Tag: Springfield Armory Prodigy DS

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1911 2011 double-stack double-stacked Prodigy DS Springfield Armory

Shooting Self Defense Ammo From The Prodigy DS Compact

I visited the range yesterday with several goals in mind.

I wanted to test other self defense (SD) ammo from the Prodigy DS Compact so that I can know of other JHP options.

I also wanted to zero the Holosun 507K that is now attached to the gun (removed it from the Ultralight since I’ve stopped carrying it).

I also wanted to shoot the gun with the Streamlight TLR-7X attached.

As well, I wanted to see if I could finaly use the SIG Connect OHD training app at the range.

For ammo, I brought

  • 25 rounds of Barnes Vor-TX 115-gr JHP
  • 25 rounds of Federal Premium HST 124-gr JHP
  • 50 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 124-gr JHP (I only shot 15 rounds of this)
  • I also shot 50 rounds of Blazer 124-gr FMJ.

I ended up shooting more SD ammo than I did range ammo.

There were no failures to feed or extract.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve cleaned the gun (I usually run a bore snake through the barrel, though). I’ll maybe clean the gun tomorrow.

I’m currently at 771 rounds.

I spent half the range session zeroing the 507K optic to the Prodigy DS Compact. I think I like the Cyelee optic better – I’ve grown used to the green dot. If I end up not adjusting well to the 507K, I can always switch to something else…I’ve been eyeing the Cyelee Wolf EDG. I’ve also been thinking of the Viridian RFX-44 (which is an RMSc-footprinted and closed emitter optic). We’ll see.

I finally got the OHD training app to work. I’ve been trying to get it to work the past 6 or so months. It’s been requiring a network connection to work, but the firing line at the range doesn’t have Wifi or network connectivity. After testing a week ago, I decided to let the app developers know of the issue. At first, they insisted that there was an issue on my end, but after showing them that I could reproduce the issue and that it was an app issue, they backtracked and said it was a bug within the app. They said they’re fixing the bug.

They gave me free 30 days of premium access to the app. I’m not sure I’m going to continue to use it, as it has limitations. One limitation is that it won’t register impacts when the impact lands on a prior impact point. As well, the targets I printed are 8.5 x 11 and at 15+ yards, those are difficult to use if firing quickly – I’m used to shooting at man-sized targets when shooting afar. I suppose I can try to shoot printer paper up close, but even then, that’s rather small when shooting quickly, no matter the distance.

My next goal is to research how to easily carry an extra magazine. I’d recently bought the QVO Tactical Flex Connector, which is a side car for use with their More Discreet holster. The side car contains a mag holder. I tried to carry using that holster and didn’t like the side car at all…it’s extra bulky, which I don’t like. It makes me feel pregnant, as the attachment portion of the side car pushes out further than the actual holster itself. So, for now, I’m back to carrying an extra mag in my cargo pocket.

I’ll need to order more range ammo soon, as I’m quickly burning through the 1000 rounds I recently bought. One thing: I’m not sure if I like the Blazer 124-gr ammo that I recently purchased – it doesn’t seem to be as accurate as the Magtech 115-gr ammo I’d used prior to the last purchase. Yes, I know that the point of impact will change between the two weights of ammo, but I think I prefer the Magtech better, as it generally hits where I’m aiming (which isn’t always the case with this batch of Blazer).

I’ll continue to post updates.

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1911 2011 Bul Armory Prodigy DS SAS II Ultralight Springfield Armory

I’m now 100% carrying the Prodigy DS Compact now!

I installed the Streamlight WML to the Prodigy DS tonight, then removed the 507K from the Ultralight and installed it on the Prodigy too.

I’m now carrying the Prodigy DS, in the QVO Tactical More Discreet holster. I haven’t left the house with it yet, though…I’ll do that tomorrow.

I’ve installed the irons back on the Ultralight. I might start looking for a place that can fix the grip safety. It is now a safe queen until I get the gun fixed – it’s a pity.

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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 – we’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 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.

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1911 2011 Springfield Armory

I’ll Be Fitting A Different Safety To The Prodigy DS Compact

Today, I saw a few other folks complaining about the right side of the ambidextrous safety of the Prodigy DS Compact.

At least one person has removed the ambi safety and switched to a single-sided safety. He said he bought a Nighthawk safety and swapped it in. I asked him how much fitting it required and he said it took a bit of fitting, but he also said that he’s swapped in a new sear and that the sear required that he spend a bit more time than usual in fitting the safety.

I then went to Youtube to view videos showing how to fit 1911 safeties. I think this is something I can do. I’ve fit other parts in the past and I think this job is something that isn’t beyond me.

So, I’ll be swapping out the OEM safety levers for a single-sided safety. I’ve picked the Nighthawk Customs Carbon single-sided safety.

I also ordered a set of good gunsmithing files, as the ones I have are lacking as far as sharpness (they were bought from Harbor Freight).

I also have a spare safety to experiment with (it is unfitted).

If I mess this up, I’ll try a less expensive safety (EGW) next, but I don’t think I’ll fail in this.

The parts should arrive in 5 days. If this works, I’ll be converting a few other safeties on my 1911s, as I’ve no need for ambi safeties and I love the looks of the right side of a 1911/2011 that has a single-sided safety.

Yeah, I said I didn’t want to mod the Prodigy until I’d had a fair amount of rounds through it, but the safety pinches me badly and a new safety shouldn’t change the shooting characteristics of the gun any.

I’ll report back with the results of this effort.

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2011 Springfield Armory

Is an Officer-sized Prodigy on the Way?!

Is an Officer-sized Prodigy on the way? I believe it is!

There was a Reddit post of a gun shop receiving two Prodigy handguns. One was a 3.5″ 9mm handgun and the other was a 4.25″ 9mm handgun. The poster supplied pictures. Both had compact-sized grip modules (think BUL Amory Ultralight grip size).

I knew I should’ve grabbed a screenshot of the post, because I went back maybe 30 min later and the person that had shared the pics had deleted the pictures and his comments. I think the guy realized that he shouldn’t have been posting about those guns since he was probably under NDA.

For sure, these two guns are on the way, and that pretty much wrecks my gun-buying plans this year…LOL! For certain, I’m going to get that Officer-sized Prodigy when it is released to the public…it will replace my Ultralight. As well, I still need a 5″ 9mm 2011/1911, and that will probably be a Prodigy…I can afford both.

That Reddit thread is here.

UPDATE: Here’s another Reddit post of this, only it is the 4.25″ Prodigy Compact (4.25″ barrel with compact grip with 15-round mags). The UPC code is 706397969073 and the MPN is PH9116AOS. There is one store that has a staged product page that has the UPC code and MPN. I’ve seen no data on the 3.5″ Prodigy Compact, though. This post pertains to a person that actually bought a Prodigy Compact, surely a mistake on the gun store’s behalf.

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1911 2011 Alpha Foxtrot Bul Armory Springfield Armory

So, What’s Next?

I’ve been thinking on what my next handgun should be.

A listing:

  • Dan Wesson (CZ) DWX (full sized)
  • Cosaint COS21
  • Bul Armory Tac 5″ or Tac Pro 5″
  • Alpha Foxtrot Romulus 5″ or Spatha 5″
  • Stealth Arms Platypus
  • Springfield Armory 1911 DS (Prodigy) 5″
  • GP Arms Patriot 4.8″ or Forza 3.10″

My budget is between $1000 and $2000.

What I really want is something I don’t already have, configuration-wise. I do not have a 5″ 1911 that is chambered in 9mm. I’d prefer it to be double-stacked. I’d prefer it to not be over $2000. I do not want another cheap 2011, either – that includes any Tisas, MAC, LFA, or Witness…basically, nothing under $1000.

The Dan Wesson DWX is something that I’m curious about Dan Wesson makes great 1911s and this is apparently a blend of CZ and 1911. They’ve an MSRP of $1999 and can be found as low as $1700, so they’re within the budget. DWXs are a bit different and I love the unique guns. The con of this gun is that they are not optics-ready, which is a bit crazy considering that it costs that much and modern guns are usually cut for an optic.

I was thinking Cosaint COS21 (it’s their 5″ duty gun) but that’s rather expensive, starting at $2600! The smaller variants are $100 and $200 less (starting at $2500 for the Commander and $2400 for the Officer variants). If I’m going to spend that much money, it’ll be on a Stacatto, so scratch Cosaint off the list, simply because they assault my sensibilities. They’re probably great guns but I’ve a budget to consider.

I was also considering the new 5″ Bul Armory TAC or Tac Pro, in 5″ length. The Tac Pro is only a bit lessexpensive than the the Cosaint COS21. The Tac is $2250. Both are out of budget, sadly. As well, Bul Armory only have 1-year limited warranties on their guns, so no more Bul Armory guns for me.

I may do another Alpha Foxtrot – they’ve two new double-stacked 1911s that are in the pipeline: the Spatha and the Romulus. The Spatha appears to be a double-stacked 1911 that is solid-framed, and the Romulus appears to be a legit 2011. The con for Alpha Foxtrot is that, like Bul Armory, they only have limited 1-year warranties, but I love their guns, so I may be willing to overlook the warranty. Of the two (pictured below), the Romulus has more of my interest. Prices aren’t listed yet but I’m thinking they’ll be in the mid $1000s.

There’s the Stealth Arms Platypus. The Platypus’ pro is that it’s highly configurable. It’s cons are that it’s not really a 2011 and that most folks have them.

The Springfield Armory Prodigy is something I’ve always desired, and it has a full warranty, will take standard 2011 mags, has a very robust optics mounting system, has a great grip module, and is very flat-shooting. Yes, they initially had problems. I haven’t heard of any recent complaints, though.

The GP Arms Patriot is not new (they also have the 3.1″ Forza, which is very like the Bul Armory SAS II UL and is priced at $1590) but is very configurable. They are a tad bit pricey, though…they start at $1950.

Outside of 1911s/2011s, I’ve been curious about the Glock 43X and Glock 48. Hell, I can get both of them, in MOS configuration.

Of them all, the 5″ Prodigy is the stand-out option. I can even get the variant that has 3 mags and the HEX optic,which will certainly already have the optic mounting plate, and it will still be reasonably priced (at around $1400). Plus, I already have two Checkmate mags and a 17 round Duramag.

I’ll also keep watch on what else is released this year, as I’ve until next spring to decide.