Newbie considering XD as first gun purchase

[reidwriter]

Hi everyone, my first post here.

I am brand new to handgun shooting. I recently celebrated one those “milestone” birthdays and chose to take a handgun class. In addition to the class, I’ve been to the range one additional time, renting different 9mm pistols each time.

I want to go ahead and make my first handgun purchase and really like XD 9mm. Before I haul off and buy one I just wanted to get some feedback. So here are a couple of questions:

1. My primary reason for purchase is home defense. Is the XD a good choice as a first purchase for an inexperienced shooter? Or is someone going to jump in and say “Stop, if you don’t do everything perfectly, firing this gun will cause a rift in the space/time continuum? Or something to that effect?

2. My preference is for 9mm while I learn to control my shooting. I also want a caliber than my wife (rather petite) can handle safely. Sound reasonable?

3. Is a double action mechanism somehow better for a newbie? And am I correct in assuming that a single action pistol is (safely) stored for home defense in the fully cocked state?

4. The guy who taught the handgun safety class strongly recommended not using any type of gun light or laser. But a light, at very least, seems to make sense to me or am I just buying into marketing hype?

I’ve already learned a lot just from reading the threads around here. Thanks.

Reid

Crap, forgot to ask. I am interested in eventually checking out the various sport shooting programs, and I'm assuming this weapon would be acceptable...

[Boma]

Well I'm a gun newbie too, but finally made my XD9 purchase 3 weeks ago.

I have no regrets buying this gun at all. Even though I was set on the XD45ACP at first.

I would say the XD9 is a good gun for the beginner. It has low recoil, but more importantly the bullets are cheap. It will kill someone, even though round for round the 45bullet is stronger.

For home defense? I would say the XD9 is a good gun, because like all pistols it's maneuverable. Just becareful about what is behind your target if you ever have to shoot. Of course a shotgun is best, but the XD9 will work. 16+1 bullets quickly fired into a target should make them back off. Just get hollowpoints for bigger holes.

I don't think the XD series fits under Double Action or Single Action. But I would say it shoots more like a single action; like a 1911. All the trigger pulls are the same, from beginning to the end.

The guy who recommended not having a light probably doesn't want you to shine the light and give away your position at night. But you do need a light to be shined on the bad guy to make sure he's not a family member. You can't just guess and shoot. Just shine it when you see the target, don't walk around the house at night with the light on.

That's all I know so far; I'm sure others can add more info.

[Wild_Card]

i have yet to buy a XD "still thinking on caliber" but i have been around guns. from a safty point i cant see how the XD could be beat. 3 saftys i know of ,trigger,handle safty and a normaly lever style.

[Son of Norway]

1. My primary reason for purchase is home defense. Is the XD a good choice as a first purchase for an inexperienced shooter? Or is someone going to jump in and say “Stop, if you don’t do everything perfectly, firing this gun will cause a rift in the space/time continuum? Or something to that effect?

The best gun for defense is the one you shoot best. That being stated, the XD's are damn good.

2. My preference is for 9mm while I learn to control my shooting. I also want a caliber than my wife (rather petite) can handle safely. Sound reasonable?

Yes. You may also consider that if you buy the XD-40, you can buy a 9MM conversion barrel for about $150 and get a 2 fer 1 gun.

http://pistolgear.com/proddetail.php?prod=02PA

3. Is a double action mechanism somehow better for a newbie? And am I correct in assuming that a single action pistol is (safely) stored for home defense in the fully cocked state?

Double action means heavy trigger pull. That can be considered a safety by itself. Why this is better for newbies is a mystery to me, but some folks swear by it. Double action makes you concentrate more on the basics like grip and trigger pull. And yes, a single action pistol is (normally) stored for home defense in a fully cocked state. The alternative is to not cock the pistol, but that means you have to rack the slide in a situation where you may not have the time or opportunity.

4. The guy who taught the handgun safety class strongly recommended not using any type of gun light or laser. But a light, at very least, seems to make sense to me or am I just buying into marketing hype?

Your instructor is a moron. Many home invasions happen in the dark. If you are going to shoot someone in your home you better know exactly what it is you are shooting. Get a light. Heck, get a lazer if it will give you an advantage. I wouldn't rule out either one of these tools.

Regarding your last question, some folks here use their XD's in competition so if you get one you certainly can use it that way.

Enjoy!

[islandboy]

It's my first gun that I have owned, but I have to say that it is the most comfortable handgun I have handled. Love it. I'm gona get the 45 next.

[gsh341]

The XD is a very good pistol for a new shooter in my opinion because of it's simplicity. Easy to shoot (no external safety to worry about) easy to disassemble and maintain (4 main parts taken down in under 10 seconds) and reliable.

It is also safe as long as YOU are safe with it. Just remember that putting your finger on the trigger means you are going to shoot something. Don't aim at anything you don't want to shoot. Always drop the mag BEFORE you clear the pistol. And ALWAYS clear your pistol twice just to be sure you didn't screw up. (My own personal rule).

[reidwriter]

Thanks for the input. Looks like it's time to buy

[Boma]

Let us know when you get it!!!

Make sure you spend no more than $400-$450 before tax. Don't pay $500; that's too much.

[KP Ling]

Originally Posted by reidwriter

4. The guy who taught the handgun safety class strongly recommended not using any type of gun light or laser. But a light, at very least, seems to make sense to me or am I just buying into marketing hype?

Reid

Crap, forgot to ask. I am interested in eventually checking out the various sport shooting programs, and I'm assuming this weapon would be acceptable...

I do not presume to read minds but I think your instructor sees, as I do, that a light/laser is a double-edged sword. It gives you better visibility but using it also lets an intruder know exactly where you are. This is more so with the light than with the laser. Others on this forum have posted that they want the light because theu have large families or pets and do not want to do the unthinkable and shoot a loved one through misidentification of some noise or movement. If it is just you and your wife in the house I would say the light is not necessary.

Have a plan together where one of you two (presumably you) searches out the intruder while the other stays put to call 911 or anything else necessary. This means that if you are moving through the house and see movement or hear noise then you will know it is the intruder and not your wife and will not hesitate to react accordingly. If your wife is armed you should both also agree to some knock or password before you meet up in a designated area (for example a bedroom, its bathroom or a closet) so she will know to shoot should someone get past you and not shoot you when returning to her to let her know what is going on.

You see police and such with the lights because they move in numbers and do not want to shoot each other and also have to positively identify someone as being armed before they can shoot, in most cases. I live in Texas and can shoot on sight any intruder in my home at night. The law presumes that all intruders are armed at night. During the day I have to see a weapon before I can shoot, though I think they just changed that law, too.

Get the light if you want but I would suggest getting the laser first or, better yet, just get night sights and practice with them as well as figure out a way you would "sweep and clear" your home should you have to so you do not have to use a light and let the bad guys see you coming. Turning the lights on gives you and the intruder equal footing; keeping them off gives you the advantage since it is your house and you know its layout. This way the intruder can bump into things, alerting you to his location, and move more slowly while you move swiftly and silently into position. Also, make sure you have a cordless phone or cell phone so you can either carry it with you or your wife can take it with her to the safe area if it is not to be where the phone base is. Also, remember that when she calls the police she needs to tell them that you are in the house and armed and give a description so they do not shoot you inadvertantly.

That was a long tangent but I think that the XD9mm is a great choice. I would suggest that you buy the XD in .40 and then you can just get a 9mm barrel and magazines and turn it into a 9mm. Later down the road if you want to start going up in calibers you can but if you get a XD9mm then you have no option but to buy a completely new gun in the bigger caliber. My $.02.

[Boma]

That would be cool if they made a Barrel that convert's a 45ACP into a 40 or 9mm.

Just another reason to buy the 45 =).

You bring up some great points KP Ling.