Can the XD shoot while wet?

[thomasward00]

I've seen the tests on glocks where they are submerged in water pulled out and fired while dripping wet, can XD's do the same?

[thomasward00]

or underwater

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b6WUSnALoRc&feature=related

[spamlovr]

As I am sure you already know, firing a gun with anything obstructing the barrel is dangerous. I don't know why anyone would think that their gun can fire underwater repeatedly and not do any damage. The glock modification that makes it safer (not safe, but safer) to fire the gun underwater but does not do anything to remove the water from the barrel ahead of the bullet. The bullet is moving faster than the water can be made to accelerate, so there must be some damage being done. Luckily for glock owners, replacement barrels are cheap. You can't keep that up for long without needing a new barrel.

Now, how much water can be in the barrel before the risk of damage occurs? I saw on Guns & Ammo TV a Torture Test Segment where they fired a 1911 under water in a swimming pool, and the first thing I noticed was that the fired bullets followed unpredictable paths. The first shot was fine, and the gun ejected the empty, and loaded a fresh cartridge in the chamber. The second round fired, flew from the muzzle in an unpredictable path, but that was it, the barrel bulged and jammed up the action. Again, 1911 barrels can be had pretty cheap. The people performing the test where not in the pool when the gun was being fired.

Yes, I've seen the videos of glocks being fired under water. It's cool. I wouldn't risk it with a gun I wasn't prepared to pay to fix, and there would be some risk of injury. Military Special Forces have these handguns available to them, but if they bulge a barrel, their armorer gives them a new one, so what do they care?

Can an XD be fired when dripping wet? I'd imagine as long as you got the vast majority of water out of the barrel, you would be fine. In a life or death situation, with a dripping wet gun, I'd fire it and worry about problems after the situation had been dealt with, but without unlimited research funds, I'm not going to find out voluntarily.

I know that might not answer your questions. I just think that trying to somehow get around some basic laws of physics is ridiculous, and water doesn't move out of the way of a speeding bullet in a gun barrel or compress the way air does.

[bkelm18]

As far as I know, any gun can fire underwater, just not repeatedly. Autos will likely jam after the first shot. All the test I have seen were in very shallow water (<1ft), the deeper you go, the greater the water pressure and the more likely chance the bullet cannot leave the chamber fast enough before the pressure explodes the gun.

[rgeliske]

With the introduction of the metal cartridge case pretty much any gun will fire under water providing the powder and primer has not gotten wet. Firing under water proves nothing about the gun and it is extremely unsafe firing a gun under water. The water's resistance slows bullet travel causing back pressure in the barrel and the possibility failure. As you can see from LongRider's post the XD has passed a very punishing real world torture test without resorting to theatrics. I doubt any gun I own will ever go through any one of the conditions in that test so I feel pretty safe, even though I have never seen it fired under water. If you are serious about comparing the XD and the Glock just take notice of the issues presented on independent sites like Brian Enos's or even ads for after market parts. You can learn a lot about a gun by noting the parts available after market companies do not produce parts if there isn't a demand for them. You will soon barrels that you can shoot lead bullets in because you are not suppose to shoot lead bullets in Glocks because they are prone to leading (many shooters still use them including me). You will find ads for barrels that fully support the case unlike the Glock which leads to the Glock KaBoom. You shouldn't shoot reloads due to the same issue of not fully supporting the case. Both guns have passed torture test, and both guns have things that people don't. Do your research, test fire each gun if you have the chance and make your choice, obviously people on the forum like their XDs.

[Breadfan]

Why would anyone use their gun underwater, or even shoot at water?
It's pointless and useless. Bullet has an efficient range like, 1 meter at best under the surface, after that, it's as deadly as sparrow's fart.

If I need something to shoot under water, I'll get myself a harpoon.

[eyesopened]

Originally Posted by Breadfan

after that, it's as deadly as sparrow's fart.

An African Swallow or an English Swallow? It does matter you know...

[rgeliske]

Originally Posted by eyesopened

An African Swallow or an English Swallow? It does matter you know...

African of course England outlawed deadly weapons years ago.

[Krackels]

yes it can... someone who shall not be named (I don't remember who it was ) fired his XD in a barrel of water some time ago to prove that it could be done.

From what I'm told, he got a lot of **** about it.

[XDONBOARD]

A mall ninja in an underwater gunfight would need the capability. In case he and the BG tumbled over the railing into the wishing pond!