XD-9 question - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

JRADGTR · 07-01-2008, 02:39 PM

This is my first semi-auto handgun and I had a few questions:

When I disassembled the firearm and dropped a cartridge into the barrel to check fit (as I was tought to do with a new gun before firing, sometimes the wrong chambering is put in the wrong box at the factory...) I noticed some wiggle room around the casing. The cartridge fit smoothly, but had a little bit of wiggle room. Very slight wiggle, but the fit was not as tight as the chambers on my .357 or .38 revolvers.

Is this normal for a semi-auto firearm? None of my revolvers/bolt-fed rifles have any wiggle room like this in the chamber. If this is normal, what is the purpose? Does it assist with the feeding in a semi-auto action?

If it's not normal, how dangerous is it and should I send it back to the manufacturer for a new barrel?

I took it to the range and all seems to function fine, but I am curious.

crpadiem · 07-01-2008, 02:50 PM

I'm not an expert, but I believe that if the cartridge fit too tightly into the chamber on a pistol then there would be numerous jams when firing it. Remember just how quickly a pistol ejects the fired round then picks the loaded round off the mag and inserts it into the chamber, any error and you have a jammed gun which in many cases could be life threatening.

Corelogik · 07-01-2008, 02:57 PM

Not sure it pertains directly to the XD, but most of my Semi-Autos have a very slight amount of wiggle. I believe it is to aid feeding/extraction and to allow the case a small amount of room to expand as the round is fired.

Bidah · 07-01-2008, 03:00 PM

A slight amount of wiggle is ok in a semi auto chamber that is meant for LEO/Military use. If they made it match tight, then you would have a lot more feed failures. You can get a match barrel if you wish, which also tightens up other areas along with the chamber.

**jnclement** · 07-01-2008, 03:03 PM

Makes it eject better.

JRADGTR · 07-01-2008, 03:18 PM

Ok. Thanks guys. That gives me a little peace of mind. I assumed as much, but I wanted to be sure. Thanks for all the input.

JRADGTR · 07-05-2008, 03:00 PM

BTW, I freakin love this gun!

rgeliske · 07-06-2008, 08:42 AM

Wiggle is good, it allows for variation in cartridge tolerances. When the round discharges the case will expand to fill the chamber and allow the crimp to release the bullet (though semi-autos don't have much crimp). If you want to see wiggle check out a Glock.

NATE42ND · 07-06-2008, 09:08 AM

That was the argument I heard when I bought my XDm. My friends said just get a normal one you don't need a match barrell, it will jam more. There's not any noticable wiggle in the XDm barrell but 2000 rounds and 0 jams is pretty good. My Kimber Gold Match II has no wiggle either but has jamed a couple of times in about 700-800 rounds. I'm not sure what this all means and I'm not an expert on any of this stuff, I just wanted to let you know what my experience has been.

JRADGTR · 07-07-2008, 07:13 PM

Thanks. Always good to hear different experiences.

07-01-2008, 02:39 PM	#1
JRADGTR XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 103	XD-9 question This is my first semi-auto handgun and I had a few questions: When I disassembled the firearm and dropped a cartridge into the barrel to check fit (as I was tought to do with a new gun before firing, sometimes the wrong chambering is put in the wrong box at the factory...) I noticed some wiggle room around the casing. The cartridge fit smoothly, but had a little bit of wiggle room. Very slight wiggle, but the fit was not as tight as the chambers on my .357 or .38 revolvers. Is this normal for a semi-auto firearm? None of my revolvers/bolt-fed rifles have any wiggle room like this in the chamber. If this is normal, what is the purpose? Does it assist with the feeding in a semi-auto action? If it's not normal, how dangerous is it and should I send it back to the manufacturer for a new barrel? I took it to the range and all seems to function fine, but I am curious.

07-01-2008, 02:57 PM	#3
Corelogik XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 13	Not sure it pertains directly to the XD, but most of my Semi-Autos have a very slight amount of wiggle. I believe it is to aid feeding/extraction and to allow the case a small amount of room to expand as the round is fired. __________________ Exercising freedom, one round at a time,...

07-01-2008, 03:00 PM	#4
Bidah XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Isolated, Montana Posts: 691	A slight amount of wiggle is ok in a semi auto chamber that is meant for LEO/Military use. If they made it match tight, then you would have a lot more feed failures. You can get a match barrel if you wish, which also tightens up other areas along with the chamber. __________________ -Bidah “The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views...which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.” The Doctor

07-01-2008, 03:03 PM	#5
jnclement XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 2,496	Makes it eject better. __________________ Contrary to what sells magazines, not all of us are, or want to be SpecOps, SEAL, Recon, Delta, CQB, Ninja, firearm-knife-tactical-death-touch instructors.

07-05-2008, 03:00 PM	#7
JRADGTR XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 103	BTW, I freakin love this gun! __________________ XD-9 Service: In my waistband Ruger .357 mag.: in the bedside table Remington 870 express: In the closet Mauser .30-06: To touch you from far away Stag AR 5.56 NATO: For when the SHTF

07-01-2008, 02:50 PM	#2
crpadiem XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,203	I'm not an expert, but I believe that if the cartridge fit too tightly into the chamber on a pistol then there would be numerous jams when firing it. Remember just how quickly a pistol ejects the fired round then picks the loaded round off the mag and inserts it into the chamber, any error and you have a jammed gun which in many cases could be life threatening.

07-01-2008, 03:18 PM	#6
JRADGTR XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 103	Ok. Thanks guys. That gives me a little peace of mind. I assumed as much, but I wanted to be sure. Thanks for all the input.

07-06-2008, 08:42 AM	#8
rgeliske XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,788	Wiggle is good, it allows for variation in cartridge tolerances. When the round discharges the case will expand to fill the chamber and allow the crimp to release the bullet (though semi-autos don't have much crimp). If you want to see wiggle check out a Glock. __________________ Sig P220, Taurus PT1911, Browning HiPower 9mm, CZ75, CZ75 P01, Kahr CW9, Savage 9317 BTVS .17, Browning Buckmark, Taurus Gaucho 357 (pair), Taurus Gaucho 45LC (pair), Uberti 1873 Saddle Rifle 357, Uberti 1873 45 LC Carbine, TTN 12 Gauge Double, Ruger Bisley Vaquero 357 (pair), Springfield XD9SC, XD45 Service, XD45 Compact Tactical, XD(M) 40S&W BiTone, Glock G35, Taurus 617 357

07-06-2008, 09:08 AM	#9
NATE42ND XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 340	That was the argument I heard when I bought my XDm. My friends said just get a normal one you don't need a match barrell, it will jam more. There's not any noticable wiggle in the XDm barrell but 2000 rounds and 0 jams is pretty good. My Kimber Gold Match II has no wiggle either but has jamed a couple of times in about 700-800 rounds. I'm not sure what this all means and I'm not an expert on any of this stuff, I just wanted to let you know what my experience has been. __________________ "...to disarm the people - that was the best and most effectual way to enslave them."

07-07-2008, 07:13 PM	#10
JRADGTR XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 103	Thanks. Always good to hear different experiences. __________________ XD-9 Service: In my waistband Ruger .357 mag.: in the bedside table Remington 870 express: In the closet Mauser .30-06: To touch you from far away Stag AR 5.56 NATO: For when the SHTF

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