Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy 3.5 Compact AOS Pistol

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Companies like Springfield Armory began manufacturing 1911s in 9mm several years ago, the advantage being that they could be made smaller than the .45 ACP versions but with higher capacity. But even 9mm-chambered 1911s lack the capacity of many 9mm striker-fired pistols. Fortunately, a pistol like the double-stack 1911 DS Prodigy, which Springfield Armory introduced in 2022, affords you the best of both worlds: 1911 ergonomics with a capacity that’s on par with double-stack, striker-fired pistols.

Capitalizing on the success of its 1911 DS Prodigy line, Springfield just launched two compact versions, one with a 4.25-inch barrel and one with a 3.5-inch barrel. These new pistols sport all the features that made the Prodigy a hit, but they are lighter and smaller, making them even better suited for concealed carry.

“The new Prodigy Compact adds a whole new facet to the 1911 DS line. With their compact dimensions and billet machined 7075-T6 aluminum frames, these lightweight and handy 9mm pistols are ideal for everyday carry,” said Springfield Armory media relations manager Mike Humphries.

I recently evaluated the 1911 DS Prodigy 3.5 Compact AOS. Its shortened grip and slide reminded me of the nursery rhyme about the little teapot: short and stout. That’s not to say the Prodigy Compact is ugly. In fact, aside from being smaller, it’s virtually identical in appearance to the full-size Prodigy and is a very aesthetically pleasing pistol.

Footprint

The 1911 DS Prodigy 3.5 Compact AOS is seven inches long and 5.1 inches tall. Weighing 25.5 ounces, it’s about seven ounces—almost half a pound—lighter than the original full-size Prodigy. All Prodigy pistols are the same width, about 1.4 inches across the ambidextrous thumb safety.

Dimensions aside, the 3.5 Compact sports a few new design features, including a shortened beavertail, recontoured hammer and a two-slot accessory rail instead of the Prodigy’s single-slot rail. With its shorter slide, the number of front slide serrations has been reduced from four to three.

The Prodigy 3.5 Compact’s shortened grip still accommodated my little finger. The undercut trigger guard and the lip at the base of the frontstrap promote a secure hold that mitigates muzzle flip and contributes to the pistol’s controllability.

The 3.5 Compact ships with two 15-round magazines. Higher capacity magazines are available on the Springfield Armory store. Just keep in mind that an extended magazine defeats the purpose of having a compact grip that’s easier to conceal.

Construction

Like the original Prodigy, the 3.5 Compact’s frame is constructed of billet 7075-T6 hard-coat anodized aluminum with a black Cerakote finish and polymer grips. Moderate texturing that wraps fully around the grip helps keep the pistol from slipping in your hands without creating discomfort. There’s even a bit of texturing on the front of the rectangular trigger guard for those who prefer to wrap the index finder of their non-shooting hand around it.

The area behind the trigger guard is smooth, providing a natural index for your middle finger. The trigger guard is big enough to accommodate a gloved finger. The bottom of the trigger guard is gently scalloped to help lock in place the middle finger of your shooting hand and the index finger of your support hand.

The Prodigy 3.5 Compact’s match-grade bull barrel features an 11-degree crown and is forged stainless steel, finished in black DLC. The forged carbon steel slide wears a black Cerakote finish and is optics ready thanks to the Agency Optic System (AOS), which was developed in collaboration with Agency Arms.

All Prodigy pistols come with an AOS optics plate on the Docter footprint, which accommodates sights from Docter/Noblex as well the Springfield Hex Dragonfly, Vortex Viper, Burris FastFire 2 and 4, and others.

Sight Options

Additional plates for Trijicon RMR, Shield RMSc, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, Aimpoint Acro and Holosun are available at Springfield’s web store for $129.

Each billet-steel plate has an integral rear sight. The AOS system facilitates mounting the optic low enough for the sights to co-witness with most optics, affording you a backup sighting system should the optic fail. If red dots aren’t your thing, the black serrated U-notch rear sight and tritium front sight surrounded by a white circle will suffice.

Controls will be familiar to any 1911 shooter. The grip safety features a prominent memory bump that enables you to deactivate the safety merely by establishing a proper firing grip. The ambidextrous, extended thumb safety clicks on and off with a swipe of your thumb. Sweep the safety up to engage and down to disengage.

Although lefties will appreciate this ambidextrous safety, it’s not just for them. If a right-handed shooter were to sustain an injury to their dominant hand, having the safety accessible to the left thumb is advantageous.

Trigger and Grip

The slide stop on the left side of the frame is slightly recessed. It’s easy to get to without being in the way. Horizontal serrations provide traction for your thumb. The round magazine release button’s vertical serrations accomplish the same task.

The Prodigy 3.5 Compact’s curved, skeletonized trigger is adjustable for overtravel. The trigger pull on my test sample measured three pounds, according to my Lyman electronic digital trigger pull gauge. While that is on the light side, I typically obtain lighter pull weights than manufacturers advertise. In any case, the trigger is just what you’d expect on a top-quality 1911.

For testing, Springfield loaned me the plate for a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro red dot. I performed the accuracy test from the bench at 15 yards, with bullet weights ranging from 115 to 135 grains. Of the 12 five-shot groups, all but two measured less than 1.5 inches.

I couldn’t shoot any groups that were less than inch, but most were just over an inch, with the overall average group being 1.2 inches. This degree of accuracy was due largely to that smooth, clean-breaking trigger.

Accuracy

Confident in the Prodigy Compact’s accuracy, I decided to shoot it faster and closer to the target from standing. The pistol was very controllable, enabling me to fire with both speed and precision. The trigger’s take-up and a short, discernible reset contribute to the pistol’s controllability.

A defensive pistol must run reliably. Small 1911s chambered in 9mm can be finicky, but Springfield cracked that code way back in 2007 with the introduction of its single-stack 9mm Enhanced Micro Pistol. So it was no surprise that the Prodigy 3.5 Compact ran without a hitch.

Despite a tight slide-to-frame fit, the Prodigy 3.5 Compact cycles smoothly. This, combined with its bull barrel, aluminum frame and 9mm chambering make recoil easy to tame. Once you establish your grip, the pistol stays put. Sure, the muzzle will rise but the sights—or, in this case, the dot—will settle predictably. Since you don’t have to adjust your grip or hunt for the sights after each shot, you can shoot faster and more accurately.

The slightly beveled magazine well helps funnel magazines into the pistol efficiently. Since the magazine base plate protrudes slightly from the magazine well, it was easy to ensure the magazine was fully seated. Cutouts on either side of the base plate give you something to grab hold of to strip the magazine from the pistol if pressing the magazine release doesn’t get the job done.

Feel

The Prodigy 3.5 Compact feels good in the hands. This can be attributed to both ergonomics and execution. It’s well balanced, points naturally and is devoid of any sharp edges that might abrade your skin or, worse, snag a garment when drawing from concealment. Despite its double-stack circumference, the grip will be easy for most shooters to get their hands around. The recontoured hammer and shortened beavertail make the Prodigy 3.5 Compact easier to conceal, without detracting from its shootability.

Disassembling the pistol is made easier thanks to the captured guide rod, which holds the recoil spring in place, essentially making it a single unit. The captured guide rod also reduces the chance of the recoil spring binding up during operation, which could lead to a malfunction.

If you like double-stack 1911s but don’t want to feel like you’re concealing a boat anchor on your hip, the Prodigy 3.5 Compact may be just what you’re looking for. With a 15+1 capacity, all the right contours and a trigger that makes getting accurate hits on target about as easy as it gets, this pistol is a perfect option for concealed carry. Even better, it won’t break the bank the way some double-stack 1911s can.

If you’re looking for holsters, CrossBreed has two different models for the 3.5 Compact: one inside-the-waistband model and one convertible inside-the-waistband/outside-the-waistband model. These are for sale on the Springfield web store and of course from CrossBreed. Knowing how popular Springfield pistols are with holster makers, I’m sure more rigs are soon to follow.

Lasting Impressions

The Prodigy 3.5 Compact is equal parts easy to carry and fun to shoot. Since many pistols are configured to accept only optics with a particular footprint, being able to mount a variety of optics with the AOS system is another selling point. Being able to easily slap a light, laser or combo unit on the pistol’s accessory rail is icing on the cake.

The 1911 DS Prodigy 3.5 Compact AOS provides the original purchaser with a lifetime warranty that protects against defects and even includes free shipping and handling for claims. That’s peace of mind above and beyond that which comes from knowing you have an accurate, reliable double-stack 1911 by your side.

Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy 3.5 Compact Specs

• Type: double-stack 1911
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 15 (as tested); 2 mags supplied
• Barrel: 3.5 in. bull; match-grade forged stainless steel; black DLC finish
• OAL/Height/Width: 7/5.1/1.5 in.
• Weight: 25.5 oz.
• Construction: black Cerakote-finished forged carbon steel slide; black Cerakote-finished billet 7075-T6 hard-coat anodized aluminum frame; polymer grips
• Sights: tritium front, black serrated rear; AOS optics cut, Docter footprint plate supplied
• Trigger: 3 lb. pull (measured)
• Safeties: grip, ambidextrous thumb
• MSRP: $1,549
• Manufacturer: Springfield Armory, springfield-armory.com

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