Glocks vs others

The XD is one of the most shootable guns out there, for new and seasoned shooters alike.

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I had the chance yesterday to shoot a Springfield XD(M) in 40 S&W yesterday. My dad and I went to a shoot fully expecting it to be a 22 shoot but the match had been changed and I didn't have a gun to shoot. Fortunately my brother was there as well and had plenty of ammo for his new Springfield. My impressions were as follows...

1. I would score the trigger as a 3 out of ten. While not overly heavy it was very long, very mushy feeling, and had almost as much overtravel as take up. It also never seemed to release in the same part of the trigger stroke which is a pain if you are use to a clean breaking trigger.

2. Recoil was stout along with the torque that twisted the gun. Again the 40 does have a significant increase in these areas over the 9mm. I know it slowed me down in my shot recovery.

3. Ergonomics, the serrations on the backstrap ...(M)ega-Lock Texture... are sharp! They left my hand feeling sore from abrasion after just 30 rounds, if it were mine I would be getting the dremel out to break the edges. Other than that the gun felt good, sights lined up well.

4. Sights, standard three dot, worked fine for me as it is what I am used to.

5. Function, the Springfield functioned perfectly, didn't have any malfunction while either I or my brother were shooting it.

Overall not too bad other than the trigger, would prefer a 9mm tho but I did manage to place second in the match, not bad for using a gun that I had to borrow and had never shot before in any form or caliber.
 
The XD9 I shot at the range didnt have the rough knurling on the backstrap. The XD45 did have a sharp backstrap. Dont know what thats all about. I do agree, the trigger on the XD9 was a little mushy but I am used to it from my G17. The handle/grip angle far surpassed my expectations.

Hey Absintheur,
In your opinion, which semi-auto pistols have clean breaking triggers?
 
I have a Glock 19 and a Sig P220, and I kinda prefer the Glock, even though I "know" the Sig is a nicer gun. With thousands of rounds through it, the Glock has never come close to malfunctioning- not once. I've had the Sig hiccup on me a few times- mostly due to "operator error"- but enough to give me second thoughts. (the Sig will fail to feed unless you really make extra sure to slam the magazine in there hard)

The Sig has a much better trigger, fires a more powerful round, is more accurate, and has roughly the same recoil as the 19. Maybe I'm just not used to it yet. If I were in a fight, I'd reach for the Glock first. It aint fancy, but when it comes time to put lead downrange, it does the job with first-rate efficiency. I am absolutely sold on the Glock platform.
 
moonwilson said:
(the Sig will fail to feed unless you really make extra sure to slam the magazine in there hard)
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Can you explain that some, the magazine either seats all the way or it doesn’t? Is it a very stiff magazine spring that is keeping a full mag from seating?
 
When seating a full magazine in some pistols (or rifles for that matter) the top round hits the bottom of the slide, bolt, barrel, etc, and doesn't not have enough compression space left to allow th magazine to seat fully. Friction from the magazine catch will hold it there but not lock it in place. Often it will chamber the top round like this and then fall out when the first round is fired. This is the reason most instructors teach initial loading with the slide locked to the rear. It is also the reason some people say you should load one less than full capacity tho I do not adhere to that. Rather I teach seating the magazine with authority.

The Glock has a better trigger than the XP(M) I think, not nearly as much over-travel or take-up. It also seems to break sharper, at least the dozen or so Glocks I have shot seem that way.
 
Horned Toad said:
Can you explain that some, the magazine either seats all the way or it doesn’t? Is it a very stiff magazine spring that is keeping a full mag from seating?
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The magazine will appear to "click" into place on a full magazine, but it isn't really seated. As long as I make sure to bang the magazine in hard, there's no problem. I like to store my guns with the clip full, but the chamber empty. If I rack the slide on a magazine that hasn't been properly inserted, the round will be "half chambered" and jams up against the rear of the barrel- in which case I have to drop the mag and rack the slide to clear it. It's really not a big deal.
 
Absintheur said:
This is the reason most instructors teach initial loading with the slide locked to the rear. It is also the reason some people say you should load one less than full capacity tho I do not adhere to that. Rather I teach seating the magazine with authority.
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Click to expand...

Seating with authority is the only way to go if once you chamber a round you drop the magazine and top it off.
 
moonwilson said:
I like to store my guns with the clip full, but the chamber empty.
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If you are going to short your self one round by having an empty chamber, two wont be much of a difference to get the magazine to seat.:D

For me if I am storing guns they are in the safe empty, if they are out they are topped off.
 
Robert H said:
I ended up carrying the biggest bullet I could with the most capacity in the smallest package, and that's a XD .45 with 14 round mags for me. .
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Its actually 13 +1. I carry the XD .45 ACP service in DE. I love the thing!
 
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I use Arrendondo extended magazine base plates.

rigs.jpg
 
It's all about balance. :D

But seriously, it is a balance issue. If there's a bunch of weight on one side and not the other, it becomes uncomfortable. Three full mags of 230 grain weigh about as much as a full gun, so it rides very evenly.

Same with the HK set up. A balanced load doesn't kill the shoulders, evens out, and has a much more even drawstroke.
 
oh i know all about the balance thing with shoulder holsters, but thats the 1st triple mag rig i've seen, i have a double rig myself, but never seen a triple before not even in the movies lol.

i've thought about the double pistol rig too, if i was a LEO i would but for me too heavy.
 
Excellent defensive pistol that always works. Downside no safety and there not as accurate as I would like them to be.
 
all the glocks ive messed with were plenty accurate what are ya looking for in that regard?

they also have a safety just not a safety like some are used to, i wouldnt complain if they offered a 1911 style safety though as long as it was an option.
 
Hmmm. Dunno how I missed this thread.....

There is some good stuff here, and some not so good.

My take:

When choosing a handgun for shootability, I look for these things -

1. Reliability - No handgun will be perfect, any can fail under the right circumstances. But some are more reliable than others. Buy a handgun with a good track record for reliability with premium ammunition.

2. Simplicity - I want no extra bells or whistles. I want a minimum of external controls. I want no external safety, and no grip safety. I want point and click interface.

3. Trigger - I want a trigger that is the same from first shot to last shot.

4. Capacity - For a primary defensive handgun, miminum of six rounds, more is better.

5. Accuracy - Capable of minute of combat. Maximum of 4" group at 25 yards.

6. Size - For a primary defensive handgun, full grip.

7. Sights - For a primary defensive handgun, fixed sights, full target sight picture.

8. Caliber - Nothing smaller than 9mm, in a primary defensive handgun.

9. Finish - Tough!

Now, when asked, these are the attributes I advise shooters to look for. Whatever an individual chooses, I further advise that they do these things -

1. Get training! Get training! Get training!

2. Establish a "base" with that particular handgun, and stick with it for at least 6 months. Get to know that handgun, don't switch back and forth, or rotate from weapon to weapon to weapon. Bad idea!

Andy
 
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