How much better do you shoot your 5"? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

needles · 03-30-2005, 09:00 AM

Honestly, do you guys who have both (service and tactical) see a difference at the range? I have a four day handgun course in several weeks and was thinking to just show up with my service. I'll pick up another XD if that extra inch does something (and it would be the nice to have a backup that feels the same).

therooster · 03-30-2005, 09:22 AM

train with what your going to fight with... nothing else

sturmruger · 03-30-2005, 12:21 PM

I shoot my XDs in USPSA competitions and I have to say my tuned XD9 is a lot better shooter then my XD40. The .40 is a service model, and has a stock trigger, but I know I could out shoot a stock service with a stock tactical Xd.

**hobocircus** · 03-30-2005, 01:33 PM

My 2 Xds are just about the same in the accuracy department. I really can't tell that much difference.

32Special · 03-30-2005, 04:04 PM

I have a 9 in Service and Tactical. I have a close friend with a 40 in Service and Tactical. We BOTH like the Service guns better than the Tacticals.

I also had a Tactical in 40 and now have a Service in 40. Both shot about equally well, but I think the Tactical 40 hit closer to the sights than my Service 40 (a bit high). My Service 9 is MUCH MORE ACCURATE than my Tactical 9 with the stock barrel. I now have a BarSto in the Tactical 9, and it now shoots a little better than the Service 9, but the accuracy difference between the two now wouldn't matter for practical (defensive) purposes.

The accuracy of my Tactical 9 with the stock barrel was very poor grouping around 4" at 50'. The BarSto cut that down to well under 2" at the same distance for 10 shot groups from a rest.

My Tactical 9 had machine chatter marks in the factory barrel that I believe were the cause of the poor accuracy. I've seen other new XDs at the store with this same problem so now I know to look for that and suggest others do so as well.

My opinion is that unless you need the extra barrel length for extra velocity to make a power factor, you would be better off with a Service. The Tactical has one other (at least theoretical) advantage in that weapons mounted lights or lasers would be farther from the muzzle, and would be subjected to less blast. FWIW.

ScottQ · 03-30-2005, 07:06 PM

Another noteworthy difference is the 5" Tactical gives you a longer sight radius, which should make it a bit easier to shoot accurately. I have only a 9mm Tactical, so I can't offer any comparisons between the two, but I can tell you that for competition (which is all I use my XD for) I really like it.

Scott

**R Dub** · 03-30-2005, 07:22 PM

I like shooting my 5" better than the 4". It just feels better to me and my accuarcy is better a longer distances. At CQ distances there is no difference.

rotnguns · 03-30-2005, 08:54 PM

I shoot my 5" xd-9 tactical better than my 4" service; in fact, the tactical is one of the most accurate 9's I own. I use the service for my ccw pistol, though.

alpo · 03-30-2005, 09:07 PM

I do not own a 4" .40, but I have shot about 200 rounds through my friend's and I own the 5" .40. Personally, I have shot more accurately, on a consistant basis, with the 5". It is not an obvious difference, but it is noticible.

mermaidchaser · 03-30-2005, 10:53 PM

on the same thread but just a bit different: I'm considering buying a .45GAP XD, and would appreciate any input about service or tactical model for it. I will always have my XD9SC for primary carry(and i do shooot well with it); but am considering the best option for open carry for hunting, and defense in certain isolated, and hopefully, infrequent, situations

03-30-2005, 09:00 AM	#1
needles XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 29	How much better do you shoot your 5"? Honestly, do you guys who have both (service and tactical) see a difference at the range? I have a four day handgun course in several weeks and was thinking to just show up with my service. I'll pick up another XD if that extra inch does something (and it would be the nice to have a backup that feels the same).

03-30-2005, 01:33 PM	#4
hobocircus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Nevada Desert on a Dry Lakebed. Living in a trailer with thunderstorms looming in the distance. Posts: 3,347	My 2 Xds are just about the same in the accuracy department. I really can't tell that much difference. __________________ Ported V-10 XD9 Service SOLD Tactical XD9 in Basic Black I like to shoot Wolf ammo out of my Hi-Point pistol and rifle.

03-30-2005, 04:04 PM	#5
32Special XDTalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 58	I have a 9 in Service and Tactical. I have a close friend with a 40 in Service and Tactical. We BOTH like the Service guns better than the Tacticals. I also had a Tactical in 40 and now have a Service in 40. Both shot about equally well, but I think the Tactical 40 hit closer to the sights than my Service 40 (a bit high). My Service 9 is MUCH MORE ACCURATE than my Tactical 9 with the stock barrel. I now have a BarSto in the Tactical 9, and it now shoots a little better than the Service 9, but the accuracy difference between the two now wouldn't matter for practical (defensive) purposes. The accuracy of my Tactical 9 with the stock barrel was very poor grouping around 4" at 50'. The BarSto cut that down to well under 2" at the same distance for 10 shot groups from a rest. My Tactical 9 had machine chatter marks in the factory barrel that I believe were the cause of the poor accuracy. I've seen other new XDs at the store with this same problem so now I know to look for that and suggest others do so as well. My opinion is that unless you need the extra barrel length for extra velocity to make a power factor, you would be better off with a Service. The Tactical has one other (at least theoretical) advantage in that weapons mounted lights or lasers would be farther from the muzzle, and would be subjected to less blast. FWIW. __________________ 32Special

03-30-2005, 07:22 PM	#7
R Dub XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Last Frontier Posts: 3,627 Blog Entries: 1	I like shooting my 5" better than the 4". It just feels better to me and my accuarcy is better a longer distances. At CQ distances there is no difference. __________________ Need XD Accessories? Support the XDTalk Sponsors. They support us! Need some competition? IDPA / USPSA

03-30-2005, 10:53 PM	#10
mermaidchaser XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: FL Keys Posts: 114	on the same thread but just a bit different: I'm considering buying a .45GAP XD, and would appreciate any input about service or tactical model for it. I will always have my XD9SC for primary carry(and i do shooot well with it); but am considering the best option for open carry for hunting, and defense in certain isolated, and hopefully, infrequent, situations __________________ XD9-SC Heine Slant Pro Tritium XD45ACP Winchester Model 62 .22(antique in great shape)

03-30-2005, 09:22 AM	#2
therooster XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: houston TX Posts: 1,669	train with what your going to fight with... nothing else

03-30-2005, 12:21 PM	#3
sturmruger XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: River Falls, WI Posts: 665	I shoot my XDs in USPSA competitions and I have to say my tuned XD9 is a lot better shooter then my XD40. The .40 is a service model, and has a stock trigger, but I know I could out shoot a stock service with a stock tactical Xd.

03-30-2005, 07:06 PM	#6
ScottQ XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 103	Another noteworthy difference is the 5" Tactical gives you a longer sight radius, which should make it a bit easier to shoot accurately. I have only a 9mm Tactical, so I can't offer any comparisons between the two, but I can tell you that for competition (which is all I use my XD for) I really like it. Scott

03-30-2005, 08:54 PM	#8
rotnguns XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 70	I shoot my 5" xd-9 tactical better than my 4" service; in fact, the tactical is one of the most accurate 9's I own. I use the service for my ccw pistol, though.

03-30-2005, 09:07 PM	#9
alpo XDTalk Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 50	I do not own a 4" .40, but I have shot about 200 rounds through my friend's and I own the 5" .40. Personally, I have shot more accurately, on a consistant basis, with the 5". It is not an obvious difference, but it is noticible.

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