Finally! Falling in love with my XD-40! (Long)

[Hooz]

I've posted a few times about my frustrating experiences with my XD-40. The gun has been functioning flawlessly, but the operator, me, has been having some serious accuracy issues. One of the most frustrating things was that I knew it was me, it had nothing to do with the gun.

I have been trying to do what I can to get my groups smaller, including installing a DGR w/22# spring, dry-firing and weekly range sessions. The groups have gotten smaller, but not as small as I would've liked.

So this morning I headed to the range for my weekly Sunday morning shoot, determined to improve my XD-40 experience. I only had 100 rounds of 165gr CCI Blazer (all I've ever shot in the XD-40 since I bought the gun) left, so I knew I would need to buy some more ammo (I like to shoot 250-300 rounds per gun, per visit) for this morning's shoot.

One of the local places (Vance's) had CCI Blazer Brass on sale this month, so I stopped there on Friday and bought a few hundred rounds. When I saw that it was the 180gr Blazer Brass on sale, I was a little apprehensive about buying it... I've spent a LOT of time shooting a LOT of 165gr Blazer, and I wasn't sure how switching loads was going to work for me.

When I got to the range I decided to finish off my 165gr Blazer before trying the 180gr Blazer Brass. When I first shot the XD-40 (over a month ago), I was grouping about 10-12" at 10 yards, as opposed to the 4-5" groups of my XD-9 SC. This morning I was doing much better, grouping 6-8"! Obviously all of my work, and a DGR (I am convinced that the rod/spring combo helped me a LOT with a nasty flinch) was paying-off! I was pretty impressed by my obvious improvement, but I still wasn't where I really wanted to be.

Then I ran out of 165gr Blazer...

I loaded-up three mags full of the 180gr Blazer Brass with some apprehension. I was shooting MUCH better this trip with the 165gr, and I was worried that I was going to screw it all up by switching loads mid-stream.

Then I shot my first magazine...

I couldn't believe it! My group shrank tremendously! My first 10 rounds with the 180gr load was tight. I'm talking 4-5" tight. I was floored. Was it a fluke? Not hardly!

I proceeded to run 200 rounds of 180gr loads through the XD-40, and my groups were consistently 5" or smaller. On one particular target, I ate the whole 10 ring right out of the middle! People were probably looking at me funny due to my huge smile and the fact that everytime I pulled the target in, I laughed out loud.

I still have a lot of work to do on my shooting, and on the gun but I think I've made it over the hump. I am just amazed that something as simple as changing bullet weights can have such a dramatic impact on my shooting. Now I won't feel so bad about investing in a trigger-job and some nice sights for this gun, because I know it'll only make it better... For a while I was wondering if there was any hope for me and my XD-40.

Thank God Vance's had that particular ammo on sale, otherwise I might've never tried it and would've just continued to get frustrated.

[JayinAZ]

If I were you I'd try a few more brands of ammo too, you might find that magic bullet that makes it easy for you to make one hole groups at 10 yards. Or take up reloading and tailor your own load that will make one hole groups out at 25

[mcb]

I see that you have discovered the beauty of 180 grain 40S&W loads. Give some Remington UMC MC 180 a try. Not much more expensive than Blazer Brass and so much better. WWB is always a good choice in 180 to.

If you even get into reloading 180 bullet loaded down are usually super accurate and really soft recoil.

enjoy
mcb

[sanjuro]

Originally Posted by Hooz

I couldn't believe it! My group shrank tremendously! My first 10 rounds with the 180gr load was tight. I'm talking 4-5" tight. I was floored. Was it a fluke? Not hardly!

That's kewl Hooz

I fed my XD40 Blazer Brass in 180 flavor and it always liked it pretty well - thank God for Vance's and cheap ammo!!

Have you tried Winchester yet? That always worked ok, I thought.

What stance(s) are you using, btw? Weaver? Isocolese? Modern? One hand?

[Big-FED]

FWIW, I work at an indoor range/gunshop and it has been our experience that aluminum cased CCI-Blazer ammo has some "issues". It is NOT my intent to flame CCI-Blazer (aluminum case), only to pass on what we have found.

It has not been an accuracy champion in any caliber.

Also, it appears that there is some residue left by the case in the chamber and that it accumulates, sometimes to the point of causing malfunctions. We have had to use steel wool wrapped on a brass brush to remove it. On one pistol it was so bad we thought we might have to use a chamber reamer. It is possible that this same residue is causing the accuracy problem. We don't stock or sell it. MHO & YMMV.

[Hooz]

Originally Posted by sanjuro

What stance(s) are you using, btw? Weaver? Isocolese? Modern? One hand?

I guess it would be a Weaver type stance.

The main issue that I've been trying to overcome is my cross-eye dominance. I shoot right-handed, but my left eye is dominant. That makes things more difficult when shooting with both eyes open.

[sanjuro]

Originally Posted by Hooz

I guess it would be a Weaver type stance.

The main issue that I've been trying to overcome is my cross-eye dominance. I shoot right-handed, but my left eye is dominant. That makes things more difficult when shooting with both eyes open.

i am the exact same way! i'll have to steal some tips from you when i see you!

my weaver shooting sucks (i jerk left) but i can shoot one-handed just fine - go figure!