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SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

In observance of the Labor Day holiday we will not publish any services on Monday, September 5. We will resume our normal schedule on Tuesday, September 6.
The Second Amendment Foundation is seeking a federal court injunction against enforcement of a California law restricting people from manufacturing their own firearms, which is an American tradition dating back to Colonial times, and another statute written to discourage court challenges. Joining SAF is Defense Distributed, a Texas-based company that sells a product called the “Ghost Gunner,” a general-purpose Computerized Numerical Code (CNC) milling machine that allows a home gunsmith to complete unfinished frames and receivers for various types of firearms, including the AR-15, AR-308, M1911 and AK-47
Bushnell is celebrating pro shooter Jessie Harrison’s dominant performances at the recent USPSA Area 5 and Area 3 Championships. Harrison, who is also a sponsored Hoppe’s athlete, recorded back-to-back High Lady titles at two of the USPSA’s most competitive championships.

The SIG SAUER Academy is pleased to announce the upcoming September 2022 schedule of events for September 2022.
The Elite Survival Systems tactical flight bags are constructed of Ballistic nylon with heavy duty zippers and hardware. The ballistic nylon bag has one main compartment and one outside compartment pocket.
Brownells unveiled new Cerakote color variations of its popular BRN-180 uppers, allowing BRN-180 fans to add some color to their latest builds.

XS Sights announced its partnership with EasyExport to expand international sales. The EasyExport platform simplifies the fulfilment of international orders to consumers, dealers, law enforcement and other lawful buyers worldwide, and offers these customers XS’s reliable products that aren’t readily available to them in their own countries.
Summit Sound Technologies DBA Energetic Armament, a leader in firearm silencers and accessories for hunting and shooting, announced Silencer Shop as their newest distribution partner for Energetic Armament products.
MidwayUSA Foundation Joins NSSF +ONE Movement

In support of America’s military veterans, in memory of those who sacrificed their lives in service to the country, and as a portion of the company’s $1,000,000 Silver Anniversary pledge, President of Henry Repeating Arms Andy Wickstrom presented a $50,000 check to The American Legion at their national convention.
Federal Ammunition celebrated a warehouse expansion project with a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 30. The multi-million-dollar, 100,000 square foot warehouse will be constructed in the eastern part of Federal’s property which sits within the city limits of Coon Rapids.
Otis Technology is proud to announce several promotions within the sales organization. These changes will prepare the organization for its next chapter of growth.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program announces a personal donation from Larry and Brenda Potterfield, including a 76,800-square foot facility and more than five acres of land in Columbia, Missouri.
Century Arms is proud to support the veterans of this great country through a donation to the amazing facility known as Josh’s House VT. Josh’s House has a primary goal of providing a safe and welcoming space for active and veteran military personnel.
AG Composites announce its enthusiastic support for Project SEARCH at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Project SEARCH’s primary objective is to secure competitive employment for individuals with disabilities.

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) has filed a supplemental brief in its Miller v. Bonta lawsuit, which challenges California’s ban on so-called “assault weapons.” The brief, which was requested by Judge Roger Benitez of the Southern District of California after the Ninth Circuit vacated and remanded Miller in light of NYSRPA v. Bruen, can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.announced its first full size M&P pistol in an all metal configuration, the new M&P9 M2.0 METAL. Built with a T6 Aluminum frame, this pistol includes a 4.25-inch barrel and M2.0 flat face trigger.
The Wilson Combat SFT9 is a 9mm pistol with an aluminum "solid frame" of T6-7075 aluminum under a stainless-steel 4 1/4" barrel & slide. The slide features a black DLC physical vapor deposition finish.

DeSantis Gunhide introduces a new holster called the T.B. Vengeance Scabbard. It is a new pancake-style OWB holster with a thumb break and three belt slots for versatility.
Springfield Armory is proud to announce the launch of the Prodigy AOS 9mm pistol, the first offering in the new 1911 DS double-stack line of pistols. The Prodigy is available in both 5” and 4.25” variants.
High Speed Gear offers MultiCam Alpine as a special request color option. The MultiCam Alpine pattern was designed for those operating in snow-covered environments with significant snowfall.
CrossBreed Holsters has premium holstering solutions ready to go for the new Springfield Prodigy 1911 DS launch. The company is rolling out a broad range of its leading IWB and OWB holster options for this exciting 9mm pistol release.
The Mepro is the only red-dot optic requiring neither a battery or an on/off switch. The maintenance-free, fiber-optic/tritium power sources provide illumination- day or night.
Liberty Suppressors announced the release of their latest silencer design, the Leonidas Gen 2, a centerfire suppressed rifle system for the AR15.
Blackout Defense recently launched a new custom Cerakote color option on its rifle builder webpage. Mixed and applied in-house, the new Cerakote blend, named “Primordial Green,” is Blackout Defense’s take on a deeper and darker olive drab green.
CrossBreed Holsters has worked with Taurus to ensure immediate holster options for the new Taurus GX4 XL micro-compact 9mm.
Savvy gun owners lock handguns and other everyday essentials when not in use. The SnapSafe Keypad Vault is a compact security container perfectly suited for protecting these valuables.
 

I’ve been interested in firearms, personally and professionally since the mid-late 20th Century. In my day, most cops had revolvers in their holsters, the competition was largely bullseye – unless you were a cop doing the newfangled PPC thing. As far as auto pistol design, the heavy lifting was largely done by the early 1930s. There was nothing “new,” even stuff that was … “new.”

The changes went to application of the defense pistol. From revolvers and single action autos (primarily) on this side of the pond, the hammer-fired double action autos became a thing. The military moved from the 1911 service pistol and double action revolvers to the M9 and M11 – DA autos in 9mm. Coincidentally, an Austrian gent oversaw design and production of the first polymer striker-fired 9mm service auto that became generally accepted.

But we kept going back. I recall the attempt to configure the 1911 design with double stack magazines (the KZ-45 from Wilson Combat was one). There was Para-Ordnance. Then a polymer sub-frame under a steel receiver, slide and barrel – still with 1911 design features and components – in 9mm.

With such a device you could carry buckets of bullets … if you could get it to work.

Don’t forget optics.

Put it all together and we’re seeing the double-stack 9mm 1911 as a pricey alternative for a service pistol. What to do next?

Produce something that works really well at a lower price point without losing the creature comforts? How about a DS1911 called the “Prodigy?”

From Springfield Armory – a company who cut its teeth on 1911 pistol production – we have the Prodigy. It’s a 1911-pattern pistol with a double-stack magazine fitted up to a polymer grip frame module. The grip frame has Springfield’s “360˚ Adaptive Grip Texture.” The grip frame is fitted to the forged steel frame upon which rides the 4 ¼” barrel/slide unit. A five-inch model is also available; each are optionally available fitted with a HEX Dragonfly optic.

The metal finish is black Cerakote, the hammer is ‘skeletonized.’ There are slide serrations both front and rear and a green fiber optic front sight. As with the u-notch rear sight, the front is “optics-height.” The shorter of the two, with the HEX optic, weighs in at 32 ½ oz. empty.

The cost? -- $1,699 MSRP with the HEX Dragonfly, $1,499 without.

That’s a mite less than a similarly fashioned pistol of which we’re all aware.

The Prodigy has a bilateral safety lever setup, a railed dust cover and it’s (obviously) optics-ready from the factory. The gun doesn’t have the original barrel/bushing plug arrangement, but a bull barrel, made from stainless steel. It has an 11-degree crown for accuracy.

As to optics, the company opted for the Agency Optics System. Partnering with Agency Arms, the mounting plates are made from billet 17-4 stainless steel.

Now for the magazine – there’s a lot. The low-profile nearly-flush magazine holds 17 rounds – which I confirmed by loading it. A 20-round extended magazine is included. It actually holds 20 rounds too. Optionally, you can pick up some 26-round sticks.

Why all the ammo?

I’m seeing this as an issued- or authorized duty sidearm for cops. I sure don’t have a lot of use for loads of ammo, but my objectives these days are different from just 18 short years ago. I no longer have to engage in “the laying upon of hands,” seizure, arrests and transports. I no longer answer calls for service.

When I was on the road, this thing would have had considerable appeal. With 18 rounds in the holstered handgun, followed up by a pair of 20-rounders, that quarter of the county I had to patrol alone with the nearest support sometimes taking 30-45 minutes, would have been a bit less concerning.

I never needed that kind of ammo supply but I’m not sure I’d have complained.

Similarly, the high-round count competition games are fair for this new heater.

But does it work?

The first five rounds out of the Springfield Armory Prodigy 4.25"/Trijicon RMR -- thirty feet, from a rest to check zero. Below, a selection of ammo shot from the new DS-1911.

When it arrived, I opened a fresh 150-round box of Browning branded 124 grain FMJ (purchased from Academy Sports) and loaded the magazines that had arrived for the test. That included the standard roll-out of 17 and 20, plus a pair of 26-round magazines. I left them loaded until the next range trip.

I noted that they required no magazine loader to get filled up.

When I got to the range, I attempted to do an in-battery load with each magazine fully topped up. No sweat.

I was concerned about the 17-round magazine. It had a rattle when fully loaded regardless of the old “maxed-out mag” ammo seating tricks I tried.

The gun didn’t notice. It just shot all the ammo over the protocols I’d set up. Without an appropriate holster, all work was done from low ready. The gun had arrived with a Trijicon RMR (RM 06) fitted to the slide.

When I saw that, I thought they’d prepared this thing to ride in a duty holster.

I began with a 20-round stick, from the bench at 10 yards just to check the zero – I didn’t figure they’d zeroed it at the factory.

I was wrong. Three of the 124 grain FMJ bullets struck the “X” inside the X-ring. Two were in a higher orbit, both cutting the X-ring, one at 10 o’clock and one just after noon.

Anyone for accuracy?

I then proceeded to shoot “The Test.” Contrived by Ken Hackathorn or Larry Vickers (I believe each as credited the other with its invention), it’s ten rounds in ten seconds from ready fired at 10 yards on a B-8 repair center. I shot a 98/100 in just under nine seconds.

That’s the first fifteen rounds I ever fired from this gun.

Afterwards, I tried a ten-yard Bill Drill on the same B-8 repair center. My time wasn’t good, 3.92 seconds. There was a 7, an 8 and the rest were inside the 9-ring. I consumed the remainder of the pre-loaded magazines on an IDPA target. Times were slow. My grip is somewhat compromised and I’m just not used to this kind of gun. Some adult learners tend to visual acquisition, others are more auditory learners, but a few of us have a strong kinesthetic learning style.

With handguns, that’s me. It’s learnable – and I believe it is in a fairly short time frame. Still, the gun is nicely rendered and has the cleanest of triggers. It’s a real joy to shoot.

And it works.

 

Going to the 20-yard bench, I shot groups with some recently received Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection 124 grain GDHP ammo and CCI Blazer Brass 115 gr. FMJ ammo (thanks to Federal/Speer!). I also tried groups with Hornady American Gunner 115 gr. XTP (a personal favorite of mine) and DoubleTap 115 grain Barnes TAC-XP +P ammo.

The Gold Dot went into 3 ½” vertically (that’s a grip issue), with the best three into 1 ¾”. The DoubleTap TAC-XP +P put five into 1 7/8”, with three rounds going into ½”.

The American Gunner yielded a 3” group (3 into 1 ¾”) and the Blazer 115 went into 4” with a shooter induced flier – three of those shot into 2”.

The new gun shot 'wrong-handed' to ensure that the right-hand grip wasn't affecting on-target performance. Below, a little relaxing slow-fire bullseye shooting.

I elected to try 25-yard slow fire bullseye on a timed-rapid fire B-8 target. It’s good I used the B-8, because one-handed I shot a 40/50 for the first five-shot string. The second string I shot two-handed and gained only three points more, giving me a score of 83/100.

That ain’t the gun, but the shooter. Someone younger and more able would have easily shot into the 90s with this pistol and the Trijicon RMR – perhaps would have cleaned it.

This is a nicely made pistol. I’m thinking you’ll see a lot more of it in the coming months.

-- Rich Grassi

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