New Product Highlight: Springfield Armory AOS 1911

No matter how far the firearms industry advances, it seems like the venerable 1911 will never lose its charm. Keeping up with the latest and greatest competition shows its weak points, though, including the platform’s reliance on iron sights.

Springfield Armory is pushing its lineup of 1911 pistols at least one step further with three new AOS (Agency Optic System) models that offer red dot compatibility.

Sure, the idea of an optic-ready 1911 is nothing new, but it’s nice to see another manufacturer give shooters what they want.

Springfield Armory 1911 AOS Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm, .45 ACP
• Action: Single action
• Capacity: 8+1 (.45 ACP), 9+1 (9mm)
• Barrel Length: 4.25”, 5”
• Overall Length: 7.75”, 8.6”
• Optic Ready: Yes
• MSRP: $967 to $1,378

Features

• Adapter plates from Agency Optics
• Compatible with most optics
• Suppressor-height sights

Springfield AOS 1911 Pistols

$819

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$819 at GrabAGun

• GrabAGun (See Price)
• BattleHawk Armory (See Price)

Prices accurate at time of writing

Available Coupons

• 25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
  Copied! Visit Merchant

Springfield Armory 1911 AOS pistols are new, but the individual components have proven track records. This is the same AOS system that Springfield Armory uses on the Prodigy. It uses billet steel adapter plates to interface between the pistol’s slide and a huge range of red dot optics.

Not sure which of the six Agency Optics plates to get? Springfield Armory has a guide that not only shows which optics are compatible with each plate, but whether or not you can still use the iron sights with a given optic installed. When you buy a 1911 AOS, you can get a plate for $49.

Co-witnessing is possible with nearly all optics, as the AOS pistols come with suppressor-height sights from the factory.

The AOS evolution doesn’t extend to all of Springfield’s 1911 pistols, but it does include the value-forward Ronin, tactical Operator, and contemporary Emissary series.

Within each of those sub-models, you can choose from 9mm, .45 ACP, or 10mm (Ronin only), and 5- or 4.25-inch barrels.

Springfield Armory lists an MSRP of $967 to $1,378 for AOS 1911s.

What do you think of the new Springfield Armory AOS 1911 lineup? Let us know below. Planning on buying one of your own? Check out our guide to all the Best Holosun Optics.