XD Talk

Jshooter · 06-21-2005, 09:59 AM

Hello all, I am about to purchase an XD 40. service and am deciding wether or not to go with the ported barrel. I know they cut down on recoil quite a bit, but the question I have is do they really get you, those around you, and sights as dirty as I have been reading? If so it seems that that would be very annoying. Thoughts?

JHA XD40 · 06-21-2005, 10:08 AM

I have an XD40 with a ported barrel which I really like. The front sight does get pretty dirty after 50 rounds or so, but isn't that difficult to clean.

The fellas that hang out at the range where I shoot gave a grunt in unison when they heard that it was ported though.

My thinking has been that if I have the ported barrel and decide I don't want a ported barrel at some point then I can just order one of those conversion barrels (keep it at .40 cal or switch to 9mm or .357). Basically, I think it gives me a lot of versatility with what I can do with my gun.

Others here can better tell you the pros and cons of having it ported, I definetly wouldn't want a ported barrel if I was in a night time altercation where I needed to fire because it really does kick a lot of fire out that I imagine would ruin any nightvision.

Good luck. Either way you go, you won't regret it.

BigBob68 · 06-21-2005, 10:15 AM

Ported barrels do get very dirty. If it is a range gun, go for it. If you plan on carrying it, DO NOT get one.

mcone · 06-21-2005, 11:31 AM

I'm starting to learn that there appears to be mixed feelings regarding ported barrels amongst schools.

A trainer from Gunsite Academy (AZ) has expressed displeasure at the increase in the number of people with ported barrels. He believes that they are rude to the other range users. When I mentioned this to a well-known local Michigan school trainer (Company: Ultimate Protection), she had never heard that ported barrels may even be a problem. She recommended that I get a ported J-Frame (38 special) for my wife to carry.

I wonder if the issue with ported barrels is the discomfort of standing close beside the fellow whose using one. Even without porting, there's quite a sideways blast of air while standing to the side of one of my children firing the XD. I wonder how much more force/sound would be felt if my barrel was ported?

Also, there's the bright blast to contend with in low light conditions. They say it blinds you. But I have to admit that some of the blast from non-ported barrels may blind me momentarily (at least with target ammo).

Still, I'm not sure if these are serious problems, or just strong preferences.

TRYZUB · 06-21-2005, 01:03 PM

I frankly do not understand the obsession that people have against the ported model. It does not lessen the recoil, it cuts down on the muzzle flip, and to tighten the recoil get a #22 spring and Don's Rod. A cloth cleans the front sight very quickly.

The issue of being blinded at night when firing is also tedious, if you follow a proper sight aperture it doesn't make a difference. For carry I sometimes swap out a .40 non-ported barrel but not always, I don't plan on firing from inside my coat pocket and if I did my concern would be for my life not a slight second degree burn.

With my .02

tec · 06-21-2005, 01:51 PM

I have the XD V10 9mm, I love it. Everybody who has shot it loves it except my wife. She says the flames scare her. I don't even SEE the flames when I shoot, I am looking at the target, not for the flames. My dad in law, 73 years old, loves shooting the ported because of the reduced recoil on his wrists (disabled due to work wrist injury).

As far as cleaning goes, yes it will be more cleaning for you, yes the sights do get dirty. Love it or leave it. Your gonna have to clean the gun anyway. Wolf ammo really gets the gun dirty. WWB is maybe 1/2 as bad. To give you an idea, I have a red dot scope mounted on my XDV10. The front of the scope is directly over the ports, I just came back from the range and wiped the scope down, Nothing on the glass, some black residue on the scope body.

[TASF]Overkill · 06-21-2005, 01:58 PM

XD40-v10 here...

No, they don't get you, or anyone around you anymore noticeably dirty than plain-Jane shooting.

Yes, it adds quite a bit more time to cleaning the gun, as the powder residue is not just in the barrel, but all through the slide and on the front sights.

If you've got the extra cash, buy a ported and then an aftermarket unported barrel.

Other than that, purchase based on your primary intended use.

ttheobald · 06-21-2005, 02:07 PM

I shoot an XD40 v-10, and I like it a lot. As for how the porting differs from other guns...

* Yes, you do get a lot more back-wash (and occasionally you can see visible exhaust from the ports). People observing nearby will definitely see a difference.
* My .40 is about as loud as a .357mag or .44mag, so I don't see why anyone would make a stink over it. I wouldn't recommend standing to either side with your mouth open, though :P .
* Front post does get very dirty. First time out, mine got blacked over completely after about 150 rounds. Fill up the divot with clear nail polish or neon paint, so that it's flush with the post. Then it just takes a thumb-wipe to clear it.
* Slide gets dirty on the last 1.5" or so.
* If you have a cleaning bench, or a toolbox, the mess can be taken care of by simply keeping a Ball jar full of solvent/lube (I go to about 3" in depth), and when you get back from the range, just field-strip the gun and put the slide and barrel nose-down in the jar. Next evening, everything wipes clean as a whistle, and the barrel just needs a little brushing by the chamber.
* Recoil on a .40 with porting is about the same as a 9mm - very nice for repeat-placement (and honestly this is really the only reason to get porting on a .40).
* Night-shooting, I couldn't tell you whether it's blinding or not. I suspect it would generate some unwanted effects, so if you plan to shoot a lot at night, don't get ported, or get a non-ported drop-in barrel.
* If this is a carry gun, don't shoot from the hip. You'll mess up your shirt, and if you're wearing wool, might set yourself on fire (not dangerously, but certainly humorously so).

Other than that, not much to say...it's definitely got extra "cool" factor going for it, and shoots as well or better than most I've seen.

Hope this helps -

T

Waldo · 06-21-2005, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcone

I'm starting to learn that there appears to be mixed feelings regarding ported barrels amongst schools.

A trainer from Gunsite Academy (AZ) has expressed displeasure at the increase in the number of people with ported barrels. He believes that they are rude to the other range users. When I mentioned this to a well-known local Michigan school trainer (Company: Ultimate Protection), she had never heard that ported barrels may even be a problem. She recommended that I get a ported J-Frame (38 special) for my wife to carry.

I wonder if the issue with ported barrels is the discomfort of standing close beside the fellow whose using one. Even without porting, there's quite a sideways blast of air while standing to the side of one of my children firing the XD. I wonder how much more force/sound would be felt if my barrel was ported?

Also, there's the bright blast to contend with in low light conditions. They say it blinds you. But I have to admit that some of the blast from non-ported barrels may blind me momentarily (at least with target ammo).

Still, I'm not sure if these are serious problems, or just strong preferences.

That trainer sounds like he has never stood next to someone at the range shooting a .357 snub nose revolver. I used to have one and that hand cannon would gets the worst looks at the range, and my range has a wall seperating us.

DJDan · 06-21-2005, 10:56 PM

This is a "little" off topic but I think it is hilarious that people in gun ranges get angry at loud guns...get the f#%k out of here.....man...some people are just too whiny....it's not a tea party...PEOPLE ARE SHOOTING GUNS..NEWSFLASH..IT'S GOING TO BE LOUD...get over it or leave.