Rented an XD, had lots of problems

[foo.c]

I've recently decided that I want a semi-auto and to get a CCL in my state. I have not shot a lot of handguns in my life, but I know the basics. (Have shot a couple of different .357's and 2 different Colt 1911's.)

So I went up to the range today and rented an XD in 9mm. The first 30 shots were ok (was loading 10 rounds into the magazine each time). Each magazine after that would have at least one spent shell get caught in the ejection port.

Sometimes I could just pull them out and it would finish loading the next round, but sometimes I would have to pull the slide back and then it would jam trying to load another round despite one already being partially loaded.

I thought maybe I was limp-wristing it, so I really took a strong grip on it and still happened.

Did I just get a beat to hell rental? Am I holding it wrong or what?

I was using the range's ammo, I think it was Winchester FMJ.

[jtkratzer]

The dirtiest guns I've ever seen have been used guns for rentals...the shop I shoot at seems to rarely clean them and they get beat.

Can we assume you weren't limp wristing it?

[speedracer211]

It was a rental are you suprised? Usually rental guns get cleaned hardly ever and no maintenance is performed on them. Who knows how many rounds were through it.

[foo.c]

I've never rented a gun before. I have been reading to rent a gun before buying to try it out, but if they are all beat to hell I won't bother anymore.

I was reading the other thread about the slide not locking back, and I had that same problem. I'm thinking I must have been touching the slide release, especially when I was gripping it as firm as I could. I never felt it though.

[RAVXD]

Originally Posted by jtkratzer

The dirtiest guns I've ever seen have been used guns for rentals...the shop I shoot at seems to rarely clean them and they get beat.

+1.......them some nasty things, you would atleast think they would run a boresnake through em.........

[jtkratzer]

Originally Posted by foo.c

I've never rented a gun before. I have been reading to rent a gun before buying to try it out, but if they are all beat to hell I won't bother anymore.

I was reading the other thread about the slide not locking back, and I had that same problem. I'm thinking I must have been touching the slide release, especially when I was gripping it as firm as I could. I never felt it though.

Go ahead and rent away, just don't be surprised it it's not the most reliable piece. It's more about checking how it feels in your hand...is it comfortable, how's the grip angle...that sort of stuff.

XDs are extremely reliable, don't let a rental junkie deter you.

[Centerfire]

Originally Posted by jtkratzer

Go ahead and rent away, just don't be surprised it it's not the most reliable piece. It's more about checking how it feels in your hand...is it comfortable, how's the grip angle...that sort of stuff.

XDs are extremely reliable, don't let a rental junkie deter you.

+1 here...

I just bought my XD40 last week. The week before that, I took a handgun safety class that I rented a Glock23 for. (I'd been wanting a Glock for years...) The Glock failed to eject 4 our of the first 20 rounds fired. I asked the instructor what was up - I thought the Glocks were "bulletproof"? He said the gun was filthy, and not to let that dissuade me from buying a Glock. He handed me an almost new Glock 22 to finish the class with - and I had no further problems.

When I went in the next week to buy the Glock, I was eyeing the XD40 sitting next to it. The guy behind the counter takes an XD rental off the wall and tells me to go shoot so I can compare it to the Glock. The XD was as filthy as the Glock I shot earlier, and it didn't have any problems after shooting a box. But that's not what made me change my mind and want the XD. It was how it felt in my hand, the difference in the trigger pull, (and the warranty and backstrap safety played a part too). Point being - I don't think it's wise to judge a weapon after a bad experience renting one. You don't have any idea how bad those guns have been abused/neglected. I DO think it's a good idea to rent different models to feel how they shoot, grip, trigger pull, recoil, etc.

Rentals at my shooting range are $6 a day. I don't thinks that's bad at all to help decide if you're going to spend $400-$800 (or more!) on a gun. Heck, when I was trying to make up my mind, they let me shot 10-20 rounds through 3 different guns for free to help me make sure I was going to be happy with what I was buying.

For the record, I don't regret not buying that Glock...

~Centerfire

[Kaboom]

Will the rental places freak out if you hose them down with brake cleaner or CLP before shooting them?

[jtkratzer]

Originally Posted by Kaboom

Will the rental places freak out if you hose them down with brake cleaner or CLP before shooting them?

They'd probably appreciate it...

Realistically, it's probably a shop specific policy.

[Centerfire]

Just one more thing to add:

I put more weight in the research I've done spending hours reading and comparing the reports of reliability of different guns on the Internet from individuals who have put many thousands of rounds through their guns - than I do from shooting a box (or less) through a rental myself. But that doesn't mean it's not worth renting one to shoot. There are a lot of things you can determine from shooting even just a few rounds through a rental.

~Centerfire