Geno
February 3, 2006, 10:28 AM
Dear THR Members:
Well, I finally had the opportunity to test-fire my new Springfield XD-45 ACP (13 shot) pistol. I have been tracking Springfield's advertisements of this firearm of months, becoming more and more excited. Now, the pudding is and had been tested!
True to Springfield's word, the grip, which holds a whopping 13 rounds of full-blown .45 ACP is perceptively no larger than the 9MM or .40 S&W XD pistols (I might add, no larger than the Glock 17 that I own and love). Sticking to the topic of the grip, it adheres to Springfield's traditional checked polymer, no finger holds like Glock, but manageable all the same. The grip is approximately 3/8 of an inch longer than the 9MM/. 40 S&W, or the Glock 17. Thickness is perceptively identical.
The magazine for the XD-45 ACP is just fractionally wider than the Glock 17, 17-round magazine and approximately 1/2 inch longer. The XD-45 ACP magazine, which again, holds 13 rounds will stand on its base without falling over, unlike the G17 magazine. Why do I like that? I don't know, but I do.
The trigger on the XD-45 ACP is identical to the Springfield XD 9MM/.40 S&W models, smooth, and the firing pin sounds like it would not strike hard enough to fire the rounds, but it did so reliably. Comparing the XD 9MM, the XD45 ACP side-by-side, the trigger was identical. The take-up was smooth, and trigger pull was smooth. The triggers, on both of my Springfields are neither as-smooth-as my Glock, but then, they are not Glocks.
The frame is something I could not quite imagine. How in the world could they take off so much polymer and still have a solid feel and in fact BE solid? They did. The frame is approximately 3/4 inch shorter than the Glock 17. Springfield's typical THICK XD frame-side-walls have been put on a diet!!! It's thinned right down, identical in thickness to the Glock. But, the "rear" is where Springfield trimmed the fat! The typical massive hollow and wasted spot behind the frame's magazine well is just about gone. The massive approximately 1/2 inch hollow well on the Glock 17, is by comparison approximately 1/8 of an inch on the XD-45 ACP.
The slide and barrel are equally impressive in terms of size to caliber. The slide of the XD-45 ACP is approximately 1/4 inch shorter than the Glock 17 and the barrel of the XD-45 ACP is about 1/2 inch shorter. The XD-45 ACP barrel is smooth-as-glass inside, with nicely defined rifling.
After purchasing my new XD-45 ACP, I brought it home, broke it completely down and cleaned it thoroughly top-to-bottom and inside out. I lubricated it up nicely and took it several days later to the indoor range. I had to get used to the grip not having the finger holds like my Glock, but for a total of 14 rounds of .45 ACP, 230-grain hollow point, personal defense rounds, I can live with it. I purchased a box of Speer Lawman (I think that was the name). They were 230 grain, FMJs, not my favorite, but cheaper by comparison, and especially for a breaking-in period.
I put the target at approximately 25 feet. I usually practice at realistic shooting range so I can attempt more realistic distance. The occasional 25 yard is fun, but not for this day! I loaded 14 rounds, aimed dead-on and fired. The trigger is not as-crisp-as the Glock, by any imagination! But, it is effective. I slow-fired all 14 rounds, and kept a respectable (approximately) 2-inch group. Being the first time I had shot this pistol, I was satisfied with it. But, I knew the problem, and had prepared!
I removed the magazine, locked the pistol open. I wiped down the grip and removed the "cut-outs" that I had made the night before using templates and skateboard tape. :D I carefully adhered the skateboard tape to the sides of the grip, matching nicely the slightly raised side-panels. I took a quarter and rolled the edge across ALL the surface of the skateboard tape to assure it adheres nicely. Satisfied that, now, the pistol was they way a pistol should be, I reloaded. I kept the same target and aimed at a new set of numbers. I slow-fired all 14 rounds, most rounds going through the same hole, each time perhaps off by approximately 1/8 inch. Save for a couple of 1 inch fliers which were ENTIRELY MY fault, the pistol maintained 12 shots through a inch-jagged-hole at about 25 feet. That, with cheap FMJs.
After removing the magazine and setting the pistol on the ledge, I picked up 5 of the spent cartridges from the range floor. I removed another round from the box, and made a comparison to the two. I actually had to exert force to press the unfired round into the spent rounds. The spent rounds were ROUND, no bends, no deforming whatsoever. Too, they fit "consistently", perfectly concentric...no looseness in any direction. I was truly impressed by this. What a chamber. I reloaded the remaining rounds into the second magazine that came with the pistol to assure that it too was reliable. It was.
Having spent now 50 rounds, and assured that the pistol did function properly, I returned the pistol to my belt holster, loaded it with 14 rounds of Winchester 230 grain, hollow point, Personal Defense rounds, and 13 into the 2nd magazine. I exited with it concealed away, odd feeling having a pistol as small and as unnoticeable as any XD-9MM or G17, but more heavy armed.
When I arrived home, I took the pistol completely apart for a 2nd thorough cleaning. Using my Surefire light, I examined the pistols barrel, both before cleaning and after. There was scarcely a trace of residue or copper. I cleaned it with just a few passes of a cloth rag over a plastic brush, with light oil and J-B non-embedding bore cleaning compound. I think 5 passes each way. With that, the bore was spotless. Anyone who has owned a Springfield XD will recognize the black finish inside the bore that will eventually wear completely off leaving a pristine, smooth, shiny bore. I applied a light coat of M-Pro 7 (CLP) and reassembled it.
While it is new, I also added a light coat of NECO MOLY-SLIDE to the rails of the frame and slide, simply as a precaution toward as nice of a break in as I can bring about. In closing, I had only one surprise, and that is the force, and I do mean force that it takes to cycle the action. The recoil spring is strong, or perhaps I need to exercise even more! All in all, I can say that I am impressed. I like the pistol; it functioned flawless, albeit VERY new still. I will give an update at 500 to 1,000 rounds. For the time being, I have "parked" my 1911s, giving them a well-earned vacation and currently pack my Glock 17 and my Springfield XD-45 ACP for concealed carry. They surely make a beautiful pair of "companions". At $549.00, I think I received more than simply a fair deal, I think I have bought a fantastic firearm that will be around for many years.
Doc2005
Well, I finally had the opportunity to test-fire my new Springfield XD-45 ACP (13 shot) pistol. I have been tracking Springfield's advertisements of this firearm of months, becoming more and more excited. Now, the pudding is and had been tested!
True to Springfield's word, the grip, which holds a whopping 13 rounds of full-blown .45 ACP is perceptively no larger than the 9MM or .40 S&W XD pistols (I might add, no larger than the Glock 17 that I own and love). Sticking to the topic of the grip, it adheres to Springfield's traditional checked polymer, no finger holds like Glock, but manageable all the same. The grip is approximately 3/8 of an inch longer than the 9MM/. 40 S&W, or the Glock 17. Thickness is perceptively identical.
The magazine for the XD-45 ACP is just fractionally wider than the Glock 17, 17-round magazine and approximately 1/2 inch longer. The XD-45 ACP magazine, which again, holds 13 rounds will stand on its base without falling over, unlike the G17 magazine. Why do I like that? I don't know, but I do.
The trigger on the XD-45 ACP is identical to the Springfield XD 9MM/.40 S&W models, smooth, and the firing pin sounds like it would not strike hard enough to fire the rounds, but it did so reliably. Comparing the XD 9MM, the XD45 ACP side-by-side, the trigger was identical. The take-up was smooth, and trigger pull was smooth. The triggers, on both of my Springfields are neither as-smooth-as my Glock, but then, they are not Glocks.
The frame is something I could not quite imagine. How in the world could they take off so much polymer and still have a solid feel and in fact BE solid? They did. The frame is approximately 3/4 inch shorter than the Glock 17. Springfield's typical THICK XD frame-side-walls have been put on a diet!!! It's thinned right down, identical in thickness to the Glock. But, the "rear" is where Springfield trimmed the fat! The typical massive hollow and wasted spot behind the frame's magazine well is just about gone. The massive approximately 1/2 inch hollow well on the Glock 17, is by comparison approximately 1/8 of an inch on the XD-45 ACP.
The slide and barrel are equally impressive in terms of size to caliber. The slide of the XD-45 ACP is approximately 1/4 inch shorter than the Glock 17 and the barrel of the XD-45 ACP is about 1/2 inch shorter. The XD-45 ACP barrel is smooth-as-glass inside, with nicely defined rifling.
After purchasing my new XD-45 ACP, I brought it home, broke it completely down and cleaned it thoroughly top-to-bottom and inside out. I lubricated it up nicely and took it several days later to the indoor range. I had to get used to the grip not having the finger holds like my Glock, but for a total of 14 rounds of .45 ACP, 230-grain hollow point, personal defense rounds, I can live with it. I purchased a box of Speer Lawman (I think that was the name). They were 230 grain, FMJs, not my favorite, but cheaper by comparison, and especially for a breaking-in period.
I put the target at approximately 25 feet. I usually practice at realistic shooting range so I can attempt more realistic distance. The occasional 25 yard is fun, but not for this day! I loaded 14 rounds, aimed dead-on and fired. The trigger is not as-crisp-as the Glock, by any imagination! But, it is effective. I slow-fired all 14 rounds, and kept a respectable (approximately) 2-inch group. Being the first time I had shot this pistol, I was satisfied with it. But, I knew the problem, and had prepared!
I removed the magazine, locked the pistol open. I wiped down the grip and removed the "cut-outs" that I had made the night before using templates and skateboard tape. :D I carefully adhered the skateboard tape to the sides of the grip, matching nicely the slightly raised side-panels. I took a quarter and rolled the edge across ALL the surface of the skateboard tape to assure it adheres nicely. Satisfied that, now, the pistol was they way a pistol should be, I reloaded. I kept the same target and aimed at a new set of numbers. I slow-fired all 14 rounds, most rounds going through the same hole, each time perhaps off by approximately 1/8 inch. Save for a couple of 1 inch fliers which were ENTIRELY MY fault, the pistol maintained 12 shots through a inch-jagged-hole at about 25 feet. That, with cheap FMJs.
After removing the magazine and setting the pistol on the ledge, I picked up 5 of the spent cartridges from the range floor. I removed another round from the box, and made a comparison to the two. I actually had to exert force to press the unfired round into the spent rounds. The spent rounds were ROUND, no bends, no deforming whatsoever. Too, they fit "consistently", perfectly concentric...no looseness in any direction. I was truly impressed by this. What a chamber. I reloaded the remaining rounds into the second magazine that came with the pistol to assure that it too was reliable. It was.
Having spent now 50 rounds, and assured that the pistol did function properly, I returned the pistol to my belt holster, loaded it with 14 rounds of Winchester 230 grain, hollow point, Personal Defense rounds, and 13 into the 2nd magazine. I exited with it concealed away, odd feeling having a pistol as small and as unnoticeable as any XD-9MM or G17, but more heavy armed.
When I arrived home, I took the pistol completely apart for a 2nd thorough cleaning. Using my Surefire light, I examined the pistols barrel, both before cleaning and after. There was scarcely a trace of residue or copper. I cleaned it with just a few passes of a cloth rag over a plastic brush, with light oil and J-B non-embedding bore cleaning compound. I think 5 passes each way. With that, the bore was spotless. Anyone who has owned a Springfield XD will recognize the black finish inside the bore that will eventually wear completely off leaving a pristine, smooth, shiny bore. I applied a light coat of M-Pro 7 (CLP) and reassembled it.
While it is new, I also added a light coat of NECO MOLY-SLIDE to the rails of the frame and slide, simply as a precaution toward as nice of a break in as I can bring about. In closing, I had only one surprise, and that is the force, and I do mean force that it takes to cycle the action. The recoil spring is strong, or perhaps I need to exercise even more! All in all, I can say that I am impressed. I like the pistol; it functioned flawless, albeit VERY new still. I will give an update at 500 to 1,000 rounds. For the time being, I have "parked" my 1911s, giving them a well-earned vacation and currently pack my Glock 17 and my Springfield XD-45 ACP for concealed carry. They surely make a beautiful pair of "companions". At $549.00, I think I received more than simply a fair deal, I think I have bought a fantastic firearm that will be around for many years.
Doc2005