Curious about accuracy with stock trigger

[ormandj]

After a day at the range over the weekend, I'm a bit curious.

I've got quite a few rounds downrange with my XD45c, and I feel I've gotten most of my bad habits worked out. At 15yds (not on a bench), I can put 50 rounds, 10 or so in center ring, most in the second ring, and a few in the third ring on a B16. If I had to guess, that's something around a 6" group. This is one shot per second or so. How well do you folks shoot at this range with stock XD45c's? Nobody else at the range I go to shoots them, so I don't have anything else to compare against.

I thought this was pretty good, until a guy in the stall next to me wanted to give the XD45c a try. I traded him pistols for a while, he had a SA 1911 loaded, one of their middle-of-the-road pistols. Obviously we're comparing a 500$ pistol to a 1000$ pistol, but still - first time shooting a 1911 in 10 years, and I had only put a few boxes through a 1911 back then. I tore the center ring out, minus four or five shots in the second ring. He shot about the same as I was with the XD. Complained about the trigger.

Now, to make this comparison fair, it was a 5" barrel model, my XD45c is a 4". So, the sight radius I'm sure made a slight difference. The one thing that was *very* noticeable, though, was the trigger, even for me. I know the 1911s are well known for the "breaks like glass" trigger, so this isn't very surprising, but it's made me not want to shoot my XD anymore. I've always blamed myself for the inability to keep it in the 10 ring, but now I'm starting to wonder if that's an accurate assessment now.

I've been hunting around for 1911s, just got back from visiting the three major shops around this city, with no luck. None of them have much (if any) stock of SA 1911s. Additionally, to get a nice one, I'm going to be shelling out a fair amount of cash. Also, they're going to be big, because I've heard nothing but bad things about short barreled 1911s - so I'd be stuck with the 5.5" grip. Having the compact, I can already tell that extra 1/2 inch of grip length is really going to make a difference for concealed carry.

So, it got me to thinking, how is a XD45c going to shoot with a trigger job? It's a fair amount of $$ (which is why I was looking at 1911s anyways), but I figured I'd throw it out there. I've seen some trigger job threads, and people seem to like them, but compared to a 1911, how nice of a trigger am I really going to achieve with work done on the XD? If it's close, I'll give it a shot, and see how things go. I really do like the XD, the reliability is a *big* thing for me.

The other thing that's got me thinking - I keep hearing rumors from various places (including a current thread here) about the XDm being offered in .45 one of these days. It sounds like it'll have a lot of what I'm looking for, already included. Better trigger (how much better...?), match grade barrel, etc. Should I just keep what I have for now and wait? Looking at the "production" package which seems closest to what I'd want with the XD, I'm looking at putting another 600$+ into this pistol. With XDm's going for $600 right now, that seems like a poor decision to make - especially since I could sell the XD45c at that time, purchase the XDm in .45, and walk out ahead of the game.

I'm just looking for some guidance/input, and people's impressions of their (stock) XDs, and how well they shoot them. I'm totally willing and able to accept it's *still* me that is leading to the current accuracy I have, if people are shooting 2" groups with their stock XD45s at 15 yds. I just feel like something is amiss with the drastic change in accuracy when shooting the 1911, that I can't chalk up only to sight radius and the additional weight. I'd really rather stay with the xd/more modern platform in the end, as appealing as the 1911s are. In a perfect world, I'd have tons of money I could use to purchase both, but for now - I need a CC/range gun, all in one.

Thank you for any input/advice/opinions/whatever you can give me!

[Leprechaun97]

ormandj-

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago. Check out the thread titled "Why not a 1911?" in this forum.

A bunch of folks had some good info and advice to share.

Good luck.

[PackerfanXD]

Of the last three XDs I've owned, the triggers smoothed out considerably the more rounds I put through the pistols. I've had my XD45c for a while but don't have all that many rounds through it yet but I'm expecting a better pull as the pistol gets used which will aid in accuracy.

[ormandj]

Originally Posted by Leprechaun97

ormandj-

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago. Check out the thread titled "Why not a 1911?" in this forum.

A bunch of folks had some good info and advice to share.

Good luck.

Saw this one before I posted, but it didn't have the answers I was looking for, hence this thread with some specific questions - not a general one. Thanks, though - I certainly gleaned that most XD owners either own/want to own a 1911 from it. Cheers.

[ormandj]

Originally Posted by PackerfanXD

Of the last three XDs I've owned, the triggers smoothed out considerably the more rounds I put through the pistols. I've had my XD45c for a while but don't have all that many rounds through it yet but I'm expecting a better pull as the pistol gets used which will aid in accuracy.

I've put thousands downrange, it has smoothed out some, but it's still not what I'd like. What kind of groups do you shoot at 15 yards with your XD45c? Some numbers would go a long way towards making me feel better/making me buy a 1911.

Cheers,
David

[XD45Compact_NY]

Originally Posted by ormandj

...first time shooting a 1911 in 10 years, and I had only put a few boxes through a 1911 back then. I tore the center ring out, minus four or five shots in the second ring. He shot about the same as I was with the XD. Complained about the trigger....

It's a fair amount of $$ (which is why I was looking at 1911s anyways), but I figured I'd throw it out there. I've seen some trigger job threads, and people seem to like them, but compared to a 1911, how nice of a trigger am I really going to achieve with work done on the XD?.....

I know the 1911s are well known for the "breaks like glass" trigger, so this isn't very surprising, but it's made me not want to shoot my XD anymore.

I hear you, man...and I'm right about where you are. The XD was my 1st auto-feeder and although it wasn't as accurate as my Ruger GP-100 .357 revolver (that I mostly shoot 38 sp through)...I just chalked it up to the added recoil of the .45, etc.

Then I got my 1st 1911 (a Kimber CDP II)....and was putting groups into a raquetball at 75 feet where my XD was maybe a paper plate (granted, I'm no expert or marksman...but just comparing the groups of both guns)....the XD was always far behind. At close range...I can make a single hole with the 1911 and not with the XD.

I thought, heck...the XD is a combat pistol and isn't really made for long range like that...and the trigger will never be what the 1911's is. I bought the Compact model thinking it would be much more versatile for concealment, etc with 2 different magazine options...then came to find out that the 1911 conceals so much better because it's a lot slimmer. So now I've got this Kimber 1911 that shoots better, conceals better...and both the XD and the Kimber have never had a failure of any kind...so reliability wasn't an issue for either.

Then to make matters worse.....I recently bought a Glock 36 for concealed carry. It's a single-stack and only has a 6 round magazine...so it's pretty stubby....much smaller than my XD. Well on the very first trip to the range...this is after having shot my XD THOUSANDS of rounds....on the very 1st magazine w/the Glock, I shoot a lemon-sized group at about 30 feet or so. WTF!? Better than my XD for sure...so I move the target further away.....again...much tighter grouping? I let my buddy fire both....same thing.

So basically, the XD is my nightstand gun due to it having the rail w/TLR-1 light and also a Lasermax laser....better for bumps in the night. The Glock and 1911 are my CCW's due to their concealability. My advice to you would be not to spend tons of $$ on a trigger job because the XD is what it is...a great combat pistol....made for close range...but I experienced the same exact results as you.

[PackerfanXD]

Originally Posted by ormandj

I've put thousands downrange, it has smoothed out some, but it's still not what I'd like. What kind of groups do you shoot at 15 yards with your XD45c? Some numbers would go a long way towards making me feel better/making me buy a 1911.

Cheers,
David

My groups aren't nearly as good as with a 1911 but a full sized 1911 has another inch of barrel. At 15yds I get about 2-3 inch groups on a good day.

[FALAZ]

PackerfanXD,
I have a XD.45tactical that shot groups much like your compact. I bought a Taurus 1911 that shoots nice tight sub 2" groups before I had bought the XD. After shooting the XD, like you I thought maybe I made a mistake. After searching XDtalk for clues on how to improve it. I settled on the Powder River Precision match trigger kit. WOW what a difference. No take up and no over travel. About as close to a single action trigger feel as you can get. Now the XD shoots groups very close to what my 1911 does. The kit is only $50 and easy to install yourself. You won't be disappointed. Daniel recommends his basic kit for a carry pistol. It feels the same as the match but doesn't come with the lighter springs. To me the biggest problem with triggers is over travel. I installed a over travel stop screw in my XD,357sig and it helped tighten the groups up. I plan on getting the Powder River kit to complete the trigger job because it also shortens the reset too.

[PackerfanXD]

Originally Posted by FALAZ

PackerfanXD,
I have a XD.45tactical that shot groups much like your compact. I bought a Taurus 1911 that shoots nice tight sub 2" groups before I had bought the XD. After shooting the XD, like you I thought maybe I made a mistake. After searching XDtalk for clues on how to improve it. I settled on the Powder River Precision match trigger kit. WOW what a difference. No take up and no over travel. About as close to a single action trigger feel as you can get. Now the XD shoots groups very close to what my 1911 does. The kit is only $50 and easy to install yourself. You won't be disappointed. Daniel recommends his basic kit for a carry pistol. It feels the same as the match but doesn't come with the lighter springs. To me the biggest problem with triggers is over travel. I installed a over travel stop screw in my XD,357sig and it helped tighten the groups up. I plan on getting the Powder River kit to complete the trigger job because it also shortens the reset too.

Very nice to know! I'll look into that, thanks.

[evisr8]

mines plenty accurate. 6 shots slow, 2 fast at 30'. at most 50 rounds of cast bullets through the pistol.