XDM .45 vs HK45

sogtrident7 · Feb 23, 2012

I have a couple months to decide but it's time to get another .45acp. I like the new hk45, I have not shot one yet but I have held one and it melted in my hand, and usually ergonomics leads to improved accuracy. I like the barrel height axis, it is low enough for me, not overly low but better than Sig's by a mile. Plus I think it's a sexy looking piece.
I have owned the XDM but sold it a while back and have been regretting it since. Btw it would be the 4.5" model black slide. Pro's being I have put a few thousand rounds through one and was very happy with the accuracy and shootability. The trigger sucked imo but that's 150$ fix. I like the higher mag capacity 13 vs 10. I also like the looks of that one as well, not as much as the hk but enough.
I use it for target shooting (nothing serious) but I will run 50 to 100 rnds a week avg through it. Also home defense I have a Viridian X5L. I like the fact that the XDM comes with the accesories and a much better case. Also hk clips are like 60 or 70 bucks and thats assnine imo. So in the end the mag cap in the xdm is better for me, the price obviousy, and the case and accesories, and familiarity. The HK is better looking and more comfortable in my hand, accuracy probably will not be noticeable for me. I do not have a gun shop or range near me that I can try before I purchase. So if anyone has expierience with both weapons or HK45 I would like to hear. Thanks. Btw I am not a Glock man in the least, so no "get two Glock 21's for the price of the hk"

harkamus · Feb 23, 2012

*Mags,* say it with me now.

I have shot the XDM, but own the HK45. Both are great weapons, but I went with the more ergonomic piece which was the HK45. I also wanted a hammer fired weapon. The XDM is striker fired. I do like that the XDM has the grip safety like on the 1911s. Safeties like that, I don't mind, because they don't get in the way. They both shoot accurately, but the HK45 does have polygonal rifling which is a plus IMO. I don't recall what rifling the XDM has, but I'm pretty sure it's standard land and groove. Fit and finish goes to the HK. The HK is just overbuilt, and you can see the precision in all the German engineering that went into the gun. Plus it was built with input from Larry Vickers, which you may or may not know or even care about.

The one thing that the HK45 has that pushed it over the edge is the trigger system. You can change them from conventional da/sa, to DAO, to LEM (which is a modified version of a double action that reduces reset and trigger pull weight). I switched my da/sa to LEM after 1000 rounds. I basically have a double action with reduced reset, zero overtravel, and a 4.5 pound trigger pull. I have no control levers on the gun except the ambidextrous slide release and of course the flappy paddle mag release.

I am not a fan boy by any means, as I actually dislike polymer handguns, but the HK45 is a great firearm. Having said that, I don't think you would be displeased with either decision.

EDIT: If you get the HK45, I think the capacity concern will disappear after you shoot it for a while. When I was shopping for a .45 it was between the FN45 tactical and the HK45. The FN holds 15+1. I have meaty hands, so both were ergonomic "enough," but the HK45 just felt better and looked better.

Sid Post · Feb 24, 2012

I went through the same choice a while back and went with the FNP 45. I wear a medium sized glove so, while my hands aren't overly large they are big enough for the FNP grip. The lower price and double action trigger pull really appealed to me. The front slide serrations for press checks and the abiity to carry cocked and locked or the more traditional double action made it an easy choice. It really is a smooth shooter too.

harkamus · Feb 24, 2012

Sid Post said:
The lower price and double action trigger pull really appealed to me.

That was my assessment too. I liked the double action pull of the FN45 more than on the HK45, but I liked the single action pull more on the HK45 than the FN. Then again, after 1000 rounds it didn't matter, since I did the LEM conversion on the HK.

Kalsu · Feb 24, 2012

I owned and FNP 45 and sold it so I could get the HK 45. The FN was nice but the HK has better ergonomics and a better trigger.

About the XDM I have not shot one. I have handled and XDM and comparing it to the HK 45 the HK wins hands down.

banana-clip · Feb 26, 2012

I was looking at the HK45 compact with LEM trigger. Does HK have different LEM triggers? Some lighter than others?

(Hope I didn't hijack this thread)

harkamus · Feb 26, 2012

banana-clip said:
I was looking at the HK45 compact with LEM trigger. Does HK have different LEM triggers? Some lighter than others?

(Hope I didn't hijack this thread)

Yes. The normal LEM is the heavy version, which gives a pull of about 8 pounds on the double action. What differentiates the LEM double action from their true DAO trigger is that the LEM provides a double action pull with the reset of a single action. Everything before that, the pre-travel, is as light as the trigger return spring, which is <1 pound. Basically, the idea is to only release the trigger on subsequent shots far enough for it to reset since the reset is greatly reduced from true DAO. The light LEM version is about 4.5 pounds. You can mix and match parts to get a medium pull of around 6 pounds. All of these are factory trigger systems, though may not always be listed on paper as I understand it. Generally, few people go with the 8 pound unless you just like heavy pulls. Most go for either LEM light or LEM medium.

Light is the way to go IMO. Your trigger finger is the safety. That extra 1.5 pounds of resistance won't do a whole lot if you have poor pistol handling skills, or if somehow, the trigger gets snagged on something.

Slidetechnik · Feb 26, 2012

The ergos on the HK make it the more intuitive gun imo.

STAGE 2 · Feb 26, 2012

If its not a 1911 then I think that HK has best 45 caliber pistols out there. I was really excited when the fn came out but was terribly disappointed when I read about its serious reliability issues. There is simply no excuse for failing to feed ball ammo. As far as the XD goes, it seems to be a good pistol but I dont think that it is as stoutly built as the HK, nor does it have the lineage behind it. As was said above it also doesn't offer the variety of options.

harkamus · Feb 26, 2012

STAGE 2 said:
As far as the XD goes, it seems to be a good pistol but I dont think that it is as stoutly built as the HK, nor does it have the lineage behind it.

While I do favor the HK, I wouldn't necessarily go as far as to say the XD doesn't have lineage behind it. The XD is only what we call it here in the US after importation. The gun is really the HS2000, which has been built since 1999. It is a tested weapon. I'd give them a bit more credit, personally.

STAGE 2 · Feb 26, 2012

harkamus said:
While I do favor the HK, I wouldn't necessarily go as far as to say the XD doesn't have lineage behind it. The XD is only what we call it here in the US after importation. The gun is really the HS2000, which has been built since 1999. It is a tested weapon. I'd give them a bit more credit, personally.

I was referring to the lineage of the company. HK has been making duty/combat pistols for decades and IIRC was the originator of the polymer pistol. Its easy to design a good pistol when your resume has things like the USP, MK 23, P9S and the rest in it. The croatian company that makes the xd isn't primarily a firearms company and when first introduced the hs2000 has serious problems.