This should be a sticky ..

[Minkman555]

Springfield Armory XDs Pistol Update, by Pat Cascio - SurvivalBlog.com



Since my review article on the new Springfield Armory XDs was posted I've heard from no less than a dozen SurvivalBlog readers, who were having "problems" with their XDs .45s - most of the problems were related to light firing pin strikes. I've also had two SurvivalBlog readers live nearby come to me for this problem, and I was able to get the problem "fixed."
*
Here's what you're looking at with the XDs: First of all, we have a sub-compact .45 ACP pistol. It is very small and light-weight - only 21.5 ounces empty. And, it has a polymer frame. So, as it is with all polymer frame handguns, you have to have a firm grip on the gun - NO limp-wristing it. If you limp-wrist the XDs, the slide doesn't go fully into battery - it will be out of battery by a few thousandths of an inch - which means, the barrel isn't fully locked-up, and when you pull the trigger, the striker hits high on the primer - 'causing a misfire because it is not hitting the primer dead center - it will be hitting too high on the primer. [JWR Adds: And if the slide is not fully in the battery position, then the firing pin will not impart all of the intended energy on the primer.]
*
Additionally, the XDs is a very tight handgun - this contributes to the match-grade accuracy of the little pistols. So, when you first get your factory-new XDs, make sure you clean-off the rust-preventative oil. This is not intended as daily use lubrication, as many suspect. Then, properly oil the mating surfaces on the frame and the slide with a good lube like Break Free CLP, and be a little bit generous, initially. The XDs needs a little bit of a break-in period with some of the guns because they are so tightly fit - again this contributes to the outstanding, match-grade accuracy.
*
So, you have two things to address: One is, no limp-wristing the XDs - it's a sub-compact, polymer frame handgun,*that needs a tight grip on it, in order to properly function and feed rounds into the chamber. Secondly, add enough lube to the contact areas, this means the slide rail recesses and the small contact areas on the frame, that holds the slide onto the frame.
*
Dave Williams, the head of Springfield Armory's Custom Shop, says he tells people who call, until he is blue in the face, that you have to follow the above steps, if you want your XDs to function 100% of the time. And, like many new handguns, that are tightly fit, a little bit of a break-in period might be required as well. I've mentioned this in numerous articles, that you should run at least 100-rds through a new handgun (and preferably 200-rds) to make sure the gun will function 100% of the time.
*
The folks I heard from, who were having problems with "light" strikes on the primers, didn't contact me again, after I explained the above procedures to them - their guns are working 100%. And, the two SB readers, who came to me for assistance - their guns are working 100% of the time.* So, don't think you have a "defective" XDs if you are getting light hits on the primers - you're not! Get a good grip on the XDs and make sure you have lubed it properly, and your XDs will just keep perking along. To date, I now have well over 1,000 rounds through my XDs and only one failure to fire - a Winchester USA-brand 230-gr FMJ round - and I put it back in the magazine and tried to fire it several times - it wouldn't go off. It was just a dud round - it happens with the best ammo, every now and then.

[rblacks1]

Dave Williams from SA tells this to people until he is blue in the face? Why didn't they put this info in the owners manual? Come on SA, send out this info in a service bulletin to current owners and update the manuals on unsold units.

Thanks Minkman for posting this. I am very thankful I have had no problems with mine.

[shatnerglass]

OMG!!! Who would have thought it was operator error? Now all the mouth breathers can save their breath.

[3shot]

Oh boy!
And another "am not- am too... are not, are too..... it is not, it is too" comming......

sigh.....

Good read BTW Mink!

[FullMetalJacket]

Good information, but there is one detail that I wonder if Springfield couldn't correct with a small change to the recoil spring assembly. The light primer strike issues usually occur when the slide is only a few thousandths out of battery, and a very light nudge with a fingertip is all it takes to close the gap and have a solid primer hit. If you hold the pistol with a firm grip this pretty much never happens while shooting, but this can also happen while you are carrying if something bumps the slide out of battery which is the greater concern IMO. I'm not saying this to start some huge debate, just food for thought...

[Minkman555]

Originally Posted by rblacks1

Dave Williams from SA tells this to people until he is blue in the face? Why didn't they put this info in the owners manual? Come on SA, send out this info in a service bulletin to current owners and update the manuals on unsold units.

Thanks Minkman for posting this. I am very thankful I have had no problems with mine.

That was the only thing I don't/couldn't understand ... why not put something in the front of the manual if the issue of light stikes/battery can happen with (for some , not me so far) with ease ?

It would save him headaches and USPS 2day air labels ...

And possibly kill the negative talk that is circulating !!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[carstensxd45]

Originally Posted by Minkman555

Springfield Armory XDs Pistol Update, by Pat Cascio - SurvivalBlog.com



Since my review article on the new Springfield Armory XDs was posted I've heard from no less than a dozen SurvivalBlog readers, who were having "problems" with their XDs .45s - most of the problems were related to light firing pin strikes. I've also had two SurvivalBlog readers live nearby come to me for this problem, and I was able to get the problem "fixed."
*
Here's what you're looking at with the XDs: First of all, we have a sub-compact .45 ACP pistol. It is very small and light-weight - only 21.5 ounces empty. And, it has a polymer frame. So, as it is with all polymer frame handguns, you have to have a firm grip on the gun - NO limp-wristing it. If you limp-wrist the XDs, the slide doesn't go fully into battery - it will be out of battery by a few thousandths of an inch - which means, the barrel isn't fully locked-up, and when you pull the trigger, the striker hits high on the primer - 'causing a misfire because it is not hitting the primer dead center - it will be hitting too high on the primer. [JWR Adds: And if the slide is not fully in the battery position, then the firing pin will not impart all of the intended energy on the primer.]
*
Additionally, the XDs is a very tight handgun - this contributes to the match-grade accuracy of the little pistols. So, when you first get your factory-new XDs, make sure you clean-off the rust-preventative oil. This is not intended as daily use lubrication, as many suspect. Then, properly oil the mating surfaces on the frame and the slide with a good lube like Break Free CLP, and be a little bit generous, initially. The XDs needs a little bit of a break-in period with some of the guns because they are so tightly fit - again this contributes to the outstanding, match-grade accuracy.
*
So, you have two things to address: One is, no limp-wristing the XDs - it's a sub-compact, polymer frame handgun,*that needs a tight grip on it, in order to properly function and feed rounds into the chamber. Secondly, add enough lube to the contact areas, this means the slide rail recesses and the small contact areas on the frame, that holds the slide onto the frame.
*
Dave Williams, the head of Springfield Armory's Custom Shop, says he tells people who call, until he is blue in the face, that you have to follow the above steps, if you want your XDs to function 100% of the time. And, like many new handguns, that are tightly fit, a little bit of a break-in period might be required as well. I've mentioned this in numerous articles, that you should run at least 100-rds through a new handgun (and preferably 200-rds) to make sure the gun will function 100% of the time.
*
The folks I heard from, who were having problems with "light" strikes on the primers, didn't contact me again, after I explained the above procedures to them - their guns are working 100%. And, the two SB readers, who came to me for assistance - their guns are working 100% of the time.* So, don't think you have a "defective" XDs if you are getting light hits on the primers - you're not! Get a good grip on the XDs and make sure you have lubed it properly, and your XDs will just keep perking along. To date, I now have well over 1,000 rounds through my XDs and only one failure to fire - a Winchester USA-brand 230-gr FMJ round - and I put it back in the magazine and tried to fire it several times - it wouldn't go off. It was just a dud round - it happens with the best ammo, every now and then.

What he said!!!!!!

[ESP]

This is good information just wish i would have found it a couple weeks ago. I cleaned and lubed my XDs multiple times and a couple other people shot it with the same results. It would rarely make it through a magazine without a light,off-center primer strike. I only ran about 100 rounds through the gun before I contacted SA on July 23 3 days after i bought the gun. I was told then that they had not heard of this problem and was told to send it in ASAP. I got an email from them yesterday saying they inspected the gun and tested with no malfunctions and would be shipping it back today. That's when I started my own investigating and found this site, guess I should have done that first. Ive owned/shot a lot of handguns from a lot of manufacturers and have never experienced a limpwristing issue, so Ill be interested to see if this solves my problem.

[coachrose]

Nice read Mink, great information. Thanks for taking the time to share it.

[Stratajema]

Originally Posted by rblacks1

Dave Williams from SA tells this to people until he is blue in the face? Why didn't they put this info in the owners manual? Come on SA, send out this info in a service bulletin to current owners and update the manuals on unsold units.

Thanks Minkman for posting this. I am very thankful I have had no problems with mine.

Dave Williams from SA is a problem. SA is suppose to design a gun for how a typical user will hold it, either at the range or in the heat of self-defense. Instead he scolds experienced shooters for not holding the XDS perfectly.

By comparison, the XDM 45 compact is a tight gun, has a match barrel and is very accurate but I have not seen the same problems reported about it. As Arsenio Hall used to say "Things that make you go hmmm".