Any reason NOT to get a 5" compact? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Epic| · 10-02-2007, 01:55 PM

I'm trying to decide between the two and while the 5" recently won the coin flip test [Edit: vs. the 4" compact] I still have doubts. The only thing I can think of though is the gun feeling a bit nose heavy for the size of the grip. I've put a decent number of rounds through nose heavy revolvers and haven't felt it to be an issue so I'm thinking that won't be a problem for me.

I'm also more likely to open carry than conceal but compact gives me the option of the shorter grip should I decide to carry concealed.

Does anyone have anything to offer up?

Thanks

rogerxd45 · 10-02-2007, 02:10 PM

well what was the other option? is it the 4"

Epic| · 10-02-2007, 02:14 PM

Yep.

rogerxd45 · 10-02-2007, 02:25 PM

i personally dont like the look of the 5" so take that into consideration when reading my advice.
if i were to have a gun that was purely a range gun and i did compatition i would most likely chose the 5 inch
now if the gun is for any type of carry i like the 4 inch now the biggist thing is the size of the grip but since they are the same that doesnt matter. with the shorter barrel it makes it easier and faster to clear the holster but really doesnt make that big of a difference the 4" would be easier to throw in your pocket if you wanted to. i would say chose which one you like the looks of better since really there isnt too much of a difference
5"
longer barrel
longer sight radius
easier to swap recoil springs
4"
lighter
more concealable
way better looking

Epic| · 10-02-2007, 02:44 PM

I can't decide which I like the look of better but I like the idea of it being a bit more accurate (Or so I have read). I'm not sure if the longer sight radius would be a good thing or not. I don't wear pants / coats with pockets large enough to handle either gun.

Damn. Maybe the best two out of three for the coin flip? Thanks for your input.

ptn · 10-02-2007, 03:00 PM

My first XD was the service and I thought there was an awful lot of grip proportional to the barrel....so I traded it in and got a compact and a tactical, both of which have proportions I find more pleasing to the eye. The compact handle is easier to conceal and it seems like a smaller pistol than it actually is. The tactical, on the other hand seems huge by comparison. I don't really notice that I shoot one better the other. It's all subjective. You may not know whether you like one better than the other until you get it in your hands for awhile. I enjoyed shooting my service model for several months before I realized it wasn't the configuration I desired.

**XD9Sub** · 10-02-2007, 03:53 PM

You really need to shoot a 4" and a 5" to see which you prefer. Have you ever shot a Commander sized 1911 (4 or 4.25") and compared it to a full sized 1911? That's about the closest comparison I can think of.

If you do lots of range shooting, for fun or competition, you'll probably like the 5" model more, as others have suggested.

If you're going to carry it 18hrs a day, it'll be a little easier to conceal the 4" model, and you'll have more carry options.

As for which looks better, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I can't really see one looks better (or worse) than the other

**QCATrader** · 10-02-2007, 04:10 PM

If you're going to actually carry it CCW, consider the 4". It may be easier to conceal, but more importantly, it may be far more comfortable when you are sitting down.

Then when you go to the range, put in the full size mag and you're ready to go.

billbrasky · 10-02-2007, 04:13 PM

4 inch is the perfect medium point where carry practicallity meets performance. Sure you can be more accurate and get better muzzle velocity with longer barrels over lil stubby ones, but at what price.

I would lean towards the 4 more than the 5 but thats what i have. I like my xd45 compact. 5 is 25% longer than the 4. Is it 25 % better ? At the distance you will be shooting, doubtful.

StevePVB · 10-02-2007, 04:42 PM

I just bought the 4". I live near a shop/range that rents. I made three trips and shot both. Third trip ended up being a tiebreaker. Not really an issue at the range but felt the 4" would be a lot better for carry. It is close to the same size as a .380 I have moved to the backburner.

10-02-2007, 01:55 PM	#1
Epic\| XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 17	Any reason NOT to get a 5" compact? I'm trying to decide between the two and while the 5" recently won the coin flip test [Edit: vs. the 4" compact] I still have doubts. The only thing I can think of though is the gun feeling a bit nose heavy for the size of the grip. I've put a decent number of rounds through nose heavy revolvers and haven't felt it to be an issue so I'm thinking that won't be a problem for me. I'm also more likely to open carry than conceal but compact gives me the option of the shorter grip should I decide to carry concealed. Does anyone have anything to offer up? Thanks Last edited by Epic\|; 10-02-2007 at 02:16 PM.

10-02-2007, 03:53 PM	#7
XD9Sub XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 1,025	You really need to shoot a 4" and a 5" to see which you prefer. Have you ever shot a Commander sized 1911 (4 or 4.25") and compared it to a full sized 1911? That's about the closest comparison I can think of. If you do lots of range shooting, for fun or competition, you'll probably like the 5" model more, as others have suggested. If you're going to carry it 18hrs a day, it'll be a little easier to conceal the 4" model, and you'll have more carry options. As for which looks better, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I can't really see one looks better (or worse) than the other __________________ "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

10-02-2007, 04:10 PM	#8
QCATrader XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Iowa / Arizona Posts: 292	If you're going to actually carry it CCW, consider the 4". It may be easier to conceal, but more importantly, it may be far more comfortable when you are sitting down. Then when you go to the range, put in the full size mag and you're ready to go. __________________ If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's in English, thank a vet!

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10-02-2007, 02:10 PM	#2
rogerxd45 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: boise ID (its boy-see, not boy-z) Posts: 3,592	well what was the other option? is it the 4"

10-02-2007, 02:14 PM	#3
Epic\| XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 17	Yep.

10-02-2007, 02:25 PM	#4
rogerxd45 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: boise ID (its boy-see, not boy-z) Posts: 3,592	i personally dont like the look of the 5" so take that into consideration when reading my advice. if i were to have a gun that was purely a range gun and i did compatition i would most likely chose the 5 inch now if the gun is for any type of carry i like the 4 inch now the biggist thing is the size of the grip but since they are the same that doesnt matter. with the shorter barrel it makes it easier and faster to clear the holster but really doesnt make that big of a difference the 4" would be easier to throw in your pocket if you wanted to. i would say chose which one you like the looks of better since really there isnt too much of a difference 5" longer barrel longer sight radius easier to swap recoil springs 4" lighter more concealable way better looking

10-02-2007, 02:44 PM	#5
Epic\| XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 17	I can't decide which I like the look of better but I like the idea of it being a bit more accurate (Or so I have read). I'm not sure if the longer sight radius would be a good thing or not. I don't wear pants / coats with pockets large enough to handle either gun. Damn. Maybe the best two out of three for the coin flip? Thanks for your input.

10-02-2007, 03:00 PM	#6
ptn XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 36	My first XD was the service and I thought there was an awful lot of grip proportional to the barrel....so I traded it in and got a compact and a tactical, both of which have proportions I find more pleasing to the eye. The compact handle is easier to conceal and it seems like a smaller pistol than it actually is. The tactical, on the other hand seems huge by comparison. I don't really notice that I shoot one better the other. It's all subjective. You may not know whether you like one better than the other until you get it in your hands for awhile. I enjoyed shooting my service model for several months before I realized it wasn't the configuration I desired.

10-02-2007, 04:13 PM	#9
billbrasky XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: suburban detroit Posts: 3,346	4 inch is the perfect medium point where carry practicallity meets performance. Sure you can be more accurate and get better muzzle velocity with longer barrels over lil stubby ones, but at what price. I would lean towards the 4 more than the 5 but thats what i have. I like my xd45 compact. 5 is 25% longer than the 4. Is it 25 % better ? At the distance you will be shooting, doubtful.

10-02-2007, 04:42 PM	#10
StevePVB XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 162	I just bought the 4". I live near a shop/range that rents. I made three trips and shot both. Third trip ended up being a tiebreaker. Not really an issue at the range but felt the 4" would be a lot better for carry. It is close to the same size as a .380 I have moved to the backburner.