New XD9 Tactical

[aDingoAteMyBaby]

Hello,

As my first post I'd like to say that this forum really helped me decide to go with an XD9 Tactical as my first firearm. Today I paid for the bad boy and I pick it up in 10 days.

Luckily, my local firearms dealer let me go to the range with them to try out a few guns (no charge) including the XD9 (compact and tactical) and a 4" Glock. At the end of the day, I went with the XD9 tactical because the weight felt good as did the grip.

Funny enough, a serious flaw in my aiming was also corrected by the firearms dealer at the same time. It turns out that I'm left eye dominant and right handed. It explains why I was shooting to the left consistently. As soon as they figured out the issue, everything was going center.

I can't wait to pick up the new XD9 and hit the range!

On a side note, as my starting kit of goods, I picked up this stuff. Hopefully it's good enough....

115gr FMJ Federal 9mm (for target practice)
Speer Gold Dot, 124gr +P (home defense)
Cleaning Kit for 9mm
Cotton patches
Break-Free CLP 4oz
Wilson Grease
Peltor Earmuffs (21db)

If you have any other advice for a complete newbie, please let me know.

Thanks!

[D-FENS]

Just thought I'd congradulate you on your purchase. If this is your first firearm Google firearms safety just to be safe. If you apply any grease to your firearm do so in very small amounts. I haven't had a need for grease, but if you prefer it that's fine. I'm always happy to here about people taking that first step towards owning firearms, be safe and enjoy.

[cypress]

Welcome, I came to the same conclusion about the XD9 Tac. I am also cross dominant but in the opposite way. My son is left eye dominant, right handed. Because of my situation, I learned to recognize this in him right away teaching him to shoot a BB gun. Once you are aware of it, things get a lot better.

[Joeywhat]

Some things I would get:

Hoppes boresnake - Takes the hassle out of cleaning your barrel

Winchester White Box 9mm 115gr FMJ Ammo - Found at walmart for around $18/100 "value pack"

You'll probably also want a good handgun case, especially if you're planning on getting another handgun. I have two guns plus a plethora of magazines, and having to carry three separate boxes blows. A range bag is nice as well.

UpLULA - Universal pistol loader. It's a mag loader that not only cuts down on the time it takes to load your mag, but saves your thumbs if you're planning on doing a lot of shooting.

You'll also want to consider grabbing some ear plugs as well. Unless you paid good money for those muffs, they probably won't protect as much as a good set of foamies. Using them together would be your best bet...with most cheap muffs you don't get nearly enough protection (my tinnitus is aggravated with cheap muffs), and you get an echo effect.

Of course, none if this is really required...most just makes your life easier. Also, don't walk into a range that sells it's own ammo with a walmart bag in hand full of ammo you didn't buy at their place...they might get mad (ask me how I know that...).

[Nugunr76]

I purchased mine about 5wks. ago. Only been out once cause of work and family committments. Also just joined local Sportsmans club so i can use pistol range. But, this gun seems to have a nice balance to it.
I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

[aDingoAteMyBaby]

Originally Posted by D-FENS

Just thought I'd congradulate you on your purchase. If this is your first firearm Google firearms safety just to be safe. If you apply any grease to your firearm do so in very small amounts. I haven't had a need for grease, but if you prefer it that's fine. I'm always happy to here about people taking that first step towards owning firearms, be safe and enjoy.

Thanks. I don't know much about the grease. My buddy suggested I order it, so I picked it up. I'll do some research on it before applying. Over-greasing sounds like it may gunk things up.

Originally Posted by cypress

Welcome, I came to the same conclusion about the XD9 Tac. I am also cross dominant but in the opposite way. My son is left eye dominant, right handed. Because of my situation, I learned to recognize this in him right away teaching him to shoot a BB gun. Once you are aware of it, things get a lot better.

No doubt. It was so frusturating going out and using my friends pistol and not being able to hit the center of the target without aiming right. Your son is lucky you were able to diagnose it right away.

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

Some things I would get:

Hoppes boresnake - Takes the hassle out of cleaning your barrel

Winchester White Box 9mm 115gr FMJ Ammo - Found at walmart for around $18/100 "value pack"

You'll probably also want a good handgun case, especially if you're planning on getting another handgun. I have two guns plus a plethora of magazines, and having to carry three separate boxes blows. A range bag is nice as well.

UpLULA - Universal pistol loader. It's a mag loader that not only cuts down on the time it takes to load your mag, but saves your thumbs if you're planning on doing a lot of shooting.

You'll also want to consider grabbing some ear plugs as well. Unless you paid good money for those muffs, they probably won't protect as much as a good set of foamies. Using them together would be your best bet...with most cheap muffs you don't get nearly enough protection (my tinnitus is aggravated with cheap muffs), and you get an echo effect.

Of course, none if this is really required...most just makes your life easier. Also, don't walk into a range that sells it's own ammo with a walmart bag in hand full of ammo you didn't buy at their place...they might get mad (ask me how I know that...).

The boresnake sounds like a good idea. I'm not sure what comes in the cleaning kit, but looking at the boresnake online, I'd think it's a great addition to a cleaning kit.

Unfortunaltely, I'm in California, so my Walmarts don't carry ammo.

Originally Posted by Nugunr76

I purchased mine about 5wks. ago. Only been out once cause of work and family committments. Also just joined local Sportsmans club so i can use pistol range. But, this gun seems to have a nice balance to it.
I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

I've got a pretty nice local sportsmans club. I hadn't considered joining it right away, but maybe it is a good idea.

[Gdirty5]

Congrats on my XD9.... I bought one earlier this week also, but it wasn't my first gun... I'm left eye dominant and right handed too.... Didn't realize that's what keeps me shooting left.... How'd you overcome that? Shoot with your left hand? Put the right foot back? I'm wondering too, b/c i'm inconsistent. With one mag, i'd hit all 10's, but then when i switch mag, i change stance and it'll all be in a tight group, but to the left...

[aDingoAteMyBaby]

Originally Posted by Gdirty5

Congrats on my XD9.... I bought one earlier this week also, but it wasn't my first gun... I'm left eye dominant and right handed too.... Didn't realize that's what keeps me shooting left.... How'd you overcome that? Shoot with your left hand? Put the right foot back? I'm wondering too, b/c i'm inconsistent. With one mag, i'd hit all 10's, but then when i switch mag, i change stance and it'll all be in a tight group, but to the left...

It was kinda comical. The firearms dealer put a sticker over the left eye of my sunglasses so I could only see out of my right eye. It worked like a charm. He did say that I need to learn how to shoot with both eye's open, but shutting my left was a start.

[kazik]

Originally Posted by aDingoAteMyBaby

Unfortunaltely, I'm in California, so my Walmarts don't carry ammo.

I'm in CA (Sacramento area) and there's plenty of Winchester ammo at local Walmarts?

[BOFH]

Congrats on a fine purchase. I have put 800 rounds through my 9mm tactical in the last 5 days...fun gun.

Now that you have a bunch of 'stuff' you will need something to tote it all around in, this range bag is great...even if it was twice the price:

MidwayUSA - MidwayUSA Competition Shooting Range Bag Nylon Black

You also may want to look into picking up the AGI XD DVD, its about $30 but details the inner workings of a XD and shows you how to take it all apart and put it back together again:

MidwayUSA - AGI Technical Manual & Armorer's Course Video "Springfield Armory XD Pistols" DVD

The DVD is not a must have, but if you are new to guns I highly recommend it. You will also want to get yourself a set of punches and a small hammer. If you have a Harbor Freight local to you they have a few decent little punch sets for under $8, otherwise check online for punch sets, you can find some pretty OK ones for reasonable prices.

If you have a local range that sells memberships I would suggest getting one (assuming its a 'come as often as you want' membership) as you will probably pay for a year long membership after your first month of shooting. My local range gets $250 for me, my wife, and my son per year. Its a steal since its $18 a pop otherwise and we go at least three days a week.

Find a local Walmart that sells ammo. The Winchester 'white box' (WWB) 100 round bulk is $18 and change and is the best deal you will find anywhere.

Oh...one more thing...cash is the best shooting accesory, so be sure to quit spending money on everything else