Accuracy and 'O' rings? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Jim B · 12-15-2007, 07:38 AM

While still in the process of 'shooting-in' my new 45XD Tactical, I've been browsing the sites of other major manufacturers, and one caught my attention in particular, HK. Looking over the pistol that seems to be one of their most accurate (Mark 23), I noticed in the owners manual that by the time a round is fired, it's left the barrel after only about 5mm of rearward slide movement. That seems like it would suggest that as long as a barrel is mated properly to the slide within that amount of travel that there should be sufficient consistency for similar accuracy to what they claim on their site.

The 'O' ring LOOKS like it's the only difference in assuring the re-positioning of the barrel to the same position and that it will help it to track within the slide consistently from round to round.

That said, again, a mated surface that assures consistency within that short distance of travel (for them approx. 5 mm) should deliver accuracy similar to the accuracy that they claim.

Now please don't miss understand me to understate the other mfg. I'm sure there is a LOT more that is going on inside the pistol to get what allowed them to pass the military requirements they faced.......but my curiosity is just in downrange accuracy, and even if the XD is a combat pistol.......one I am absolutely thrilled to now own.....I have to ask myself about the capabilities of it's potential.

Anyway, just thought I'd toss that out and see if anyone has had similar thoughts and tried anything to achieve the accuracy they claim on the Mark 23?

Thanks,

Jim B
Northern Michigan

Kaboom · 12-15-2007, 02:48 PM

Well you've said a few things but not really asked anything. Are you asking if an O-ring can be installed on an XD? Well I suppose there is room at the end of the slide to machine a groove to hold an O-ring, havent heard of anyone doing it. The O-ring question leads me to ask a question or two. If you want a target pistol why not go buy one? What do you do once the O-ring begins to wear? WHEN does it beging to wear and HOW do you tell it's the O-ring and not various other things including you just having a "bad day"? I would start with slide tightening before I ever worried about barrel interfaces since the slide slop is readily noticiable ( and there for a reason ). Are all the O-rings you aquire going to be spec'd just like the original or will you have to adjust your sights to the new ring? That O-ring is also going to trap crud, what do you do with that?
Welcome to the XD fams but try to keep in mind what this tool is made for and excells at. I would work more towards fitting it to MY hands and tendancies, it is probobly far more accurate right out of the box than the vast majority of us shooting it.

Jim B · 12-15-2007, 03:17 PM

I suppose to boil my thoughts down would be, at what point of rearward slide movement has the bullet exited the barrel, on the Mark 23, HK says it's 5 mm. If the slide is tight for the first 5mm of travel, everything after that sounds moot. If the barrel fits snug, as it sounds like most custom barrels do, then after say 5 mm, the rest is unnecessary.....in fact, if we knew at what point of travel the bullet did exit the barrel, a looser slide beyond that would be fine.

Don't know much about the 'o' rings, except that they seem to work on the HK model 23, so we'd have to find out the why's and what's from them.....they claim to have match grade accuracy with it.....

12-15-2007, 07:38 AM	#1
Jim B XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MI Posts: 92	Accuracy and 'O' rings? While still in the process of 'shooting-in' my new 45XD Tactical, I've been browsing the sites of other major manufacturers, and one caught my attention in particular, HK. Looking over the pistol that seems to be one of their most accurate (Mark 23), I noticed in the owners manual that by the time a round is fired, it's left the barrel after only about 5mm of rearward slide movement. That seems like it would suggest that as long as a barrel is mated properly to the slide within that amount of travel that there should be sufficient consistency for similar accuracy to what they claim on their site. The 'O' ring LOOKS like it's the only difference in assuring the re-positioning of the barrel to the same position and that it will help it to track within the slide consistently from round to round. That said, again, a mated surface that assures consistency within that short distance of travel (for them approx. 5 mm) should deliver accuracy similar to the accuracy that they claim. Now please don't miss understand me to understate the other mfg. I'm sure there is a LOT more that is going on inside the pistol to get what allowed them to pass the military requirements they faced.......but my curiosity is just in downrange accuracy, and even if the XD is a combat pistol.......one I am absolutely thrilled to now own.....I have to ask myself about the capabilities of it's potential. Anyway, just thought I'd toss that out and see if anyone has had similar thoughts and tried anything to achieve the accuracy they claim on the Mark 23? Thanks, Jim B Northern Michigan

12-15-2007, 02:48 PM	#2
Kaboom XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mid-Coast USA Posts: 2,310	Well you've said a few things but not really asked anything. Are you asking if an O-ring can be installed on an XD? Well I suppose there is room at the end of the slide to machine a groove to hold an O-ring, havent heard of anyone doing it. The O-ring question leads me to ask a question or two. If you want a target pistol why not go buy one? What do you do once the O-ring begins to wear? WHEN does it beging to wear and HOW do you tell it's the O-ring and not various other things including you just having a "bad day"? I would start with slide tightening before I ever worried about barrel interfaces since the slide slop is readily noticiable ( and there for a reason ). Are all the O-rings you aquire going to be spec'd just like the original or will you have to adjust your sights to the new ring? That O-ring is also going to trap crud, what do you do with that? Welcome to the XD fams but try to keep in mind what this tool is made for and excells at. I would work more towards fitting it to MY hands and tendancies, it is probobly far more accurate right out of the box than the vast majority of us shooting it. __________________ The disinformation here has officially made me NOT give up.

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12-15-2007, 03:17 PM	#3
Jim B XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MI Posts: 92	I suppose to boil my thoughts down would be, at what point of rearward slide movement has the bullet exited the barrel, on the Mark 23, HK says it's 5 mm. If the slide is tight for the first 5mm of travel, everything after that sounds moot. If the barrel fits snug, as it sounds like most custom barrels do, then after say 5 mm, the rest is unnecessary.....in fact, if we knew at what point of travel the bullet did exit the barrel, a looser slide beyond that would be fine. Don't know much about the 'o' rings, except that they seem to work on the HK model 23, so we'd have to find out the why's and what's from them.....they claim to have match grade accuracy with it.....