XD9 range report - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Mr. Wolf · 10-13-2007, 07:59 PM

Took the XD9 to an indoor range and tested various ammo to see what my XD9 service liked.
All shots 15 yrds with hands directly on top of a bench.

Overall picture. I shot 5 shots into the center target to avoid the "flyer" phenomenon, then shot 5 more at the red marker spot. Then took the best 3 shots for a center to center spread.

Various ammo types S&B 115gr FMJ, WWB 115gr FMJ, Rem 115gr FMJ, NATO 124gr +P FMJ

WWB 147gr JHP on top, and S&B 115gr FMJ on bottom

Overall impressions.
1. The XD service is plenty accurate for a self defense weapon.
2. Bigger or more visible aiming Xs may have contributed to accuracy (indoor lighting really blows)
3. S&B 115gr FMJ range ammo, steel cased. Accurate shooter with 1 extreme flier. Best 3 shot group was 7/16"! Soft shooting relatively smoke free ammo. Can't explain the lone flier though... perhaps lack of quality control? The flier is low and right, not my usual "flinch" patter of low and right. Since S&B is what is on my XD "1st fire" casing, the XD may have been tested and developed with this round for accuracy but that is just my wild *ss guess.
4. WWB 115gr FMJ. 2 5/16" 3 shot center to center spread. Definitely hotter than the S&B. Good tight group without flyer. Bigger flash and rather smokey.
5. Rem 115gr FMJ range ammo. 2 3/8" 3 shot center to center spread. Maybe just a bit less kick than the WWB, cleaner and less flash. Vertical string, perhaps I'm starting to flinch or getting tired... grrrr....
6. NATO 124gr FMJ +P. 3 5/16" 3 shot center to center spread. Definitely snappier but now group extending low and left, indicating more anticipation / flinch. Not too smokey but notable snap.
7. WWB 147gf JHP. 1 1/4" 3 shot center to center spread. Not much stray or fliers. Softer "push" rather than the snappiness of the NATO +P. It shot almost as accurate as the S&B and the 5 group shot had no flyers. Bit smoky, but less flash than the WWB 115gr.

I have plenty of room to improve, but was able to shoot all my warm-up shots into the ring at 15 yrds at a 1 shot/sec pace. I may have to repeat the test with better lighting and equal "aiming dots".

Your inputs would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Mr. Wolf · 10-15-2007, 04:25 PM

Hmmm...
60 views and no replies. Anyone else have thoughts on what round shoots best out of their various XD models?
Any creedance to my hypothesis that the XD probably shoots the Sellier and Bellot 115gr the best since that's what they used for R&D of their weapon?

Thanks and as always, cheers,

Jim B · 11-01-2007, 05:24 PM

.....good question.

I have often thought that once I got into hand loading that I would take time to find the combination of bullet weight/design, primer type and power quantity that would allow my barrel to shoot at it's best.....funny how life is tho, always in a hurry and often read about the bench rest guys doing just that but I never got around to doing it....loading up in 1/10th grain increments and all that!

anyway.....I am about 24 hours from owning a 45XD Tactical, just purchased the first box of 'break in' rounds for it, FMJ's........and I am planning to disassemble first and clean, and then lubricate well before shooting anything out of it myself.......then get a large piece of paper or cardboard and shoot a baseline set of rounds to establish a starting group......then watch for improvement from the pistol.......I suspect there will be lots of surfaces lapping in with each round shot.....just wish I could safely accelerate the lap-in process for polishing the metal to metal surfaces.....suppose it has to just happen over time on pieces like the slide and such.

Your fliers, were you on a bag? as I recall you were using a rest......one of the things I used to hear from the guys I shot with years ago was to make sure my grip was identical from shot to shot......even if it meant taking extra time between reloads (speed loaders) to re-establish the same type of grip I had before....then settle into each shot.....but we were shooting for scores.

I like your groups.....the fliers will go away over time for sure!

Jim B

Mr. Wolf · 11-01-2007, 06:58 PM

Jim,

Thanks for your input. I was using a make shift rifle rest and hanging my wrist over it. I probably would have shot better if I went prone and shot it... but that was what I had and what I used.

I've had some more time on the range and the Rem 115 gr shoots pretty tight as well. More photos to come.

Cheers,

10-13-2007, 07:59 PM	#1
Mr. Wolf XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NC Posts: 300	XD9 ammo accuracy comparison Took the XD9 to an indoor range and tested various ammo to see what my XD9 service liked. All shots 15 yrds with hands directly on top of a bench. Overall picture. I shot 5 shots into the center target to avoid the "flyer" phenomenon, then shot 5 more at the red marker spot. Then took the best 3 shots for a center to center spread. Various ammo types S&B 115gr FMJ, WWB 115gr FMJ, Rem 115gr FMJ, NATO 124gr +P FMJ WWB 147gr JHP on top, and S&B 115gr FMJ on bottom Overall impressions. 1. The XD service is plenty accurate for a self defense weapon. 2. Bigger or more visible aiming Xs may have contributed to accuracy (indoor lighting really blows) 3. S&B 115gr FMJ range ammo, steel cased. Accurate shooter with 1 extreme flier. Best 3 shot group was 7/16"! Soft shooting relatively smoke free ammo. Can't explain the lone flier though... perhaps lack of quality control? The flier is low and right, not my usual "flinch" patter of low and right. Since S&B is what is on my XD "1st fire" casing, the XD may have been tested and developed with this round for accuracy but that is just my wild ss guess. 4. WWB 115gr FMJ. 2 5/16" 3 shot center to center spread. Definitely hotter than the S&B. Good tight group without flyer. Bigger flash and rather smokey. 5. Rem 115gr FMJ range ammo. 2 3/8" 3 shot center to center spread. Maybe just a bit less kick than the WWB, cleaner and less flash. Vertical string, perhaps I'm starting to flinch or getting tired... grrrr.... 6. NATO 124gr FMJ +P. 3 5/16" 3 shot center to center spread. Definitely snappier but now group extending low and left, indicating more anticipation / flinch. Not too smokey but notable snap. 7. WWB 147gf JHP. 1 1/4" 3 shot center to center spread. Not much stray or fliers. Softer "push" rather than the snappiness of the NATO +P. It shot almost as accurate as the S&B and the 5 group shot had no flyers. Bit smoky, but less flash than the WWB 115gr. I have plenty of room to improve, but was able to shoot all my warm-up shots into the ring at 15 yrds at a 1 shot/sec pace. I may have to repeat the test with better lighting and equal "aiming dots". Your inputs would be appreciated. Cheers, __________________ Mr. Wolf - "That's 30 minutes away, I'll be there in 10." Last edited by Mr. Wolf : 10-18-2007 at 06:27 PM. Reason: more accurate title*

10-15-2007, 04:25 PM	#2
Mr. Wolf XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NC Posts: 300	Hmmm... 60 views and no replies. Anyone else have thoughts on what round shoots best out of their various XD models? Any creedance to my hypothesis that the XD probably shoots the Sellier and Bellot 115gr the best since that's what they used for R&D of their weapon? Thanks and as always, cheers, __________________ Mr. Wolf - "That's 30 minutes away, I'll be there in 10."

11-01-2007, 06:58 PM	#4
Mr. Wolf XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NC Posts: 300	Jim, Thanks for your input. I was using a make shift rifle rest and hanging my wrist over it. I probably would have shot better if I went prone and shot it... but that was what I had and what I used. I've had some more time on the range and the Rem 115 gr shoots pretty tight as well. More photos to come. Cheers, __________________ Mr. Wolf - "That's 30 minutes away, I'll be there in 10."

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11-01-2007, 05:24 PM	#3
Jim B XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MI Posts: 92	.....good question. I have often thought that once I got into hand loading that I would take time to find the combination of bullet weight/design, primer type and power quantity that would allow my barrel to shoot at it's best.....funny how life is tho, always in a hurry and often read about the bench rest guys doing just that but I never got around to doing it....loading up in 1/10th grain increments and all that! anyway.....I am about 24 hours from owning a 45XD Tactical, just purchased the first box of 'break in' rounds for it, FMJ's........and I am planning to disassemble first and clean, and then lubricate well before shooting anything out of it myself.......then get a large piece of paper or cardboard and shoot a baseline set of rounds to establish a starting group......then watch for improvement from the pistol.......I suspect there will be lots of surfaces lapping in with each round shot.....just wish I could safely accelerate the lap-in process for polishing the metal to metal surfaces.....suppose it has to just happen over time on pieces like the slide and such. Your fliers, were you on a bag? as I recall you were using a rest......one of the things I used to hear from the guys I shot with years ago was to make sure my grip was identical from shot to shot......even if it meant taking extra time between reloads (speed loaders) to re-establish the same type of grip I had before....then settle into each shot.....but we were shooting for scores. I like your groups.....the fliers will go away over time for sure! Jim B