As red-dot optics become more and more popular as a handgun accessory, the variety of models and mounting systems keep increasing. If the industry ends up coalescing around the “MIL-STD” of red-dot optics mounts, it may be Aimpoint’s A-Cut for their COA optic. One year after the COA’s introduction exclusive to a single manufacturer, the market has been opened up to all companies adding an A-Cut to their handguns. Springfield Armory isn’t letting the grass grow under their feet by adding A-Cut options to its 1911 Operator, 1911 TRP, and 1911 DS Prodigy models.
No stranger to the military, law enforcement and civilian markets, Aimpoint’s COA is a red-dot reflex sight that uses an enclosed emitter contained within an ultra-compact high-strength aluminum housing. Weighing 1.7 ounces, it has a sight window of 0.59x0.59 inches. Using a 3.5-MOA dot that has four night vision compatible settings and eight daylight settings, it is powered by a single CR2032 battery with an estimated life of 50,000 hours. It is designed to direct mount to Aimpoint’s patented A-Cut footprint, which allows the sight to co-witness with the pistol’s iron sights.
Springfield has already released a COA-ready version of its striker-fired Echelon earlier this year. The new models will bring the A-Cut to the company’s hammer-fired handguns, including the 1911 Operator, 1911 TRP and 1911 DS Prodigy. All come with the Aimpoint COA installed from the factory.
The 1911 Operator COA is based on the full-size, steel-framed single-stack 1911 chambered in .45 ACP. It uses a forged slide, barrel and frame. The frame has a Picatinny rail on its traditional length dustcover. With a black Cerakote finish, its grips made of G10 material by VZ Grips. It has an MSRP of $1,623.
The 1911 TRP COA is also a full-size, all-steel 1911 that is a single-stack .45 ACP. Its custom touches include a hand-fitted slide and frame, 20 line-per-inch checkering on its front and rear grip straps, top slide serrations along the sighting plane, as well as a two-piece extended magazine well and a two-piece National Match full-length guide rod. It has an MSRP of $2,424.
The 1911 DS Prodigy is based on the company’s 4.25-inch barrel model of the company's double-stack magazine 2011-style hybrid frame handgun in 9 mm Luger. It uses STI-pattern magazines and comes with two 18-round versions. Using a forged steel mainframe with a polymer grip housing, the DS Prodigy has a black Cerakote finish and a two-piece National Match guide rod. It has an MSRP of $1,955.
For more information, see the Springfield Armory website here.
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