Got my new XD 45 compact - question

[ormandj]

Hi,

I finally got my XD45 compact today, lovely pistol. I brought it home, field stripped it, barrel was filled with crud so I cleaned it out and decided to just go ahead and wipe the whole damn thing inside/out with some solvent, get all the junk off, then lightly oil all the metal bits/rails. I was amazed at how much crap came out for a "fired once" gun, I'm guessing it was packing grease or something.

That out of the way, I'm feeling pretty good. The sites that come with it are a bit trashy (white paint is discolored) but I'll be swapping them for night sites at some point, so no big deal.

Now, one thing I do have to ask (out of curiosity) - is the slide release supposed to be impossible to use without pulling the slide back? I'm guessing this is just a "new gun" issue, and after a few hundred rounds, it'll loosen up - but I just want to verify this is the case.

For those who didn't get what I am trying to explain the symptom is, when I pull the slide back and it catches on the release, if I try to use my thumb on my shooting hand to push the release down and let the slide cycle forward - I am unable to. I don't have girly hands, so it's not a case of being too weak, the release is just *really* firm. Just want to make sure this is normal before the pistol has seen much use (seem to remember reading a thread a long time ago describing this...)

Thanks,
David

[Bree]

Originally Posted by ormandj

Hi,

I finally got my XD45 compact today, lovely pistol. I brought it home, field stripped it, barrel was filled with crud so I cleaned it out and decided to just go ahead and wipe the whole damn thing inside/out with some solvent, get all the junk off, then lightly oil all the metal bits/rails. I was amazed at how much crap came out for a "fired once" gun, I'm guessing it was packing grease or something.

That out of the way, I'm feeling pretty good. The sites that come with it are a bit trashy (white paint is discolored) but I'll be swapping them for night sites at some point, so no big deal.

Now, one thing I do have to ask (out of curiosity) - is the slide release supposed to be impossible to use without pulling the slide back? I'm guessing this is just a "new gun" issue, and after a few hundred rounds, it'll loosen up - but I just want to verify this is the case.

For those who didn't get what I am trying to explain the symptom is, when I pull the slide back and it catches on the release, if I try to use my thumb on my shooting hand to push the release down and let the slide cycle forward - I am unable to. I don't have girly hands, so it's not a case of being too weak, the release is just *really* firm. Just want to make sure this is normal before the pistol has seen much use (seem to remember reading a thread a long time ago describing this...)

Thanks,
David

No worries David... it loosens up. I had the same trouble at first and now I pop it with my thumb easily. I can't comment on the crud because mine didn't have any. But I think you will love this gun. If mine was stolen, I would be on the phone to my gunsmith to get me another in the blink of an eye.

[ormandj]

Originally Posted by Bree

No worries David... it loosens up. I had the same trouble at first and now I pop it with my thumb easily. I can't comment on the crud because mine didn't have any. But I think you will love this gun. If mine was stolen, I would be on the phone to my gunsmith to get me another in the blink of an eye.

I've lusted over it for about 3 months now (I try holding off three months on any larger purchases I make so I know it's not an impulse buy) - and I wish I hadn't. I've been renting XD 45s at the range almost every weekend, and had a blast every time. Considering those are heavily used/poorly maintained range guns seeing 2k rounds a week according to the owners, they are amazing. Never had a FTF or any issue, for that matter - and they shoot true.

Same can't be said for the range 1911s, FTF once every few magazines with the same ammo - they're dirty guns, but so is the XD. I'm slightly more accurate with the 1911, but I'm putting every round through an eyeball or mouth at the backstop, so I'm not really too concerned. Anything beyond that, and I've got rifles to utilize.

Can't wait to take my sweetie out to the range and wring her out properly, have a feeling the only reason I'm going to leave that day is 100k in credit card debt from buying .45 or a hand that no longer functions from recoil.

Pictures will follow as soon as I can find my blasted SD card and reader.

Thanks for the input, I feel at ease now!

Cheers,
David

[XDONBOARD]

Completely normal, some still suggest to slightly pull it back then release. I say f**k that. I one hand that baby on every new mag.