaper than the above-mentioned optics. I’m still not sure on which, but I’m actually leaning toward the Wolf EDG, but I’m just not looking forward to spending close to $300 for another optic. UPDATE (4/15/2025): I went ahead and bought the Cyelee Chameleon. A viewer of my channel left a comment sharing some optics that fit on his XP Pro. He recommended quite a few (the Cyelee Wolf EDG (for duty) & Chameleon (for the range); the Swampfox Justice II (for competition). I ended up pinning his comment so that it could better help other viewers. The Chameleon should arrive in 2 days. I’ll mount it Thursday night and let the thread locker set for a visit to the range this weekend (maybe).

I’ll visit the range tomorrow after work so I can get some rounds through either the Prodigy DS or the XP Pro, although I should probably focus more on shooting the Prodigy since I eventually plan to EDC it. I do have the Cyelee CAT mounted onto the Prodigy, as well, so shooting it should be a bit less of a chore – we’ll see.

I also have ordered more ammo…I blew through 1000 rounds of Magtech pretty quickly. I bought 1000 more from Bereli again, although they raised their prices by $25-30 (the gun community is getting spooked again by politics and folks are predicting shortages soon). I bought more Magtech, although I bought 124-gr this go-around.

Categories
1911 2011 9mm

The XP Pro Feels Exclusive!

Yeah, it’s here! I picked it up a few days ago.

The gun is beautiful. I’m not just saying that or trying to justify a purchase. It’s actually a gorgeous gun, a gun that feels really good in the hand, has good fitment and finish, and is a great shooter.

I shot it for an hour, maybe an half hour after I did the background checks. I shot 160-ish rounds from it. Because I immediately shot it, I couldn’t clean it and it was barely lubed (I could only lube the rear rail inserts. Because of that, it failed to return to battery maybe 3-4 times, but that could’ve also been due to the fact that the included Glock mags have tired springs – they’ve hardly any resistance and they stopped locking back the slide after the last rounds. I’ve four new G17 mags and will use them from now on – it’s not worth replacing the springs, as the springs are $8 and with shipping fees, they’ll be close to a new mag in price.

You know what? I’ve talked about the gun in a video I posted on YouTube, so I’ll just share that video here.

And, some range footage showing the accuracy of the gun.

Enjoy!

Categories
1911 2011 9mm

Fusion Firearms XP Pro Chrome is on the Way!

Yeah, I changed my plans, although this was an alternative plan.

The plan was to obtain a 5″ 1911 in 9mm. I’d chosen to purchase the Prodigy DS 5″, but since I’m (sort of) not satisfied with the Prodigy DS Compact that I received last week (heavy trigger, pinching thumb safety), I was sort of not wanting to commit to another Prodigy.

Another alternative plan was to obtain a 5″ Emissary AOS 9mm, but then started thinking that I’d want a double-stack 1911 if this gun’s purpose was for training.

So, I decided to check pricing on what I’d been looking at a few weeks ago – the Fusion Firearms XP Pro Chrome 4″. Normally, it’s $1200+ for the chrome gun (and $100 less for the black version). I found a (new) chrome version for less than $1000 at KYGUNCO, so I bit on it.

I’m awaiting for KYGUNCO and my gun store/range to chat with one another, which they’ll probably do tomorrow or the day after.

I can’t remember if I’ve spoken about why I had the XP Pro on my list, but the reasons why I wanted it are:

  • There are no 2011-patterned guns under $2500 that have metal grips (although the grips don’t have the best texturing).
  • The gun has gotten great reviews.
  • The gun uses Glock 17 mags, which are far cheaper than 2011-pattern mags.
  • The gun includes several optic plate adapters (the Prodigy guns only come with an obsolete formatted plate and to switch plates, you’ve to pay $120).
  • Fusion Firearms have updates/upgrades in the works (grips, 5″ versions, comp barrels, etc).

This might also bump up my Youtube viewership count, too, as I’ve looked at what folks are searching on on both Youtube and my blog and there’s a LOT of folks looking for information on the XP Pro.

I’m not sure if the great characteristics of my Bul Armory Ultralight made my experience with the Prodigy DS a bit sour. Granted, I’ve the grip safety issue with my Ultralight, but the gun is outstanding to shoot. It has a great trigger, good finish and great fitment, and great performance in general. The things about the Prodigy that pissed me off were the trigger being heavy, the pinching safety, and the optics plate offering. The MSRP between my version of the Ultralight and the Prodigy DS Compact are almost the same, but the Prodigy Compact lacks when comparing the two.

Some folks might say, “Well, what did you expect?” I’m the type of guy that wants to experience things for myself. As well, there are many folks who shit on a gun they’ve never owned and parrot what they’ve heard other folks say. There have been plenty of times where I bought what folks think are shitty guns and those guns turned out to work as intended. I’m not a trusting person when it comes to information that resides on the internet. I’d rather find out on my own.

Folks say the Prodigy DS has reliability issues. I’ve not seen that yet with my example. It’s been dependable thus far. My issues are that I think Springfield Armory could’ve done better. The trigger is sloppy. The choice on optic plate is crappy. The safety lever pinching folks is something they should’ve caught — I’m not sure why this isn’t occurring with the larger Prodigy DS variants. So, all my issues have nothing to do with reliability/dependability.

I’m not sure when the XP Pro will be ready for me to pick up. If I’m lucky, it’ll be Friday or Saturday. If not, it’ll probably be early next week.

As well, I bought 4 x KCI mags for use with this gun.

UPDATE (4/2/2025): The two gun stores have chatted to one another. The gun is in final processing now and I think it may ship tomorrow (4/3). If it does, I might have it by 4/5.

UPDATE (4/5/2025): So, it appears that it will arrive on 4/7. I guess that means that I’ll have to go pick it up after work Monday evening. That’s not optimal but I’ll see about scheduling a range visit at 7:30 PM. If I can get that locked in, I’ll go pick up the gun at 6 PM. I’ll be able to shoot the gun almost immediately after picking it up. Stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE (4/9/2025): UPS flubbed up the delivery…was supposed to arrive on 4/7 but didn’t arrive until late 4/8, and because of that, my range didn’t process it until around noon on 4/9. Yeah, I had to cancel the range visit that I’d set up for 4/7. It is currently ready for pickup and I’ve locked in a range session for 7:30 PM tonight, which means I should show up at 6:30 PM to conduct the background checks.