From nationally known trainer John Farnam (
http://www.defense-training.com/ ):
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http://www.defense-training.com/quips/16July07.html
Another reason to dislike "compensated" pistols:
At a Pistol Course in WY last weekend, a young student brought a "compensated " SA/XD in 40S&W. Multiple holes are drilled in the barrel, and matching slots are in the slide. My friend and esteemed colleague, Henk Iverson, has banned all compensated pistols, as several students in his courses have been injured via gas cuts when firing such guns in a close/contact position. I am going to follow his lead!
This XD's barrel vents bled off so much gas, the pistol consistently short-cycled. So egregious was the problem, that this student was forced to abandon it and switch to a G23, which, of course, ran fine for the duration.
We see many XDs in classes, and, in all fairness, most run fine. However, "compensating" holes and cuts in barrels and slides are bad news with any serious pistol, as we re-discovered last weekend. Highly NOT recommended,and, from now on, not permitted in our Courses!
/John
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That's enough reason for me to forego a comp gun for serious applications. Of course, YMMV- if it's 'just' a game gun or a range toy, it might not make any real difference to you. But if there's a chance you might ever need to suck your pistol in close to your body and shoot from a retention position, I'd definitely forget the comp. The "gas cuts" John mentions are actual cuts inflicted by hot fast moving gas vented from the ports, coming in contact with portions of the shooter's anatomy that were close to the pistol when it was fired.
Comp guns also tend to be much louder in the muzzle blast department since they vent gas upward. They interfere with followup shots, especially in dusk or dark, because they vent gas up through your line of sight.
Free advice FWIW, buy a caliber you can control, forget the gimmicks...
Stay Safe,
lpl/nc