Service or SC for carry - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

victor III · 02-01-2005, 07:05 PM

I applied for my CCL today, and have not decided yet which XD to purchase. I shot a .9mm Service last week at the range, but have not had the opportunity to shoot a SC. I handled one Friday, a .40 with Pearce mag extension. The grip was too short for me without the mag extension, but felt fine with it. Another concern I have is whether the 4" Service can be carried concealed as effectively as the 3" SC.

My question, especially for you who own both a Service and a SC, if you could only have one, which would you choose and why?

Super Trucker · 02-01-2005, 07:20 PM

I have a serrvice and a friend of mine has the SC. You already stated that the grip of the SC is to small so, when you add the extension you are now at the same width and height as the service, the only difference is 3/4 of an inch length. If you carry IWB that would be a no brainer. Like I said I own the service and that is why. I may buy a SC someday for the hell of it but not because it would be easier to carry.

355 · 02-01-2005, 07:33 PM

for what it is worth, my experience has been it is the grip that is hard to conceal, not the barrel. It is no harder to conceal the service than the tactical, if you have to add to the length to get the grip big enough to hold onto, then .... I've also had problems w/Colt Officer size guns not being long enough to stay in when tucked inside the waist band w/o a holster. The XD service carries just fine, so does my Ruger 345.

dolanp · 02-02-2005, 07:02 AM

I was faced with the same question when deciding which one to buy for concealed carry. These are my thoughts: First of all, the extra 1 inch on the barrel isn't going to make it much harder to conceal really. It also adds a reasonable amount of accuracy, so I decided it was definitely worth the small trade off to make it a good target gun as well. Secondly, many people with SCs put these mag extensions or grip extensions on them. When you do that you essentially make the grip the same as that of a Service model. Therefore you might as well have the Service model. If the small grip of the SC weren't a concern though, then you might choose differently. I think it would bother me too much not to have my entire hand around it. Last of all the hicaps for the Service hold 15rds 9mm and 12rds .40.

Comes down to personal preference and comfort most of all I guess.

blindpig · 02-02-2005, 08:32 AM

I have a Sub Compact and two of the Service Models. I usually carry the SC if I'm going to spend quite a bit of time driving because it's a little more comfortable. I carry one of the 4" at other times. If I had only one, it would be the Service Model since, as others have stated, it is as easily concealed as the SC.
If you do get the SC, be sure to get the Pearce extensions. You'll be glad you did.

xHypex · 02-02-2005, 09:42 AM

I don't carry so I can't comment on that, but as mentioned you can always add either Pierce grips or the new XD-Xtension sleeve to a service mag to get extra length if it suits you. Then you can try carrying as either a subcompact or service and choose whichever suits you best.

You can always add; removing is the difficult part.

FWIW 40SC mags also hold 13 rounds so you're almost at as many rounds as a service mag. My hands fit the SC just fine, and I may carry someday so that was my analysis in deciding SC or Service. I can live with the 1" barrel/sight difference.
-hype

jlwatts3 · 02-02-2005, 12:40 PM

I carry the SC and I like it. I have medium/small hands and the Pearce finger rest helped a bunch. Basically I chose it because I shot the service and the sub equally well when I tried them. I live in CA so capacity was a non-issue.

XD BACKUP GUN · 02-02-2005, 01:02 PM

I carry the XD 9mm SC as my backup and it works rather nice!
The Service Model is great too I have thought I should get me one or two of them in the 9mm and .40!

stealthsniper · 02-02-2005, 02:25 PM

I decided on a Service model for the same reason that everyone else has stated: if you need grip extensions, you may as well buy the bigger gun. The SC was too small in my hands, and the added cost of three grip extensions (one for each mag) made buying the Service a no-brainer. Now I just need to buy a damn holster...

mpholic · 02-02-2005, 02:42 PM

Is there really only 3/4" difference between the Service grip and SC grip or is that the difference between Service and SC w/extensions.

I have a Service and Tactical. I carry a K40 or Glock 36 and was considering a XD45 Service for carry but when I compared my Kahr and Glock grip height to my XD Service it seemed alot bigger. I put my service in my waistband (no holster yet) and the grip looked pretty hard to conceal. I thought maybe I should just wait for the XD45 SC to come out.

Please if possible could someone take a measurement from top of slide to bottom of magazine (without extensions)? I know I will eventually buy a SC just to have one but the timing will depend on whether I choose it for carry or just fun.

Thanks

02-01-2005, 07:05 PM	#1
victor III XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6	Service or SC for carry I applied for my CCL today, and have not decided yet which XD to purchase. I shot a .9mm Service last week at the range, but have not had the opportunity to shoot a SC. I handled one Friday, a .40 with Pearce mag extension. The grip was too short for me without the mag extension, but felt fine with it. Another concern I have is whether the 4" Service can be carried concealed as effectively as the 3" SC. My question, especially for you who own both a Service and a SC, if you could only have one, which would you choose and why?

02-02-2005, 08:32 AM	#5
blindpig XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 81	I have a Sub Compact and two of the Service Models. I usually carry the SC if I'm going to spend quite a bit of time driving because it's a little more comfortable. I carry one of the 4" at other times. If I had only one, it would be the Service Model since, as others have stated, it is as easily concealed as the SC. If you do get the SC, be sure to get the Pearce extensions. You'll be glad you did. __________________ \"War is the only place where a man truly lives.\" George Patton XD9 Service Model w/Trijicons XD40 Service Model XD9 SC XD9 Tactical Kimber Pro Carry II .45 S&W MP15A SBR CZ452 American Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle

02-02-2005, 09:42 AM	#6
xHypex XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 179	I don't carry so I can't comment on that, but as mentioned you can always add either Pierce grips or the new XD-Xtension sleeve to a service mag to get extra length if it suits you. Then you can try carrying as either a subcompact or service and choose whichever suits you best. You can always add; removing is the difficult part. FWIW 40SC mags also hold 13 rounds so you're almost at as many rounds as a service mag. My hands fit the SC just fine, and I may carry someday so that was my analysis in deciding SC or Service. I can live with the 1" barrel/sight difference. -hype __________________ XD9SC

02-02-2005, 01:02 PM	#8
XD BACKUP GUN XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oak Grove,MN Posts: 1,723	I carry the XD 9mm SC as my backup and it works rather nice! The Service Model is great too I have thought I should get me one or two of them in the 9mm and .40! __________________ I carry 2 sometimes 3 guns....why not 4....that would be ostentatious. The person who carries more than 1 gun is not paranoid but prepared.

02-02-2005, 02:25 PM	#9
stealthsniper XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 391	I decided on a Service model for the same reason that everyone else has stated: if you need grip extensions, you may as well buy the bigger gun. The SC was too small in my hands, and the added cost of three grip extensions (one for each mag) made buying the Service a no-brainer. Now I just need to buy a damn holster... __________________ -stealth- XD-40 Service - Dearly Departed Ruger KMK-512: VQ tuned Remington 1100 Trap Special

02-01-2005, 07:20 PM	#2
Super Trucker XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 428	I have a serrvice and a friend of mine has the SC. You already stated that the grip of the SC is to small so, when you add the extension you are now at the same width and height as the service, the only difference is 3/4 of an inch length. If you carry IWB that would be a no brainer. Like I said I own the service and that is why. I may buy a SC someday for the hell of it but not because it would be easier to carry.

02-01-2005, 07:33 PM	#3
355 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 11	for what it is worth, my experience has been it is the grip that is hard to conceal, not the barrel. It is no harder to conceal the service than the tactical, if you have to add to the length to get the grip big enough to hold onto, then .... I've also had problems w/Colt Officer size guns not being long enough to stay in when tucked inside the waist band w/o a holster. The XD service carries just fine, so does my Ruger 345.

02-02-2005, 07:02 AM	#4
dolanp XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: N TX Posts: 784	I was faced with the same question when deciding which one to buy for concealed carry. These are my thoughts: First of all, the extra 1 inch on the barrel isn't going to make it much harder to conceal really. It also adds a reasonable amount of accuracy, so I decided it was definitely worth the small trade off to make it a good target gun as well. Secondly, many people with SCs put these mag extensions or grip extensions on them. When you do that you essentially make the grip the same as that of a Service model. Therefore you might as well have the Service model. If the small grip of the SC weren't a concern though, then you might choose differently. I think it would bother me too much not to have my entire hand around it. Last of all the hicaps for the Service hold 15rds 9mm and 12rds .40. Comes down to personal preference and comfort most of all I guess.

02-02-2005, 12:40 PM	#7
jlwatts3 XDTalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baghdad by the Bay Posts: 67	I carry the SC and I like it. I have medium/small hands and the Pearce finger rest helped a bunch. Basically I chose it because I shot the service and the sub equally well when I tried them. I live in CA so capacity was a non-issue.

02-02-2005, 02:42 PM	#10
mpholic XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 181	Is there really only 3/4" difference between the Service grip and SC grip or is that the difference between Service and SC w/extensions. I have a Service and Tactical. I carry a K40 or Glock 36 and was considering a XD45 Service for carry but when I compared my Kahr and Glock grip height to my XD Service it seemed alot bigger. I put my service in my waistband (no holster yet) and the grip looked pretty hard to conceal. I thought maybe I should just wait for the XD45 SC to come out. Please if possible could someone take a measurement from top of slide to bottom of magazine (without extensions)? I know I will eventually buy a SC just to have one but the timing will depend on whether I choose it for carry or just fun. Thanks

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