These guns were loaned to him by Springfield Armory for the purposes of this evaluation.
Additionally, Vortex provided loaner optics used in this article.
[Dont miss our articleWhat Does Tactical Mean?
The new Coyote Brown-finished Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy pistols are likely to turn heads at the range.
That practical thing kicks in as we choose which firearm to use or carry.
Lets go ahead and add a fifth requirement it must last.
This is a sufficiently large investment that I dont need to rust solid overnight.
The Coyote Brown color is a Cerakote process used by Springfield Armory to protect the guns from corrosion and wear.
Black Oxide (bluing) and Parkerizing are a couple of finishes most of us are familiar with.
Some, like Tenifer, Melonite and Armornite, use methods that bond a finish to the metal.
[verify to read our article ongun finishesfor more information on these coatings and treatments.]
Like the original 1911 DS Prodigy pistols, the new Coyote Brown models allow for the addition of a red dot sight and accessories like lights and lasers.
The Right Choice?
Perhaps the most user-friendly coating goes by the name of Cerakote.
It is a polymer-ceramic compound that can be applied to wood, polymers, plastics and metal.
Excellent accuracy is a standard feature that each Prodigy is equipped with. This Remington FMJ load shot sub-inch five-shot groups.
According to those who are in the know, it can also reduce wear and tear over time.
It provides abrasion, corrosion and chemical resistance.
It is available in both the 5 and 4.25 models.
The author found the ambidextrous manual thumb safety was large enough to operate easily without it being so big that it dug into his hand.
The Prodigy that I use for home defense and concealed carry is their black Cerakote model.
For those jobs, I like colors that hide in the shadows.
For use out in the open, Coyote Brown may be a much more versatile choice.
The Prodigy’s Agency Optical System brings six different plates for mounting the various red dot sights. Shown here is theVortex Defender-ST.
We use color all the time outdoors.
The last time I drove to the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (S.H.O.T.)
Show, the Texas countryside turned brown around Dallas and stayed that way all the way to Las Vegas.
A bright Texas day causes the front fiber optic sight to glow a bright green. This made for easy accurate shooting, even without a red dot sight.
It is chambered in 9mm which offers several advantages over 40 (+) bores.
Recoil impulse is lighter, meaning the muzzle will flip less and allow for faster follow-up shots.
Id call that a win/win.
The author used the Vortex Defender-ST reflex sight for these tests. The front of the optic’s body is reinforced and textured to allow the shooter to quickly cycle the slide using the sight.
A1911-style pistolis one of the places where the properly designed criteria comes into play.
A single-stack 1911 in 9mm can carry one to two more rounds than a45 ACP.
The double-stack Prodigy from Springfield Armory can more than double that.
This Prodigy averaged under 1.25″ for 5-shot groups at 15 yards with the Hornady Critical Defense ammunition.
Introduced in September of 2022, the Prodigy ships with a 17- as well as a 20-round magazine.
Both lengths, as well as an available 26-rounder, are available from theSpringfield Armory Store.
The slide and frame are machined from forged steel for durability or at least part of the frame is.
The author tested the Springfield Armory pistols using (l. to r.)Hornady 115-grain Critical Defense, Remington 115-grain FMJ and Federal 147-grain FMJ.
The lower part of the frame is a molded grip module that is well-covered by Springfields adaptive grip texture.
Think of it as a two-layer grip.
I tend to grip my pistols hard when I shoot them.
There is a smooth surface immediately under the triggerguard.
The front strap of the frame is undercut to allow a higher grip (and better recoil control).
The magazine release is extended enough to be easily activated without inadvertently dropping mags.
The mag well has been nicely beveled.
[Dont miss Paul CarlsonsProdigy Torture Test and Review.]
The controls have been well-executed.
Operation was very positive, even on the right side.
The grip safety sports a memory bump that helped release the trigger smoothly and quickly as it was depressed.
To us that means that the safety performs as required but still forgives a less than absolutely perfect grip.
Both sides of the slide stop are countersunk into the side of the frame.
Access was still easy, but we certainly werent worried about moving the slide stop accidentally.
That said, the Springfield mid-length version still manages to put a little weight out front.
The slide and frame are an almost slab-sided unit.
When added to the bull barrel, the combo does a great job of taming recoil.
Big grasping grooves fore and aft make slide manipulation easy while keeping hands away from muzzles and ejection ports.
Sometimes new is better, and sometimes maybe not.
If you havent test-fired the trigger on a good 1911, you really need to do yourself a favor.
Initial takeup is only about 1/8 inch.
Required trigger compression on our sample was about 3.7 lbs.
Overtravel was almost nonexistent.
The slide comes milled for adapter plates that will match most of the red dot optic footprints necessary today.
Six different plates are available with an integral rear sight, one of which should work for you.
So, enjoy your Prodigy as is with a great rear sight and a fiber optic front sight.
The pistol also has a standard cover plate with rear iron sight.
I tested this Prodigy with one of the latest red dots from Vortex.
For this test, I used their Defender-ST model reflex sight with the 3 MOA dot.
It provides a large 23 x 20 mm lens in a very small package.
The window brings more vertical room than what I normally see.
It leaves a lot of open glass to help you find the dot.
Size and construction parameters are impressive.
The whole unit is 1.83 long and weighs less than 1.5 oz.
The dot is motion activated and will turn off after 10 minutes with no movement.
This Defender-ST allows 10 brightness setting eight for daylight and the two lowest are night vision compatible.
The 7075-aluminum body also contains a polymer shell to help protect it from all those recoil Gs.
[Be sure to follow our guide onHow to Clean the Springfield Prodigy.]
The CR2032 battery loads from the top so zero is not affected by a battery change.
I oiled it lightly once and then let it run.
Note that the splits on the multiple shot drills were pretty stable at about .2 seconds.
Muzzle flip was minimal on this Commander length gun and the times reflect that.
Conclusion
The new Coyote Brown 1911 DS Prodigy is a great addition to the Prodigy line.
Be sure to check them out.
