why I typically won't carry an xd

3016 Views 27 Replies 19 Participants Last post by manygunner, Jun 11, 2005

aiformula

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2005

I was discussing this w/ ichy_trigger at the range tuesday night.

I love the pistol, and I like the multiple/redundant safeties. It fits my hand and is right for me ergonomically. It has fed any ammo I've fed it and not hiccuped once.

This unfortunately does not make up for the fact that occasionally on a draw I can't or don't get a 100% proper grip on the gun and this results in the gun not going bang like I'd like it to because I am not depressing the grip safety enough if at all. It may be a by product of my holster choices thus far which are admittedly not carry holsters but just this experience keeps me from reaching for it instead of my HK unless I am going out for a competition shoot anyway then I just put it in my DOH holster on the hip, hop in the car and go.

The only correction I've seen for this so far is the little tab piece you can attach to the grip safety. Haven't used one but it looks like it might do the job. I just wish the GS was a little wider for when you end up w/ a functional if not perfect grip on the pistol in a life or death situation (you know like when I have to beat bobert1 in competition). That is literally my only complaint about the gun. Any other problem I've encounted has been due to maintenance/abuse issues or improper shooting technique.

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jlseagull

· #2 · Jun 9, 2005

Interesting. The grip safety is one of the things that makes me feel good about carrying an XD. :lol:

A question though, in high-stress situations, don't you think you'd have a tighter grip, and therefore be depressing the GS harder than normal?

ttheobald

· #3 · Jun 9, 2005

http://www.xd-hs2000.com/grips.html

Look towards the bottom, there's a grip-safety securing tape or somesuch there.

T

aiformula

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 9, 2005

jlseagull said:
Interesting. The grip safety is one of the things that makes me feel good about carrying an XD. :lol:

A question though, in high-stress situations, don't you think you'd have a tighter grip, and therefore be depressing the GS harder than normal?

I like the idea of the grip safety, but I think the execution leaves a little bit to be desired. And in a high stress situation, I really think I'll be more interested in just getting it out of the holster and pointed at the threat than trying to establish the perfect grip. It would be nice if I had the presence of mind to make sure of that, but I really don't think it's going to be at the top of my thought processes if TSHTF

bobert1

· #5 · Jun 9, 2005

...

bobert1

· #6 · Jun 9, 2005

Leave the grip safety alone. I hope & pray that one League night I will catch a break and beat YOU. Otherwise when I RO you I'll have to make up some reason to DQ you !!!!!!!!!!!

aiformula

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 9, 2005

bobert1 said:
Leave the grip safety alone. I hope & pray that one League night I will catch a break and beat YOU. Otherwise when I RO you I'll have to make up some reason to DQ you !!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, it's the gun beating you, not me... remember? I'm not that good.

oh, don't know if I told you or not, but I have speed loaders on order for the Dan Wesson. I'm going to shoot revolver class at least one night this league and maybe see about doing it all next league.

Silk-XD

· #8 · Jun 9, 2005

Tony: What exactly does that tab thingy on the grip saftey do? Does it extend it so that it is more easily engaged, even with less that perfect grips. I can't make out the function from the pictures.

RonS

· #9 · Jun 9, 2005

Only one thing to do, go to a plastic surgeon and get your hand fixed. Why doesn't anybody ever think if that? Think of all the money wasted on custom guns each year, just standardize everybody's hands, and then no more problem.

bobert1

· #10 · Jun 9, 2005

Silk-XD said:
Tony: What exactly does that tab thingy on the grip saftey do? Does it extend it so that it is more easily engaged, even with less that perfect grips. I can't make out the function from the pictures.

I'll try.... The pad wedges between the frame and the grip safety to keep it always engaged. You must be VERY CAREFUL with trigger discipline !!!!

A_Med

· #11 · Jun 10, 2005

You're not the first person I've heard say they can't always dis-engage the grip safety but for the life of me I can't understand how that could be unless you have really small hands. I've tried a million ways to pull the gun and not dis-engage the grip safety and it just doesn't happen. To me it's the most natural thing there is. No matter what I do when I grab this gun the safety is dis-engaged without a bit of thought or intent on my part.

I'm not trying to be a smartass but I wonder if there is something fundamentally wrong in the way you are gripping the pistol that causes this. I guess if I could replicate it I would better understand but I just can't make it happen. Maybe I'm the weird one?

Captain Ray

· #12 · Jun 10, 2005

You are definately the wierd one!! LOL (joking)

I personally have never had this problem. I grab the pistol firmly.. it doesn't scrape my knuckles, it doesn't rack the back of my thumb, and I have never accidentally moved the slide lock... maybe it is just an ergonomics issue.. I have fairly large hands.. large feet.. and.. well... nevermind.

I am not saying your issues aren't perfectly valid.. I just havn't experienced it.

I too am switching carry weapons. Not for the same reasons... It's more about the way I dress. I have a little Taurus 85.. and am nearing the 400 round mark with it without any failures that I feel I can trust it. The primary reason is the pistols size.. I can wear this with shorts and an untucked t-shirt. The XD is bulky... the little .38 is not. I was initially worried that the .38 round would not be adequate for personal protection.. but the fella's around here assure me it is.

I am rambling aren't I?! I do that! LOL

Raymond

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ichy_trigger

· #13 · Jun 10, 2005

aiformula said:
bobert1 said:

Leave the grip safety alone. I hope & pray that one League night I will catch a break and beat YOU. Otherwise when I RO you I'll have to make up some reason to DQ you !!!!!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

Hey, it's the gun beating you, not me... remember? I'm not that good.

oh, don't know if I told you or not, but I have speed loaders on order for the Dan Wesson. I'm going to shoot revolver class at least one night this league and maybe see about doing it all next league.

You have to slip in to revolver class and be the only revolver shooter on tuesday night league just to be able to get that plague?...lol

Boy Bobert, you've really got Tony scared now :lol:

I still say that when I get my Tactical, one of the safeties (trigger or grip) is going to get drilled and pinned!

Hope to see you two at Miamisburg sunday!

PS. Tammy gave me a ProChrono for fathersday this evening and ordered me a CR speed belt, (5) safariland comp. mag holders and 2 range bags! I guess it really paid to buy her that XD!!!

XD-9Service

· #14 · Jun 10, 2005

I understand the concern about gripping the gun correctly. It would be a shame to draw your weapon and not be able to shoot if needed. I hope you can work it out and carry your XD more confidently.

Like a previous poster stated, the reason I would carry my XD is the grip safety. I never felt comfortable carrying any of my Glocks with a round in the chamber. I do feel comfortable carrying my XD because of the grip safety.

E Mont

· #15 · Jun 10, 2005

Hi Hi ~

Hate to diminish 'any' level of the XD enthusiasm '

' but I have to agree w/Capt. Ray. I have had Glocks (now gone) and now have all/multi variations of the XD (BTW - never a prob w/grip safety) - but simply cannot use it as my CCW.

After 30+ years with a 1911, I can't compare the XD to the slim-and-trim S.A. 1911 Micro 40 or my earlier S.A. 1911 LW Compact .45 - the extra bulk/size of an XD just doesn't suit my ... body profile. Springfield is #1.

[Interestingly, it could be noted re: grip safeties - John Browning (MR. 1911) did not consider the grip safety necessary in his evolution/design of his next handgun.]

I have never felt hindered by the 1911 or the XD grip safety, but if it did cause a problem for me - I would pin it (a common option for gamesmen) or find an alternative.

As a CCW, if an individual had a frequent problem with a miscued grip could OBVIOUSLY be a 'possibility' under stress ... and definitely, totally not acceptable.

Just a my thots.

~ E Mont

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JimLongley

· #16 · Jun 10, 2005

It's called a "Grip Plus Memory Groove" and serves the same function as the bumps on the grip safeties of my 1911s.

I have a very high grip, partly due to my large hands, and transferring that grip to my XD resulted in a less than reliable depression of the grip safety, resolved by the simple addition of that little plastic thingie. I, too, would like to see it wider.

It does ride a little too high and I plan to plane it down a little once I get back to shooting. (Shoulder surgery 4/20 and not back on line yet.)

We discussed this once before.

http://www.hs2000talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=18125

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manygunner

· #17 · Jun 10, 2005

I have never had a problem with the grip safety. Sounds like a user problem that can only be solved by more practice. I have shot HKs, CZs, 1911s, Walther's Beretta's and a few other guns from a holster and encountered no such problem with my XD. I say get more range time. If nothing else you can get faster and beat Bobert1 more often.

gsh341

· #18 · Jun 10, 2005

manygunner said:
I have never had a problem with the grip safety. Sounds like a user problem that can only be solved by more practice. I have shot HKs, CZs, 1911s, Walther's Beretta's and a few other guns from a holster and encountered no such problem with my XD. I say get more range time. If nothing else you can get faster and beat Bobert1 more often.

+1

Practice until you get the right grip every time. Start slow and go faster until it's the only way you grip ANY gun.

aiformula

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jun 10, 2005

manygunner said:
I have never had a problem with the grip safety. Sounds like a user problem that can only be solved by more practice. I have shot HKs, CZs, 1911s, Walther's Beretta's and a few other guns from a holster and encountered no such problem with my XD. I say get more range time. If nothing else you can get faster and beat Bobert1 more often.

I do have smallish hands. Most 1911's won't fit comfortably in them unless they have had some trimming done to the frame, but I dealt w/ that for years. The XD is much closer to being the perfect gun for me, esp. after Rich's voodoo treatment. But this little problem is enough for me to not want to carry it. I wouldn't carry this gun anyway (2.x lb trigger plus it's just too pretty and not too mention it is a wee bit big being a tactical) but I bought it to play at the range in competition, not as a carry piece. Part of my problem is the nerve damage I have in my strong side hand/arm. I had to modify my grip to compensate for the weakness to maintain control, esp. when shooting strong hand only. As a result I don't always catch the the grip safety. I really can't describe the grip, but it works for me.

And Manygunner, how can you beat someone more often than always?

Actually I fear Bobert's back getting better. Once he's able to move again, his marksmanship is going to make beating him a real chore.

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ichy_trigger

· #20 · Jun 10, 2005

I do have smallish hands. Most 1911's won't fit comfortably in them unless they have had some trimming done to the frame, but I dealt w/ that for years.

Hes got fingers like vienna sausages :shock:

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