[KJS]

I have a XD(M) 5.25" .45 and I love it. So much so that I'm considering the 9mm version. The only negative is that Springfield's 3 free magazine offer has ended (though three 19-round magazines is already quite enough).

Now that I've found a gun that fits my hand well and which looks quite attractive to boot, I am quite tempted to buy the 9mm version. I know the fit would vary slightly in that the grip is 1.18" rather than the 1.26" of a .45, but if I like one I certainly should like the other with less recoil and lower ammo cost.

Do you think the bi-tone version is worth it for an extra $60? My .45 is bi-tone and I find it quite attractive. Did you go with black or bi-tone on your own guns and why? If you went with black was it to save money or was it because you personally prefer the look without regard to cost?

If you get the black version is that carbon steel hidden under their black finish on the slide I assume? Any advantage to that over stainless other than price?

Thanks,
Karl

 

[southern thunder]

I like the looks of the bi-tone and to me it's worth the added cost.

 

[BU98]

It's simply a preference issue and it depends on if you would rather have a $60 head start on ammo or spend that on a gun.

I have one XD in black and one in bitone. They both look awesome when clean. I prefer the black, but cant deny the bitone is as just cool when clean. The black looks better after a range trip (although a wipe down can solve the bitone issue). However, it is harder to get the residue out of the sights on a bitone with a simple wipe down. You can do it, but it takes an effort not needed on the black.

I havent really noticed a difference in the dust issue when they sit on night stands between trips. The only issue with appearance is immediately following use.

I originally went to get the second in black as well, but he only had bitone. We managed a compromise on price and I bought the bitone.

 

[Ske1etor]

The Bi-tone rusts anywhere I touch it.. I prefer the black as it seems to be much more corrosion resistant.

Sent via dixie cup string phone.

 

[KJS]

The Bi-tone rusts anywhere I touch it.. I prefer the black as it seems to be much more corrosion resistant.

Sent via dixie cup string phone.

I did note you're in LA, so being along the Gulf Coast could help explain it with the high humidity & salt air. No salt air in WI and we're only humid for a small part of the year.

 

[EvilElmo]

I like the bi-tone myself. I like to look at it this way - 5 years from now you won't miss that $60, but will you be wishing you bought a bi-tone instead of black?

 

[KJS]

The black looks better after a range trip (although a wipe down can solve the bitone issue). However, it is harder to get the residue out of the sights on a bitone with a simple wipe down. You can do it, but it takes an effort not needed on the black.

Yeah, I've noticed the same issue. The "cooked" muzzle end would go entirely unnoticed on a black slide after a range visit, so black certainly has at least one advantage besides lower price.

Hard for me to say $60 is too much just because it bi-tone looks nice when I put $58 coco bolo grip panels on my Beretta 92A1 simply because they look nice (and I hated the far cheaper rubber grips with finger grooves that everyone else goes with).

 

[KJS]

What exactly is that black finish that covers the slide? Is it as tough as that seemingly indestructible Tennifer finish that Glock puts on their slides? It it was that tough, that would be an argument for getting it.

 

[unclejed]

I typically don't even like bitone, but when I bought my XDs I just really liked the looks of it so I bought it. Buy what you like. $60 isn't that much money now anyway.

 

[KJS]

I typically don't even like bitone, but when I bought my XDs I just really liked the looks of it so I bought it. Buy what you like. $60 isn't that much money now anyway.

Yeah, you're right. It's silly to worry about $60.

I could be tempted to buy all black depending on how tough that black finish is. I'm familiar with the amazingly strong Tennifer finish on a Glock slide. I'm not a Glock fan, but I must admit that's one hell of a good finish they've got there. How does the XD(M)'s finish compare to Glock's Tennifer? I could go all black if the finish was as indestructible as Glock's Tennifer where you'd have to go out of your way to scratch it up.

It's hard to say an all black gun is a terrible thing when I bought a $1,500 Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 which is all black. It can be had for about $150 less in all stainless, so obviously I think it's possible for all black to look good too.

 

[Spawnz]

Buy what you like.

I agree with unclejed. Buy what you like. If the bi-tone is more appealing to you, buy it. If cost was the main factor on things we buy, we wouldn't even be looking at XDs'. We would all be buying Hi-points.

Let me put it another way:

Say you are looking for a mail-order bride. Two women come up on a page.

One is Kate Upton. Cost to marry her is $500.

The other is Rosie O'Donnell. Cost to marry her is $440.

You really gonna worry about spending that extra $60.00?????????? :lol:

 

[JawjuhXD]

What exactly is that black finish that covers the slide? Is it as tough as that seemingly indestructible Tennifer finish that Glock puts on their slides? It it was that tough, that would be an argument for getting it.

You seem fairly concerned about finish "toughness". Not a bad thing, as I have a streak of that in me as well. I'd advise you to get the stainless version of the 9mm. The carbon steel (black) XDm is treated with Melonite. It is a similar process to Tenifer (btw, Glock has not used the "tenifer" name brand process for 3 or 4 years). I have the black version of both the XDm and the XDS. Both have held up quite well, but I know that eventually they will both begin to "wear". This would be cosmetic as the metal treatment will still provide corrosion resistance. A stainless gun is easier to gently use a metal polish to bring that cosmetic appearance back to like new.

 

[fgowi]

I have 2 XDm and an Xds. All Bi-Tone cause I like it. But, I feel kinda stoopid for not buying a black model somewhere along the way. I like those too. And, of course they're a bit less money.

 

[UGADawgs]

Or send it to James and have him KG it another color.

 

[Ske1etor]

I did note you're in LA, so being along the Gulf Coast could help explain it with the high humidity & salt air. No salt air in WI and we're only humid for a small part of the year.

Absolutely. I wish stainless guns stayed stainless for me, I really prefer the aesthetics of stainless.

Interesting tale, when I evacuated for hurricane Gustav, I had a Kimber Custom II in a Comptac MTAC. A twelve hour stalemate on the highway was all it took to eat through the melonite straight to bare metal. I was sick when I pulled it from the holster in the hotel room. The black finish on my Xds hasn't shown any sign of giving up, very happy with it.

Sent via dixie cup string phone.

 

[funk_drum]

I have an xds 3.3 in stainless and xds 4.0 in black. I prefer the stainless. Black is nice too, but something about the stainless I prefer.

 

[Ske1etor]

It's hard to say an all black gun is a terrible thing when I bought a $1,500 Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 which is all black. It can be had for about $150 less in all stainless, so obviously I think it's possible for all black to look good too.

That's because that duty finish costs 350 to put on the DW. The "Duty" finish is Severns Customs Hard Hat and congrats, you have the toughest finish on the planet for steel parts.. lol. If you take a stainless knife to hard hat, it'll remove the stainless from the knife. Try to file a poorly fit part, count the strokes needed to get through the finish, you'll get tired of counting. Seriously, it's that good. I'd send all mine off of it wasn't the cost of the gun to have it treated... lol

Sent via dixie cup string phone.

 

[15shot]

I have a XD(M) 5.25" .45 and I love it. So much so that I'm considering the 9mm version. The only negative is that Springfield's 3 free magazine offer has ended (though three 19-round magazines is already quite enough).

Now that I've found a gun that fits my hand well and which looks quite attractive to boot, I am quite tempted to buy the 9mm version. I know the fit would vary slightly in that the grip is 1.18" rather than the 1.26" of a .45, but if I like one I certainly should like the other with less recoil and lower ammo cost.

Do you think the bi-tone version is worth it for an extra $60? My .45 is bi-tone and I find it quite attractive. Did you go with black or bi-tone on your own guns and why? If you went with black was it to save money or was it because you personally prefer the look without regard to cost?

If you get the black version is that carbon steel hidden under their black finish on the slide I assume? Any advantage to that over stainless other than price?

Thanks,
Karl

Look for a (used/like new) like I did with my xds .45. Or, if that's the type of finish you really like, then it's worth it!

 

[KJS]

Or send it to James and have him KG it another color.

I guess I'm old school, but stainless or black are the two acceptable colors for a gun in my world. Other colors just don't look right to me. I'm very conservative in that way.

 

[KJS]

So black is even less likely to rust than stainless?

That would be at least a moderately compelling reason to go with the black version. Why go black:

1. It's saves some money, which is always nice.
2. Even more rust resistant than stainless (I've personally never been able to rust any gun).
3. The muzzle end won't looked "cooked" after a range visit. (I'm not fanatical enough to fully clean a gun after every use.)

Isn't carbon steel harder than stainless since chromium isn't added? My understanding was chromium made steel softer, which limited how stainless a gun could be, as if you put in enough such that it was as rust-proof as your dinner ware it would be too soft for use in a gun.

Since I already have a bi-tone, could argue for all black on the basis of diversity.