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XD Mod.2 45 ACP 3.3 Sub Compact

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8.6K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  invssgt  
#1 ·
In 2004 my wife and I had 40 XD service size pistols and my oldest son had the same model in 9mm. Both 40s are still in the family. They all ran trouble-free and were basically ‘3 inches at 25 yards’ pistols. I later saw reviews indicating the XD 45s were proving to be more accurate.

More recently I've handled a couple of the XD mod 2 Pistols and I have to say the grip has been improved substantially. I ran across a used ‘XD Mod.2 45 ACP 3.3 Sub Compact’ last week, which was missing the short magazine. The OEM 13 round mag with the grip adapter felt really good in the hand. I made an offer low enough to cover a replacement mag and kill the sales tax.

Dixie the orange Lab says it passes the smell test-
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To get an idea of the size, here it is with my much-carried (and showing it) Airweight 38
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Comparisons to the Glock 30 are inevitable. Glock internal parts are available everywhere but Springfield is stingy as hell with XD parts. These days Ebay is loaded with XD parts. Both pistols weigh about the same, are essentially the same size and both use a 9 round, flush fit magazine. Both also accept the 13 round mags of their fullsize counterpart. The XD’s trigger guard is larger and definitely more ‘glove friendly’. Most of the grip mods I’ve done to Glock 30s are already here; when I point this pistol at something, the sights are aligned and right on the mark. The factory barrel shoots great and handles lead bullets just fine. Sig 22x sights fit XD dovetails, which opens a lot of options.

After light polishing of contact surfaces and a little oil, the trigger settled at 4 1/2 pounds with a clean break. I test drove it with my bulk +P 45 ACP reload using the Bear Creek 230 grain flat point. Plinking steel to 50 yards showed excellent accuracy with the POI just a tad left. On the off chance I might hit the diamond plate at 100 yards, I fired 5 shots carefully as I could using both hands. It shoots really well for a compact 45 Auto.

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As you might have guessed, I like it a lot.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thanks BigG.

My flush fit 9 round mag (XD4545) arrived today and worked fine in the pistol. The gun in this configuration would serve fine for plain-clothes LE and defense uses--35 yards on in--but it pains me to admit I didn't shoot it quite as well at the longer distances. With the 9 round mag in place It does fit nicely in the side pocket of my barn coat and chore vest and it'll serve nicely for trips into town. I think a +2 extension would make it as shootable as the 13 round mag with Mod.2 sleeve.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Three week/200 round SITREP on the XD.2 45 Sub Compact

I hate finger grooves on autos and filled these with Talon rubber grip material- a solid improvement in live fire with the two-finger grip that results from using a flush fit mag . It also allows for greater control when drawing from IWB or a coat pocket.

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I also decided to ditch the serrated, overhanging OEM rear sight. I ended up with a Sig #8 (0.220”) front night sight and a standard XD rear sight; essentially 3 dots with the front one lit up. I’m used to that sight picture and the regulation was almost perfect.

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This XD is the softest shooting small 45 I’ve ever shot and I’ve shot most of them. I’ve run it with HST 230 +P and a 255 grain Lee RNFP pushed by a big dose of HS6. These will wake you up from a Glock 30 but they’re not bothersome from this pistol. It’s digested my pile of misfit 45 leftovers, including 200 grain target SWC loads.