I have spent a superb period of time with the 1911 DS Prodigy, using it in a number of completely different roles. For the needs of this piece, I made a decision to think about its adaptability to hid carry.
There are concealment pistols, and concealable pistols. The previous had been designed to be small and to cover discreetly from public view. The second are service-size pistols of the kind initially meant for carry in open holsters.
They can be hid with rigorously chosen holsters and canopy clothes, but it surely takes a bit extra work on the a part of the wearer, who in flip is rewarded with higher ergonomics, extra velocity and extra simply achieved accuracy with longer barrels, and extra ammunition within the roomier magazines inside bigger grip-frames.
[Be sure to watch our 10,000 Round Prodigy Torture Test.]
The Prodigy is a comparatively huge 1911-pattern pistol with a good bigger grip. Merely put, it has an enormous butt, and the butt is a significant factor in concealment. On the entrance of the gun we have now sq. edges, each on the muzzle and alongside the mud cowl, which is designed with integral rails to carry white mild or mild/laser attachments. Furthermore, the stippled grip floor, although an enormous benefit when the gun is in hand, can catch on cloth and carry the garment to disclose the pistol when it’s carried hid.
Options
You conceal the Prodigy principally the way in which you’d some other massive pistol. Make certain the concealing garment has sufficient drape to cowl its bulk. The smoother the within floor of the material of the concealing garment, the much less doubtless the stippled grip will catch it and trigger the pistol to develop into seen.
The tighter the holster holds the handgun to the physique, the much less it’s going to bulge. And contained in the waistband carry will maximize concealment, not solely holding every little thing in tighter however permitting the pants to interrupt up the define of the holstered weapon. As well as, the duvet garment can experience all the way in which as much as the underside fringe of the belt the place the inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster’s belt loops are and nonetheless not reveal the gun’s presence.
Within the case of the Prodigy, the butt circumference is exaggerated. Its extra flare is designed to hurry up reloads and facilitates that very nicely, but it surely additionally requires a bit of extra consideration to concealment. Be considering when it comes to a canopy garment about one dimension bigger by means of the torso than you may usually put on in case you weren’t carrying a gun.
The Prodigy comes with 17- and 20-round magazines. (26-round magazines are additionally accessible from the Springfield Armory webstore.) Clearly, the 17-rounder is the one you need within the gun to scale back protrusion. Not solely that, however even in open carry the longer journal may very well be troublesome with a hip-holstered gun whenever you sit down, forcing you to push that aspect of your hip ahead within the seat, which may result in short-term discomfort and long-term again issues.
Frankly, I discovered the shorter 17-round journal each extra snug and extra concealable within the spare magazine pouch as nicely. Throughout the take a look at, I saved the longer magazines for swapping into the Prodigy for taking pictures on the vary, and for “bedside dwelling companion” safety.
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My buddy Sam Younger carries an enormous Springfield 9mm every day, which occurs to be the XD-M with lengthy butt to carry a 19-round journal, and outfitted with a 5.25” barrel. His holster selection is strong-side hip with an El Paso IWB leather-based rig. He finds it eminently snug as a result of, like all of us who recurrently carry contained in the waistband, he has discovered to purchase pants 2″ bigger than regular on the waist.
My decisions for the hid carry a part of the Prodigy take a look at had been the same leather-based IWB from Elmer MacEvoy at Leather-based Arsenal, and for outdoor the waistband, a Kydex outside-the-waistband (OWB) by Bullseye. The latter had solely barely extra “bulk and bulge” than a leather-based Mitch Rosen belt scabbard with a typical configuration full dimension 1911 .45. Each provided a really fast draw. The IWB hid the pistol simply below a sport coat or suitcoat.
For the spare journal carry, I selected a Pitbull expandable provider which proved surprisingly concealable and really snug. After all, it might maintain an extended magazine if wanted, however I discovered the 17-round to be sufficient and extra snug and concealable. A second 17-rounder if wanted match comfortably and discreetly within the left aspect cellphone pocket of my 5.11 cargo pants, alongside a Streamlight Wedge flashlight.
Backside Line
Physique dimension and form are particular elements in hid carry. Being nearer to the “earlier than” image within the Charles Atlas Bodybuilding advertisements than the “after” image, yours actually isn’t the best individual to hold the Prodigy discreetly hid in each setting. It’s higher suited to a bigger individual, however my testing proved it’s in no way not possible for somebody my dimension.
Reliability is a non-negotiable baseline within the number of defensive firearms. In a whole bunch of rounds by means of many palms, some below strain in national-level competitors, the take a look at Prodigy fed and cycled 100%. I had solely two minor issues with it. On one event, I discovered that my forearm had apparently hit the outboard lever of the ambi thumb security and wiped it down into the “fireplace” place whereas it was within the IWB holster. That is an “ambi factor” and never a Springfield factor; I personally want a decrease profile on an outboard ambi lever because of this. Additionally, the set screw holding the rear sight in place fell out, sidelining the pistol in a gun bag till I might get a alternative, which Springfield Armory shipped to me instantly consistent with their normally glorious customer support.
I accomplished the take a look at very pleased with the Prodigy, which I think about ideally suited to dwelling protection use with mild or mild/laser mounted and the lengthy journal in place. I carried it with Winchester 127-gr. +P+ Ranger hole factors, which run at 1,250 foot-seconds from a 4.0” barrel and a bit hotter from the 5.0” tube of this specific Prodigy. That’s equal to .357 Magnum out of a snubby revolver, and takes any fear out of carrying a 9mm as an alternative of a .45, for these involved about that. When Springfield Armory needs this gun again, they’ll be getting a examine as an alternative of a pistol.
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