SA XD's - How god are they really?

[The Grand Pooh-Bah]

Sorry I couldn't help myself....in regards to the subject....

Im sure there are some out there who look upon their guns as things to worship......

[RojasTKD]

It is currently my carry Gun. It was between a Glock 23 (my friend has one) and the XD-40. The XD felt SOOOO much better in my hand and pointed much better. Hold each and my mind was made up.

It's as accurate if not more thna my friends glock. I have a collection of 12 handguns and is as acurate as most except my Colt 1911, Beretta (both 5" guns) and my S&W mod 66 .357mag.

Also it was frfinised by springfield under warrenty.

It is a great weapon.

If it fits in your hands and points well for you... U can't go wrong. It also Cheaper then a Glock and MUCH cheaper than an HK.

I plan on getting an HK USP later this year. I will carry witch ever I can shoot the best.

[invssgt]

http://www.thesixgunjournal.com/springfieldxd.htm

[Delija]

All depends on what you want/need a gun for.

I think I have shot about every kind of handgun ever made.

The XD is by far the best shooting gun for self defense I ever shot. But that's for me. For others maybe it does not feel as right. How a gun feels...how it fits your hand and points is a pretty subjective thing.

At 7-10 yards, I practice with a silouhette target. I NEVER use the sights. I just draw the gun and fire.

It seems like I cannot miss COM with this gun (mine is a Subcompact, so the service and tacticals can only be as good or better).

It is just like pointing your finger at someone. Bang. Can't miss.

I have a .45 1911 that is certainly more accurate for target shooting. I used to have a couple of .22 caliber target pistols that were even more accurate than the .45.

I had a full size 1911 frame 9mm which was too big and too heavy to carry concealed (for me). I had a nice sized 9mm S&W 469, but the DA/SA trigger was just too difficult for self defense (or even target shooting). I want the first shot to be easy, not hard. (It sure was a nice looking gun though).

Every gun has it's purpose. For a carry gun for civilian self defense, I cannot think of a gun that surpases the XD. You can spend a lot more money, but I don't believe you can get a more reliable, better made or more accurate gun for self defense. AND the gun is very safe. Far more safe than a Glock (for example) ...at least in my opinion. And I believe statistics would bear that out.

You can certainly get nicer looking guns. You can get far more accurate guns for shooting a target that is 25 yards away. But at 25 yards, I am not shooting anyone in self defense. (I am running away).

The XD is not a target gun. It is not a hunting gun. It is not a showpiece. It is not a status symbol. It is not an "intimidating" looking gun.

It is however a perfect gun for concealed carry self defense. If that is what you want a gun for, the XD is the ticket. For other purposes, other guns may be better.


Peace,
D.

[jetdriver]

Thanks for all the replies. Good stuff.

Primarily this pistol is gonna be a range gun, and/or a home defense weapon.
I already have a Taurus PT145 MillPro for carry, and won't change that. Since I already have one .45 my thoughts were to add a big brother for the house - a Glock 21. I owned one for about a yr, and liked it. But, the other part of me wants to try something new. So, I'm looking into the XD9.

I also have a extra frame for a G21, which is nice. Because I plan to shoot competitively with it. So, I can mod one frame, and keep one stock.

Hmmm. Decisions. Ultimately, I'll have both. It's just a matter of which to get first!

[Delija]

Originally Posted by jetdriver

Primarily this pistol is gonna be a range gun, and/or a home defense weapon.
!

Interesting.....as a range gun, I don't know if an XD would be at the top of my list like it is as a carry gun.

I love my XD9 sub. And in truth, it is quite accurate on the range. More accurate than seems reasonable for a gun with such a short sight radius.

But if I were buying a 9mm gun to shoot primarily on the range, and not a pure target gun, I would choose a Browning Hi-Power over the XD (funds permitting). And of course as a home defense weapon, it would be the equal of an XD, as would most 9mm guns.

I like the HP trigger (almost as much as the trigger on a 1911). I feel the pistol is very well balanced and just fun to shoot and very accurate.

Last night I went to the range and shot targets hung sideways. I am not a great shot, but I was able to hit the edge of the paper (and the inch or so that showed) pretty consistently with the Browning at about 10 yards. I can't do that with my XD, I may be able to with the .45, but I didn't get to try. (It's nice that 9mm ammo is so much cheaper than .45.....you don't feel as bad when you miss).

Peace,
D.

[manygunner]

Well, I had some extractor issues in mine, XD-9 service model. My local smith finaly fixed what SA could not when I sent it to them RMA. Overall the gun is rugged and reliable with excellent ergonomics. It is light, fast to reload and has nice recoil recovery back on target. With 15 round mags it is my usual carry gun right now (I may lose the mags due to a new WA AWB in the works). I have let some peopel at my range try it and all liked it. One gentleman in federal service especially liked it compared to his issue piece. Outside of a CZ-75B it is my favorite gun to shoot.

[gonzo]

I have a G17 and the XD. While there are strengths and minor weaknesses of both, they get compared in forums against each other a lot because they are so similar in function and quality. Both are great guns. I like the XD slightly more for personal reasons (it fits my hand slighty better), but I enjoy, keep, and shoot both. I view them both as excellent guns, and both have been flawless.

Since you said you will probably get another gun anyway and you like variety, I say get the XD first. Then for your next gun you can make your own decision on whether you want another Glock or XD. Good luck!

[ken_mays]

I have (or have owned) many of the decent "service pistols" made today, including multiple SIGs, Berettas, Glocks, 1911s, HKs, S&Ws, and a few others like CZ and High Powers.

In my opinion, the XD is generally the equal of any of them. For pure shootability and ergonomics, it is very hard to beat -- matched only by the 1911. The XD has supplanted the Glock in my collection; only a second-gen G19 and G17 remain as the best examples of that platform

There are certain minor weaknesses of the XD that can be held against it compared to certain other designs. For instance, the metal finish, the long trigger reset, and a few others.

However, all handguns have their weak points, and the XD's are relatively minor. They may not even pose a problem for the great majority of XD owners. What's more, they can easily be remedied. This can't necessarily be said for the weaknesses of the other types of handguns.

For me, the XD is my preferred choice for competition and home defense. Not that it's so much better than the others but it has features that make it attractive for these roles -- again, in my opinion. I don't carry a XD concealed, as it's a bit bulkier than I prefer and I don't really like subcompacts. But when I go to the range, an XD always goes with me.