[Steelharp]

Sorry, guys; I'm just trying to get the most varied opinions before a decision. I asked before about a Glock 17 or 21; I really think I want this one to be a 9mm. I mean, .45 just doesn't get better than in my Colt (I think, anyway). Since I will have two .45's after my Series 70, and I'll only have one 9mm (my '69 BHP; not counting my Pocket Nine in this), I believe I want a second nine for shooting out back. I think I might prefer an XD, though; those that have experience with the Glock 17 and the XD-9... which would you choose first?

Thanks, Mikey D...

[Mylhouse]

I'm not even a Glock kool-aid drinker and I say that this is totally a no-brainer...get the Glock. Full caps, spare parts, aftermarket parts and even racing parts are widely available.

[10-Ring]

I'd go w/ the XD 9. Good shooters & the XD 40 mags are readily available and fit the 9 mm well ;)

[Min]

I own both the XD9 and the Glock 19. Both are fine pistols. But based on a side-by-side comparison, I determined the Glock to be the superior pistol. True, the XD9 offers features the Glock doesn't - ambidextrous mag release, cocking indicator, loaded chamber indicator, excellent grip ergonomics, cheap high-caps (XD40 mags), and grip safety.

HOWEVER, the XD9 is also quite top-heavy. That forged slide is HEAVY. Hold one in relation to the Glock 19 and you will see. The G19 has great balance. The grip ergonomics, though good, does not match the XD9's, but it DOES put the hand closer to the bore axis, which improves handling (speed in bringing gun to target).

All the extra features the XD9 offers are not necessary if the gun is in the hands of a skilled operator, which is what the Glock was designed for - down and dirty combat shooting. Glock is built on the KISS principle. You're not going to notice how comfortable the grip is when you are in a gunfight. Plus, you can use G17 mags in the G19, giving you a total of 18 rounds of 9mm in a compact pistol!

[Kahr carrier]

GLOCK:D

[Gusgus]

Some prefer Glock, and some like I, prefer the XD. The only way you are going to know which YOU prefer, is to try to find a range where you can shoot both side by side.

[9x19mm]

OK one word only: Glock

Stay Safe ;)

[Gary G23]

XD

[Baron Holbach]

I have shot a Glock 34 and XD 9. Both guns are great shooters and totally reliable.

[Longbow]

...proven reliability and durability. Lots of after market parts/accessories.
The XD?...who knows!:D

[Longbow]

Someone might mention the Glock recall (E serial #'s?), the affected units are really in the low percentage, most of them are just fine. If they have problem Glock will fix 'em. Or just avoid the E prefixed Serial #'s at all.

I know its comming, ' just want to be ahead of the game!:D :D

[Jesse H]

First time I shot a Glock I disliked it, couldn't hit crap. I eventually purchased an HS2000 (XD before Springfield took over) and started shooting that. Got to try more Glocks and decided that I preferred my HS's grip angle and trigger break more.

After having my HS for 2 yrs and becoming a better pistol shooter than before, I got to try a Glock21 last week. The moment I picked it up I thought, "blah." After I shot a mag full into a slightly larger than .45acp hole at 7 yards, I figured I needed a Glock.

I still dislike the sproingy trigger and awkward grip angle, but I like the shorter trigger resets and whatever it is that allows me to shoot it well. Right now I'm torn between the compact XD9 or a Glock 26.

[Correia]

$90 preban magazines vs. $25 post ban .40 mags that happen to hold 15 rounds.

[Brad Johnson]

Find a range that has both guns for rent. Try 'em out and buy the one that fits your hand the best.

Both are accurate and reliable. True, there are more accessories available for the Glock, but it's also about $100 more.

As far as high-caps go for the XD9, just use XD40 mags. They will hold 15 rounds of 9mm and cost from $20-$25 (including shipping). Glock high caps can cost upwards of $100.

I have both and will heartily recommend either. I have come to shoot the XD far more simply because it fits my hand better and points much more naturally for me.

Brad

[jem375]

Like the guy said....a no brainer......get the XD

[762x51]

Definitely the XD.

[flinch]

Having had Glock 17 and then 19 and the HS2000 (XD) there is no comparison : for safety, grip ergonomics, equal accuracy get the XD. The Glock is dated, the XD is the future. Glock better be taking a good look at the XD before it passes them by.

[chris93473]

get the XD

[Marko Kloos]

The Glock is a good gun, but the XD is equally good and has a lot going for it. Better ergonomics, better sights, nicer trigger, and dirt cheap brand new factory hicaps for the 9mm XD...as mentioned, the XD40 mags will hold 15 rounds of 9mm, and cost just over $20.

Based on all those criteria, I'd go for the XD if it was my choice. Throw in the $100 price difference in favor of the XD, and it's a no-brainer.

[bad_dad_brad]

I have a G19 and G17 and have been very happy with both. But the XD9 does tempt me. And if I were in the market for a compact 9mm, and I didn't already own a Glock, I would seriously consider the XD9. It is a very good value, points well, has a good trigger, and I like that loaded chamber indicator, although, if my Glock trigger is forward, I consider it chambered. The grip safety? It is a gimic, but does not detract from the gun other than you have to depress it to rack the slide - what is with that?

I think time will tell however, that the Glock is more durable. Either way, I don't think you can lose. All are good pistols.

[.45FMJoe]

Definately XD.

[emann]

I confess I traded one of my Glock's to get an XD. Never thought I'd do that but when Glock gave me lot's of different stories as far as my recalled 26 went I thought it time to ditch it and try something new. This is not a no brainer question though as both are good gun's but if someone offered me my new 26 back with the new rails installed for my XD I'd have to tell them NO! I really like the XD's but the Glock's ain't to shabby either. Try both then decide. This is the best advise you'll get. ;)

[Dave Markowitz]

Both are fine pistols, get whichever one feels best to you.

I happen to prefer the handling characteristics of the XD, even though it seems to have a little more muzzle flip than a Glock.

[Ikari]

See what feels best to you. Find a rental range where you can get a chance to feel up both choices. I chose the XD over the Glock. The only Glock that feels good in my hand is the model 36, and that's not exactly my idea of a range gun, which is this one's primary use for now.

[triggertime]

When you take the Glock frame rail debacle into consideration along with the current price of pre-ban Glock standard capacity magazines, the Springfield XD9 is the obvious choice, hands down.

[George Hill]

Which one fits your hands better?
Which one points more naturally for you?
Which one can be had with full capacity magazines and holsters?

[dan_s]

I made the same decision recently and the XD9 was right for me. Better feel in my hand, smoother trigger and like the idea of the grip safety. Accessories are becoming more readily available for the XD. Get yourself a couple of XD40 ($24) mags and you will have a 15 round XD9..

[charlesb_la]

Get the XD


Here's a review by Chuck Taylor



Springfield Armory's XD-9 A True 21st Century Pistol


Every now and then in history, something outstanding comes along, something that stands out from the norm so much that it fairly leaps into the spotlight. Louis Pasteur and Jonas Salk stand as giants in the field of medicine, , while George Washington Carver's contributions to agriculture shone brilliantly. Chuck Yeager became a legend, performing brilliantly as he shattered the sound barrier in spite of the broken ribs he'd concealed from his USAF superiors. Audie Murphy, a hometown boy from Texas, became the most decorated US Army combat soldier in history for his exploits in World War II.

In the category of small arms, the names of B. Tyler Henry, Hiram Maxim, John Browning and George Luger attained legendary status, as did Sam Colt, Daniel Wesson. John Garand, Eugene Stoner and Mikhail Kalashnikov cast huge shadows in the world of military rifle design, as does Gaston Glock in the world of handguns.

Yet, though on the surface, these men's achievements appear unrelated, they all share one thing in common – they took existing concepts and reshaped them into something whose time had come. And in so doing, they facilitated a quantum leap in technology that elevated the state of the art in their respective endeavors.

So it is with the Vukovic-led Croatian design team engineers who designed Springfield Armory's XD-9 9x19mm pistol. Although they're probably not aware of it, they created something significantly better than anything that came before. Incorporating the best of both Glock and SIG designs with a few new wrinkles thrown in for good measure, the XD-9 is a strong contender for the title of being the first true pistol of the 21st century.

Historically, the XD-9 began life as the HS-2000, which itself was an improved version of I.M. Metalworks (Karlovac, Croatia) HS-95 of 1995. But it actually first appeared as the PHP in 1991, though that particular pistol was fraught with a few quality control problems due to the ongoing Croatian civil war. Vukovic's design team continually refined the PHP and HS-95, correcting its design and metallurgical weaknesses, the final version being designated as the HS-2000. At this point, I'll forego further historic commentary because it would be redundant, since the HS-2000 was covered in detail in a previous issue of COMBAT HANDGUNS. Shortly thereafter, Springfield Armory acquired importation rights and re-designated the weapon as the XD-9.

Visual examination of the pistol shows it to be a compact, the approximate equivalent of the Glock 19 or 23. It sports an attractive dark-gray matte finish (known as Bruniral) on all metal parts, while its polymer frame is the usual black. From the box, it has fixed high-visibility sights of the tried-and-true 3-dot horizontal pattern to aid in low-light shooting, a nice trigger (smooth and light at 4.0 lbs.), a useable grip safety and no sharp edges of any real significance. And, of particular interest to those who prefer Trijicon's tritium-illuminated 3-dot sights, the XD-9 utilizes the same dovetail size for its sights as does SIG, making installation of replacement sights a snap.

Additional features include:

Checkered (8-lines per inch) front and back straps.

A grip-frame arched on its rear surface to better accommodate the average shooter's hand, thus enhancing its "pointability."

A truly ambidextrous magazine release mechanism, with edge-free, easily operated buttons on both the right and left side of the frame.

A loaded chamber indicator, located on top of the slide to the rear of the ejection port.

A cocking indicator, protruding from the rear face of the slide when the weapon is cocked.

A Glock-type trigger safety.

A large beveled magazine well, with 60-degree, rather than the usual 45-degree, bevel to enhance quick reloading.

Two 10-rd. drop-free metal magazines.

Grooves in the frame forward of the trigger guard to accommodate the SureFire tactical light.

A captive dual-spring recoil spring assembly to reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil.

11. Grasping grooves in both the traditional location on each side of the sides of the slide and on each side behind the front sight, thus accommodating virtually all styles of chamber-checking currently in use.

Seems like a lot for one pistol to have as it comes from the box, doesn't it? Nonetheless, the XD-9 obviously exhibits not just careful, but detailed, attention to all of the tactical shooter's real and imagined needs.

One writer recently criticized the XD-9 because it didn't have a hole in rear face of the grip-frame to accommodate a lanyard, but in all honesty, I find this to be a moot point since no one but certain SWAT personnel use lanyards anyway. And since the XD-9's frame is polymer, drilling the appropriate-sized hole can hardly be considered to be a major obstacle to anyone so inclined.

At first glance, the left side of the XD-9's slide appears to have a mysterious vertically-angled groove, but it's just part of a 5-second field-stripping process. One need only to:

Cock the piece.

Retract the slide and lock it rearward (thus aligning the takedown lever with the groove).

Turn the takedown lever upward.

Move the slide forward and press the trigger to decock.

Pull the slide forward to dismount it from the frame.

Rotate the slide assembly upside down.

Remove the captive dual recoil spring unit.

Retract the barrel up and to the rear, thus removing it from the slide.

Simple, right? Yes, extremely so, and easily accomplished under stress or in poor light, which is the whole point.

From a mechanical standpoint, I found that my XD-9 functioned normally with all the ammunition I tried in it (see accompanying velocity chart), even though I purposely did not clean it for the entire 1000 rd. test. During that time, very dusty, windy conditions were present, coating all of the gun's exterior surfaces and penetrating deeply into its internal mechanism, but it functioned without a stoppage nonetheless. I noted only a slight increase in trigger pull poundage (perhaps a half-pound), but no decrease in smoothness, allowing 1-second cranio-ocular shots from Ready at 7 meters to be successfully accomplished with relative ease.

Of perhaps supreme importance, though, is that the XD-9 exhibits not only excellent mechanical design and quality of materials and workmanship, but exceptional "user friendliness" as well. In fact, it is so "user friendly" that it took the three ASAA instructors (all ASAA Handgun Combat Masters or Distinguished Advanced Handgun Graduates) whom I asked to test it less than five minutes to successfully transition to it from the pistols they normally carry. This is remarkable, because in no other case has it occurred during my entire career as a professional weapons & tactics instructor.

Once a few dry practice presentations from Ready and Holster were complete, high-speed shooting and weapon-handling drills were immediately begun. The result was as I had expected – all three shot it as well or better than they did the handguns they'd been carrying for years!

Next, I gave the piece to a novice shooter who had only fundamental training in marksmanship and weapon-handling and he, too, performed not just better, but much better than he ever had previously. This is significant because it shows not only how much ergonomics influences performance (at least as much as mechanical reliability itself, in my opinion), but that at least a few designers have finally realized its criticality and given it the emphasis it deserves.

Satisfied, I then repeated the whole process myself, with the same result, "cleaning" the ASAA Advanced Handgun Evaluation Course with a perfect score. Thus encouraged, I then took on the extremely difficult (most say quintessentially difficult) ASAA Combat Master Qualification Course, passing it with a score of 394 out of a possible 400 points. That I was able to do this after only a few minutes with the pistol shows its superiority over more conventional designs.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Frank Spezzano, honcho of Cen-Dex Tactical, provided several superb Kydex holsters and magazine carriers for the test gun on quite literally only a few days notice and that they greatly enhanced not only the XD-9's performance, but the performance of all of the test shooters as well. In fact, because of Cen-Dex's excellent showing, a new holster for the XD-9 and other pistols will be available from them very soon. The result of intensive design collaboration between Mssr. Spezzano and myself, it's been designated the Taylor Nighthawk and is an improvement upon the older Taylor Thunderbolt design. It's not only just as fast, but will accommodate a wider variety of pistols without form-fitting being required.

I also found my XD-9 to be extraordinarily accurate – capable of producing Ransom Rest groups of two inches or less at 25 meters with most of the typical 9mmP ammunition currently available. I also noted that it seemed to have what I call a "fast" barrel – muzzle velocities were significantly higher than produced by the same length barrels of other 9mm handguns.

In fact, when I chronographed the pre-fragmented Glaser "Blue" load, it produced a whopping 1995 fps, causing me to think that something was wrong with my equipment and subsequently repeat the process to be certain the readings were valid! In turn, the chronographing of more conventional loads disclosed a continuation of this "fast" trend (see accompanying chart) – nearly all were 50 to 100 fps faster than with other 9mmP handguns with the same barrel length. This is a great boon for hollow-point bullets, since the faster they go, the better their chance of expansion, particularly since no accuracy loss is sustained to achieve it.

How rugged is the XD-9? Well, as several previous writers have put it, "time will tell." As a new weapon, based on new design concepts it must withstand the test of time in order to be declared superior. However, early indications are most encouraging. Enough, in fact, that I intend to carry and use my XD-9 on both a personal and instructional basis to further test its capabilities.On the other hand, both the Croatian military and police have adopted it, which to at least some degree attests to it serviceability.

As you've no doubt concluded by now, my initial impression of the XD-9 is highly favorable. It feels good in the hand, points beautifully and shoots very, very well. Its controls (slide release lever, loaded chamber indicator, cocking indicator and takedown latch) are well-located, allowing efficient operation under stress and/or in poor light, and it can be field-stripped for cleaning or inspection in less than five seconds. Its ambidextrous magazine release button eliminates rapid magazine changing problems for left-handers and its trigger is light, smooth and clean, allowing excellent high-speed shooting, especially on multiple targets. And perhaps most important, especially from an agency standpoint, it's so "user friendly" that almost no time is needed to transition to it from another weapon.

In short, I think the XD-9 has all the traits necessary to become a legendary pistol and at the very least represents the first quantum leap in handgun technology since the Glock first appeared in the mid-1980s. I agree with those who've said that it must withstand the test of time before unequivocal endorsement of it can be made, but add that it certainly shows all the signs of being a big-time winner! It's without a doubt a true 21st century pistol and from what I've seen so far, a good one, at that. Check out the XD-9. Like me, I think you'll find it to be a heck of a handgun.


http://www.chucktaylorasaa.com/SpringfieldXD9.html

[jar]

They are both world class pistols and you can't go far wrong with either. The biggest difference between the two will be the grip angle. GLOCK uses a rather unusual and extreme grip angle. many, myself included, fell like we have to aim down and to the right to be on target. The XD will have a grip angle closer to the SiGs, HPs and 1911s.

Try them both and get the one that feels best to you.