Posted: 2/6/2025 6:59:27 PM EDT
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I shoot a ton of carbine and handgun per week. Finally wanted to get into a 2011 just because; no real other reason. Was looking at either the 5 inch or shorter comp'd versions. Have no real desire to spend $3k+ for one. The Prodigy seemed to consistently come up as the best bang for the buck or punching above its weight. I gave it a look at it has basically everything I'd want, nothing really that I don't other than an ambi safety. What I keep seeing is people saying something along the lines of how its a great intro 1911/2011 and then upgrade the gun as you go. The way I take this, is not upgrade to another gun, but upgrade the actual pistol as you go. I've seen posts in the Prodigy thread where people are like, oh I put part X and Y on it. I always figured it was preference and never gave it much thought outside of that. But from hearing, now multiple times, about how you 'need' to upgrade it, it has me wondering, what actually really needs an upgrade on it? |
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This is mostly stock. I changed to a USGI recoil spring guide SS commander plug from Wilson Combat and 10-8 reverse plug/guide. Only did this, because I don't like the "tool" needed for field stripping. People change whatever they perceive. This is a range toy, so it will be stock until parts break for replacement. Works fine as is.   I used a 10-8 commander plug that caused an issue with link deformation. The cutout on the Wilson Combat version solved this. Shot with Speer Gold dots 124 gr +P. Stock plug.   10-8 plug.  |
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I've been able to go over a few in detail. The side to frame fit was pretty good, with some slop. The coating on both is thick and contributes to fouling in the rails. The internals were less than desirable. The trigger work was shoddy. There was a good use of MIM parts, which I'm not against in general, but the parts themselves were lacking. The barrel fit was ok. The slides had open extractor channels, a baffling decision. If I were getting a prodigy, and I probably will eventually, if expect to replace the fire control group, trigger, and clean up the rails at a minimum. ETA: went over what I found in one particular sample. It held true for the others I've seen since. https://www.ar15.com/forums/Handguns/Springfield-Prodigy/34-208280/?page=1#i2442308 |
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They're good tinkerer's pistols. Springfield did a decent job of good slide/frame/barrel. Everything else is suspect. Springfield cerakoting a lot of their guns sucks because that spray paint crap doesn't hold up and looks like garbage in short order. Wish they were parkerized, melonited, or DLC's for what they're charging over a standard 1911 I own a day one release 4.25" and a 5" from a year later. Wish I would have bought a staccato instead. |
 I finally tried a prodigy and it did not go well  Springfield Armory Should be Ashamed of Themselves For context, Ben is not going to tinker with a pistol to make it work. He wants it to function out of the box without having to be worked on. Mounting optics is about as much as he'll do and he usually has someone else do that. I would not buy a Prodigy with any expectation of performance without being modified and upgraded. Things like the EGW ignition kit seem pretty much mandatory. |
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I don't know about the Prodigy specifically, but Springfield's production 1911's are fine from the factory in my experience. Could a gunsmith improve the trigger pull? Yeah. Does it "need" it? No. The recoil spring and slide stop (if it's non-detented) are probably good upgrades to ensure longer longevity with the former (Wilson makes some flat wire springs rated at 40,000 rounds) and to avoid idiot scratches with the latter. |
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Based on my recent acquisition of a 5" compensated Prodigy, and 500-600 rds down range, my opinion is that you can just shoot it as is without replacing any parts until they break. I changed out the 2-piece OEM guiderod to EGW 1 piece just because I hate dealing with the 2 piece, personal preference. I'm doing tuning work on the sear spring and replacing the main spring to lighten up the trigger pull from the OEM 4.5-5#, but all of this is personal preference. I'm planning on using it in 3 gun competitions so the tuning and monkeying with different parts are again, personal preference but the gun itself is good enough to take to the races. Originally Posted By Whiskey1Alpha: I shoot a ton of carbine and handgun per week. Finally wanted to get into a 2011 just because; no real other reason. Was looking at either the 5 inch or shorter comp'd versions. Have no real desire to spend $3k+ for one. The Prodigy seemed to consistently come up as the best bang for the buck or punching above its weight. I gave it a look at it has basically everything I'd want, nothing really that I don't other than an ambi safety. What I keep seeing is people saying something along the lines of how its a great intro 1911/2011 and then upgrade the gun as you go. The way I take this, is not upgrade to another gun, but upgrade the actual pistol as you go. I've seen posts in the Prodigy thread where people are like, oh I put part X and Y on it. I always figured it was preference and never gave it much thought outside of that. But from hearing, now multiple times, about how you 'need' to upgrade it, it has me wondering, what actually really needs an upgrade on it? |
I had to replace the slide stop on mine. I broke it in 2 trying to put it back in.  Attached File |
In memory of my son Sean James, born 6/25/97. Died 9/16/13.
We will be reunited in heaven.
We will be reunited in heaven.
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Originally Posted By firedog51d: I had to replace the slide stop on mine. I broke it in 2 trying to put it back in. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/72476/image000003__4__jpg-3558511.JPG Oh, come on. You can't tease us with the end of a story like this and not tell us the rest of it.  Don't leave me hanging.
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Joined:
Dec 2024
Posts:
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EE: 100% (3)
VA, USA
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Originally Posted By Whiskey1Alpha: I shoot a ton of carbine and handgun per week. Finally wanted to get into a 2011 just because; no real other reason. Was looking at either the 5 inch or shorter comp'd versions. Have no real desire to spend $3k+ for one. The Prodigy seemed to consistently come up as the best bang for the buck or punching above its weight. I gave it a look at it has basically everything I'd want, nothing really that I don't other than an ambi safety. What I keep seeing is people saying something along the lines of how its a great intro 1911/2011 and then upgrade the gun as you go. The way I take this, is not upgrade to another gun, but upgrade the actual pistol as you go. I've seen posts in the Prodigy thread where people are like, oh I put part X and Y on it. I always figured it was preference and never gave it much thought outside of that. But from hearing, now multiple times, about how you 'need' to upgrade it, it has me wondering, what actually really needs an upgrade on it? Older thread, but I have Prodigy that I really like. I've rented alot of nicer "higer end" 2011's and while nice, none of these options really blew me away. I shot glocks for the last decade and wanted something "nicer" and was not interested in jump from a 400 dollar glock to a 2500 dollar 2011. I stumbled onto a used Prodigy for around a grand. felt great in the hand and traded in a glock towards it. Put around 300 rounds though it and did some of the EGW upgrades. in regard to what it "needs" I would say ignition kit and firing pin. I have around 3000 rounds down range and honestly have had no issues. The main issue with the prodigy is that its an entry level, production 2011 from a large manufacture. There QC will simply not be up to the same standard as say Staccatto other options that cost twice the price if not more. That means, you may have to work the RMA process, utilize a gunsmith a local smith to clean up stuff that should have been caught at the factory or swap out some parts if you cant do so at home. There is an extreme point of diminishing returns 2011's and they all have their quirks regardless of how much you want to dump into a pistol. One of the more well known smiths posted a picture of an 8000 dollar pistol with shitty barrel fit. Bottom line, the Prodigy is a good base gun, that you can build on, that you can build up into what ever you want. |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: Oh, come on. You can't tease us with the end of a story like this and not tell us the rest of it. Don't leave me hanging. Originally Posted By NN300BLK: Originally Posted By firedog51d: I had to replace the slide stop on mine. I broke it in 2 trying to put it back in. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/72476/image000003__4__jpg-3558511.JPG Oh, come on. You can't tease us with the end of a story like this and not tell us the rest of it. Don't leave me hanging. I bought a new one from Ben Stoeger's website. Might be the EGW.
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In memory of my son Sean James, born 6/25/97. Died 9/16/13.
We will be reunited in heaven.
We will be reunited in heaven.