Question about barrel - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

ormandj · 03-22-2008, 04:58 PM

When looking at my XD from the front, the barrel is not centered in the hole in the slide. It's down towards the bottom. I've been out shooting a lot, and it's always shooting low. I was told it was probably me, but I'm not shooting low with all the other pistols I own.

Could those who own XD45s look and see if their barrel sits low in the slide? I haven't been able to sandbag mine, so I still can't say it's 100% not me, but the fact I'm shooting 5 other pistols "right on" and the XD low makes me wonder. Especially when half the pistols I've tried have *worse* triggers than the XD, so I'd expect to be pulling them low!

I'd take a picture but I can't find my SD card.

It's very obvious, though. I quadrupal checked my pistol as clear, removed mag, quadruple checked again, pulled out the barrel, shined a bore light through it, made sure I was in a room with no ammo, and put the barrel back in the slide, and re-assembled the pistol. Quadruple checked the gun to be clear again, dry fired it in a safe direction, checked clear after pulling slide back, fired dry once more, then looked at the muzzle from the side. The barrel is towards the bottom of the slide, very clearly.

Is this normal? If you're going to check, follow the above procedure. It's excessive, but I don't need lawsuits from people shooting themselves in the face. For that matter, take a photo if you can. Don't stick your face even to the side of the muzzle, it's never a good idea no matter how many times you check clear. *Disclaimers abound, I'm not responsible if you injure yourself*

I'd really appreciate any feedback on this, I'm trying to dig up a sandbag so I can test, but I really do have a feeling it's the gun now after seeing another response to one of my threads with the same issue, and especially after shooting multiple pistols accurately and this being the only one off (and not just by a little.)

Thanks,
David

sirisaac · 03-22-2008, 06:32 PM

I have an XD45 in 4" and my barrel is definitely towards the bottom of the slide. Sorry, no pics either, but it's noticeable. However, I don't seem to be experiencing any issues with shooting low. Good luck.

ormandj · 03-22-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirisaac

I have an XD45 in 4" and my barrel is definitely towards the bottom of the slide. Sorry, no pics either, but it's noticeable. However, I don't seem to be experiencing any issues with shooting low. Good luck.

That's what I'm looking for, thanks.

For reference, mine is an XD45c w/ 4" barrel. I guess it's the trigger, I'll have to dry fire more - must be different than all the rest of my guns.

If anybody else has time to check this out, please reply with feedback, it would be very much appreciated!

Thanks again, sirisaac.

Cheers,
David

**Loves2Shoot** · 03-22-2008, 07:25 PM

Pull the slide back watch what happens to the barrel, then ask yourself why the barrel is not centered.

jmc45 · 03-22-2008, 10:46 PM

SUOrangeGuy · 03-22-2008, 11:08 PM

Thats one heck of a pic. I hope I never see that view again.

selectedmarksman · 03-23-2008, 02:49 AM

What Loves2Shoot is hinting at is that this 'gap' is by design. You will notice that the barrel is cyllindrical but the openning in the slide is an oval. When the action is in battery the front of the barrel should be in the position shown in the picture above. During the cycling of the action the rear of the barrel (the block you see in the ejection port, the fully supported chamber) lowers slightl to allow the slide to clear it and for the next round to feed. Likewise, the front of the barrel ramps upward slightly and this is where that 'gap' comes into play. Without that gap, the barrel would bind on the openning in the slide and you'd never be able to move the slide back.

Most modern pistols function in this way (All Hail John Browning) unless they are fixed barreled.

If you're shooting low, it could be the sights or you could be anticipating the recoil a bit. You could try letting a friend load your magazine and mix in a dummy round or two while you aren't looking. Now when you fire at some point you'll get a 'click' instead of a 'bang'. If you're anticipating recoil you should notice your front sight dip. You could also try The Bump Drill to break yourself of anticipating recoil and get a good surprise break.

Of course, it could have nothing to do with you and could just be the gun but those are just some suggestions. They're best done under qualified supervision, I will not be held liable for injury resulting from those drills, etc, etc.

ormandj · 03-23-2008, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selectedmarksman

What Loves2Shoot is hinting at is that this 'gap' is by design. You will notice that the barrel is cyllindrical but the openning in the slide is an oval. When the action is in battery the front of the barrel should be in the position shown in the picture above. During the cycling of the action the rear of the barrel (the block you see in the ejection port, the fully supported chamber) lowers slightl to allow the slide to clear it and for the next round to feed. Likewise, the front of the barrel ramps upward slightly and this is where that 'gap' comes into play. Without that gap, the barrel would bind on the openning in the slide and you'd never be able to move the slide back.

Most modern pistols function in this way (All Hail John Browning) unless they are fixed barreled.

If you're shooting low, it could be the sights or you could be anticipating the recoil a bit. You could try letting a friend load your magazine and mix in a dummy round or two while you aren't looking. Now when you fire at some point you'll get a 'click' instead of a 'bang'. If you're anticipating recoil you should notice your front sight dip. You could also try The Bump Drill to break yourself of anticipating recoil and get a good surprise break.

Of course, it could have nothing to do with you and could just be the gun but those are just some suggestions. They're best done under qualified supervision, I will not be held liable for injury resulting from those drills, etc, etc.

Thank you (everyone) for the replies, especially that picture! Like the above poster, I hope I never am looking at the business end again.

I'm glad it's not the barrel (thank you for the wonderful explanation, I worked the slide and saw what was mentioned) because my feed ramp is probably the most polished feed ramp I've ever seen. I'll be sad when I shoot this barrel out!

I've been dry firing a lot since yesterday to see if I can't smooth out my trigger pull, and also working on faster alignment/acquisition of sights/target. I'm also going to take a buddy w/ me to the range next time to watch what I'm doing and see if *I'm* influencing the pistol's alignment during trigger pull.

Thanks,
David

tallmanis67 · 03-25-2008, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the new site. I am always looking for new information resources.

03-22-2008, 04:58 PM	#1
ormandj XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 246	Question about barrel When looking at my XD from the front, the barrel is not centered in the hole in the slide. It's down towards the bottom. I've been out shooting a lot, and it's always shooting low. I was told it was probably me, but I'm not shooting low with all the other pistols I own. Could those who own XD45s look and see if their barrel sits low in the slide? I haven't been able to sandbag mine, so I still can't say it's 100% not me, but the fact I'm shooting 5 other pistols "right on" and the XD low makes me wonder. Especially when half the pistols I've tried have worse triggers than the XD, so I'd expect to be pulling them low! I'd take a picture but I can't find my SD card. It's very obvious, though. I quadrupal checked my pistol as clear, removed mag, quadruple checked again, pulled out the barrel, shined a bore light through it, made sure I was in a room with no ammo, and put the barrel back in the slide, and re-assembled the pistol. Quadruple checked the gun to be clear again, dry fired it in a safe direction, checked clear after pulling slide back, fired dry once more, then looked at the muzzle from the side. The barrel is towards the bottom of the slide, very clearly. Is this normal? If you're going to check, follow the above procedure. It's excessive, but I don't need lawsuits from people shooting themselves in the face. For that matter, take a photo if you can. Don't stick your face even to the side of the muzzle, it's never a good idea no matter how many times you check clear. Disclaimers abound, I'm not responsible if you injure yourself I'd really appreciate any feedback on this, I'm trying to dig up a sandbag so I can test, but I really do have a feeling it's the gun now after seeing another response to one of my threads with the same issue, and especially after shooting multiple pistols accurately and this being the only one off (and not just by a little.) Thanks, David

03-22-2008, 06:32 PM	#2
sirisaac XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 62	I have an XD45 in 4" and my barrel is definitely towards the bottom of the slide. Sorry, no pics either, but it's noticeable. However, I don't seem to be experiencing any issues with shooting low. Good luck. __________________ "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" -George Orwell

03-22-2008, 07:25 PM	#4
Loves2Shoot XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bend, OR Posts: 2,611	Pull the slide back watch what happens to the barrel, then ask yourself why the barrel is not centered. __________________ www.SpringerPrecision.com The XD Specialists - Our web store is now online!

03-25-2008, 08:35 PM	#9
tallmanis67 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 116	The bump drill Thanks for the new site. I am always looking for new information resources. __________________ _______________________ SA - XD .45 ACP Tactical ST - AR-15 NRA Member Proud to CC

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03-22-2008, 10:46 PM	#5
jmc45 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oakland, Ca. Posts: 13

03-22-2008, 11:08 PM	#6
SUOrangeGuy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 152	Thats one heck of a pic. I hope I never see that view again.

03-23-2008, 02:49 AM	#7
selectedmarksman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 142	What Loves2Shoot is hinting at is that this 'gap' is by design. You will notice that the barrel is cyllindrical but the openning in the slide is an oval. When the action is in battery the front of the barrel should be in the position shown in the picture above. During the cycling of the action the rear of the barrel (the block you see in the ejection port, the fully supported chamber) lowers slightl to allow the slide to clear it and for the next round to feed. Likewise, the front of the barrel ramps upward slightly and this is where that 'gap' comes into play. Without that gap, the barrel would bind on the openning in the slide and you'd never be able to move the slide back. Most modern pistols function in this way (All Hail John Browning) unless they are fixed barreled. If you're shooting low, it could be the sights or you could be anticipating the recoil a bit. You could try letting a friend load your magazine and mix in a dummy round or two while you aren't looking. Now when you fire at some point you'll get a 'click' instead of a 'bang'. If you're anticipating recoil you should notice your front sight dip. You could also try The Bump Drill to break yourself of anticipating recoil and get a good surprise break. Of course, it could have nothing to do with you and could just be the gun but those are just some suggestions. They're best done under qualified supervision, I will not be held liable for injury resulting from those drills, etc, etc.