Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Prodigy

Springfield Armory entered the 2011-style handgun market with the Prodigy in 2022, blending M1911-style construction with double-stack magazines, optic-mounting systems and a polymer grip frame. Watch our "American Rifleman Television" Rifleman Review segment above and see the Prodigy in action on our test range.

"The construction is a polymer grip module that is attached to a separate forged frame," American Rifleman Editor in Chief Brian Sheetz said. "Now again, as is typical of Springfield's, this gun features a forged frame and slide. The stainless barrel is fitted to the slide directly so that there's no bushing as there would be in a traditional 1911."

Within the polymer grip module, the Springfield Armory Prodigy accepts all 2011-pattern double-stack magazines, and in the case of this pistol, it's chambered for 9 mm Luger and ships with a single flush-fit 17-round magazine and an extended 20-round magazine.

"All Prodigies are optic-capable by way of the Agency Optic System that Springfield has licensed from Agency Arms to allow for the mounting of multiple models of of red-dot sights by way of the adapter plates that it can provide," Sheetz said. "And then the sights, which are viewable through the Hex Dragonfly, in this case, are a U-notch rear with serrations with a green fiber optic pipe for the front. And they are of a height that you can co-witness them through the Hex Dragonfly."

Other features on the top end of the gun include a pronounced beavertail grip safety, which shields the strong hand from being bitten by the skeletonized external hammer as the gun cycles. There's also a recessed slide-stop lever in the traditional M1911 location on the left side of the frame, as well as an ambidextrous manual thumb safety.

"You still have the conventional 1911-style magazine release, but you'll notice, in this case, it protrudes quite a bit from the grip frame module, so that's an enhancement in the sense that it's a little easier to hit," Sheetz said. "On the front of the trigger guard, you have a texture that's molded into the polymer grip module that matches the texture that's featured on the grip itself, and that wraps around on the frontstrap. Now on the backstrap, you have a mainspring housing that features fairly fine checkering."

A single-slot Picatinny accessory rail on the frame's dustcover allows for the attachment of a light or laser, and the slide features angled serrations at the front and rear for easy manipulation.

"So with this 4.25"-barreled version of the Prodigy, you end up with a gun that has a base weight of about 32.5 ozs. That's almost a half-pound lighter than a full-size, all-steel 1911, so that's not inconsiderable," Sheetz said. "So the Prodigy is something that, especially in the longer-barrel version, the 5"-barrel version, you know, you could compete with, you could shoot this gun on targets, but this is a gun you could carry, too."

Springfield Armory Prodigy Specifications
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
Action Type: single-action, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Barrel: 4.25" stainless steel; forged, 1:16" twist
Magazine: 17-round detachable box
Sights: dovetailed square-notch rear, fiber-optic front; HEX Dragonfly
Overall Length: 7.8"
Weight: 32.5 ozs.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.