Friday, May 30, 2025

Springfield Prodigy 1911DS 4.25" Carry Comp

With my increasing affection for the Springfield Prodigy 1911DS, I've been wanting to acquire a 4.25" Comp, because I've been curious as to how it would compare with all of my other ported 2011-style guns. I wasn't really interested in the 4.25" Comp when it first came out because I didn't like how far back the front sight is positioned on the slide due to the comp's large opening, but it has since grown on me. I came across a used 4.25" Comp where the previous owner installed a shorter 15-round grip from a Compact 1911DS, which I am calling a "Carry Comp". The Compact grip modules have not been available for purchase separately from Springfield, so I thought this would be a unique configuration for my Prodigy Enhancement Package at RFV Tactical. I actually told myself that if Springfield ever came out with a Comp version of their aluminum frame 4.25" Compact, then I would buy one. But if I'm being honest, I would prefer a steel frame over an aluminum frame, so this worked out perfect for me (and way cheaper too).


The gun came with some aftermarket parts already installed including an Evolution Gun Works single sided thumb safety, a Red Dirt flat faced trigger, and a Miller Precision pinned beavertail. I swapped out the single sided thumb safety for the included factory ambidextrous safety levers that were from a Compact Prodigy, and I swapped out the Red Dirt trigger for an STI trigger that I already had, as I don't really like flat faced triggers. I added an Atlas Gunworks tool-less guide rod and installed a modified EGW 0.068" firing pin and ISMI firing pin spring. I had to turn down the tip of the EGW firing pin to just under 0.064" to fit through the hole in the breech face. The firing pin hole in the slide measured 0.064" and the factory firing pin measured 0.060". That doesn't seem like a big difference, but it was enough to cause primer shearing that led to some frequent light strikes when test firing the gun with the factory firing pin, which is exactly what I experienced with my first Prodigy. 😞 The modified EGW firing pin resolved the light strike issue, and the gun has since run flawlessly.


These Comp slides appear to be machined a little bit different than the standard slides as I also discovered that the notch for the slide stop is in a slightly different location, which prevents the use of a shock buffer on the recoil spring guide rod. This gun needed a LOT of dehorning. The edges on the front of the slide were not chamfered from the factory at all like they were on all of the other Prodigy's that I've worked on, and the Compact thumb safeties and Miller beavertail also needed a lot of dehorning and blending to make it feel comfortable in the hand. I also thinned down the thumb safety levers (personal preference) and did a relief cut on the bottom edge of the slide stop lever pad to make it easier to lock the slide back manually. The hammer that came installed on the gun is apparently from a MAC 9 DS and it needed quite a bit of trimming down on the top edge so that the gun would cycle smoothly. I may end up replacing it with an EGW hammer, but I actually like the way it looks.


The Compact grip module is similar to the full-size module, but it has more of a ridge in the mainspring housing area like most 2011-style grips do, whereas the Prodigy full-size grip module is much more rounded and comfortable in that area. I shaved down the mainspring housing to line up with the Miller pinned beavertail that doesn't have the typical memory bump, which also reduced the grip's overall circumference. I also opened up and blended the magwell opening and removed the ribs on the sides of the bottom of the grip so that it would have a smooth 360 degree magwell border once stippled. Plus... I just dislike the look of those ribs on their grip modules. 😛


I had a hard time trying to decide on a Cerakote color scheme for this gun. I really like two-tone guns, but I didn't want to go with my usual choice of Stainless on this frame, and I couldn't decide between Burnt Bronze, Sniper Gray, or something else (I'm kind of boring when it comes to colors on guns). I ended up going with a custom mixture of Tungsten (50%) and Armor Black (50%) on the frame and beavertail. This dark metallic gray mixture gives the gun a subtle low contrast two-tone look.



My default optic choice for this gun would normally have been a Holosun 509T, but I pulled a Holosun 507C optic off of a shop gun for it temporarily since I already had a factory RMR mounting plate. I actually like the look of the 507C optic on this gun, so I may just leave it installed. As with most of my Commander length 2011-style guns, this one also got a Surefire X300U full-size weapon light, so that I can carry it in any of my RFV Tactical full-size weapon light holsters that are molded specifically for the X300.



This gun shoots great and feels very balanced. The concussion from the comp's port is surprisingly not as loud or violent as most of my other ported 2011-style guns, but it is still effective in reducing muzzle rise. Typically the trade off for reduced muzzle rise with a ported gun is that there is a little more kick into your hands during recoil, but the recoil impulse of this gun is still relatively soft compared to most of my other ported guns. This one also doesn't get quite as dirty from shooting it as my other ported guns since the port is at the very end of the slide/barrel. The Compact grip module is excellent for concealed carry as it is shorter than a Staccato C2 grip, however this slimmed down version makes the gun feel a little bit different in the hand compared to a full-size grip, which took some time for me to get used to. Overall, I am really happy with the way the gun looks and performs, but it took a lot more work than I typically do to enhance a Prodigy 1911DS.

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Outlaw Action Pistol Match - 05/17/2025

Outlaw Action Pistol match (IDPA Scoring) at the Amarillo Rifle and Pistol Club. I was shooing my non-ported Springfield Prodigy from concealment (AIWB) in the Optics division. It was great weather for a match with no wind, which is very rare for the Texas Panhandle.

Stage 1: I executed my stage plan pretty well, but I didn't get the timing of the swinger down correctly and had to wait for it. I sent three quick shots at the swinger and actually got two A-zone hits on it with only one C-zone hit for the entire stage and placed 2nd.

Stage 2: This was a pretty straight forward stage with a seated start. I ran it pretty good, with only two C-zone hits and ended up winning this stage.

Stage 3: A really challenging stage with a few tight shots, as well as a small Texas star that spins deceptively fast. My accuracy suffered a little bit on the two targets that I shot on the move, but overall it was a good stage for me. Four C-zone hits and placed 2nd on this stage.

Stage 4: This stage was going really good until the last target. I tripped on a weed coming into the last position and completely lost my balance as I engaged the last target. My first shot was a hit on the "no-shoot" target and my second shot was a complete miss over the shoulder.  I then reengaged the target with one hand after I caught my balance to at least get some hits on the target, but that one hurt. I ended up in 15th place on this stage.

Overall, the stages were all really good considering the limitations we have with utilizing a single large bay. I ended up in 3rd place Overall out of 21 total.




Saturday, May 3, 2025

USPSA Action Pistol Match - 05/03/2025

USPSA Action Pistol Match at the Southwest Shooting Center in Clovis, NM with the Southwest Performance Shooters club. I was shooting my non-ported Springfield Prodigy from concealment (AIWB) in the Limited Optics division. 

Stage 1: I was the first shooter on the first stage of the day.  I normally try to be conservative on my first stage of the day, but I just really wanted to go fast like Ricky Bobby. 😄 I ended up with 5 C-zone hits and 1 D-zone hit, but still placed 2nd on this stage.

Stage 2: Several tight shots on this one as well as some shooting on the move. My reload took longer than I planned and I went a little too far coming into one position and had to reposition my foot on the fault line before engaging more targets, and the loose wall netting got in my way while engaging two other targets, so it was slower than I would've liked. I placed 4th on this stage with only one C-zone hit.

Stage 3: "Too Close For Comfort" Classifier. Decent run with only one C-zone hit (head box). My concealment reloads on stages like this are always a challenge. I placed 3rd on this stage.

Stage 4: More tight shots with some while standing on a balancing beam.  Another good run with only one C-zone hit (several make-up shots though) and placed 2nd on this stage.

Stage 5: This last stage was probably my most conservative run but still had 3 C-zone hits (all on head box shots). I placed 3rd on this stage.

Good weather and great stages that were a lot of fun. I ended up in 3rd place Overall out of 16 total.