Tactical or Service - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Encore209X50 · 03-15-2006, 06:16 AM

I'm a new owner of an XD9 service and I love gun.
Great shooting gun no feeding problems nothing just a shooter.
Question is for my next one I want a 45ACP should I go Tatical or Service.
Which one is better a gun for accuracy?
I might try some compation shooting this year so which one would
serve me better?

merkin.muffley · 03-15-2006, 06:47 AM

The 5 inch should be more accurate. It's got a longer sight radius and a little more mass and generally that should equate to greater accuracy.

XD9Sub · 03-15-2006, 10:21 AM

+1 on the tactical for competition...

Hughree · 03-15-2006, 11:17 AM

A machine rest often demonstrates that the intrinsic accuracy between the two barrel lengths is indistinguishable. The difference in practical accuracy will be determined by your particular skills and abilities. For example, the longer barrel and slide of the Tactical with their associated added weights helps to dampen recoil and changes the balance of the pistol. Whether the balance is better or worse for YOU depends on your hand strength, length of your fingers, width of your palm, how high you grip the pistol, etc. Eyesight is the great equalizer with sight radius - I shoot autos with short barrels better than those with longer barrels because, quite simply, I can see the sights more clearly. Shorter barrels are faster from the holster for games. Longer barrels may give you a velocity edge to make power factors with marginal loads. I actually shoot subcompact barrel lengths better than I shoot handguns with longer barrels - again a result of eyesight, balance and and pointability. But these short barrels impose an even greater handicap for reloaders who are trying to barely meet the power factor. As a result, they have to up the powder to increase the velocity and then those pesky laws of Newton start causing trouble.

If possible, shoot both barrel lengths and then let your targets and your comfort level decide for you. As I grow older, I've refined my choices in firearms to those that are not merely accurate, but those that are easy to shoot accurately. The XD is extraordinarily easy to shoot well. This forum is filled with range reports from those who have not shot much, shot often or shot recently but report impressive groups. That mirrors my impression that the XD, in this case the .45, is particularly user friendly. If it happens that you shoot the 4" more accurately, faster, and with greater confidence -- then that is the best choice for you.

Just my thoughts. God bless. Hugh

chatter · 03-15-2006, 12:07 PM

tactical would be the way to go for comp. i picked up the sercivce model because i think it is better looking. it seems to be pretty accurate.

AKM · 03-15-2006, 12:59 PM

I chose the Tactical for the reasons listed above. I plan to use it for IDPA.

happygunner · 03-15-2006, 01:22 PM

Well some may feel that extra inch makes the 5" more accurate for some shooters this might be correct but I sure would not say the 5" XD-45 was more accurate then the 4" XD-45 it really has a lot to do with the shooter. For me the 4" is really a nice fit. Not to big for a really good carry and don't sell it short for compation shooting.

nunnya · 03-15-2006, 09:20 PM

I have the same dilema.
Accuracy between the two is a wash , but velocity would be a factor.
Has any one chroned the 4" and 5" to determine the differance?
I'm thinking about 50 fps. between the two.
Also would the longer barrel have any advantages with .45 super?
Does the Tacticle model use a single or double recoil spring?

Thanks

happygunner · 03-16-2006, 06:50 AM

[quote="nunnya"]I have the same dilema.
Accuracy between the two is a wash , but velocity would be a factor.
Has any one chroned the 4" and 5" to determine the differance?
I'm thinking about 50 fps. between the two.
Also would the longer barrel have any advantages with .45 super?
Does the Tacticle model use a single or double recoil spring?
===========
The Tactical model uses a single spring.

merkin.muffley · 03-16-2006, 07:00 AM

Inquiring minds want to know. What are you going to do to the gun to make it safe to shoot 45 super?And more importantly - why do you want to shoot 45 super?

03-15-2006, 06:16 AM	#1
Encore209X50 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 9	Tactical or Service I'm a new owner of an XD9 service and I love gun. Great shooting gun no feeding problems nothing just a shooter. Question is for my next one I want a 45ACP should I go Tatical or Service. Which one is better a gun for accuracy? I might try some compation shooting this year so which one would serve me better?

03-15-2006, 10:21 AM	#3
XD9Sub XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 999	+1 on the tactical for competition... __________________ "We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free" Ronald Reagan, June 6th, 1984, Normandy France Øbama '08

03-15-2006, 12:59 PM	#6
AKM XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,511	I chose the Tactical for the reasons listed above. I plan to use it for IDPA. __________________ Liviu Librescu - În veci pomenirea lui. U.S. Army/Marine Snipers - Making the World a Better Place, 175 grains at a time.

03-15-2006, 01:22 PM	#7
happygunner XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 1,139	Accuracy 4"or5" XD-45 Well some may feel that extra inch makes the 5" more accurate for some shooters this might be correct but I sure would not say the 5" XD-45 was more accurate then the 4" XD-45 it really has a lot to do with the shooter. For me the 4" is really a nice fit. Not to big for a really good carry and don't sell it short for compation shooting.

03-15-2006, 09:20 PM	#8
nunnya XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 218	chrono data ? I have the same dilema. Accuracy between the two is a wash , but velocity would be a factor. Has any one chroned the 4" and 5" to determine the differance? I'm thinking about 50 fps. between the two. Also would the longer barrel have any advantages with .45 super? Does the Tacticle model use a single or double recoil spring? Thanks

03-15-2006, 06:47 AM	#2
merkin.muffley XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 110	The 5 inch should be more accurate. It's got a longer sight radius and a little more mass and generally that should equate to greater accuracy.

03-15-2006, 11:17 AM	#4
Hughree XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 47	A machine rest often demonstrates that the intrinsic accuracy between the two barrel lengths is indistinguishable. The difference in practical accuracy will be determined by your particular skills and abilities. For example, the longer barrel and slide of the Tactical with their associated added weights helps to dampen recoil and changes the balance of the pistol. Whether the balance is better or worse for YOU depends on your hand strength, length of your fingers, width of your palm, how high you grip the pistol, etc. Eyesight is the great equalizer with sight radius - I shoot autos with short barrels better than those with longer barrels because, quite simply, I can see the sights more clearly. Shorter barrels are faster from the holster for games. Longer barrels may give you a velocity edge to make power factors with marginal loads. I actually shoot subcompact barrel lengths better than I shoot handguns with longer barrels - again a result of eyesight, balance and and pointability. But these short barrels impose an even greater handicap for reloaders who are trying to barely meet the power factor. As a result, they have to up the powder to increase the velocity and then those pesky laws of Newton start causing trouble. If possible, shoot both barrel lengths and then let your targets and your comfort level decide for you. As I grow older, I've refined my choices in firearms to those that are not merely accurate, but those that are easy to shoot accurately. The XD is extraordinarily easy to shoot well. This forum is filled with range reports from those who have not shot much, shot often or shot recently but report impressive groups. That mirrors my impression that the XD, in this case the .45, is particularly user friendly. If it happens that you shoot the 4" more accurately, faster, and with greater confidence -- then that is the best choice for you. Just my thoughts. God bless. Hugh

03-15-2006, 12:07 PM	#5
chatter XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the keystone state Posts: 17	tactical would be the way to go for comp. i picked up the sercivce model because i think it is better looking. it seems to be pretty accurate.

03-16-2006, 06:50 AM	#9
happygunner XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 1,139	Re: chrono data ? [quote="nunnya"]I have the same dilema. Accuracy between the two is a wash , but velocity would be a factor. Has any one chroned the 4" and 5" to determine the differance? I'm thinking about 50 fps. between the two. Also would the longer barrel have any advantages with .45 super? Does the Tacticle model use a single or double recoil spring? =========== The Tactical model uses a single spring.

03-16-2006, 07:00 AM	#10
merkin.muffley XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 110	Inquiring minds want to know. What are you going to do to the gun to make it safe to shoot 45 super?And more importantly - why do you want to shoot 45 super?

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