Compare HK and XD Tacticals

[ninjamaster]

I searched and didn't find any threads like this yet.

Can anyone that has experience or owns an HK and XD Tactical compare these handguns?

ie:
feel(size), accuracy, recoil, durability, capacity, finish, weight, price, options, and whatever else you feel you wouldlike to add!

[xdfan80]

The only thing I know for sure is the hk costs a lot more. Supposed to be good guns though. I hope someone else can give you more help.

[ninjamaster]

Please keep this post going. I don't know why the other 2 post went on the boards.

Yes, the HK's are spendy but I feel you get a lot with the price. I am an HK owner. Just wanted to see how people felt about the XD's in comparrison.

I just almost bought 2 hk's decided not to until I shoot one, I can say this, I like my xd's way more tha glock

[AEC]

I have the XD and my shooting partner has the USP both in 45. I like the DA/SA trigger and the ability to safely lower the hammer on the USP. The over all quality equal, so to me the cost to quality ratio goes in favor of the XD. In fact before I bought my XD I compared the two side by side at the range and to me it was a no brainer to go XD, the recoil seemed lighter, thus follow up shots came quicker, and it was over all more accurate for me. The trigger on the XD seemed smoother as well. Once my son gets older I am going to be switching from the XD as I am more comfortable with a DA/SA trigger with one in the pipe then the light first shot on the XD. That raises a new dilemma, USP or SIG...

[Kaboom]

I have the full size USP in 40S&W, it's build quality really isnt any better than XD. The plastic of the frame is very stiff and feels kinda toylike, front strap checkering was aggresive enough that I had to rework it a bit for more comfort. Someone on one post was complaining about XDs having ugly roll pins in the slide, the MUCH more expensive USP has roll pins too. Slide "rails" are tiny bits of metal embedded in the plastic. I only got it because I wanted a 40 and the 40 is the only XD version I had heard any problems about. The mags for the HK are crazy priced ( $40+ ) but are real nice and easy to fully load ( 13rnd LEOs ). The slide has a VERY light spring, VERY easy to cycle. Mine ( Custom Combat ) has the SA/DA as well as the safety/decocker and hammer. The safety is real nice but de-cockers are kind of useless unless maybee you are wearing gloves, and with a manual safety they are pretty pointless. Trigger is not quite as good in DA as my CZ, slightly better in SA than my CZ. Oh yeah the rail is HK design, only HK accessories ( lights LASERs etc ) will work without an adaptor. The grip is quite a bit larger than the XD. Recoil is only slightly more than my XD-9. I dont have a lot of faith in the USPs durability over time.

[Kaboom]

Would someone please delete the other two or three copies of this thread.

[perkelp]

I own both the HK Compact .45 with the LEM (“Law Enforcement Module”) trigger and the XD Compact .45. The LEM is a fire control group that gives the same trigger pull all day and all night like an XD. It can be installed at the factory or you can do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined; I elected to have the factory install mine. I then sent the HK to Tommy Thacker of Thacker Guns in Virginia to have an action job performed. Some like the DA/SA thing, and I respect that, but for me personally I prefer to have only one trigger pull.

As I type this my XD .45 Tactical is at Scott Springer’s – a GREAT guy, btw – getting the trigger mods and other work done.

The HK is a very high quality weapon, and yes, it does cost more than the XD. With the HK, my trigger pull is a consistent 6.5 pounds as measured on a Lyman electronic scale. On the HK Compact .45 LEM and only on that particular pistol, you can’t go less than 6.5 pounds without risking light primer strikes which I encountered. However, the trigger feels lighter than that due to Tommy’s terrific work.

The LEM has an inherent very long take-up (dead space before the trigger trips) and a somewhat longer reset than some pistols. For me personally this is not optimum and it is something that a shooter must get used to. Isn’t a problem but it is an inherent trait of the gun. And yes, the HK is more expensive and mags cost more, but you can find the mags a little cheaper if you look around. HK factory support is good as well.

My XD had the trigger job by Springer and it is right at 4.5 pounds, the same trigger pull weight as all of my 1911s. It also has a very short takeup and a very short trigger reset. The XD is exceptionally tough and dependable. I also had Scott install a Bar-Sto match grade barrel, which had some initial teething problems that were solved by Irv Stone of Bar-Sto himself and the fix is now incorporated in all Bar-Sto barrels for this pistol. The XD was pretty accurate out of the box and the match grade makes it even more accurate. I find the XD is sensitive to one handed shooting in that I have to give it a very sturdy platform or I get ftf problems; these are shooter induced and not the fault of the pistol.

I also like the features of the XD such as the loaded chamber indicator, etc.

The XD Compact is my current carry pistol. I find this size of pistol (along with the HK Compact .45 and Commander-sized 1911s) to be the best compromise between accuracy and concealability, but that is just my opinion.

Frankly you won’t go wrong with either pistol. HTH

Paul

[Kaboom]

perkelp, is the ONLY differance between the Compact and full size USP the barrel length or are there internal differances too?

[jlmdlm]

"I own both the HK Compact .45 with the LEM (“Law Enforcement Module”) trigger and the XD Compact .45. The LEM is a fire control group that gives the same trigger pull all day and all night like an XD. It can be installed at the factory or you can do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined; I elected to have the factory install mine. I then sent the HK to Tommy Thacker of Thacker Guns in Virginia to have an action job performed. Some like the DA/SA thing, and I respect that, but for me personally I prefer to have only one trigger pull. "

How do the two compare as far as size goes? Width, height, weight? Do you have any pics of the two side by side?