Noob + XD .45 ACP = success? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

DoubleClick · 02-18-2006, 05:56 PM

My first post here - be gentle

I apologize if this has been asked ad nauseum. I'm finally yielding to a lifelong fascination with pistols - but I've never owned one before. I recently took a great handgun safety course (several hours over 3 weeks) where we shot lots and lots of 9mm, mostly using various models of Glock.

I've done lots of reading in Beretta, Glock, and SIG forums, but after handling an XD lately, this is the gun for me. I'm about to cough up for an order, but still not completely convinced I should jump to .45 ACP as a first handgun. I'm a big guy, but with small hands. Had no trouble with the 9mm Glock, and also shot some large bore revolvers.

So, whaddaya think - can a properly trained rookie with a few hundred rounds under his belt in 9mm have a good "first gun experience" with the XD .45 ACP?

Thanks in advance for your time, and apologies for the long post.

kraigster414 · 02-18-2006, 06:18 PM

Welcome. This is the place to be. Sounds like you have the basic requisite skills to embark on a .45 ACP experience. The basics of marksmanship and gun safety apply to all calibers. I think you'll do fine with the .45 ACP. It is not the kicker some folks think it to be particularly the XD45 which I feel, is very controlable - actually my XD40 has a sharper bite to it. Don't know what my colleagues have to say but I would go for it. And if you do get the XD45 and you have any questions there are a lot of good folks around who will glady offer assistance.

dairycreek · 02-18-2006, 07:20 PM

I concur with kraigster414. Mastering an XD45 should be no problem. Always remember to wear eye and hearing protection gear and, remember, practice, practice, practice

Good luck and, above all, enjoy

kraigster414 · 02-18-2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dairycreek

I concur with kraigster414. Mastering an XD45 should be no problem. Always remember to wear eye and hearing protection gear and, remember, practice, practice, practice

Good luck and, above all, enjoy

Absolutely on the eye and ear protection. I wear goggles over my glasses and double up on the ear protection - ear plugs under the head set. And you can't say enough about practice.

This site will make the experience even more enjoyable. I learn something everyday almost from reading other people's posts.

rainking · 02-18-2006, 09:23 PM

The first gun I ever shot was a .44 magnum. Talk about jumping off the deep end. After that shooting anything smaller seemed easy by comparison. However, I ended up buying a .22lr target pistol to start out, then 9mm, then 7.62 rifle, and then my XD (just got it today!). I think as long as you've been exposed to moderately high calibers before and are comfortable shooting them, go for it!

DoubleClick · 02-19-2006, 09:49 AM

Thanks everyone for the quick replies! I totally agree on the eye & ear protection; that won't be an issue at all (In fact the indoor range I shoot at has a non-negotiable requirement for them). The practice is the part I'm looking forward to the most...

02-18-2006, 05:56 PM	#1
DoubleClick XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 82	Noob + XD .45 ACP = success? My first post here - be gentle I apologize if this has been asked ad nauseum. I'm finally yielding to a lifelong fascination with pistols - but I've never owned one before. I recently took a great handgun safety course (several hours over 3 weeks) where we shot lots and lots of 9mm, mostly using various models of Glock. I've done lots of reading in Beretta, Glock, and SIG forums, but after handling an XD lately, this is the gun for me. I'm about to cough up for an order, but still not completely convinced I should jump to .45 ACP as a first handgun. I'm a big guy, but with small hands. Had no trouble with the 9mm Glock, and also shot some large bore revolvers. So, whaddaya think - can a properly trained rookie with a few hundred rounds under his belt in 9mm have a good "first gun experience" with the XD .45 ACP? Thanks in advance for your time, and apologies for the long post.

02-18-2006, 06:18 PM	#2
kraigster414 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Upper Himalayas Posts: 1,439	Welcome. This is the place to be. Sounds like you have the basic requisite skills to embark on a .45 ACP experience. The basics of marksmanship and gun safety apply to all calibers. I think you'll do fine with the .45 ACP. It is not the kicker some folks think it to be particularly the XD45 which I feel, is very controlable - actually my XD40 has a sharper bite to it. Don't know what my colleagues have to say but I would go for it. And if you do get the XD45 and you have any questions there are a lot of good folks around who will glady offer assistance. __________________ "Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." - George Burns

02-18-2006, 07:20 PM	#3
dairycreek XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Plains, Oregon Posts: 95	I concur with kraigster414. Mastering an XD45 should be no problem. Always remember to wear eye and hearing protection gear and, remember, practice, practice, practice Good luck and, above all, enjoy __________________ Good Shooting Always Protect Your Vision and Hearing!

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02-18-2006, 09:23 PM	#5
rainking XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2	The first gun I ever shot was a .44 magnum. Talk about jumping off the deep end. After that shooting anything smaller seemed easy by comparison. However, I ended up buying a .22lr target pistol to start out, then 9mm, then 7.62 rifle, and then my XD (just got it today!). I think as long as you've been exposed to moderately high calibers before and are comfortable shooting them, go for it!

02-19-2006, 09:49 AM	#6
DoubleClick XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 82	Thanks everyone for the quick replies! I totally agree on the eye & ear protection; that won't be an issue at all (In fact the indoor range I shoot at has a non-negotiable requirement for them). The practice is the part I'm looking forward to the most...