Help with first XD - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

daug85 · 01-11-2008, 02:56 PM

Well let me start off, this is my first post here. Also,I am a farm boy from South Louisiana that is now in college. Ok, here's the deal. I know that I want a .45acp xd. really bad, and I only have a few questions. I'm pretty much sold on the 4" model, but the compact has me very interested. How hard is it to realistically conceal it? also, I have been debating getting a regular one, or saving more to get one with the night sights, if i wait then it will prolly get a set anyway, but im asking about cost/benifit/trouble to replace... any advice would be greatly appreciated.

**XD9Sub** · 01-11-2008, 03:52 PM

Welcome to the forum! The XD45 Compact is fairly easy to conceal, for a 4" barrel. It's much tougher to conceal the full sized grip, but it's possible, I did for about 8 months before I bought my Compact. The Compact model gives you the choice of using either the short 10rnd mag or the full sized 13rnd mag.

As for night sights, I'd wait and get some after-market sights after you get experience with the XD45. That'll save you some cost on the initial purchase too. You can search this forum for night sights, many have posted their likes. I've put TruGlo Fiber Optic sights on 3 different XD45s. The TFO is a popular sight, as you'll find in the searches, and several forum sponsors sell/install these sights. Definitely have someone experienced with XD sight removal/installation do the job, it can be pretty tough (especially the removal of the factory sights).

Anyway, enjoy the XD45 and welcome.

Wild Rice · 01-11-2008, 04:05 PM

If you live in a dorm or university housing, check the regulations. You may not be allowed to keep a gun there.

MasLakas · 01-11-2008, 04:05 PM

I conceal the XD45 Service with no problems. I use an Inside-the-Waist Band holster. I got my XD before the compact was out and I would have gotten the compact when I got mine. The Compact version would be much easier to conceal as the grip is shorter with the 10 round magazine. A local gunsmith should not charge you too much to change the sights out, but make sure you find one that is familiar with the XD. I use the sights that came with the XD and have no plans to get night sights right now.

**NC Dave** · 01-11-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasLakas

I conceal the XD45 Service with no problems. I use an Inside-the-Waist Band holster. I got my XD before the compact was out and I would have gotten the compact when I got mine. The Compact version would be much easier to conceal as the grip is shorter with the 10 round magazine. A local gunsmith should not charge you too much to change the sights out, but make sure you find one that is familiar with the XD. I use the sights that came with the XD and have no plans to get night sights right now.

+1 on everything MasLakas said.

Archer1945 · 01-11-2008, 09:19 PM

Both the 4" and 5" Compacts are very easy to conceal with the 10 rd magazines either in a good IWB holster or a OWB, if it fits tightly against your side. Even with the 13rd mag an IWB should conceal well, depending on how it is worn. My SIG P226 just happens to be the same size as my Compacts with the 13rd magazine and it conceals very well in a Galco Stow and Go IWB.

jackbauer · 01-11-2008, 09:49 PM

Daug,

A couple things to consider...

First, I think there is enough benefit to the 45 Compact model to recommend it over the standard 4" 45 model. It's what I would consider the best of both worlds. For me, I don't worry about concealing a full-size grip because I dress around my gun for the most part. The clothing and the holster play a HUGE impact on the concealability of any gun IMHO.

Second, if you are thinking that you would have to wait to get the Compact model because you want it with night sights, I'd say this: get it without the night sights now and add them later when you have some extra cash. It's much better to have a gun without night sights than to have no gun at all. Further, there is a pretty good argument against having night sights on a defensive gun in the first place because if you can't see your target...and that's why you need night sights...you might not want to take the shot.

Again, I'd get the Compact 45 if I were you. You will never regret it.

rgeliske · 01-12-2008, 09:25 AM

The 4" XD45 Compact is the perfect all around Concealment gun, it is just as easy to conceal as a SC with the sight radius of a fullsize. I agree with most everyone else about the sights do not wait for night sights just order a set of TFOs when you get the gun. One thing most people fail to see about night trijicon type night sights is that they are more difficult to see in the daylight. In the daylight the gas filled tube encased in the sight actually appears smaller and darker that factory 3 dot sights. On the other hand the TFO is a gas filled Fiber Optic tube which is bright during the day as well as the night and appear somewhat larger than the factory 3 dot sight. I have green/green TFOs on both of my carry guns, XD9sc and XD45 Compact.

daug85 · 01-12-2008, 10:49 AM

Well, thanks to everyone. Your insight has pretty much told me what I needed to here. I was gonna get the service model because this will mostly be a house/truck gun, but from what I have been told though the compact will work great too when I finally get my concealment licence. My next obvious question is what type of ammo do you use for self-defense? Also, what holsters do you use (on the hip/concealment)?

briang2ad · 01-12-2008, 05:50 PM

Send the slide out to a professional and not even try to install them yourself?

01-11-2008, 02:56 PM	#1
daug85 XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 64	Help with first XD Well let me start off, this is my first post here. Also,I am a farm boy from South Louisiana that is now in college. Ok, here's the deal. I know that I want a .45acp xd. really bad, and I only have a few questions. I'm pretty much sold on the 4" model, but the compact has me very interested. How hard is it to realistically conceal it? also, I have been debating getting a regular one, or saving more to get one with the night sights, if i wait then it will prolly get a set anyway, but im asking about cost/benifit/trouble to replace... any advice would be greatly appreciated.

01-11-2008, 03:52 PM	#2
XD9Sub XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 1,011	Welcome to the forum! The XD45 Compact is fairly easy to conceal, for a 4" barrel. It's much tougher to conceal the full sized grip, but it's possible, I did for about 8 months before I bought my Compact. The Compact model gives you the choice of using either the short 10rnd mag or the full sized 13rnd mag. As for night sights, I'd wait and get some after-market sights after you get experience with the XD45. That'll save you some cost on the initial purchase too. You can search this forum for night sights, many have posted their likes. I've put TruGlo Fiber Optic sights on 3 different XD45s. The TFO is a popular sight, as you'll find in the searches, and several forum sponsors sell/install these sights. Definitely have someone experienced with XD sight removal/installation do the job, it can be pretty tough (especially the removal of the factory sights). Anyway, enjoy the XD45 and welcome. __________________ "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

01-11-2008, 04:05 PM	#4
MasLakas XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cache Valley, Utah Posts: 2,833	I conceal the XD45 Service with no problems. I use an Inside-the-Waist Band holster. I got my XD before the compact was out and I would have gotten the compact when I got mine. The Compact version would be much easier to conceal as the grip is shorter with the 10 round magazine. A local gunsmith should not charge you too much to change the sights out, but make sure you find one that is familiar with the XD. I use the sights that came with the XD and have no plans to get night sights right now. __________________ I speak softly and carry a .45. UtahConcealedCarry.Org

01-11-2008, 09:49 PM	#7
jackbauer XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tiffin, OH Posts: 208	Daug, A couple things to consider... First, I think there is enough benefit to the 45 Compact model to recommend it over the standard 4" 45 model. It's what I would consider the best of both worlds. For me, I don't worry about concealing a full-size grip because I dress around my gun for the most part. The clothing and the holster play a HUGE impact on the concealability of any gun IMHO. Second, if you are thinking that you would have to wait to get the Compact model because you want it with night sights, I'd say this: get it without the night sights now and add them later when you have some extra cash. It's much better to have a gun without night sights than to have no gun at all. Further, there is a pretty good argument against having night sights on a defensive gun in the first place because if you can't see your target...and that's why you need night sights...you might not want to take the shot. Again, I'd get the Compact 45 if I were you. You will never regret it. __________________ Chris ("charben" on OFCC forums)

01-12-2008, 09:25 AM	#8
rgeliske XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,888	The 4" XD45 Compact is the perfect all around Concealment gun, it is just as easy to conceal as a SC with the sight radius of a fullsize. I agree with most everyone else about the sights do not wait for night sights just order a set of TFOs when you get the gun. One thing most people fail to see about night trijicon type night sights is that they are more difficult to see in the daylight. In the daylight the gas filled tube encased in the sight actually appears smaller and darker that factory 3 dot sights. On the other hand the TFO is a gas filled Fiber Optic tube which is bright during the day as well as the night and appear somewhat larger than the factory 3 dot sight. I have green/green TFOs on both of my carry guns, XD9sc and XD45 Compact. __________________ Sig P220, Taurus PT1911, Browning HiPower 9mm, CZ75, CZ75 P01, Kahr CW9, Savage 9317 BTVS .17, Browning Buckmark, Taurus Gaucho 357 (pair), Taurus Gaucho 45LC (pair), Uberti 1873 Saddle Rifle 357, Uberti 1873 45 LC Carbine, TTN 12 Gauge Double, Ruger Bisley Vaquero 357 (pair), Springfield XD9SC, XD45 Service, XD45 Compact Tactical, XD(M) 40S&W BiTone, Taurus 617 357

01-11-2008, 04:05 PM	#3
Wild Rice XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 246	If you live in a dorm or university housing, check the regulations. You may not be allowed to keep a gun there.

01-11-2008, 09:19 PM	#6
Archer1945 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eastern MO Posts: 327	Both the 4" and 5" Compacts are very easy to conceal with the 10 rd magazines either in a good IWB holster or a OWB, if it fits tightly against your side. Even with the 13rd mag an IWB should conceal well, depending on how it is worn. My SIG P226 just happens to be the same size as my Compacts with the 13rd magazine and it conceals very well in a Galco Stow and Go IWB.

01-12-2008, 10:49 AM	#9
daug85 XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 64	Well, thanks to everyone. Your insight has pretty much told me what I needed to here. I was gonna get the service model because this will mostly be a house/truck gun, but from what I have been told though the compact will work great too when I finally get my concealment licence. My next obvious question is what type of ammo do you use for self-defense? Also, what holsters do you use (on the hip/concealment)?

01-12-2008, 05:50 PM	#10
briang2ad XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 236	Is the conventional wisdom to Send the slide out to a professional and not even try to install them yourself?

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