XDm FAQ thread.

[Kevo9mm]

Thanks for this thread. Great help to us newbies. I would hate to be "that guy"

[speedrrracer]

Originally Posted by evan6353

Is the XDm legal to own in California if you are not LE?

Yes, it is perfectly legal to own, provided the magazines do not hold more than 10 rounds.

Buying one in California is the tricky part. It can only be done legally via a process called the "Single Shot Exemption", where a licensed FFL dealer buys the gun, then installs an extra-long barrel and blocks the mag well from accepting magazines.

This process does not require any permanent modifications to the gun (but does require permanent modifications to the magazines). The long barrel is a drop-in, and blocking the mag well is done with a drop-in piece as well.

Do not ask why.

Anyways, you buy the gun, and it has this silly, long barrel in it and a piece of metal blocking the mag well. The magazines will be in pieces, or permanently blocked to a maximum capacity of 10 rounds.

You then turn to the dealer and say, "I would like to make legal modifications to my XDm."

He says, "OK, what would you like to do?"

You then say, "Put the factory barrel back in, and unblock the mag well."

And you're off and running.

There is a list of California dealers who perform this service (scroll down to the section called "FFL's and other shops doing this work") :
Single Shot Exemption Explanation/Database Thread - Calguns.net

One last thing (there's always one more thing):
This is currently 100% completely legal in every way, but there is a bill before the California legislature (AB-169) which will outlaw the Single Shot Exemption after 01/01/2014 if passed. Transfers completed prior to that date will remain legal.

[Roklok]

Is some lateral play in the magazine release normal with the magazine inserted? Can you please confirm?

Seeing a lot of recent posts on this.