Staccato P 4.15 Heritage Edition Handgun

Other than my custom V8 ported Staccato P 4.4" gun, I'm not really that fond of the 4.4" version of the Staccato P. However, I did purchase a used one last year that had a Leupold DPP already installed for a really good price to have as a shop gun at RFV Tactical for holster fitment/display purposes. Having two of the original 2019 STI Staccato P 4.15" handguns and really loving them, I've been wanting to acquire a newer Staccato P 4.15 Heritage Edition that came out in 2023 for a while now. I was finally able to snag a used Heritage P in pristine condition at a decent price recently, which replaced my Staccato P 4.4" shop gun.

Photo from the Gunbroker auction

The Heritage P is a throwback to the original 2019 P, but with all of the updated features of the newer Staccatos like the Gen2 grip module, updated DPO optic mounting system, X-series front serrations, updated hammer and beavertail grip safety, and a flush cut and crowned barrel. These updated features, along with the original gun's slide/frame length, make this a really unique and beautiful pistol. Since it was a limited edition production in 2023, it sold out quickly and is now just as sought after as the original 2019 P.

I really don't have any plans for the gun as far as modifications are concerned. Other than my usual trigger tuning to just under 3 lbs, I just swapped out the grip module with the one that was on my 4.4" that already has my RFV Tactical Concealed Carry texture, as well as the Surefire X300U light. I also installed the Leupold DPP optic that I took off of my STI DVC Carry. The DPP is not my favorite optic by any means, but it is a direct mount to the DPO optic cut and I already had an extra one lying around. The DPP optic and X300 light is a very popular combination for the Heritage P that looks really good together. The stainless steel tool-less guide rod and reverse plug kind of stuck out like a sore thumb on this all black gun, so I refinished the tip of the guide rod and the reverse plug in my DLC Mimic Cerakote to match the rest of the gun.

Comparing the new Heritage P to my original 2019 P side by side, I can say that the original gun seems to have a better fit and finish. The DLC coating on the newer Staccatos is more of a matte finish, where as the older STI guns that were DLC coated have a smoother finish which is much better looking. I also prefer the longer beavertail and square hammer on the original 2019 P. The original gun is also much smoother when racking the slide by hand.

While I do plan to carry and shoot matches with this Heritage P more frequently than I did with my 4.4" P, I still consider it to be a shop gun that will spend most of it's time in the safe since it's a limited edition gun. With this new Heritage P and my original 2019 P in my collection, I will carry, train with, and shoot matches with my custom V-slot ported 2019 P on a more regular basis, which is why I purchased it in the first place.

Outlaw Action Pistol Match - 08/16/2025

Outlaw Action Pistol match (USPSA rules with IDPA scoring) at the Amarillo Rifle and Pistol Club. I was shooing my original non-ported Staccato C2 from concealment (AIWB) in the Optics division. I recently dehorned and refinished this gun at RFV Tactical in a custom mix of Cerakote that mimics the factory DLC finish, and I've been carrying and training with it for several days, so I thought I would shoot it at this match. The lighter weight of the gun and the smaller window of the RMR optic was definitely noticeable in this dynamic shooting environment. It has more muzzle flip than most of my other 2011 style guns and the small window of the RMR makes it a little harder to be aware of how the dot is tracking during recoil. The gun still ran great and the new finish looks amazing. We had two smaller one position stages, and two larger stages utilizing the same layout with different start positions. We went through all the stages pretty quickly and got done before it got too hot.

Stage 1: Engage all of the targets from behind a low barrier while down on one knee. The first mag was restricted to 10 rounds to force a reload. I inadvertently released the slide before the mag was completely inserted during my reload and it didn't pick up a round, so I got a click but no bang when I pulled the trigger, which took several seconds to realize and correct. I ended up in 6th place with one C-zone hit.

Stage 2: Pretty straight forward stage of shooting around a barrier. Didn't even need to reload as I used a 20-round magazine. I ended up in 3rd place with one C-zone hit.

Stage 3: I thought my stage plan was pretty good, and I executed it well, but I pushed my speed too much on some of the up-close targets and picked up three C-zone hits while transitioning from target to target. I also had a lot of make-up shots on several targets. I ended up in 2nd place.

Stage 4: My stage plan was very similar to Stage 3 despite the different start position. I was slightly more conservative with my speed on the up-close targets, but still picked up three C-zone hits (but no make-up shots) and placed 2nd again.

I ended up in 2nd place Overall out of 25 total and had a great time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ptG594PTyY

Here's Why I Really Like The Springfield Prodigy 1911DS...

I have acquired quite a few 2011 style guns over the last 5 years, and it's the only platform that interests me these days. I have come to really like the Springfield Prodigy 1911DS despite having more expensive and better fit guns in my collection. I currently have 4 Staccatos, 4 STIs, 4 Bul Armorys, and 4 Springfields. Out of all of these guns, I tend to carry, train, and shoot matches with a Prodigy more than any other 2011 style gun. For me, the Prodigy just checks more boxes than my other guns when it comes to aesthetics, ergonomics, and value. The performance of all my 2011s differs a little bit based on the specific modifications (i.e. barrel porting) or upgrades, so performance does not really play a factor in all of this, as that can typically be tuned into any of the guns via modifications and/or upgrading components. My "check boxes" basically come down to slide serrations, overall proportions, grip module ergonomics, optics mounting systems, and overall quality and value. I recently felt the need to justify to myself why I like my Prodigy 1911DS guns more than everything else, so I decided to document it here. While the Prodigy 1911DS is not the winner in all of the categories, for me it certainly wins more categories than my other 2011 style guns and it is a close runner-up in some of the other categories.

Slide Serrations: STI > SA > Bul > Staccato

Slide serrations, particularly the front serrations compared to the rear serrations, are an important aesthetic feature to me. There should be enough serrations on the front of the slide to easily manipulate the slide, as an optic mounted to the rear of the slide practically renders the rear serrations useless. For me, I think there should be the same number of serrations on the front as there is on the rear, but most 2011 style guns have less serrations up front than on the rear. I prefer that there is at least 4 serrations up front and 5 serrations on the rear. My two 2019 STI Staccato P have the most aesthetically pleasing serrations of all of my guns, and the proportions front to rear look great. My Prodigy 1911DS's have perfectly adequate serrations... basic design, an acceptable front to rear ratio, and they are very functional. My V6 ported Bul TAC 4.25 has very nice looking and very functional front serrations, but there are more serrations up front than the rear, which looks a little odd to me. My Staccatos all have only 3 serrations up front regardless of the slide length, so they don't look as good to me even though they have the same style of serrations as my two STI 2019 Ps.

Slide Lengths: SA > Bul > STI > Staccato

I personally prefer 4.25" Commander length slides. I like the proportions of this slide length, especially with a compact grip or a chopped full-size grip, and I like the recoil impulse of this length over a longer slide. The Prodigy 1911DS comes in fairly traditional lengths of 5", 4.25", and a 3.5" compact. The Bul Armory guns come in 5" and 4.25", but their compact guns have a shorter 3.25" slide, which is less desirable to me than a 3.5" slide. Some of the older STI guns were available in 6", 5" and 4.25" (marketed as 4.15"), as well as some 3.9" and 3.5" lengths. The Staccatos have a lot of different non-traditional sizes: 5.4", 5", 4.5", 4.4", 4", 3.9" and 3.5", with no current 4.25" offerings at all.

 
Frame Lengths: Bul > STI > SA > Staccato

My Bul Armory guns have the best options for frame lengths. They have full-length dust covers (which is my preference), and their slash cut partial length dust covers look really good too. Most of my older STI guns have full-length dust covers, but their straight cut partial length dust covers are very plain looking. My Prodigy 1911DS's all have the same "butler cut" on the end which is not quite full-length, but long enough that it looks good. My Staccatos all came with plain straight cut partial length dust covers combined with slides longer or shorter than 4.25" which makes them the least desirable to me. In an effort to make it look better, I did a slash cut on the frame of my custom V8 ported Staccato P 4.4", which makes it look a little better.

Frame Widths: SA/Bul > STI/Staccato

My Prodigy 1911DS's and Bul Armory's frames are all as wide as the slides, which is what I prefer. My STI's and Staccato's frames are all thinner than the slides, which is less desirable to me since most modern high-end 2011 style guns have wider frames.

Grip Module Ergonomics: SA > Staccato > Bul > STI

The Prodigy 1911DS grip module has the best ergonomics of any factory polymer grip module in my opinion. They just feel better in my large hands as the back of the grip in the mainspring housing area is wider and more rounded, and they look better once I've done my specific texture work to them which is done in a 360 degree wrap around configuration. The smooth finger groove of the Prodigy's grip module along with the longer beavertail grip safety help me to get a good grip more consistently than guns that don't have those features. The Staccato and Bul Armory grip modules are similar to each other and look and feel great with my texture work, but the Staccato grip modules also have a smooth finger groove and they seem to be made out of a better material than the Bul grip modules. The older STI grip modules look good and feel great with my texture work, but as the original polymer 2011 grip module they are fairly dated as far as styling features and ergonomics.

Optics Mounting Systems: Staccato > SA > Bul > STI

The Staccato "DPO" mounting system is probably the best factory system for mounting a wide variety of optics on a 2011 style gun and it is a very robust design. The Prodigy 1911DS "AOS" mounting system also has a lot of options for different optics, but the factory mounting plates fit a little loose on the slide and the mounting screws are very small, which can cause issues with the screws coming loose or shearing off. However, there are a lot of companies that make aftermarket mounting plates for the Prodigy that fit better and use stronger screws. Bul Armory's new "BAO" mounting system is very robust, but they only have RMR, DPP, and RMS mounting plates. This leaves out the Holosun 509T as an option, which is my favorite optic for concealed carry, and is installed on most of my guns. Most STI guns weren't even optics-ready and their older "HOST" mounting system was a decent system when it was introduced, but was limited in options as there weren't as many different types of optics available back then. 

Overall Quality and Value: SA > Bul > Staccato > STI

The Prodigy 1911DS is the least expensive out of all my guns, however it doesn't have the best performance, reliability, and fitment out of the box, and needs to be tuned to run fast and reliable. At RFV Tactical, I have an enhancement package specifically for tuning the Prodigy 1911DS. Even with the cost of having the Prodigy tuned for performance and reliability, and having to buy the optic mounting plate of your choice separately, it is still the best value of all of my other 2011 style guns, and in my opinion is the best "budget" 2011 on the market. While the Cerakoted finish of the Prodigy 1911DS is inferior to DLC, Nitride, or PVD, it is certainly easier and cheaper to refinish if it gets scratched up or damaged. The Bul Armory guns offer the next best value since they come with 4 magazines, a magwell, and include all of the optics mounting plates. They have a PVD finish and a better overall fit and finish. They also have the best out of the box performance with no tuning necessary. The Staccatos are not as good of a value with only 3 mags and no optic mounting plate included. They could also benefit from a little bit of trigger tuning, however their DLC finish and slide to frame fitment are top notch. The older STIs have the best fit, finish, and quality, but they have the worst value because they were expensive when they were new, and they are even more expensive as used guns now that they are discontinued and highly sought after since they have more of a cult following after STI rebranded to Staccato.

Other High-End and Budget Brands

It is certainly possible to find other brands of high quality 2011 style guns like Atlas, Race City Defense, and Jacob Gray, that might check off more of my boxes, but most other high-end brands start out at $4000 or more, so "value" wouldn't really come into play. None of the other budget 2011 style guns like MAC/Tisas, Bersa, Alpha Foxtrot, Girsan, Fusion, and LFA, check off hardly any boxes for me (their grip modules are all CRAP!), as I have handled and even worked on several of them, including the new Kimber 2K11, and I wasn't really that impressed with any of them.