Springfield Armory XD Series - thoughts and opnions

Les Snyder said:
go to a practical shooting match... I'm more familiar with USPSA, and talk to the guys that look like they know what they are doing...in the Production class (9mm, with other than single action triggers)... I would guess that the XD is probably the 3rd most common around here, behind Glock and Smith M&P... ask them why ..a lot of them will shoot 1000 rounds a month

Les
UF74
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I would say it might be the 4th, around here it's Glock,M&P, and CZ.
 
Backstrap safeties are bad news if you plan to carry concealed. Also, at reset a Glock factory trigger pull is closer to 3 pounds. In real world scenarios trigger pull weight will hardly matter, and at the range you should only be releasing until reset anyway. XDs do feel great in the hand, I just can't reconcile the backstrap safety.
 
I have regular XD9, Glock 17 with a ghost rocket trigger and a M&P 9. The XD would be my third pick but it's simply personal preference. They have all been perfect and never missed a beat I just find the longer reset on the XD less desirable, they all feel great in the hand. Pick the one that feels the best to you.
 
What caliber would everyone recommend for best overall use...I guess if you could only pick one and intended to use for home defense, range shooting, and the occasional concealed carry?
 
Thrill said:
What caliber would everyone recommend for best overall use...I guess if you could only pick one and intended to use for home defense, range shooting, and the occasional concealed carry?
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You'll get so many varied opinions. I shoot 9 and .45. People will give you so many different opinions, and a ton of stuff will be anecdotal. Even the stuff backed by facts has been refuted in some instances. I would say to pick the caliber you shoot the best. The recoil of a 9 and a .45 for example are different because one is high pressure ammo and exits the barrel at a much higher velocity (the 9mm) than the other, which is low pressure and much slower to leave the barrel (the .45). It used to be that the 9mm was laughed at because of a shooting in the Philippines if I'm not mistaken, but that was decades ago. Any quality self defense round these days will do the job provided you do yours.

If you are tight on funds, I'd definitely go with 9mm. It's the cheapest of the main pistol calibers people usually consider. It's also relatively easy to shoot. 45 makes a bigger hole, is slower, and costs a lot more. So unless you reload, it might not be cost effective. .40 is my favorite but I don't have any firearms in .40. You get more capacity out of the .40 than the .45, a bit more oomph than the 9mm, and a bit faster velocity than the .45, but the recoil is off-putting for lots of people. I may be weird, but even though I shoot .45 mostly these days, I prefer reloading 185 grain rounds that approach 1000 fps. 230 grainers that go around 800 FPS is just, well, slow for me. Then again I've always been into the physics side of things, and it's something I specialize in even in my field. I never shoot +P or +P+ rounds since I never practice with the stuff.

If price is no concern, just go to a range and rent out diff calibers to get kind of a feel for what they handle like. Otherwise, you'll kinda have to base your decisions from the input you get here or from talking to folks in the LGS or range.
 
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I think you are right; I need to fire all calibers to see what I like. Good advice harkamus!

harkamus said:
You'll get so many varied opinions. I shoot 9 and .45. People will give you so many different opinions, and a ton of stuff will be anecdotal. Even the stuff backed by facts has been refuted in some instances. I would say to pick the caliber you shoot the best. The recoil of a 9 and a .45 for example are different because one is high pressure ammo and exits the barrel at a much higher velocity (the 9mm) than the other, which is low pressure and much slower to leave the barrel (the .45). It used to be that the 9mm was laughed at because of a shooting in the Philippines if I'm not mistaken, but that was decades ago. Any quality self defense round these days will do the job provided you do yours.

If you are tight on funds, I'd definitely go with 9mm. It's the cheapest of the main pistol calibers people usually consider. It's also relatively easy to shoot. 45 makes a bigger hole, is slower, and costs a lot more. So unless you reload, it might not be cost effective. .40 is my favorite but I don't have any firearms in .40. You get more capacity out of the .40 than the .45, a bit more oomph than the 9mm, and a bit faster velocity than the .45, but the recoil is off-putting for lots of people. I may be weird, but even though I shoot .45 mostly these days, I prefer reloading 185 grain rounds that approach 1000 fps. 230 grainers that go around 800 FPS is just, well, slow for me. Then again I've always been into the physics side of things, and it's something I specialize in even in my field. I never shoot +P or +P+ rounds since I never practice with the stuff.

If price is no concern, just go to a range and rent out diff calibers to get kind of a feel for what they handle like. Otherwise, you'll kinda have to base your decisions from the input you get here or from talking to folks in the LGS or range.
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Thrill said:
I think you are right; I need to fire all calibers to see what I like. Good advice harkamus!
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Just remember, that it may not be an ideal situation depending on what the range has to offer. Say for example you're set on the XD. The range may have an XD in 9 and .45, but only an M&P in .40. I would say though that recoil is similar enough when comparing the same calibers on the same type of frame (IE: comparing two makes of the same caliber on a polymer frame). Comparing a steel frame to a polymer frame for the same caliber will be vastly different.

And you won't know what you prefer until you shoot both types of frames. You may love steel so much that you might actually bear the extra weight when conceal carrying. I know plenty folks that do.
 
I have a 9mm version and like it well enough, it works quite well. I do prefer my CZ-75 though with rubber grips, find it to be more comfortable. Something about wanting to have a single or double action pistol appeals to me.
 
Anyone else looking at the new XD-S that they're coming out with? Super thin 5+1 45ACP.
 
I have a 3.8 xdm in 9mm. Absolutely fantastic! At last count I have 3325 failure free rounds through it! It's also my daily CC weapon. With the short mag, it all but disappears when I'm wearing a galco king tuck holster.

I can't speak highly enough of this weapon!
 
So many choices....getting closer to finally pulling the trigger. Will definitely go the XDM route, but haven't decided on caliber or barrel length.
 
I have a XDm in .45. I have added a powder river trigger kit and TruGlo TFO sights. Maybe one of the best overall "house guns" made to date. It seems to get equal praise from my male and female students. Very accurate and easy to maintain. Just be sure you use a snap cap when dry firing. It saves a lot of wear on the striker pin.

XDm.jpg
 
I tried one out and it did not like certain types of ammo which was a deal breaker for me. My Berettas, Glocks and HKs take everything without a problem so I am sticking with them.
 
I have 2 XD 40 service model and a XD40 compact I shot about everything I could get my hands on in early 2004 that could be concealed carry by a lefty with out adding an aftermarket safety. I like and still do like the Xd better than anything I shot . For caliber choice , if it is primerily for plinking go with a 9mm if it is primemarily for self defence choose the biggest caliber you can comfortablely shoot . I bought 40 because at the time I bought them 40 S&W was te largest caliber they made them in. My service model was bought im early 2004 from 2004 to 2008 it was fired an average of 100 rounds a week . Ammo was half the cost it is now and I was making 30% more. It has never failed to fire or jammed
Roy
 
I have two XD pistols; a standard XD40 and and XDM40.

Both have been 100 percent reliable and are very accurate.

I personally prefer the S&W M&P line of pistols, but the XD is a solid choice provided that it fits your hand and you shoot it well.

I would suggest getting the 9mm version; more rounds, less recoil and faster follow up shots.
 
I own one of the earlier xD45s. I was sold on it as soon as I put it in my hand. However, I didn't care for the trigger. It had a long press and a long reset. A trip to Springer Precision took care of that and was reasonably priced. It's an accurate, reliable handgun.
 
Thrill said:
So many choices....getting closer to finally pulling the trigger. Will definitely go the XDM route, but haven't decided on caliber or barrel length.
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If you plan on shooting matches at some point, it might be worth it to consider the XDM 5.25. Can be had in 9, .40, and .45. Have you shot them in diff calibers/lengths yet?
 
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