[gunsmoke92]

I've been away from the XD platform for a while, but I came across a deal I can't resist. I found a XD45 with a stainless slide and fiberoptic sights in clean condition for the asking price of $249. Being retired military, I can knock another 5% off that. I know this isn't an M model but a regular XD45 service model. Price includes 4 mags, holster, and I believe the box. Are there any big changes to the standard models or is this an older gun in great shape? Sorry, I just haven't kept up with the Springers for a while. Thanks

 

[gunsmoke92]

Thanks, like I said, I haven't really kept up. I remember when the "M's" came out, but didn't know if Springfield completely discontinued the XD's or built them along with the M's. I had a FDE XD .40 years ago, and it shot pretty well. I traded and went in a different direction. When the M's came out, a friends uncle bought a XDM .45 tactical and let us try it. It supposedly had a match grade barrel, but after several of us determined we couldn't hit water if we fell out of the boat with it, my desire to own one went away. As I said, the price and condition of this one makes it hard to pass on. I'm rolling out the door shortly to play let's make a deal.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Well, I ran in and put it on lay-a-way. They pulled everything out for me to check out. Pistol, 4 mags, holster, and the case. I remember these, I believe they were called their Gear Up Kits. All said and done it'll be $251 otd. I'll get some .45 loaded up for plinking and have a box of 230gr HST +P for carry.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Thats a deal!

No my friend, that's a steal. I've found some pretty good deals over the years, but this one rates pretty close to the S&W 5" model 27 that I grabbed for $259, and it needed a lot of finish work. This one looks like new.

 

[gunsmoke92]

So, a couple questions concerning the 45. I've read of the issue with the striker retaining pin breaking. Is this still an issue? I will probably get some from PRP and replace it just as a precaution. Also I have other Poly guns and have never liked the plastic guide rods. Out of habit, I replace them with a stainless version as soon as I can. I haven't looked at the guide rod in the XD yet, but if it's a poly version, I'd be inclined to replace it with a solid rod, which I haven't been able to find. I found some, I believe at PRP, but they were for 4.5 or 5" guns and specifically not for the XD45. Is here a source for stainless guide rods for the XD45?

Since patience isn't my strong suite, I'll probably bring it home in the next day or so, so I also haven't shot it yet, which will also happen soon. These two items are the only things I've found that I even consider needing attention. In truth, the striker roll pin is the only real concern. I find it rare that a gun truly needs nothing to fit and function for an individual, but the XD seems to come pretty close to doing just that.

 

[gunsmoke92]

And she's home! First act was to pull it apart and clean. Amazingly, I had nothing to do as it was immaculate. Recoil rod is OEM, dual spring, and as solid as any I've seen. No need to replace it until it's time. All the mags were checked, wiped down, and loaded. I've got three loaded with 230gr ball, range ready, and one loaded with 230gr HST +P.
The speed loader in the kit isn't anything to write home about, but it works. The holster and spare mag holder will do just fine for the range. My Bianchi X15 will take care of my carry needs until I find a better holster for my belt.

Sorting through the case, I've found all the paperwork and the spent case, dated 29-05-2006. Hopefully I can get to the range tomorrow and shed some light on how she shoots.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Got her to the range this afternoon. 7 yds, a box of 230 gr ball and half dozen HST +P's in a 6" dot. I had one flyer when I tried to do controlled pairs. The reset is longer than my other striker fired guns and when I went to hit the second shot, it hadn't reset. I instantly released the trigger far enough to reset and hit it again, but through the process I pushed the gun throwing the shot. Is there anything to be done that will shorten the reset?

I'll have to work on the trigger safety dingus, it sets just enough above the trigger surface to irritate my finger. Some sandpaper should smooth things out. I see PRP has trigger kits, would one of those help the trigger and the reset?

Beyond that, she points and shoots well. The FO sights provide a clear sight picture with POA and POI being pretty much one and the same. Ejection is strong and to the right rear. I checked the spent brass and it showed no sign of dings or dents, so that will go into the reloading box.

Bonus, after shooting I stopped at another gun shop. In their spare mags for sale bin there's at least 6 13 round XD45 mags for $20 each, and a few 10 rounders as well. I know the owner and ask if he'd set the 13 rounders aside for me, so I'll have 10 13 round mags for the XD.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Deleted, no reason to further his cause.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Ordered up some new striker retainer pins from PRP. After looking at another thread here, it made me wonder how cruddy my striker is. If I'm going to clean it, might as well upgrade the pin while I'm at it. I'm still debating the trigger, whether I want to replace just the trigger shoe, or install a complete kit. For those that have the kit, did you stick with the poly trigger or was the aluminum upgrade really needed?

 

[gunsmoke92]

I have the 4" service, so no new guiderod for me. I'm really seeking an improved reset as mine is almost 1/2". I'm used to a reset of maybe 1/16" to 1/8", so that long reset makes controlled pairs a challenge. The trigger shoe I'm seeking is something smooth. The grooved trigger combined with a trigger safety that doesn't set flush makes for a sore finger.

 

[gunsmoke92]

I'll give them a call Monday. The Talon grips I ordered arrived today, and they make the feel of the XD's grip perfect. Size wise, the XD's grip is near perfect fitting my hand like it was made for it, but it has that slick plastic feel. With the Talon Pro it feels complete. I was hoping the new striker retaining pins would arrive as well, but it may be Monday.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Poop! Forgot today was MLK day, so no mail today. Oh well, what's one more day.

 

[gunsmoke92]

The pins from PRP arrived today. WOW! I now understand why nobody has a broken one after installing one of these. I pulled the old one out, and while I was at it, I cleaned the striker channel and polished the striker. Now everything is shiny clean inside and out, and industrially strong. A trigger kit is next on the want list so I can get the trigger reset shortened up. Nothing else left to upgrade, life's good.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Yeah, I'd appreciate a range report. I've already made up my mind about installing one in the 45, but while shopping PRP, I found a flat trigger. It's listed under the XDM section but says it will work in the XD45's too. Like their other upgrade trigger shoes, this one has to be installed with their kit parts.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Just out of curiosity, did that clip come out of the gun or was it part of the kit? I did a complete disassembly of my XD the other day for a deep clean and to insure I know the gun inside and out, and don't remember seeing one of those. I did see the trigger spring, sear spring, and the spring which retains the takedown lever and seems to lock one of the locking block pins in place, but not that one.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Curiosity killed the cat; I couldn't resist so I pulled the locking block just to verify I hadn't screwed anything up. No clip in mine nor a place for it to go. I can breath now. Then I went back and noticed yours is an XDm. Yep I have the attention span of a gnat.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Well, I took the plunge today and ordered up an Easy fit trigger kit from PRP for the XD45. I love this gun, but the reset is so long I have to do something, and I think this is it. I thought about trying their flat aluminum trigger, but I think the smooth poly trigger will be fine.

 

[gunsmoke92]

I’m interested how you’ll adjust the travel on an aluminum trigger shoe. My plastic shoe needed maybe 1/8” removed so the gun would fire.
I don’t know how you’d easily remove that much aluminum. A medium file would work I guess.
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I spoke with Powder River today about their aluminum flat trigger. It's not designed to work with the OEM safety lever, so it's an upgrade for their kit. The one thing I found out was that unlike the polymer one that needs some fitting, the aluminum flat trigger is prefit, no filing needed. Since I had already purchased the trigger kit, they gave me a discount and will have it on the way tomorrow. That's great customer service. If it does what I'm looking for, I'll duplicate it in my M 10mm.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Jump on I-15 and make a quick trip to Idaho, we may have another -degree day in the works.

 

[gunsmoke92]

Got the PRP trigger kit this morning and have it installed this afternoon. I wish I had taken pictures of the trigger before installation, but here's a couple after. They're not the clearest, but you get the point. Here it is at the point it fires.

Here it is at the point it resets.

The trigger pull is lighter than before thanks to the new springs. The break is clean, and where most striker fired guns seem to have some pre-travel to a wall, then the break, this one now rolls through the pull and breaks. There is no stagging this trigger, it's purely the pull to break the shot. Reset is very tactile, providing both physical and audible feedback. I have one of Powder Rivers Flat trigger shoes coming, but since it wasn't here just yet, I installed the ploy trigger that came in the kit. Once the flat trigger is here, I'll get it installed and we'll see where she sets then.

This evening I decided to check the trigger pull weight. My antique pull scale reliably gave me 4#'s for 10 pulls in a row. I think that's as good as I've ever seen.

I will say the poly trigger is more comfortable than the steel ridged OEM.