World's Cheapest 2011! ....Is It REALLY worth it? 

Since recording the video, the prices have come down even more.. *Parts List Here* bit.ly/3PfZZsf *INSANE Pew Pew Deals Here:* bit.ly/2OFAl23 *I Post Deals Here Daily:* twitter.com/tacticatoolbox

I hope psa starts making some 2011s

I appreciate your content and fight to keep the 2A community alive on large platforms. Thank you!

Love my Prodigy so far. Added a Atlas straight bow trigger and 9# recoil spring. No complaints and no failures after 2000+ rounds.

Bought my 4.25 Prod in December of 2023. It was obvious mine was the "2nd Gen" weapon. It has a consistent 5 lbs. trigger after 500 rounds. It is fine for me but this weapon is now my fav weapon I have. I put an Olight PL-3, extended EGW slide catch and magwell. But the biggest surprise was the Cyelee Wolf X Pro RDS I installed !!!! The reticle and glass size are fantastic and no trouble whatsoever. Great video and channel. Thank you !!!! 🙂

I got my Prodigy from a gun show, and it was defective the moment I got it. It had severe slide over-travel, and the safety was jammed. I sent it to Springfield and got it back three weeks later, and it works great. Springfield has a great catalog of firearms at competitive prices, but I just wish their quality control was better. Thank God they have a great warranty program because you're probably gonna need it.

I just dropped in a Dawson Precision tool-less guide rod in my Prodigy. Super handy to have. Also worth noting, the Dawson flared magwell for Staccatos with Gen 2 grips also work on the Prodigy. You just have to beat it in place with a rubber mallet lol.

I love how you called the Prodigy the gateway drug into the $5k 2011s 🤣🤣

As an owner of a Staccato and the Prodigy, the difference is so negligible that it seems like there is no difference, but money.

It’s just really good to see you again. Got a little worried with all the RU-vid censorship and the pistol brace ruling nonsense. Always love a new tactical toolbox video

Ive had my prodigy for a year and half and had a issue with chambering the round. Springfield had me send it to them. Works flawlessly now. I have a friend with a stocatto. He shot my prodigy and said its definitely a good option if a person doesnt want to drop stocatto money. I was impressed with the stocatto but i didnt see a big enough difference to justify buying a stocatto

Just for update sake - I bought a Prodigy three days ago. I paid $1240 + tax at my local dealer (Tombstone Tactical) for the 5" model and the trigger on mine is quite nice. I also purchased several 26 round mags for $39 each. Prices have come down quite a bit making these even more of a bargain.

I'm really looking forward to EAA's versions that they are coming out with. They're making several calibers, and most of their clones are very nice that perform very well

Crazy the trigger were that far apart. I will have to do some polishing when I get it back.

I love the 2A community keeping the people informed and educated! Always a plus when you we get a person into the 2A community to keep our rights alive.

My 4.25 Prodigy finally came in!! Did some work on cleaning, lubing, cleaning off cerakote and got to the range. Over 400 rounds first go, no issues at all and so accurate! I have an MR920 for my EDC and it has got a challenger now!! Thanks for the recommendation, well worth it.

Been owning my 4.25" prodigy for a month and half. 600 rounds in and i have not seen a single issue with it. My only complaint is the one piece guiderod sucks.

I really liked testing the Springfield, but ended up getting the P226 ZEV, because I didn’t get on with the 1911 controls, etc. However, now that I also have a .45, I might have to revisit this.

I'm something of a newbie on the 2011 scene and I don't know too much about too much at all. But this platform has really transformed my shooting experience and the joy I get from my increasingly frequent range trips. I just picked up a Prodigy 4.25" this week. About 300 rounds fired so far and have absolutely come to appreciate the serious potential of what this gun can absolutely be with some simple upgrades. The particular gun I have has a bit heavier trigger pull than what I care for so I'm looking to maybe drop in something like a Nighthawk Custom trigger kit (about $300 bucks) if after reaching the first 1,000 rounds fired mark where the gun has had a good chance to be properly run in. (I think Nighthawk claims a trigger pull of somewhere around about 3 1/2 lbs). Haven't checked my current pull weight but have had the experience when I've slowed down my fire rate and where I'm trying to really get to know the gun and I'm pressing, pressing, pressing the trigger and thinking to myself that the pistol should have gone off already and I continue to press just a little bit more where then finally I get my shot break. (I'm guessing my particular gun is breaking somewhere in the low 5 lb range). From a strictly budgetary standpoint, for people like me, the Prodigy is a super solid value proposition as an entry level 2011. 💥

If you’re thinking of replacing the trigger, you might look at the Nighthawk Custom trigger kit. This is a cassette that replaces everything in the fire control group with exception of the trigger/bow itself. Trigger pull is about 3.5-4 pounds when done. No gun smithing necessary to install this kit. Have it in a Springfield stainless 1911 .45 and it’s flawless.

I own the Staccato P, Bull Armory SAS ll, and now a Prodigy. I ran about 10 rounds through it, stripped it down, and replaced everything. I replaced the internals with an EGW kit, sent the slide and barrel to DSC Gunworks (they also port barrels too) for V8 porting and they have a very fast turn around time got mine back in a weeks time I ended up sending it back to DSC to have the slide dimpled (Dave does excellent work) Dawson magwell and Hammer strut, Atlas trigger and tooless guide rod, Cerakote, Stipple and also I'm running a Primary Arms SLX RS-10 red dot that has a doctor footprint instead of that crappy Dragonfly. She is now at Skips Gunz (the Prodigy whisperer) getting her final tuneup. I have probably spent enough to have gotten another Stacatto, but at least it's custom, and I enjoy customizing my guns. And your right it is a gateway drug cause now I'm considering buying an Infinity 2011. I think this habit is more expensive than a drug habit. I need an intervention 😆

I’ve got a 4.25” prodigy. Love it. Runs awesome.

This should be the only video for the prodigy! Yes I have one but got it when then first came out. It’s sucked got about 30 rounds thru it and had to send it back to Springfield but they’re customer is awesome! Got it back in 9 days now it eats too much ammo lucky prices are coming down also had it turned after that for 60 bucks by my gunsmith. Another Big RU-vidr who claims to be “Honest”was full of 💩 when he said it costed 1K to upgrade a prodigy to run like a Staccato which I knew was BS and I’m new to 2011’s or DS 1911’s , I guess when you get a Staccato XC for free honesty goes out the door. Thank you for a truthful video!

Love my 4.25DS. Never had any of the issues some people are having!

Live Free Armory based out of FL supposed to have 2011 for under $1k from what I saw from shot show. I would rather go with a CZ shadow 2 over the Prodigy for the price.

After hearing you say that you had one of your video’s removed , I now follow you on rumble where I know I will be able to see all of the content that you produce.

Thank you again for a great review! I watch you on WPSN a lot as well as here💥 After diving into the 2011 world online I realized I want one. I appreciate your review because it was a clean and simple real world review on the Prodigy. It also addressed all the “what if” questions I had concerning the Prodigy + the components the more expensive 2011’s have. Like comps, ports, etc. Great job as always 👏👍🔥

Thanks for the modular info about the 2011. I didn't know that. Worth the price of admission.

I almost bought into the Staccato world. I couldn’t justify spending over $2k…I passed. Now, I’ve got the 2011 bug again…I’m looking at the Prodigy. I will carry my Sig 1911 TacOps Carry periodically…so, I have muscle memory for the safety system. I prefer the 4.25”. Thanks for this video. There really isn’t much difference except for the internals…but, they can be swapped out….

Thanks always for reviewing this cheapest 2011's guns, which I am interesting in get one.

I’m excited about the builds, I will seriously be using this as textbook bible for mine. “We do not scoff at the sacred text.” Thank you for spending the time and money to tinker so I don’t have to. I love the content and keep it coming!!!

I've been following you since 175k subs. Learned countless great tips and ideas. Especially the polish and NVLG grease on trigger job's.

Love my Prodigy, but when I feel the Staccato C2 at the store, I can see why the C2 costs more.

That's crazy. I was unsubbed from your channel mysteriously. Thanks for the heads-up.

Another great vid Jonathan!! My 5" trigger pulls at 3.75lb average and is butter smooth!! Just an FYI....the Dawson Precision 010-123 magwell fits these Prodigys like a glove!!

Cant wait till you get your Prodigys all done up. Super looking forward to the DSX conversion video...

Can’t wait to see you customize your Prodigy! I’ll be watching my notification, thanks for the the YEARS of great content!

BUL Armory has made 2011’s at an affordable price for quite a few years. I wish they were more available in the US though.

I have three staccatos. (P , c2 qty2). And Wilson combat edcx9 also recently got the prodigy (4 1/4”). Springfield shoots well except. Within the first 100 rds I had to replace the firing pin (tip broke off). The front sight fell off while firing. The ambi safety also fell off. The optics plate screws sheared off while firing. (Was torqued to 21 in lbs). Fixed everything myself. For only 25/30 % more cost for a staccato don’t waste ur money Also the slide hangs up. A lot at first and just a bit now. Also my trigger no complaints. It’s about 3 1/2 lbs Like it more than staccato.

I purchased my 4.25" prodigy around January of this year. I have had the WORST reliability out of it. Around 300 rounds with 75% malfunctions. OOB/FTE. I WAS DONE WITH THIS GUN! I took the time to send it back to Springfield. 4 weeks later (warranty repair) I got my gun back. With a list of upgrades, and an SRO installed I am happy to report I am around 600 rounds deep post repair with no issues. The gun is a joy to shoot. Accurate, smooth, fast with around a 4 pound trigger weight. I have a sample size for one, but for the money spent and patience I am very happy with the gun, and have no intention to sale or trade.

This is the only positive review on RU-vid. Just spend $2500 on a Staccato and get something otb good.

I picked a 4.25” used for $1,100 with WC internals and added the Atlus straight trigger and tool less guide rod. It was a jam master at first but after some tweaking it runs just fine. I prepped the sear and added a reduced power sear spring with great results. I just sanded the grip down (got rid of the finger groove) and am almost done stippling. Great project gun!

Thanks for the spit take, when you did the color bit about any color you want as long as it's black...

I was inspired to build a 1911 and a 2011 from watching Tactical Toolbox’s videos.

Thank you for your videos and this comparison! I really want to do what I can to support you in the situation you have lived through. I will subscribe to the AR-XX construction side of your site. Thanks Again!

I just really hate how these companies copied a 100 year old design and widened it a little and are charging thousands of dollars for it. Arguably the most American thing about them.

I was saving up for a Bul Armory 2011 but I may give the Prodigy a try first.

People knocking the Prodigy, it just needs a little love and break in to get her running good.

Good to hear you didn't have any issues with these. I would love to own one, I just hate having problems with a new firearm.

I just picked up a CZC A01 LD. I would love to see a review done by you on this pistol. Love your videos man.

I wish SA would offer the new Prodigy in a slightly upgraded version with a little better refinement... They could still do this and keep the price well under $2k imo.

I think the bigger issue is that there were a lot of malfunctions when testing the prodigy at least with the first batch. I’m sure those can and will be fixed but if I’m using a tool to protect my life reliability is a big factor. And until they run like a Glock I would pay for the Staccato.

Yo crazy! I’ve been looking into this prodigy in the last few days. Thanks for the detail review, really thinking of pulling the trigger for my first entry level 1911/2011

I just bought the 4.25" and now I'm planning on getting the 5" to do that conversion. I will say you're the only person who has said what I've been saying about these. I think they are the next Glock and will be the next Gucci gun phase. Thanks for your video!

i have a m1911 a2 fs match tact AND I LOVE IT TIGHT FITMENT FRAME TO SLIDE NO PLAY ATA ALL IT IS ACCURATE ..... I DID HOW EVER RACK THE SLIDE BY HAND OVER 500 TIMES LAPPING THE ACTION BY RACKING THE SLIDE BY HAND ... WHEN I FIRST GOT IT THE DISCONECTOR HUNG A LITTLE NOW IT JUST SLIDE SLICK AS SNOT YAH HOO .....+

Always enjoy a new tactical toolbox video!

5 min in and finally really started talking about the guns thank god

Recently found your channel and subscribed. Really love your content and I’m super-impressed with your firearms knowledge. No idea how you can remember all that stuff! Your videos are entertaining and interesting, and they’ve been really useful for me so far. Keep up the good work!

Great review. My 4.25 is an early one and it has ran flawless through 700 rounds. My trigger is breaking at 4.3. The trigger isn’t as nice as my Bul 2011’s but I enjoy shooting it just as much.

I’m still on the fence about it. A lot of “big” RU-vidrs all said it was great 100% reliable then with a few weeks a lot of smaller channels started saying the gun was trash.

Just picked up a 4.25" Prodigy in on trade and plan on doing all those things you mentioned and a few other things like trip top and possibly ceracoat. Excited to have this built later this year and will def be keeping an eye on this series. Excellent video btw

The v8 ports on them are really cool. A trigger is pretty easy to do on these guns too

On my first Prodigy, I put a Masterpiece Arms aluminum grip, ported bbl and EGW internals, all for less than a Staccato. I now have two 4.25"ers and they both have been flawless.

I'm glad there is lower cost competition in the market. I think you are deluding your viewers that don't know any better though, when you say things like this 15:15 . If your goal is having a Staccato 2011, which is the best off the shelf 2011 bar none, then buy a Staccato. Do not delude yourself into thinking you can buy the Prodigy and mod it up to the level of a Staccato, you can't and if you somehow did, you would have spent more to get there than just buying you favorite Staccato. The prodigy is awesome though. I hope more and more people buy 2011s.

One of the most realistic and objective look at these pistols. At the difference in price you can’t really compare to a Staccato. Now I would say there are enough videos of people with issues that it would be great if the QC was better. But things like slide to frame fit and trigger weight I’d expect to vary quite a bit in a production pistol. And people out hundreds of dollars into a Glock everyday to increase the performance/features. Good breakdown on upgrades and great video. 👍

I’m just saving for a staccato I’ve never had good luck with Springfield

I’ve got a few Staccatos and after watching this video, it does make the Prodigy sound pretty enticing. Also, for the comped barrel and “XC” conversion, that’s DSC Gunworks. He does some amazing work

I’d love to see and hear what you think of the new EAA Girsan witness 2311 when it hits the market between march and may. MSRP is supposed to be $999.00 they will come in 9mm, .45 acp and 10mm with carry length all the way up to a 6” slide. That 10mm double stack is gonna have a 15 or 16 rounds in the mag 🤯 love the channel. Hope you’re having a good day Toolbox 🫡

Live FREE ARMORY APOLLO THIS SUMMER FOR UNDER $1000!!! CANT WAIT TO TRY.

Thanks for the content! I recently picked up the Bul SAS II Tac 4.25 and I absolutely love it. A few of my friends have Staccatos and I honestly wanted to be the other guy. I do think if I get another 2011, I may try your approach and just build one for kicks.

Im glad im not the only one that complained about the main spring housing being uncomfortable in hand, with that being sad ive completely upgraded my 4.25" prodigy with egw ignition kit, 17# main spring, atlas trigger @2.5lbs, egw tool less guide rod and bullet style extended slide release, overall im starting to become a 1911/2011 guy

I am curious how the Oracle will flesh out?

Love this content man. Haven’t subscribed yet until now but have been watching ur videos. Love it man keep up the good work

Sage wasn’t too happy with it. But, your whole video is exactly what I was thinking and why I’ll likely do this. Big difference forking out $3k vs building up to it , gaining knowledge and having fun. I understand both sides.

F censorship, keep doing what you're doing! Don't let these lefty big tech companys bring you down. Keep fighting the good fight. Great content my dude!

Best gun tuber hands down keep it up brother ☆

unless you get up into Phoenix or SVI or similar, the 2011s are basically all commodity guns.

i love that sound when you scratch your beard... made my beard quit itching.

I am a Prodigy owner. Mine is the 5" model. I had some initial issues with mine returning to battery and failing to feed/chamber. Had me a little upset at first that I didn't just get a Staccato. But, owning several 1911's, I had some parts to swap and I was familiar with trigger work and fitting on a 1911. I pulled the disconnector, sear, hammer, etc and gave them a good polishing and removed some rough edges. I replaced the recoil spring with an 11lb Wolff and the main spring/hammer spring with a 17lb Wolff. Online reading suggests Springfield used a 9lb recoil and 20-21lb main. The firing pin spring was also replaced with a Wolff extra power. These changes helped significantly with the return to battery...but it wasn't truly fixed. I lightly filed the magazine tops where scraped paint suggested contact with the slide. I also found a rough edge on the sear spring where it contacted the disconnect. This was preventing the slide from passing over the disconnect without lots of effort. A quick sand on the edge of the sear spring and this thing now runs like a champ. About $30 in parts and a couple hours time. Since then I replaced the recoil rod with a Dawson Precision tool-less (like Staccato) and a 10-8 slide stop (about $120). These make maintenance so much easier and would be highly suggested...but not required. Even with the work and parts, I am about $1000 less than a Staccato P DPO steel frame. The optic plates, mags, etc. are much cheaper too. Can buy a lot of ammo with that savings. Hopefully if someone is on the fence, this would help them out with an account of a common complaint...and an easy and cheap solution. Honestly satisfying as heck to get it running on my own.

Thank you for another killer episode brother!! 2A for life!!

You forgot to mention the new Girsan 2311. Released in shot show... Not sure if it's available yet. Also you're right... I've been un-notified from your channel plenty of times. Including other pro 2A channels. I'm switching to Rumble

Finally a new upload. I been watching vids from like 6 years ago😭

I like The 4 and a quarter, But both very nice, And the build sounds awesome

You put that 510c halosun on everything as you should

Good stuff, Liked and subscribed! 😘😘

Thank you for the review, I appreciate your detail breakdown. I really want a prodigy 4.25 inch model. Hopefully this year!

Saw the first video, glad I did before it was gone. Waiting for Girsan to come out with one. There’s no reason 2011’s should be so expensive. I miss Para Ordinance.

Thanks for all the great content.

Love your videos! So thorough and detailed!

So that's why I've been missing your videos!?!?

Thanks for all the great content brother!

9:08 your guns pull differently because S/F doesn't keep track of what size main springs they put in there guns, we took apart 10 prodigy's and 8/10 of the guns main springs were different sizes....

I have both staccato and prodigy I can't honestly say the staccato is any better than the prodigy I've compared both a lot the only thing I can really say is I'm upside down on the staccato a lot of you tubers are staccato biased saying prodigy isn't half the gun staccato is my staccato has been sent back twice for repairs so just being honest here good review thxs.

Wow I was unsubscribed from this channel. I had no idea

Girsan and live free armory are dropping double stack 2011s this year at under a grand price point. Super stoked

Any handgun that cost over eleven hundred dollars should not have any complains ♣️

The Rock Island Tac Ultra FS HC, sku 51679, is the world's cheapest double stack. Thanks for mentioning it.

I hear mixed reviews about the prodigy. I also hear mixed results about the xdm elite and that thing is sick

Love your channel. Great reviews! Keep it up.

I don’t ever want to need to take a file to my $1500-$4000 gun.