XD Talk

adroit · 07-05-2012, 02:14 AM

With all of the activity in the other threads, I thought it might be fun to take some guesses about what's causing the striker damage.

Looking at the location of the damage and studying the schematic, it's obvious that the only device which could be causing this damage is the striker pin safety.

Considering this, one of (at least) three possible things is happening.

1. The striker pin safety isn't being fully disengaged before firing
2. The striker pin safety is becoming partially reengaged before firing
3. The striker pin safety is making contact with the striker when going in/out of battery

I've studied this pistol for quite a while tonight and I have devised my own theory.

As others have noted, the lack of a striker dampening spring allows the striker to protrude upon racking the slide, when the trigger has not been reset, and the firearm is pointed down. I have a feeling that this is when the safety is sheering the striker. If the striker is not returning on its own, then it is being pushed back by the safety. I'm curious if there is more damage to the striker when the shooter has a tendency to shoot low... Dry fire drills would also be a common culprit if the gun is being pointed down upon recocking.

On the other hand, if it's condition 1 or 2 and the striker is slamming into the safety, it would explain the light strikes/FTFs.

Obviously we're not going to solve this issue, but it's always fun to have a guess at it. What do you guys think?

Stratajema · 07-05-2012, 04:17 AM

I truly wanted to buy the XDS and I was just waiting for it to get in stock at the LGS. My view now is to be thankful that I did not have the opportunity to buy the XDS. The gun has more problems than just the impact wear on the striker pin and the problems should have been discovered and corrected by Springfield during design, testing and pre-manufacturing.

Why should anyone pay $580 for the opportunity to try and figure out the source of a gun's problems? People who have played that game before include the owners of the Kimber Solo, S&W Sigma and Kahr CM9. (I won't name more guns because that could cause a flaming war.)

Cudos to Smith & Wesson for getting the Shield's design and manufacturing spot on. It's hard for me to say that because I am not a fan of S&W pistols.

Kaboom · 07-05-2012, 04:18 AM

Zombie leprechauns.

r1derbike · 07-05-2012, 07:32 AM

adroit, has anyone removed the striker straight from the factory to look for damage? I'm also curious about your dry-fire theory as well.

There have been some great suggestions and feedback on this forum, but ultimately SA needs to step-up and get to the bottom of this, whether it is a user or gun issue.

Some of us would love to go to the range with our new XDs, but I won't fire a round until something is resolved.

Beta testing of firearms is not on my short list. I get enough of that with new software, as I'm a computer tech.

All the videos I've seen the last few months before this weapon's intro had not one FTF incident, or if they did, nothing was mentioned. Could something have changed from pre-production models?

drnoob · 07-05-2012, 08:31 AM

Can someone send or make a video on YouTube showing the right way to take out the firing pin?

Obscura · 07-05-2012, 08:35 AM

What about dry-firing? I use the snap-caps for everything other than takedown and live fire. Haven't had any failures to fire and my primer strikes are all in the middle where they should be.

Medic1210 · 07-05-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1derbike

adroit, has anyone removed the striker straight from the factory to look for damage? I'm also curious about your dry-fire theory as well.

Yes, I have. I just bought my XDs a couple days ago, and have yet to go to the range. After I got home with my new purchase is when I started seeing all the threads about issues... Doh. Anyway, I pulled my striker to verify no issues in its new state, and it is pristine. I don't much care for the way it remains exposed, or the way the striker spring isn't compressed straight on the striker though.

**ajamesp51** · 07-05-2012, 11:22 AM

When you actually shoot the thing there is not an empty chamber, the striker hits the primer of the loaded round and already bounces back before the next round is loaded.

XD-9ServiceB · 07-05-2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratajema

I truly wanted to buy the XDS and I was just waiting for it to get in stock at the LGS. My view now is to be thankful that I did not have the opportunity to buy the XDS. The gun has more problems than just the impact wear on the striker pin and the problems should have been discovered and corrected by Springfield during design, testing and pre-manufacturing.

Why should anyone pay $580 for the opportunity to try and figure out the source of a gun's problems? People who have played that game before include the owners of the Kimber Solo, S&W Sigma and Kahr CM9. (I won't name more guns because that could cause a flaming war.)

Cudos to Smith & Wesson for getting the Shield's design and manufacturing spot on. It's hard for me to say that because I am not a fan of S&W pistols.

This a joke right??? The amount of people having FTF's is extremely small even in the XDTalk survey. This isn't including the 1000's of owners not on this forum. I am also in more and more doubt that the "dent" on the striker isn't normal as I have yet to see a picture of it NOT missing that corner. Even when people say theirs is good. The pics still have the mark. Plus people with the "damage" have guns that fire and function perfectly.

And don't even get me started on the Shield's half assed production line. Do some research. People have blatant fail to battery issues. White dots popping out of sights. Bent guide rods. Beat to hell slides. Mag issues, FTE issues, extractor issues. The list goes on. And their customer service is laughable. No one there even tries to FAKE that they give a crap. No one in management ever calls people back and when I did get mine back it was almost worse than before. Call smith and ask how many shields they've had back...dozens is the answer. As of today SA has had TWO xds's and they belong to the members on this forum.

Stratajema · 07-05-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XD-9ServiceB

This a joke right??? The amount of people having FTF's is extremely small even in the XDTalk survey. This isn't including the 1000's of owners not on this forum. I am also in more and more doubt that the "dent" on the striker isn't normal as I have yet to see a picture of it NOT missing that corner. Even when people say theirs is good. The pics still have the mark. Plus people with the "damage" have guns that fire and function perfectly.

And don't even get me started on the Shield's half assed production line. Do some research. People have blatant fail to battery issues. White dots popping out of sights. Bent guide rods. Beat to hell slides. Mag issues, FTE issues, extractor issues. The list goes on. And their customer service is laughable. No one there even tries to FAKE that they give a crap. No one in management ever calls people back and when I did get mine back it was almost worse than before. Call smith and ask how many shields they've had back...dozens is the answer. As of today SA has had TWO xds's and they belong to the members on this forum.

I've been following the Smith & Wesson dot com forum posts as it pertains to the Shield. I haven't seen a discussion about any of the major issues you mentioned. The most widely discussed minor issue has been about the stiffness of the new mags after stuffing in the last bullet.