Glock: established the standard.

[ronin67]

I'm the owner of two Glocks and one XD-45 (tactical). Both are great pistols, but certain things set the Glock apart. I love my tactical XD-45, but after only firing 150 rounds through it, the barrel has more rub wear then either of my glocks which has at least 400 plus rounds through each. I have to say the Tenifer finish on the Glock barrels is defineately superior to the finish Springfield uses. Why doesn't Springfield use the Tenifer finish process (or does Glock only have rights to this finish process)? I also prefer the Polymer magazines that Glock uses (no shine and less sound if dropped on the ground). Also, the pistol grip angle on the Glock is better suited for my hand (larger with skinny fingers). I understand that alot of people prefer the XD grip due to it catering to people with small to medium hands, but for me it seems a little small. The great things about the XD; metal sights, more external safeties (not needed by me, the trigger safety on Glock is good enough), lighter trigger pull, and cheaper price. The polymer wonder pistol Gaston Glock created is something that had the world calling "foul" in the 1980's, yet almost ever pistol manufactorer today has one pistol that uses a lower receiver polymer design. Springfield being one company that has really profited from this type of design, yet so many XD owners hate Glocks. I guess I want to know why?

Take Care and God Bless!

Ronin

[DigMe]

I think the number of XD owners that "hate Glocks" is possibly exaggerated in your mind. I like Glocks. They're accurate guns. They only thing I'd say I don't like about them is the lack of a fully-supported chamber. For that reason I would probably not personally buy one in .40 due to the number of Glock kabooms that I've read about in that caliber.

Otherwise though they are great and accurate guns.

bc

[xdron40]

Originally Posted by ronin67

... yet so many XD owners hate Glocks. I guess I want to know why?

Take Care and God Bless!

Ronin

Maybe it's just in reply to the Glock owners with a superiority complex of Glock vs the rest of the world? (Not including you here.)

[ronin67]

For that reason I would probably not personally buy one in .40 due to the number of Glock kabooms that I've read about in that caliber.

Otherwise though they are great and accurate guns.


Do you have any links to the Glock kabooms that you have read about? I just wanted to read them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sharp-shooting you, its just that I could never find any articles relating to this problem in the .40 S&W caliber Glocks.


Thanks and God Bless!

Ronin

bc[/quote]

[ronin67]

Originally Posted by xdron40

Maybe it's just in reply to the Glock owners with a superiority complex of Glock vs the rest of the world? (Not including you here.)

You know I have noticed that some Glock owners think that if it isn't a Glock, it is a piece of crap. Any average person would know that their are many guns just as good as Glocks (XD being right up there). I'm also a member of the "Glock Talk" forum and some of those guys are just brutal towards other gun companies who are "GLock Want-a-be's" in their opinions. Fortunately there are also many good people on Glock Talk who love other pistol companies just as much as Glock.


Take Care and God Bless!

Ronin

[Kermee]

I personally own a Glock 17C and a 1st Generation HS2000 9mm. Both are wonderful pistols and fun to shoot... (Of course the last time I've gone to the range is about 3 years... but that's another story for another time.)

I don't think you're going to find many SA-XD owners being anti-Glock at all.

Cheers,
Dan

[shipwreck]

I like a lot of different guns - I agree, there are some fanatics out there.

Remember, though, HK was making polymer guns before Glock ever thought about it

[The Knight Of Light]

I have three glock and just got another. More cost effective G34 vs XD9 tactical. I love my XD40, but the glocks trigger is easier to DIY. I love DIY because the gun is servicable at the match. if something goes wrong I swap some parts and GtoG. Try doing that with a XD. Once Springfeild gets off their asses then we will be able to get parts and even more sweet mods will com out. I am waiting for the drop in tigger kits.

[Delija]

Originally Posted by ronin67

I have to say the Tenifer finish on the Glock barrels is defineately (sic) superior to the finish Springfield uses. Why doesn't Springfield use the Tenifer finish process (or does Glock only have rights to this finish process)?

The finish on the XD45 is actually the same process as the "Tenifer" (Glock's trademarked name). It is called "Melonite" by SA and will eventually be used (as I understand it) on all caliber XDs. The scratched barrel hood is just the way the gun is fitted. Look at a Sig, HK, Kahr, Ruger, Beretta, etc...virtually any semi-auto with a "blued" barrel. I don't own a Glock, so I am surprised to hear the Glocks don't have the same scratches. (If that's true...the tilting barrel Browning design would seem to be very unlikely NOT to create friction between the top of the barrel hood and the top of the frame).

Originally Posted by ronin67

I also prefer the Polymer magazines that Glock uses (no shine and less sound if dropped on the ground).

That's a subjective opinion. I'd be very much surprised if most people did not prefer the stainless magazines found on the XDs. In real life, I have to wonder how often the shine of a stainless magazine, or the sound of it hitting the ground would be a tactical disadvantage Maybe you wrote that as a joke??

Originally Posted by ronin67

Also, the pistol grip angle on the Glock is better suited for my hand (larger with skinny fingers). I understand that alot (sic) of people prefer the XD grip due to it catering to people with small to medium hands, but for me it seems a little small.

Interesting....mostly what I hear is that people prefer the more traditional "1911" grip angle. To me, it's no big deal either way. A quick and intuitive adjustment. As for being better for a bigger/smaller size hand, first time I've heard that.

Originally Posted by ronin67

The great things about the XD; metal sights, more external safeties (not needed by me, the trigger safety on Glock is good enough), lighter trigger pull, and cheaper price.

Here again, more subjective views (except for the metal sights, which seem to be generally preferred, and certainly more durable than plastic sights).

Originally Posted by ronin67

yet so many XD owners hate Glocks. I guess I want to know why?

That's funny....I've visited Glock-Talk plenty of times. I've heard the XD bashed relentlessly (along with virtually all non-Glock polymer pistols) by Glock owners. I have barely seen this kind of attitude at all from XD (or Sig, or HK or any other brand loyal folks the way I see from Glock owners). As I said, I don't own a Glock, but I went into the local gun store with every intention of buying a Glock. The sales guy talked me into the XD based on safety, features and price.

And yes, the unsupported .40S&W chamber is well documented. That is not a statement based on brand loyalty....I don't really care one way or the other. I own 5 handguns. I like them all. One is an XD, four are not. It is a statement of fact. I'd have no issue with owning a Glock, as long as it were not in .40 caliber for that one reason.

Having said this, the XD feels better in MY hands. I hear that a lot. Even from some Glock owners I know. Today, the prices are about the same, so that advantage to the XD seems to have dissipated.

One last comment...and this is not to knock the Glock, which is obviously a fine and well proved weapon....the Glock has been around for 25 or so years. The XD had the advantage of being designed that much later and was able to take some of the best features from some of the best existing designs. A 1980 Porsche 928 was a super car in 1980. Today, I would not be at all surprised if a four door Honda Accord would outperform a perfectly preserved 1980 928. And get better gas mileage doing it.

Technology moves on. Even the venerable "1911" has been incrementally improved over the last quarter century. Same basic gun (cars changed far more quickly..like computers and other consumer electronics), but I had a mid 1980s Colt Gold Cup that would not feed hollow point bullets reliably. Today, I would not expect that to be an issue.

I guess I just don't get the competitive "my gun is better than your gun" mentality. All I care about, and I believe 99.99% of gun owners feel the same way is; Does the gun perform reliably? Does the gun fit the hand comfortably? Is the gun acceptably accurate? Is the gun easy enough to field strip and maintain? Will it last and be essentially trouble free? And if the gun is a "plinking" gun rather than a self defense gun or hunting gun, is it fun to shoot?

Any gun that fits those criteria is a good gun for the person it works well for. Price and status are (or should be) irrelevant

Peace,
D.

[Tomcat088]

Ronin, I really like that you asked this question, I think it's a good one. I don't hate glocks my any means, and I own an XD-45 Tactical. As was stated before, it has the exact same finish as the glock pistols. I personally prefer a metal magazine to a plastic one, simply because I feel it would be a bit more rugged. I realize there are tradeoffs though, plastic is lighter and nowadays they are very sturdy. I simply would rather have a metal magazine to hold metal bullets, I think it would also weather wear better. Keep in mind this is only my opinion. I personally also like the extra grip safety mainly for one reason, the slide stays locked until you depress that safety. On a carry gun, this is a necessity because when placing a glock in a holster, you can easily displace the slide and when you need it, it wouldn't fire until you fix the slide. When holstering an Xd, as long as you do no depress the grip safety, the slide will not move. I know this is only a slight advantage, but I do like it.

I really do appreciate Glock, they innovated the design that everybody is using now, I'm extremely grateful. Oh and in defense of glock, I'm sure they're experimenting, and tweaking their designs to make them cutting edge as well. We just might not be able to see or tell the differences, or are yet to see them. Also, I wanted to add a +1 to someone's comments. Sometimes I see SOME glock owners talk down on other manufacturers saying, it's just a glock clone or glock wannabe, and really degrade some fine pistols. When I bought my first pistol about 3 months ago I went in woth an open mind to buy what I felt was the best, most reliable, comfortable, and good shooting pistol I could find. At that point in time it was the XD-45, I love it, in the future, who knows. I think today, firearms of are of the highest quality that they've ever been in firearms history. We can make such amazing quality firearms for relatively cheap, compared to other times, and they shoot amazing.