Springfield XD Forum banner

Going to purchase a xd today, not sure what caliber....

1616 Views 20 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  R/T Performance
Im going in this afternoon or tomorrow to buy my XD but im not sure if i want a 9mm which I have shot before and a 40 caliber which a lot of people seem to prefer. Can some one help me out with this choice this would be my first hangun. I wanna compete with it eventually and im going for the 4" models :?:
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
If you buy the fourtey you can shoot l-10 uspsa in major power which the scoring is better.But 9mm is cheaper can alway buy a conversion barrel to change to 9mm in a 40 cal :D and have both
Compete in what? 9mm is cheap and recoil is nil.
I live in Delaware, right now im not even sure we got uspsa close to me thats something i guess i gotta find out too. Well in you gouys opinion for someone thats shot nothing bigger then a 9mm before is the much difference in the recoil. What would be the difference in ammo prices, does it make that much difference?
R/T Performance said:
If you buy the fourtey you can shoot l-10 uspsa in major power which the scoring is better.
I can honestly say that I've never looked at it from this perspective before. In the Production Division, everyone is scored as Minor regardless of PF (assuming it meets minimum). Major / Minor does apply to L-10, although I haven't seen many people use their Production guns in L-10 just to be scored based on Major PF.

For moongoose26, you can find local USPSA info at the following link from USPSA's site: http://www.uspsa.com/dw/wheretoshoot.html
It's a hard choice to make. I went with the .40 went I got my first XD about 2 months ago. I have not been disappointed. I get the WWB value packs at Wally World for $16 so even though its higher than 9mm ammo its still not so bad that I can't afford adequate range time. I have a harder time finding the time than I do the money for ammo. Besides, you can always drop in a 9mm barrel in the 40 later, but not the other way around. That was my justification, anyways. Just get whatever works for you. Either way I can't imagine that you won't be happy.
JD McDorce said:
R/T Performance said:
If you buy the fourtey you can shoot l-10 uspsa in major power which the scoring is better.
I can honestly say that I've never looked at it from this perspective before. In the Production Division, everyone is scored as Minor regardless of PF (assuming it meets minimum). Major / Minor does apply to L-10, although I haven't seen many people use their Production guns in L-10 just to be scored based on Major PF.

For moongoose26, you can find local USPSA info at the following link from USPSA's site: http://www.uspsa.com/dw/wheretoshoot.html
Thats what I am going to try this weekend just because my followups seem to wonder a little.Plus I plan to cheat a little because I plan to shoot poofy or powder puffs no chrono and will make me look better with the compact. :wink:
Seen the new class for 06 single stack behind the hip holsters and mag pouches?
For Gaming:

9mm Advantage
low recoil = fast follow up shots
lower cost, I reload lead 9mm for IDPA and it costs under $5 per 100
Didn't USPSA come up with new powerfloors where its possible to load a 9mm for Major?

9mm Cons
Minimum loads may not have enough power to knock down steels (although I haven't had any trouble)

40SW Advantage
bigger hole for that critical "on the line" shot.
Pretty versatile if you reload. You can make mouse fart minimum loads up to full power Major loads easily.
Knocks down steels easily

40SW cons
Slightly more recoil (but not much)
Slightly more expensive (but not much)



Either one will work well for gaming.
See less See more
Ok I think im almost decided on the 40. I plan on putting at least 1000 rnds a month throught it maybe more so i can get proficient. Anyone got something else they might wanna recommend for this newbie
Arnisandyz said:
Didn't USPSA come up with new powerfloors where its possible to load a 9mm for Major?
From what I have seen, this only applies to Open Division. 9mm does not meet Minimum Bullet Diameter for Limited or L-10.

R/T - Single Stack holster and mag pouch locations are the same as current rules for Production.
I will pm you it's some new class I read about in this month issue off blue press sorry about the hi-jack :oops:
You can load 9mm to make major but I believe you exceed SAAMI to do so. Some of the hard core competition gun companies are making gun chambered for “9mm Major” The USPSA Major power factor is 165 so with a 147 grain 9mm bullet were talking about a MV of 1122fps. I don't no for sure but that load has to be at least +P if not significantly higher.

Now the following is JMHO, I have only been shooting USPSA with my XD-40's since early this spring. If you want to shoot production then a 9mm XD would work great with the XD-9 Tactical probably be best choice of the XD models. As other have pointed out in production all scoring is minor and there is no point in shooting the heavier recoiling 40 or 45 and the extra sight radius and weight of the tactical will help a lot.

As for 9mm not knocking steel down, this is incorrect thinking. A 9X19 that just makes minor is the round used to calibrate the steel. If you hit the steel correctly and the steel is calibrated correctly then you should never have a problem knocking steel down with a 9mm.

If you are going to shoot Limited-10 (my personal favorite) then the XD-40 Tactical is probably the best XD to choose. 40 cal is the minimum required caliber for Major and nearly all 40S&W factory ammo easily makes Major power factor out of the 5 inch barrel. Again the extra sight radius and weight will again be a help over the shorter service model.

I like Limited-10 and have been shooting that exclusively since my second match. I have added a magazine well to my XD-40 T, and change recoil springs and added thicker base pads to my magazines, all things (except the spring) you cannot do in Production. I like
to tinker so Limited lets me tinker with my gear more and I enjoy that.

Rambling
mcb
See less See more
mcb said:
As for 9mm not knocking steel down, this is incorrect thinking. A 9X19 that just makes minor is the round used to calibrate the steel. If you hit the steel correctly and the steel is calibrated correctly then you should never have a problem knocking steel down with a 9mm.

The thing is...IF you hit it correctly and IF the steel is calibrated correctly it SHOULD go down. All I'm saying is in a non-perfect world, IF the person setting up the steel has it a slight angle non-intentially, or IF the steel popper is dinged up and the mechanism isn't as smooth as it should be, or IF your accuracy is off and you hit the steel low, the 40 has a better chance of knocking it down than the 9. And how often do things go perfect in a match? Like I said, I've never had a problem with the steels with a 9mm, but I have seen people who do.
Steel is calibrated with 125PF ammunition, 115gr @ 1086fps, with that minimum established, you HAVE to hit the popper in the round "sweet spot", or higher, low shots aren't going to drive it down. Honestly, steel should be calibrated for 120PF so that anyone on the 125-126 border line can still knock it over with a slightly low shot.

Most open guys shooting 9mm major are doing it with a 125gr bullet. Some are using 135s, 147s are a hell of a lot of presure at that velocity. I honestly wouldn't doubt for the chance of a severe failure from an XD shooting a diet of major PF, especially when some loads we're talking about hitting 55K+ PSI

You don't have to have major PF to play in Limited, as with the new 16rd hicaps and pierce +2 base pads, you can start possibly up to 19+1 if your springs are good and worn in.

Equipment doesn't really mean jack starting out in USPSA, yes I'm being serious.
See less See more
This is correct, you can have fun with any gun you shoot, any holster you put it in, any mag pouches. The great thing about USPSA is it has an opening from beginner on up to suit whatever handgun you own. Thats what production class is based on. Now when you start playing in limited and open, then things change a bit more. Hell, I play in limited-10 with a Stock P229 and after less than a year, Im knocking on the door for B class. Took me awhile to overcome that first shot being doube action though.
To your original question........ get at least a .40 SW , that way you can change barrels to smaller calibers or the .45 GAP(if it ever becomes an aftermarket item).
MisFire said:
or the .45 GAP(if it ever becomes an aftermarket item).
While conversion barrels for 9mm or .357SIG are aleady an option for the XD40, converting a .40S&W to .45GAP would likely run into the same problems as going from 9mm to .40S&W
Breech face and extractor are different for the 45 gap won't ever happen :shock:
Iv decided on the .40, thank you all for the input. Sad to say my local dealer dosent haveit in tock so i wont know till tomorrow what offer they have on it. Hopefully is the same as the xd 9 offer they got with the holster, 3 mags and case for 507.00. They also throw in 100 rounds and 2 hours a rane time with instructor to learns how to fieldstrip and handle the gun
Not sure if the XD9 deal applies to the .40. If so, I'm pissed! :wink: Hopefully they can get a 40 ordered in for you soon. Mine only took one business day for them to get it IN the store. Too bad I had to wait until the weekend to have time to drive home to get it. Drove 3 hours to get it instead of locally because the pricks @ our store here wouldn't beat the price I got. which wasn't all that ridiculous anyway. "Won't knowingly be undersold" my ass! To get back on topic, congrats on the new XD40. You'll love it.
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top