Production Class???

[Nikolie73]

Just aquired a XD40 Service model and absolutely love it. Has several questions. I am already a NRA member and plan to join the IPDA and pursue shooting in the production class once I am comfortable with the XD.

1) What are the 1st modifications recommended? Truglo sites, Rod/spring mod, trigger mods etc.
2) Is the 4" model viable in the Production class or should I have purchased the 5" model?
3) I know its recommended to shoot 9mm in Production, can my XD40 shoot 9mm by swapping barrel and magazines, if so does it make sense cost wise?

Have many more questions but will hold off. Thanks ahead and God Bless!

[AKpredator]

In IDPA, all Xd's are either in Custom Defensive Pistol (45 ACP models) or Enhanced Service Pistol Division (any caliber). They do not get to shoot in Stock Service Pistol.

USPSA has a Production Division and it allows the use of DA or Safe Action guns with no external mods and this includes XD's. You can change sights, trigger jog, relibility tune but no external mods or weight changes.


You did well getting an XD Service. Lots of guys like the Tactical and they offer some advantages like sight radius and ballistics but the service size will work fine. ESP Division in IDPA and you can shoot several different divisions in USPSA, since it's a .40.

I would get a trigger job from Lovestoshoot, Heinie Rear sight and a Fiber Optic front.

[Sirius1963]

Originally Posted by AKpredator

*snip* I would get a trigger job from Lovestoshoot, Heinie Rear sight and a Fiber Optic front.

Any guesses on price for these mods? (ballpark is fine)

[Loves2Shoot]

Thanks AKpredator, for pricing just follow the link in my sig line.

The .40 is a great all around gun, but unless you reload, you might consider the 9mm for ESP (IDPA) or Production (USPSA. ) The .40 is fine for L10 (USPSA.)

Ask LeeIndy about using a conversion barrel if he is still around. For competition, getting a gun that was made to shoot the caliber you are using is a pretty good idea in my book.

[Old School]

Shooting a conversion barrel in a match is a bad idea. If you are going to play the game, get the gear and go.

I would suggest you shoot the game a few times before getting any mods, as you need to get the tactics down first and doing so is not a fast-pace exercise.

OS

[xd in the oc]

+1 on the Trigger Job from Scott. He did mine on my XD40 Tactical. I also had Dawson FO front sights and rear adjustable install at the same time. Scott had a very quick turnaround time. I am glade that I went with the adjustable sights, it cost more but worth the extra. Remember that shipping by FedEx may cost you another $100 for round trip but no way around it. You can't send you XD by US postal service.

Get the .40sw and save the money on a barrel conversion. With the money you save on the barrel conversion, get a reloading press. That way you can reload your 40 lite. Paul Scarlata wrote an article in Gun and Ammo on how to load lite recoil .40sw. With a lite .40 you shoot the minor power factor in production but can shoot major in limited with the same gun. Just a thought.

[TacXD9er]

I can tell you what I did with my newly purchased XD9 Tactical to meet Production ready in USPSA. I shipped it to Springer Precision and had him do a 3.5# trigger job, Dawson FO front and plain rear sight along with an extended mag release. All was on his recommendations. She's perfect! Then I added a few odds and ends from PistolGear.

[el_hombre70]

One thing to point out. The cost of reloading .40 is going through the roof. I've sold my Glock 35 that I shot in Limited and buying an XD9 to move to Production class. I figure the new gun will pay for itself in about 6 months. If I were you, I'd shelve/sell the .40 and buy a 9mm if you plan on shooting a bunch.

[jeff221]

My first competition gun was a XD .40SW Service... It served me VERY VERY well in MANY MANY difference situations. Until I learned, how, what and where I wanted to shoot.

Now, I've decided I enjoy production USPSA class, at which point I bought a XD9 Tactical, sent it off to springer for a trigger job, grip wrap, target fiber sights, etc. Now, it's all I shoot. very clean, very nice.

Shoot your XD40Service, learn the games, then upgrade..

I've probabaly invested a little over $1,300 in upgrades, mags, equipment and such in my XD9 after I learned what I wanted to do...

[Gryff]

Originally Posted by Nikolie73

Just aquired a XD40 Service model and absolutely love it. Has several questions. I am already a NRA member and plan to join the IPDA and pursue shooting in the production class once I am comfortable with the XD.

1) What are the 1st modifications recommended? Truglo sites, Rod/spring mod, trigger mods etc.
2) Is the 4" model viable in the Production class or should I have purchased the 5" model?
3) I know its recommended to shoot 9mm in Production, can my XD40 shoot 9mm by swapping barrel and magazines, if so does it make sense cost wise?

Hey,

First, you combine a couple of terms that should be clarified. In IDPA, an XD is used in Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) class, or the XD45 models can also be used in Custom Defense Pistol (CDP) class. The term "Production" actually refers to a class in IPSC/USPSA. IPSC Production class is intended for relatively stock guns, and all models (i.e. Glock, Sig, Beretta, XD, etc.) are lumped together in the same class.

Your XD is great for either IDPA ESP class or IPSC Production class. The sports are similar and both are exceptionally fun.

Okay...to answer your specific questions.

1) What are the 1st modifications recommended? Truglo sites, Rod/spring mod, trigger mods etc.

The two I would start with are trigger job and a fiber optic front sight. Drop-in trigger kits from Springer are available for about $140.

http://www.pistolgear.com/products.php?id=36

I recommend getting both Trigger Upgrade Kit AND the Trigger Bar. The reason is that the Upgrade Kit smooths and shortens the trigger pull, but the Trigger Bar will help shorten the reset. I think the horrendously long reset of a stock XD is its only real drawback.

I recommend a fiber optic front sight because it helps you see it much more quickly during competition. You can replace the rear sight with something like a Heinie, but it is not as much of an immediate benefit as a f.o. front sight.

2) Is the 4" model viable in the Production class or should I have purchased the 5" model?

Most definitely. At IDPA distances, the difference in accuracy between 4" and 5" is non-existent. The 5" does offer a longer sight radius, which is beneficial to accuracy, but again, it is not that important in IDPA.

3) I know its recommended to shoot 9mm in Production, can my XD40 shoot 9mm by swapping barrel and magazines, if so does it make sense cost wise?

Not sure about legality in IPSC, but swapping XD barrels for a different caliber in IDPA is illegal. This is because the caliber cannot be different that what is marked on the gun. Since your XD is marked XD-40 on the slide, you have to keep it as a .40S&W.

Have fun!

Best,

Jim