First .45 handgun, XDM 5.5 or other?

[legendaryego05]

I have been wanting another handgun after purchasing my 9mm (g17, sorry XD fans). I like it but would like a .45 caliber pistol. I have done plenty of researching and am writing this with the hope that something some of you may have to say tips the scale. That being said I will use the gun for home defense and target shooting at my house probably not as a carry. Some options I am considering and why. I would love to try these out but the nearest store is an hour and a half away and charges through the rear to rent them.

SW 625 revolver - Suppose to be very accurate, I am a sucker for accuracy. My glock is for durability this purchase accuracy can come first. Cons only six bullets.

XDM 45 5.5 inch - I love the olive and black scheme just beautiful imo. I also like the longer barrel for more accuracy and have heard great things about them.

HK 45 - Would love to own one but have a hard time justifying the 800 + pricetag, are they really worth 300 more than a XD or glock?

Sig p220 - Heard they just don't hold up as well as some of the others but are accurate. Again so much $ for what? I just don't understand how they are almost twice what another pistol is.

I would really appreciate your thoughts on the issue and am seriously torn between the sw 625 and the xdm 45. I feel both of these are nice pistols with a great value. Lastly, I am not opposed to the 1911s I just feel they reach astronomical heights quicky $ wise and require more finesse from their user than I want to commit to atm.

[Devin.Morris.007]

Id go with the XD. My first 45 was a Taurus PT145. It was a nice gun, but I sold it to make room for another XD. Lol. Right now I have an XD45C and love it. Its my everyday carry. It has a compact grip and a standard 10rd magazine, but It also comes with an extended 13 round magazine with an XD Gear grip extension as well that turns it into a full size service model for range days.

Anyways, The XDm you're looking at is a great gun. The great thing about that model is that its actually their competition model. It has a match grade barrel (standard on the XDm), a lightened slide, fiber optic front sight, fully adjustable rear sight, and a lightened trigger. Its designed for someone to pickup out of the box and run it in an IDPA or similar match.

The HK and the Sig are great guns, but the XDm is the best value for the money. The Smith is a good gun too. Id consider picking it up down the road too. No gun collection should be without at least one nice revolver, and thats a nice revolver.

[legendaryego05]

Thank you for the advice Mr. Morris. The model I was looking at is the competition model, does this sacrifice anything? Since the slide is lighter etc... does it reduce durability? I was just wondering if there were any cons to that model per say.

[Devin.Morris.007]

The cutout on the slide is just supposed to make the slide lighter. This helps the gun feed if you get a light load or something. If you get a really light load, sometimes the slide wont ride all the way back causing a failure to eject. This is just because the slide is longer and therefore weighs more. Glock does the same thing on the the Glock 34 and the Glock 35. It just helps the gun cycle lighter loads. It doesn't effect the overall durability of the gun. At least I've never heard of it effecting it any.

To me, the only con is going to be the size. If I were buying one, Id probably go with the 3.8 model as it isnt as big and is easier to carry. the 4.5 model wouldn't be that bad either. Its about the same size as a Glock 21.

Other than that, XD's are great shooters, reliable as hell. Ive got 2 XD's. One being the 45 I mentioned earlier as well as an XD9. Ive put well over between 1000 and 1500 rounds through the 9 with no problems. I bought it used so I have no clue how many rounds it had cycled before I bought it. The die hard Glock guys will disagree with me, but XD's are just as reliable and durable as any Glock.

[Devin.Morris.007]

XDm 5.25 45acp - YouTube

XDm 5.25 45acp - YouTube

Hickok45 is probably IMHO the best one on YouTube as far as gun videos are concerned. He knows his stuff, and has been shooting for many years. If you watch his other videos He mentions experience in shooting competitions as well as law enforcement. He is kind of corny sometimes, but not stupid like FPSRussia can be. Like I said, this guy knows his stuff. He is a Glock guy, as he used them in competition for years. But he isnt one of those "Glock is the best thing on the planet, everything else is stupid." Glock guys. He Test and Evaluates everything fairly and tells you what he likes and doesnt like about it. Plain and simple. I highly suggest looking him up on YouTube and watching some of his videos. He evaluates about all the XD's, Glocks, etc. He has some Sig videos and I believe he may even have a video on the HK you were looking at too. Definitely worth checking out.

[Markavelli]

Hey everybody, my first post, just joined and had to chime in because I love firearms and helping people find their perfect one.

When I came back from my first tour in Iraq I had turned 21 and wanted to buy a handgun. My local dealer is one heck of a great gal with a wonderful shop, great prices, and solid advice. I was looking for a 45 ACP but I wasn't sure what yet. I also wasn't familiar with 1911s yet so those were out of the question to me. At the time the XDM had just come out and they only made it in 40 S&W. I wanted a Glock 45 but something told me that the 4.5" 40 XDM might be what I am looking for (I also have smaller hands) with the match grade features and rail system plus the high capacity 16+1. So I picked it up, it is my carry most days.

I then picked up a Smith and Wesson 357 Mag 686 Plus with the 3" barrel. She is a beauty and holds 7 Rounds. (Hence the Plus)

I purchased a Kel Tec PF9 just to have something I could put into my pocket when other carry options aren't viable.

And over the years I had become intimately familiar with my father's Springfield 1911 45. I decided to purchase one of the original Colt Delta Elite 10mm's in beautiful shiny blued finish. I installed a full length guide rod, recoil buffer, and Hi Viz sights.

I will be purchasing tomorrow a Springfield XDM 45 with the 4.5" barrel. I love my 40 XDM and so I know I can't go wrong with the 45. Especially with 14 rounds of whoop ass in the weapon. Love it!

-I also own a Remington 870 Tactical Express Magnum which is going to get the Wilson Combat Tritium Ghost Sight Treatment. The Blackhawk Specops Gen II Shotgun Stock. And it currently holds 6+1 at 18.5 inches.

-I own an Arsenal AK-47 because I developed a lot of respect for it after deploying. I purchased the Arsenal SLR-107CR 7.62x39. I put a Midwest Industries quad rail on the front, and Meprolight sights on it and the TROY Medieval muzzle brake Better optics in the future I am not sure yet but I put Meprolight AK-47 sights on it, and am going to put Meprolight Night Sights on every single Firearm I own. I love them.

-I own a DPMS M4 style 556 pre ban style rifle. am going to put a surefire rail system on it, and magpul stock, not sure which one yet. It will also get front and rear Meprolight Pop up sights, and a Trijicon RCO ACOG like we used in when I was in, surefire light and laser hooked into the front vertical grip.

I also own a Remington 770 30-06 because well, I wanted one. I am going to replace the Bushnell scope with the TrijiconTR23-2 Mil-Dot Crosshair with Dot.

I also own a Remington M1903 produced by the US Army as is evident by the bomb on the barrel made in Dec 1942. I love that rifle. And it will also be getting the Trijicon I mentioned before.

So to answer your question my friend, you should definitely pick up an XDM. Any Kind because they are fantastic.

I also want to buy after my XDM 45 tomorrow, a XDM 45 with the 5.25". A Glock 21 Gen 4 and Sig 1911 Tac Ops with the threaded barrel that I will indeed purchase so I may buy a suppressor. And I would like to buy a PTR-91 in Paratrooper style, Rock River Arms Elite Operator II in 308, a BAR in 30-06, the suppressed AK-47 by Red Jacket Firearms.... The list goes on and on. But I will tell you what, I love GunBroker.com

Any thoughts anybody?

[Cuda66]

A few others to consider:

Glock 21 Gen 4. The XDm 5.25 has a slightly longer barrel, but is also a LOT more expensive, without giving you any improvements over the Glock. And, you already have a Glock---it keeps everything similar.

A 1911. Everyone should own a 1911, and it's proper caliber is .45.

If you want an HK, you could find a USP45 for less than the HK45; I see used ones going for around $600. 12rd capacity, HK reliability.

[JBubbs]

FN 45, USP 45 or the good ol 1911. Of the polymers I'd probably lean towards the HK first but the XDM is definitely up there

[NewBlackDak]

Everybody's first .46 should be a 1911. Companies like RIA have made that easier on the pockets for first time buyers and those without much money.

[richeyo2]

I have a XDm 5.25" .45 & it would make a great range & HD gun IMO.
The cost of ammo not so much so for range toy !