Springfield Armory DS Prodigy Comp AOS [Review]: Ultimate Budget Race Gun?

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When you think of 1911s, Springfield Armory is one of those brands that comes to mind for a well-built, affordable gun.

As with any “patterned” gun, such as the AR-15, there are an extensive number of companies that make 1911-style guns. Springfield has been in the 1911 game for a very long time, and has earned a track record as a solid, entry-level to mid-tier producer of guns.

But can this 1911 maker convert its offerings to a double-stack style…and do it on the cheap?

We took Springfield’s DS Prodigy AOS Comp to the range to find out. So follow along as we dig into its specs and features, talk about ergonomics, and ultimately put 500+ rounds through it to see how it does.

Prodigy Comp AOS Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1
• Overall Length: 8.6″
• Barrel Length: 5″
• Height: 5.5″
• Width: 1.6″
• Weight: 36 oz (unloaded)
• Comes with: 2 magazines (17-round and 20-round)

Features

• AOS (Agency Optic System) compatible
• 5″ bull barrel with integrated compensator
• Skeletonized trigger

Background on the Prodigy Comp AOS

With all this taken into account, the Prodigy line was an exciting venture for the company when they were first announced in 2022. Everyone wondered if Springfield, which had a reputation for making 1911s, could pull off a double-stack 1911. (Psst…don’t call it a 2011, because Staccato owns that trademark.)

Initially, that answer was a resounding…no.

The Prodigy was plagued with issues at the beginning, but over the course of a couple of years, Springfield has introduced an upgraded version ready to pack a punch. The Prodigy Comp AOS is outfitted with an integrated compensator and optic-ready slide.

With it, Springfield looks to poach customers on the hunt for a high-speed 2011 without that high-speed 2011 price tag.

Range Testing the Springfield Prodigy Comp AOS (Accuracy & Reliability Analysis)

As mentioned previously in the article, shooting the Comp AOS is an incredibly fun experience. I giggled when I took the first few shots through the pistol with some of my friends.

I was expecting it to be good, but not that good.

To be completely honest, shooting guns like the Prodigy Comp AOS and Staccato XC makes you think you can shoot much better than you actually can. The recoil is so soft and the trigger is so good that you end up shooting much faster than you often can control.

This is not a bad thing, as with a little bit of training and practice, you can become incredibly proficient very quickly with a gun that does so much of the work for you.

With the multiple 20-round magazines included with the test gun we received, I was shocked just how fast I was able to burn through hundreds of rounds in seemingly a matter of minutes. I experienced no forms of slide bite or any kind of recoil-induced injury to my hands during the testing of this gun.

I am happy to report that the shooting experience felt just as good as the gun did the first time I picked it up. Having such a light recoil impulse allows you to quickly stack rounds very accurately whether up close or at distance.

Accuracy results were exceptional with all Ammo types listed. Each ammunition type with the gun was able to print less than a 1-inch group.

Some people are concerned that ports and compensators affect accuracy, but we did not see this with the Springfield Prodigy Comp AOS.

This gun is probably the closest thing you’re going to get to being a budget John Wick if that’s the kind of thing that you’re into.

Reliability

We fired more than 500 rounds through the Comp AOS and encountered two separate types of malfunctions.

The first occurred close to the 450-round mark. During a course of fire shooting with both hands, I experienced a simple failure to feed.

While I did lubricate the gun at the beginning of the testing, it’s not uncommon for 1911 and 2011 guns to need more frequent maintenance than your typical striker-fired handgun. Once we wiped down some gunk out of the slide and applied more lubrication, we did not encounter any more failures to feed.

The second malfunction was induced while testing accuracy. We always rest the gun on a Ransom Rest to remove shooter error while evaluating accuracy in handguns.

The flush-fit magazine allowed me to over-insert the magazine, causing the gun to lock up and refuse to cycle the next round. Just for fun, I attempted to replicate the same malfunction with my Glock 17, utilizing flush-fit magazines, but was unable to do so.

With the Springfield Prodigy Comp AOS back in hand, I replicated the issue by firing with a teacup grip. While not a typical position one would find themselves in, it is important to note that if you rest the weight of the gun on the bottom of the magazine, you will put the gun in a position where it will be unable to cycle reliably.

I did encounter another oddity with the Prodigy Comp AOS. I wouldn’t call it a malfunction, but it’s worth bringing up.

For context, the recoil spring assembly requires it to be screwed in with an included Allen wrench after reassembling the slide. During a few hundred-round range day, I noticed that the recoil spring screw must have worked itself out and was protruding from the end of the muzzle.

At first, I was kicking myself thinking that I had improperly replaced this piece after cleaning and lubing the gun, but after reviewing video, we were able to confirm that the screw walked itself out during the course of fire.

While this did not cause any malfunctions during our testing, it very easily could have walked itself out to the point where the gun would have fallen apart while shooting. For the casual shooter, it’s probably not an issue; however, if you plan to shoot multiple hundred rounds in the same range day, you’ll want to keep an eye on this.

Experiences with reliability tend to vary greatly with the Prodigy line of guns. Certain users can make 1000s of rounds before they have to replace any parts, and others seem to get guns that have difficulty functioning out of the box. The general consensus at this point with the Prodigy is that they need a somewhat extensive round count to test proper parts fitment and quality control.

There are parts and upgrades you can utilize that still bring the total price well under the cost of most other competitors, which is a bonus for this platform.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

Grip Ergonomics/Controls

There are very few guns in my life that have elicited that “feels just right” reaction. Before the Prodigy Comp, the only two pistols that did this for me were, surprisingly, the Glock 19 and the Glock 43x.

The Prodigy comp did that for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed shooting other 2011s like Staccato, but they never elicited that feeling like the Prodigy did.

The way the beaver tail fit deep into my palm, the aggressive yet subtle grip texture and the geometry of the grip let me immediately know I was going to enjoy shooting this gun. And the first shots did not disappoint.

Actuating the manual safety felt perfect. Not too stiff, not too light. Not in the way, not difficult to access. Perfect.

While the grip circumference certainly is a bit big for my hands, it provides ample space for my support hand to drive into the sidewall of the grip. Racking the slide? Surprisingly for a pistol in this price range felt like sliding on ball bearings.

Even before I hit the range for the first time, I knew I was going to enjoy shooting this gun.

Texture

Grip texture is one of those categories where you can’t make everyone happy. Some folks want callouses and holes ripped in their hands, others want near baby smooth for IWB carry.

Springfield as a company seems to have struck a solid balance between the two with the other two flagship pistols, the Hellcat and Echelon. The Prodigy continues along this line, with a subtly aggressive sandpaper-type texture.

It is definitely enough that your hand won’t slip during recoil, but not so much that if you were crazy enough to carry this gun IWB it would tear up your skin. Texture on the side panel extends up to the slide, so those of you out there with bear paws will have proper traction on the gun even with your support hand nearly up to the slide.

Slide Ergonomics

The Prodigy Comp includes a set of forward and rear serrations for manipulating the slide. These serrations are exactly what they need to be and nothing more. Deep enough to properly actuate the slide, nothing overly fancy, or leaving open gaps in the slide. This is my preferred setup.

At the very end of the muzzle portion of the slide, you will see a large chunk cut out of the slide in the barrel. Well, typically called a port, Springfield is calling this a compensator, which essentially does the same thing.

For user note, the rifling of the barrel ends where the port begins, so you don’t have to worry about small and jacket shavings shooting out of the top of the port.

Optics & Sights

One thing you often see in 2011 pattern guns is very tall optic heights. This usually occurs due to thick, modular plate designs to accommodate multiple optic types.

It can be trained around, but if possible, I prefer a setup that has the optic sitting as deep into the slide as possible. I have found it makes my ability to pick up the dot naturally much easier and easier to flip between multiple different handgun platforms.

Springfield did an excellent job designing the optics money system with the AOS platform. During our testing of the Comp AOS, we ran both iron sites and a Trijicon RMR to test the durability of the mounting system.

We did not have any issues with optic plates or mounts coming loose during our 500 rounds of testing.

I found the dot acquisition to be relatively easy with the Comp AOS due to how deeply the optic was able to sit in the slide. For those of you iron site shooters out there, the gun comes with a set of blacked-out rear sights and a white circular front sight.

While I prefer a high VIS color like red or neon green for the front site, users can easily add coloring to the white outline to achieve a brighter front site post.

Trigger

The trigger on the Comp AOS is about what you would expect from a standard 1911 or 2011 trigger. It isn’t exceptionally light nor heavy, but a comfortable high 3 to low 4-pound trigger press.

We noticed very little, if any, mush past the wall before activating the hammer drop. The trigger features a curved face, which is my preference over a flat face for 1911 and 2011 guns.

Overall, the largest benefit of this platform is the trigger, which allows the user to shoot quicker follow-up shots and be more precise at distance. While I struggle to connect at 100 yards with the Prodigy Comp, the gun can, no doubt, accurately shoot that far, even though it is a bit ridiculous to expect any reasonable shot to ever go anywhere near that far with a handgun.

Who Is the DS Prodigy Comp AOS For

Springfield’s DS Prodigy Comp AOS is best suited for a shooter searching for an easy-to-shoot double-stack 1911 that isn’t going to break the bank.

Ideally, the person looking to buy this gun understands they may have to replace some parts down the road, but recognizes the price point at which they are buying a type of gun that is typically hand-fit.

What sets this firearms apart from other double-stacks is certainly the shooting experience per dollar spent ratio. It almost sits in a category of its own with how great of a shooting gun it is for how inexpensive it is.

If you are able to get one that runs reliably out of the box, you can save a lot of money that can be spent on ammo, training classes, etc.

By the Numbers

Ergonomics: 5/5

The Springfield DS Prodigy Comp AOS is one of those guns that just feels great as soon as you hold it.

Accuracy: 5/5

During our accuracy testing, it performed well, with grouping at less than 1 inch.

Reliability: 3/5

We had a couple of malfunctions on top of the recoil spring assembly screw walking itself out during the course of fire. These are all things to be aware of.

Customization: 4/5

There are parts and upgrades available so you can fine-tune it.

Value: 5/5

This is where the DS Prodigy Comp AOS shines! It’s a budget-friendly model with an affordable price tag.

Overall: 4.4/5

Upgrades & Accessories

For this review, we topped the DS Prodigy Comp AOS with a Trijicon RMR which worked great during testing.

You can also mount a flashlight if you feel so inclined. We recommend the Streamlight TLR-1 HL.

Finally, get you some good ear/eye pro at ShellShock Protection!

How We Tested the Springfield Armory DS Prodigy Comp AOS

To test the Springfield Prodigy Comp AOS utilized multiple ammunition types at a distance of 7 yards. To remove as much of the shooter error as possible, we shot on a Ransom Rest with a tripod.

For each ammunition type, we fired over 500 rounds with a variety of both range and defensive ammunition. Ammunition tested included:

• AAC 115g FMJ
• Blazer 115g FMJ
• Magtech 115g Steel case FMJ
• Federal HST 124g Hollow Points

Meet the Experts

Leading this review is Preston, who began taking shooting and training seriously after a near-deadly force encounter in 2016, where having his handgun saved his and another person’s life. Since then, Preston has jumped headfirst into the training and competition shooting world. Preston was formerly employed as an Emergency Room and Trauma RN at a Level 1 Trauma center before enrolling in a Large North Texas Police Academy, with the goal of joining the Tac-Med team. After earning Top-Shot during the Academy, Preston was severely injured during a less-lethal training exercise, which resulted in reconstructive surgery on both of his shoulders. This injury led to his termination from the Police Academy, but gave him the freedom to explore other employment opportunities, eventually leading him to Pew Pew Tactical as a content creator.

Final Verdict

Overall, the Springfield DS Prodigy Comp AOS is an extremely enjoyable gun to shoot…if you are willing to roll the dice a bit.

What are your thoughts on the Springfield DS Prodigy Comp AOS? Sound off in the comments below. Interested in a high-end 2011? Check out our Staccato XC Review!