I changed it, held it for a few minutes and changed it back to the way it came.

 

I like the bigger back strap. The little one feels weird to me

 

just like my XDm, the smaller strap went in the day I brought it home. I do have slightly smaller than average hands. I fell like a have a lot more control over it when shooting.

 

I kept the large backstrap on, gun always felt great and pointed exactly where I want it, and shoots to POA so I've never even tried the smaller one.

 

Wishing I had paid more attention when changing out the Large Backstrap (factory sent) to the Small Backstrap while doing range time.

The reason being my thoughts are now that the Smaller Backstrap tends to allow the XDS while shooting to have a slight upward angle feel to it.

I did change it back to having the Large Backstrap and did apply Talon Grips so right now I do not want to alter grips. The XDS feels great and I am just an average shooter.

Do some Range Time Testing and keep us posted.

 

I much prefer the small backstrap on my 4.0. I have broad palms but short fingers, and it just works better for me.

 

Mine are low left also and dead mose 1.5 inch shot group with the xdm. I changed the backstrap to smaller now i am just low. Guy at gun store suggested i not shoot a dbl stack at all and just the xds for about 50 rds. See what happens. Switching backing and forth between the 2 could cause bad aiming. I am getting ready to try it now.

 

So i went out took my time shot 21 rds at 21 ft. It is 29degrees out in central michigan. My last 6 frnds first 2 dead center next 3 up and down but center last one dead center. So it is the Indian in my case not the bow n arrow. Also need to understand outside 30 or 40ft the xds is not your go to gun. Yes ppl can hit center mass with but not not ideal.

 

I changed both my xds 3.3 9 and xds 3.3 45 to the smaller straps. Feels better in my hand and I shoot it better with it

 

Just wanted to thank all of you that responded.... So for those of you that switched to, and stayed with the smaller backstrap...did you end up ordering the smaller mag extension "collars" which fit the smaller backstrap?

 

Mine came with the mags

 

Both my xds 45 and 9 came with them. The extra extended mags I bought for both guns came with them as well.

 

I know that I got ONE "collar" which fits the smaller backstrap...but I believe that's it.... Going to have to check once again.....

 

The XDS's only come with 1 mag that needs the collar, the other mag is flush and doesn't require one, so it should have come with two collars, one large and one small with the large one on the extended mag from factory and the small in the case.

 

He is referring to the backstrap

 

I bought a rubber grip sleeve to try to help the feel. Then I read this thread and changed to the smaller back strap. I should have done that first. The smaller strap made a world of difference for me.

 

Glad the post helped you out! Due to logistics I haven't been able to get to the range and try both of them out.....so I STILL haven't made a decision, and so, don't have my Talon grips on yet! : \
When you said it made a world of difference....do you mean in overall feel in your hand....did your overall accuracy improve, etc. ???

 

I recently switched to the smaller backstrap just to see if it has any effect on accuracy. So far it feels like my thumb has moved to a spot that feels like a more secure grip with the shorty mag, but i'm not seeing a real change to accuracy or speed for follow up shots.

 

Just curious as to how many of you that happen to read this have changed your backstrap? My XDs 9mm 4.0 came with the larger or the two backstraps installed (I'm guessing they all come that way from the factory).
I took a tactical handgun class a number of weeks ago, and did fairly well. I had tight groupings during most of the exercises....but for some reason those groupings were always just slightly low and to the left.
I'm "guessing" this has more to do with trigger control than which backstrap I have on.
But...as I prepared the other night to put some new Talon grips on my XDs....I thought, "I really ought to see what that other, smaller backstrap feels like before I wrap my grip in Talons....

So....OF COURSE....now when I have the smaller backstrap on and dry fire...it feels GREAT. And when I have the larger backstrap on and dry fire.....it FEELS GREAT !?!?!? : \
I'm very average build, height, hand-size..... I know everyone is different....but what have most of you ended up with on your XDs.....Smaller or Larger backstrap???

How you as an unique individual "finishes flat" is just that: how you as an individual must do it.

Your physical build - your anatomy: the size of your hand, the length of your fingers, how your fingers articulate, etc. - will affect how you mate with the gun, and that elusive "ideal" trigger finger placement is something that you need to find, for yourself.

The equation is a simple one:

[ sight package ] + [ trigger path ] = [ hit ]

The ability of you and any other shooter to execute each of the two left side factors towards perfection determines the amount of deviation from perfect you will see on the right side of that equation.

For the vast majority of good shooters, the sight package is easy enough. It's trigger control that gets - or gets away from - us.

A good shooter, after some familiarization, will be able to adapt him or herself to any weapon's trigger path. With this being your personal weapon, you have the luxury of being able to tailor it to you. See if swapping backstrap sizes can help you achieve that "finishing flat" ideal, and note that there are non-traditional takes to this outlook, too, such as that of Pat McNamara's:

Gunfighter Moment - Pat McNamara - Soldier Systems Daily

and

The take home: what works best/better for you as an individual may or may not be what others find to work well for them. Find what works for you.

-----

Mine are low left also and dead mose 1.5 inch shot group with the xdm. I changed the backstrap to smaller now i am just low. Guy at gun store suggested i not shoot a dbl stack at all and just the xds for about 50 rds. See what happens. Switching backing and forth between the 2 could cause bad aiming. I am getting ready to try it now.

So i went out took my time shot 21 rds at 21 ft. It is 29degrees out in central michigan. My last 6 frnds first 2 dead center next 3 up and down but center last one dead center. So it is the Indian in my case not the bow n arrow. Also need to understand outside 30 or 40ft the xds is not your go to gun. Yes ppl can hit center mass with but not not ideal.

You just said it yourself - it's the shooter behind the gun that's the biggest limitation.

Is 10 or even 20 yards the real limit for the XD-S, or is it actually *_your_* limit, at your current skill level, with this particular gun?

"25 Yard Club"

^ Don't let your perceptions and your *_current_* capabilities/skill-level color your view of the world. ( And no, that's not me. That's just a fellow member on DefensiveCarry.com )

Strive to be better.


-----

I recently switched to the smaller backstrap just to see if it has any effect on accuracy. So far it feels like my thumb has moved to a spot that feels like a more secure grip with the shorty mag, but i'm not seeing a real change to accuracy or speed for follow up shots.

This brings up a great point.

When you (anyone, not just you ) change to a smaller backstrap, take note of where, if you are right-handed, dominant thumb comes into contact with the gun, particularly in relation to the slide-stop/release button.

You may need to adjust your single-handed grip as well as your double-handed grip (again, both assuming that you are a right-handed shooter) in order to avoid accidentally engaging/(ore more likely)disengaging the slide-stop with your thumb.

 

^ "Feel" is subjective.

Give it a good and fair shakedown live-fire, preferably working in known-BSA drills/tests such as the F.A.S.T or the Hackathorn/Vickers 10-10-10 ("The Test") for validation: something where your performance can truly be quantified.

Similarly, pay attention to your manipulations, particularly in terms of your interaction with the slide-stop/release.

What "feels great" may - or may not - translate to live fire.

 

I am shooting low and to the left, I changed to the smaller backstrap and am going to give it a go with a few hundred rounds today after work. I hope this helps me, because I don't like aiming way above and to the right to hit the bulls eye.

 

How'd it go after the backstrap change?

 

i kept my smaller backstrap since i have smaller hands

 

I find the smaller backstrap perfect; almost custom fitted. It allows precisely enough space between the heel and fingertips of my strong hand in which to snuggly fit the heel of my support hand. The result is a solid, firm, 360 degree, 2 hand contact on the grip. This allows complete control even with the short 5 round magazine I use for concealed carry.

 

^ "Feel" is subjective.

Give it a good and fair shakedown live-fire, preferably working in known-BSA drills/tests such as the F.A.S.T or the Hackathorn/Vickers 10-10-10 ("The Test") for validation: something where your performance can truly be quantified.

Similarly, pay attention to your manipulations, particularly in terms of your interaction with the slide-stop/release.

What "feels great" may - or may not - translate to live fire.

When I first shot my XDS45, I was dead center, easy recoil control and fast accurate follow ups
For shits and giggles I switched to small blackstrap and it FELT great
At the range, not so much. More felt recoil, less accurate because the recoil was more torquey
Switched back and realized the Large BS forces your hand higher on the gun and recoil control, for me, is far superior and it just points perfectly
YMMV

 

Well I got to the gun range last nigh and it was 7 people deep waiting for a lane. Sorry to say I turned around, went to the bar and had a couple beers instead. I may try again on Friday...

Hey Boomerang.... Made it to the range yet? If so, what did you think?

 

Nope, I am headed back today after-work and will report back probably tonight

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OK so I shoot straighter, but still low. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. The weird thing is, I tried shooting one handed with my dominant hand and shoot bull's-eye

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Funny, but shoot extremely straight one handed I recently discovered. Must be my stance then, two handed. So confusing.

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