XD40sc or XD9sc - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

fivehourfrenzy · 02-14-2008, 06:08 PM

Hi all, this is my first post on XDtalk. I got to hold an XD9sc the other day, and I must say the ergonomics, size/weight, grip angle, and well-placed controls caught my eye. I recently bought my first handgun in October or so, a Walther P99c .40S&W with anti-stress trigger. It's a great gun, but as a carry weapon, I have a few qualms about it. The muzzle flip in the .40 is pretty significant, the grip angle is a bit too much, the magazine only holds 8 rounds, and there aren't many quality aftermarket parts for it. The XD9sc seems like a very good choice, as it's small and light, has the Crossbreed Supertuck available for it, has higher cap magazines (12 or 16), has plenty of aftermarket options, and has a very good reputation.

My question if I purchase one is whether I should go with .40S&W, or 9mm. Obviously the .40 has superior ballistics to a 9mm, but the 9mm has less recoil/muzzle flip, higher cap mags, target ammo is cheaper and widely available, and defense rounds are available in different brands, weights, and pressure loads.

As with any self-defense/carry handgun, putting well-placed quarter-sized groupings at 7 yards is not my concern. I couldn't care less about how well I group them in a bullseye. The purpose of this handgun is to save my life, or the life of another if ever needed, and with that in mind, I want the best possible ballistics, but in a caliber that I can control, and unload an entire mag as quickly as possible to a perp's COM, or as many shots as it takes. I'll go ahead and tell you that at 7 yards, rapid-fire shots from my P99c with me behind the trigger will not all hit COM. Being that I'm very inexperienced, and apart from my P22, I've only put about 600 bullets down a range with a handgun, and the muzzle flip from my Walther is too much for me to handle right now.

I've been told the XD40sc is very easy to contol, but I have trouble believing that I would share the same opinion. For someone that's put tens of thousands of rounds through various handguns, it might be. But other than my .22LR handgun, I haven't even broken the 1,000-round mark. I still need plenty of sound tactical training to get where I'd like to be, and picking a caliber I can control is where it starts.

So I'd like some opinions...my Walther has a 3.5" barrel, weighs about the same as an XD, but has a very leaned-forward grip that's uncomfortable when recoiling from a 165-grain .40. If I feel I can handle the muzzle flip of the .40 in the XDsc, I'd prefer it over the 9mm, due to superior ballistics. But if I can't handle it and would shoot much better with the 9mm, then superior ballistics won't count for anything. A 9mm bullet that hits COM is far superior to a .40 bullet that misses.

kdhs10 · 02-14-2008, 06:12 PM

If you got the 40 you could always get a 9mm conversion barrel if you decided you didn't like or couldn't properly handle the 40.

fivehourfrenzy · 02-14-2008, 06:24 PM

My buddy that has the XD9sc said conversions aren't available for subcompacts.

Thesparkens · 02-14-2008, 06:38 PM

Flip! you said flip!! please putting and keeping this on target is no problem, this has got to be one of the easiest fire arms to use. Go find one and use it I will bet you money you will love it.

fivehourfrenzy · 02-14-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thesparkens

Flip! you said flip!! please putting and keeping this on target is no problem, this has got to be one of the easiest fire arms to use. Go find one and use it I will bet you money you will love it.

So I've heard...recoil itself doesn't bother me. If it pushes me back that's fine, but when it throws the barrel toward the sky, I have a problem with it.

Thesparkens · 02-14-2008, 07:34 PM

Go shoot one and you will like it seriously. The flip is not bad. I let a member from the forum use mine, and yesterday he purchased one. Just so you know I'm not a person to stick to one manufacturer of a firearm but this is a great little gun.

**Kauzi XD45** · 02-14-2008, 07:37 PM

my very small teenage daughters and 10 year old son have all shot my .40sc and had no problems with it.

fivehourfrenzy · 02-14-2008, 09:30 PM

Are there conversion kits (.40 to 9mm) available for the XD40sc? If so, I'm going with the .40. Less firepower, but better ballistics.

edit: Nevermind, I found a 3" 9mm barrel conversion kit that will fit the XD40sc. I guess I'm getting an XD40sc then.

tomfoolery · 02-14-2008, 09:34 PM

i think i would go with the .40....a tad more snappy but that much more bullet. cant go wrong with either though.

fivehourfrenzy · 02-14-2008, 10:01 PM

I'll trade the higher firepower of the 9mm (4 extra rounds) for the better ballistics of the .40. 9mm is a great caliber, but the .40 definitely packs more of a punch.

02-14-2008, 06:08 PM	#1
fivehourfrenzy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lexington Posts: 139	XD40sc or XD9sc Hi all, this is my first post on XDtalk. I got to hold an XD9sc the other day, and I must say the ergonomics, size/weight, grip angle, and well-placed controls caught my eye. I recently bought my first handgun in October or so, a Walther P99c .40S&W with anti-stress trigger. It's a great gun, but as a carry weapon, I have a few qualms about it. The muzzle flip in the .40 is pretty significant, the grip angle is a bit too much, the magazine only holds 8 rounds, and there aren't many quality aftermarket parts for it. The XD9sc seems like a very good choice, as it's small and light, has the Crossbreed Supertuck available for it, has higher cap magazines (12 or 16), has plenty of aftermarket options, and has a very good reputation. My question if I purchase one is whether I should go with .40S&W, or 9mm. Obviously the .40 has superior ballistics to a 9mm, but the 9mm has less recoil/muzzle flip, higher cap mags, target ammo is cheaper and widely available, and defense rounds are available in different brands, weights, and pressure loads. As with any self-defense/carry handgun, putting well-placed quarter-sized groupings at 7 yards is not my concern. I couldn't care less about how well I group them in a bullseye. The purpose of this handgun is to save my life, or the life of another if ever needed, and with that in mind, I want the best possible ballistics, but in a caliber that I can control, and unload an entire mag as quickly as possible to a perp's COM, or as many shots as it takes. I'll go ahead and tell you that at 7 yards, rapid-fire shots from my P99c with me behind the trigger will not all hit COM. Being that I'm very inexperienced, and apart from my P22, I've only put about 600 bullets down a range with a handgun, and the muzzle flip from my Walther is too much for me to handle right now. I've been told the XD40sc is very easy to contol, but I have trouble believing that I would share the same opinion. For someone that's put tens of thousands of rounds through various handguns, it might be. But other than my .22LR handgun, I haven't even broken the 1,000-round mark. I still need plenty of sound tactical training to get where I'd like to be, and picking a caliber I can control is where it starts. So I'd like some opinions...my Walther has a 3.5" barrel, weighs about the same as an XD, but has a very leaned-forward grip that's uncomfortable when recoiling from a 165-grain .40. If I feel I can handle the muzzle flip of the .40 in the XDsc, I'd prefer it over the 9mm, due to superior ballistics. But if I can't handle it and would shoot much better with the 9mm, then superior ballistics won't count for anything. A 9mm bullet that hits COM is far superior to a .40 bullet that misses.

02-14-2008, 06:12 PM	#2
kdhs10 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jax, FL Posts: 241	If you got the 40 you could always get a 9mm conversion barrel if you decided you didn't like or couldn't properly handle the 40. __________________ I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itslef. XD40 Service Para-Ordnance Warthog .45

02-14-2008, 06:38 PM	#4
Thesparkens XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 38	Flip! you said flip!! please putting and keeping this on target is no problem, this has got to be one of the easiest fire arms to use. Go find one and use it I will bet you money you will love it. __________________ Thank's Paul XD40 SC XD40 Service Beretta M9 .40cal Glock G22 S&W M&P15 AR15

02-14-2008, 07:34 PM	#6
Thesparkens XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 38	Go shoot one and you will like it seriously. The flip is not bad. I let a member from the forum use mine, and yesterday he purchased one. Just so you know I'm not a person to stick to one manufacturer of a firearm but this is a great little gun. __________________ Thank's Paul XD40 SC XD40 Service Beretta M9 .40cal Glock G22 S&W M&P15 AR15

02-14-2008, 07:37 PM	#7
Kauzi XD45 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Wonderful Wild West - Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 2,138 Blog Entries: 1	my very small teenage daughters and 10 year old son have all shot my .40sc and had no problems with it. __________________ Respect Few, Fear NONE! Sic Vis Pacem Parabellum! People understand compassion, mercy, dignity and honor.... Predators understand STRENGTH!

02-14-2008, 06:24 PM	#3
fivehourfrenzy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lexington Posts: 139	My buddy that has the XD9sc said conversions aren't available for subcompacts.

02-14-2008, 09:30 PM	#8
fivehourfrenzy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lexington Posts: 139	Are there conversion kits (.40 to 9mm) available for the XD40sc? If so, I'm going with the .40. Less firepower, but better ballistics. edit: Nevermind, I found a 3" 9mm barrel conversion kit that will fit the XD40sc. I guess I'm getting an XD40sc then. Last edited by fivehourfrenzy; 02-14-2008 at 09:36 PM.

02-14-2008, 09:34 PM	#9
tomfoolery XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 4,576	i think i would go with the .40....a tad more snappy but that much more bullet. cant go wrong with either though. __________________ "It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees." "One is none, two is one, and three is just a good time." Clint Smith, referring to the number of guns you carry daily.

02-14-2008, 10:01 PM	#10
fivehourfrenzy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lexington Posts: 139	I'll trade the higher firepower of the 9mm (4 extra rounds) for the better ballistics of the .40. 9mm is a great caliber, but the .40 definitely packs more of a punch.

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