Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Prodigy

by
posted on April 3, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

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."

Left side of the Springfield Armory Prodigy pistol.

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."

Skeletonized hammer, beavertail grip safety and right-side thumb safety located at the top-rear of the Springfield Armory Prodigy pistol.

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."

Double-stack, 17-round magazine standing up in front of the Springfield Armory Prodigy pistol.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.
MSRP: $1,499

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.

Latest

FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA
FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Trijicon Releases Green-Dot RMR

For the first time, the Trijicon RMR will now be available with a green aiming dot, providing some benefits to shooters with astigmatism and red-green color blindness.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 15, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Firearm Industry Companies Consolidate, Others Close Doors In 2025

This year has already seen some big changes in the firearm industry. They don’t quite reach the tectonic shift in 2020, when legendary firms owned by Remington Outdoor were auctioned off, but there have still been some notable shifts within the industry in 2025.

Preview: Uni-Loader

The easy-to-use Uni-Loader can save high-volume shooters a lot of time and finger pain.

CZ 600+ Introduces Switch-Barrel Capability

In 2025, CZ USA expanded its 600 series rifle lineup with the CZ 600+, a design that delivers on the company's promise of a switch-barrel platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.