Hello to all. This is my first XDtalk forum post. After reading countless reviews and making all of the necessary comparison between various glocks to various XDs, I have come to the conclusion that by purchasing an XD I will have made a supervior purchase to the Glock. I just received my concealed license and can't decide on which XD to get. Since it is my first gun I would like to cover my basis with a good self defense caliber and something that is manageable at the range.
It is between the 3" sub-compact .40, the 4" service .40, and I have very serious interest in the .45, but not sure of this one would be too much as a first handgun.
Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated
Handgun, AND it will primarily be your CCW, get the SubCompact. It is way cool, and will conceal well, AND you can use 16 round mags for the nightstand. You will be able to shoot it MORE than the 45 (cheaper), and it will be easier to learn how to shoot well with it. The 45 is nice for a 45, but the kick IS greater than any 9mm1
The .40 is certainly a good caliber but I would check out the different models, (sub-compact, service), hold them to see what fits your hand best, which is easier for you to conceal, and if possible shoot them to see what's best for you.
If you are going to carry a handgun to defend your life, you want to make sure you are comfortable with it.
Of course, you could always buy both!
Good luck!
__________________ "Better to fight for something than live for nothing."
My opinion is that small pocket gun may look unintimidating and tempting to the novice, but is actually more of an expert's gun. With a small gun, you need a precise and firm grip, steady aim, and lots of practice at trigger control. That is why a 38 snub nose is harder to shoot than a full sized service revolver. By the same token, mini autos can be harder to handle for a novice.
The 45 cal can be pleasant to shoot since the velocity is less. It is not much more recoil than a 9mm or 40S&W. The XD is especially adept at taming 45 recoil. So don't fear the 45 auto even if you are new to the shooting sports.
I would recommend the 4" XD45 Compact for your carry needs. It should be very easy to shoot at the range and as a novice, you should spend lots of time at the range. I have the 5" XD45 Compact which is admittedly a bit bulky for concealed carry. Also, a target auto 22LR is a good choice for a novice to learn gun handling and trigger control at low cost.
It seems to me that a short barrel 40 or even a 9 has a bit more muzzle flip than a 45. It's purely subjective, but the 45 seems to almost move in slow motion compared to a higher velocity round. and a 3 inch barrel will have a bit more flip than a 4 inch.
And it's not a "kick" for any of them. Just a flip at the end of the muzzle. Kick moves your elbows and even shoulders. Flip effects only to the wrist. Non-official definition there...
I have the XD-45 in 4 inch. It shoots real well.
I also have a j frame S&W 357 that has proven to be an incredible piece of machinery. I'm tempted to sell my 357, and get the 9mm or 40 compact for daily carry. I'm about 60/40 to pick the 40 over the 9mm. Mind you, this is from a shooter that fired only revolvers for many years. I'm sold on the XD. And coming from a revolver, the long reset dealio is no biggie for me.
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We have elected an American President who forgets to salute during the National Anthem, requests that Christian Crosses be covered during his visits to college campuses, and bows his head when in front of Arabic Royalty. We deserve what is coming.
I have never fired a .40 from any gun. Why are they so popular? Being totally ignorant on the subject I just don't see the need for that caliber. If a 9 isn't big enough, go with the .45. (I have both.)
Don't know for sure but someone told me the local Cops have the .45, BUT lady Cops can select a .40 if they want. I can't believe there is that big a difference in recoil so a petite cop could handle a .40 but not a .45.
I have never fired a .40 from any gun. Why are they so popular? Being totally ignorant on the subject I just don't see the need for that caliber. If a 9 isn't big enough, go with the .45. (I have both.)
Don't know for sure but someone told me the local Cops have the .45, BUT lady Cops can select a .40 if they want. I can't believe there is that big a difference in recoil so a petite cop could handle a .40 but not a .45.
Edjumicate me please.
I've not fired the .45 but have heard that the .40 is snappier than even the .45. It is a bit snappier than the 9mm, but it doesn't bother me enough to really see a huge difference. My brother in law has the XD-9 SC. That is the first XD that I fired and is what got me hooked on XD.(I had never heard of them before that). I went out and purchased the .40 and have fired both with him side by side. The .40 doesn't bother me at all and I can shoot it all day. I went with the XD-.40 service model for the extra stopping power. He was really trying to sell me on the 9mm. I'm really happy I went the way I did. I absolutely love the XD.
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XD-40S Blk/Blk
\"After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn’t do it. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to live in a society where the only people allowed guns are the police and the military.\" - William Burroughs
I've had a Glock 40 and a Browning 40. In truth, the 40 is my favorite caliber, besides the 45. I'm not a 9mm fan, but I formed that opinion when I was reloading most of what I shot. The taper of the 9mm poses some challenges that a more straight walled case (40 or 45) would not during the reload process.
These days, good ammo choices really blurs the line between the performance of a 9mm and a 40. I'm just stuck on the 40 now for comfort and familiarity sake.
Why is there a 40? Because it's a marketable product. It filled a niche that the 10 mm created by being too powerful. The 10mm kicked badly enough that the FBI looked for special light loads to carry. Someone soon realized that the light FBI loads could be duplicated in a case short enough to be fired from a 9mm size pistol, and the 40 was born. Glock put the first commercial 40 out (G22), followed closely by S&W (4006), as I recall.
Which is better? Which ever one you can carry comfortably, shoot accurately, practice often with, and functions flawlessly.
The 9mm on your hip is better then the 40 or 45 you left in the safe.
An accurate hit with a 9mm trumps a poor hit with a 40 or 45.
A 9mm you can afford to practice with is a far wiser choice than the 40 or 45 you can't afford rounds for this week.
The performance of good 9mm loads in a short barrel is the reason I'm 40% towards my next pistol being a 9mm. I'm not sure there is any data comparing the 40 versus the 9mm in a 3 inch barrel, but I'd be willing to bet there isn't much advantage to the slightly larger 40.
__________________
We have elected an American President who forgets to salute during the National Anthem, requests that Christian Crosses be covered during his visits to college campuses, and bows his head when in front of Arabic Royalty. We deserve what is coming.
I've shot the 3" 40 and I own a .45 compact. The .45 is by far (IMO) the superior gun for ccw. It has less kick than the 3" .40, and with the 10 shot mag, it is every bit as concealable. Add that to the fact that it's a .45 and not a .40 or a *gasp* 9mm, and it's a best bet.
Get the .45 compact. You can carry the 10 round mag in the gun and have a 13 round backup mag.
Trying to decide on an XD - Need Help
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