XD45 disappointment

[ChrisMG]

Ok, issue was operator error. Thanks for everyone who chimed in with tips/ideas for fixes.

Original message:
I recently got my XD45 in the 5" Tactical model and have been very pleased with the pistol until last night during competition shooting where it decided the rack wasn't going to go all the way forward into battery (it extracts the ammo just fine, just doesn't get it all the way into the chamber). This was after attempting to shoot one round of reloaded ammo. After dumping that thinking it was just the ammo I tried the factory stuff again (had already shot 12 factory loads just fine) and got the same problem, it just won't get the ammo all the way into the chamber.

I haven't field stripped the pistol yet (going to do so when I get back home) but it looks like there might be some kind of obstruction in the chamber keeping the cartridge from seating properly. While this might not sound like a big issue, I figured this thing would go way beyond the 200 rounds I shot (in clean conditions) before needing attention. Now I haven't been dragging this thing through the mud, just your regular shoot and stick back in the case for another day. Maybe I'm getting a little disillusioned but how could anyone expect to take this into a combat situation when a seemingly piddly cleanliness issue creates a non-firing weapon?

Should I just clean the pistol out and see how it shoots or should I just go ahead and talk to Springfield about it?

[Tard]

What ammo are you using?

I found my XD45 Tact would shoot lead reloads perfectly until it suddenly wouldn't chamber a round, with a BIG lead buildup in the chamber. Clean out the chamber, good for another 100-150 rounds, then the same problem. Had a gunsmith polish the chamber, no effect.

These 45's won't shoot lead bullets for this reason.

If you aren't shooting lead bullets, then I don't know what's up, but shooting anything BUT lead, my XD45 has never failed once (shooting mostly reloads).

[ChrisMG]

Hmm, that might be possible. All the factory loads have been FMJ (Remington, Winchester and American Ammunition), but the reloads were 230gr Hornady roundnose lead ball. If it is the lead ball, that's pretty crappy as I put one round in then it locks everything up including the factory ammunition.

[Tard]

Only one? Shouldn't be the issue, what is the obstruction made of, can you scrape it out with something that won't scratch the chamber? Maybe you just have a funky tool gouge in your gun (in which case, SA must fix it).

[Judge]

I know I had trouble with the lip on SWC's catching the feed ramp, but I've shot lead since (RB) and been just fine.

[Tard]

I was shooting older very soft lead bullets left over from the dark ages, the newer moly-coated bullets shoot great in my XD45 (and XD40) but I don't like the smoke. Probably someone makes a HARD lead bullet that will work great too, but I had a problem with mild lead poisioning and now I shoot FMJ and TMJ.

[ChrisMG]

As soon as I get home I'll take everything apart and get a closer look. I'm almost hoping it's something with the gun itself as I'm not sure I want a gun that could fizzle at any moment.

[coastemac]

IMO it should shoot whatever you feed it.... period.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by coastemac

IMO it should shoot whatever you feed it.... period.

If that is the case, all guns should eat all ammo they are fed. I know plenty of "high-end" 1911s that will only run on specific ammo brands. I have also seen some ARs choke on some brands and run clean on others.

Just like a holster, you need to find ammo that is best for you and your gun. There is a reason why there is more than a single brand of ammo on the market.

[ChrisMG]

Originally Posted by Old School

If that is the case, all guns should eat all ammo they are fed. I know plenty of "high-end" 1911s that will only run on specific ammo brands. I have also seen some ARs choke on some brands and run clean on others.

Just like a holster, you need to find ammo that is best for you and your gun. There is a reason why there is more than a single brand of ammo on the market.

I agree with this, to an extent. If it is something with my reloads then it's entirely my fault, I *made* the gun malfunction and Springfield can't be blamed. But if it's just the gun not liking the fact that it's dirty I really have to wonder about the 15,000 round stress tests and user claims of it running forever before needing anything but lube. I'm firing in clean northern Wisconsin conditions, what happens if you take it to the sand box?