The Design
The Springfield Prodigy Comp is essentially exactly the same as the original Prodigy. Chambered in 9mm, this double-stack 2011 features ambi controls, an optics-cut slide, and 17 and 20-round magazines. The big upgrade comes in the form of a porting cut on the barrel and slide, directly in front of the front sight post.
Related Review: Springfield Prodigy – A 2011 With More Bang for Your Buck
Porting firearms for compensation is a popular upgrade that seems to be growing even more common. From compact handguns like the SIG X-Macro Comp to larger, more popular designs like the Glock 17C, there is no denying that there is a market for compensation. Competition shooters often upgrade their handguns with compensators to aid in faster follow-up shots.
Compensation cuts direct the gasses in a certain direction prior to the round leaving the chamber. The port allows the gas to exit, exerting its energy in the direction of the cut. In this case, the Prodigy Comp directs the gas upward, pushing against the natural muzzle rise of the recoil.
This balancing act helps keep the muzzle in line with the target so that the shooter can obtain the sights faster, as well as speeding up any follow-up shots. The effects of the compensation cuts are especially noticeable if firing several rounds in rapid succession.
On the Range
Shooting a compensated handgun is always a pleasure. I may be biased, but after shooting handguns like the X-Macro Comp, the Hellcat Pro with a comp, and even the PSA Micro Dagger C-1, I am really into compensated shooting. It’s so easy to get right back on target, you don’t feel near as much of a snap in your wrists, and it just feels smoother.
Almost all my previous compensated handgun shooting has been with compact carry guns, so the 5-inch barreled Prodigy Comp is a little different. The Prodigy naturally has a good weight to it, and the added compensation makes it it all the sweeter to shoot. It doesn’t eliminate the recoil or muzzle rise, but especially when shooting drills and sequences, I can immediately feel the difference.
While it’s faster, there can be some drawbacks to shooting compensated. One drawback in particular is an increased flash, and/or a puff of gas, which can be slightly disorienting when looking down the sights. In a nighttime setting, I can see how compensation cuts could be a disadvantage, but in full light settings, it’s really not a big deal.
Summary
So far, I have enjoyed shooting this full-sized, compensated handgun. Springfield has done well with the design of the Prodigy Comp. If you’re looking for a smooth, feature-rich handgun with a flat shooting impulse and a solid double-stack capacity, the Prodigy Comp would make a solid choice.
