Springfield XD 45 -- Opinions Sought

[ForeignDude]

I’ve been considering a Springfield XD for a very long time. I had almost decided on an XD-9 a while back, but I was put off by the tales of rusting and the “iffiness” of the Bruniral coating. I got to handle a 40 S&W variant at a range in Colorado, and I liked it overall – for whatever reason, though, every single .40 I’ve ever shot ends up jamming every three rounds. [It’s me – I know it and accept it.]

Then came the XD-45 and I started to re-consider purchasing an XD and upgrading to the .45 ACP.

Now, comes the XD-45 service “compact”, and I got a message deep in the heart o’ me! It addresses many of the issues that have kept me from buying an XD: this new model comes with the Melonite finish, the height is perfect for my hand size (5.1”), it has a consistent trigger pull, and it comes in the higher caliber.

So, I’d like to hear from those of you who have shot the XD-45, whether the original version (height: 5.75”) or the new “compact” version. Lay it all out, brothers: the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’d like to hear especially about the accuracy of this pistol and the reliability with hollowpoints. Oh, and about the 6 o’clock POA I keep hearing about on the XD’s.

Thanks

 

[Waywatcher]

My XD-9 had a 'drill-the-dot' sight hold with its three dot sights and 115 grain WWB.

 

[Plumber576]

I'm sorry. I know looks really don't matter, but...

The XD looks like the inbred offspring of a glock and a sig that grew up near chernobyl.

 

[BryanP]

If you do a few searches you'll find much praise of the XD 45 on this board.

I have a standard 4" model. After firing it a few times I've barely touched my much beloved SIG P220. If I were forced to downsize my gun collection I think right now I'd drop handguns to my the XD (full sized .45), S&W 638 (.38 ccw revolver) and Ruger 22/45 (everyone needs a .22lr plinker).

And here, click this link for lots of XD-45 threads. Search is your friend.

http://www.thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=1829220

 

[Guncrazy45]

XD45 Service

I've got an XD45 Service (4") model, and I've been incredibly happy with it.

The first 700 rounds I put through it had absolutely no problems.

There have been several failures to feed and failures to fire with the last 300 rounds--but I am sure that this is my fault. I just bought an RCBS reloading kit, and am just starting to learn to use it and experiment with it. So far, it's only choked on the 185gr SWC loads I've built for it, but it's possible that that could be fixed by changing the cartridge OAL, because most of them fed just fine. The failures to fire all occurred within my first 50 reloads, so I'm sure that the problem was me not seating the primers correctly.

As for trigger consistency, it's not. At first, anyway. My trigger got a lot better between the first and three-hundredth round.

Point of aim is generally good, but can vary depending on the ammo you're using. Playing with my reloads, I got different points of aim depending on how much powder I was using, but they all clustered together nicely, and will easily score on a B-27 silhouette target at 25 yards, if you aim for center of mass.

Oh, and the pistol seemed to have no problems handling loads that were listed as "Maximum" in the Speer reloading manual, and the gun remained controllable during firing sets. I'm actually thinking of loading a hotter round just to see what happens.

Minor annoyances? Well, since I got mine in the flat dark earth (MilSpeak for "brown") color, the muzzle end of the frame gets black and sooty after a shooting session. Cleans up easily, though.

Also, the sights are a royal &!+(# to remove. I wasted $100 on a B&J Universal Sight Tool so I could install a set of TruGlo TFO sights. The XD's stock sights are pressed in so tightly that I bent the tool, and the sights didn't budge. (This is NOT to say the B&J is worthless--I'm sure it will do a great job on most other handguns. And B&J's customer service is excellent.)

On the other hand, bending the sight tool was a testimony to how well the Melonite finish holds up. The pusher pin actually deformed a bit in the dovetail, scraping the surface of the slide. At first, I thought it had damaged the finish of the gun. Turns out the bright smudge on the gun was actually just metal from the tool, and it cleaned right up with a bit of Hoppe's #9.

Bottom line? I really like the XD45. So much, in fact, that I've got another one on order. That one is a Bi-Tone finish, though, so I don't know when I'll see it.

 

[.357 magnum]

ForeignDude

All I am going to say are good things about the Springfield XD .45acp. I have two of them, the Tactical 5 inch and the Service model 4 inch. I have never had a FTF or a hiccup of any type. I have put through hollow points with no problem. Mostly the 230gr Federal hydra-Shok's and Winchester 230 gr SXT [the SXT is a great load for accuracy] Also remington Golden Saber's in the 185gr. I shoot a lot of CCI brass for practice and never had a problem with them. [I consider that cheap ammo] I also use CCI Blazer Aluminum and Winchester White box for practice all in 230gr and never a problem. The .45acp is a very accurate gun and to me they are comfortable to fire. My first one was purchased back in September but according to Springfield all 2006 models have the new Melonite finish. Personally I think you would really enjoy the gun if you purchased one. I have included a link with a nice review in it for you. Take care.

http://www.gunblast.com/Springfield-XD45.htm

The best to you and yours!

Frank

 

[ta4]

+1 for all the good stuff that others have said.

 

['Card]

I've had an XD-45 Tactical since February. What can I tell you? It's the best handgun I've ever owned, right out of the box. As far as accuracy is concerned, it shoots better than I do. It's eaten every type of ammo I've fed it without so much as a hiccup. I've abused it pretty heavily and it doesn't seem to mind. I even took it on a 2-day kayaking trip off the Carolina coast last summer, where it got dunked in saltwater a few times, and it only needed minor cleaning afterwards.

If you want the kind of gun you have to tinker and fart around with, the XD isn't the gun for you. If you want a boring gun that simply works any time, every time, all the time, with any ammo, then the XD would be perfect for you.

By the way, for more info on the XD, I usually suggest people read the Wikipedia entry on the XD series (I wrote the original, although it's been updated a bit since then) and check out the XDTalk forums. Those guys are full of good info.

 

[treebeard]

My XD45 Service takes everything I feed it. No FTF's or FTE's like the G36 I own. It is accurate, recoil is minimal, and it feels good in my hand. I have had 0 problems with it since I have purchased it.

 

[camper]

Got my XD45ACP service this past January and have over 700 trouble free rounds down range. Most are 200 grain RNFP cast rounds.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

I have had a XD subcompact 9mm for two years now and a XD tac 45acp for about a month. I like both of them the 45 is a great gun very accurate and no feeding problems in several hundred rounds. I like the triggers better on my 1911's but the XD's trigger is every bit as good as my Glocks. One other note is that all the talk about poor finishes on early XD’s, my subcompact is carried in a leather holster a lot and in two years I have had no rust and very little wear so I do not think that’s to bad for any gun.

 

[cslinger]

Your in luck, I just did a review.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=239921

 

[creitzel]

I picked up my XD .45 about a month ago. I've got the 4" service model. It's my favorite handgun to date.

It has swallowed every type of ammo I've thrown at it so far, with no problems whatsoever. It is also very accurate, and points very naturally for me. I've put about 400 rounds through it so far, and its been flawless.

I'm actually thinking of buying the compact model too, as I would like the shorter grip for CCW.

Chris

 

[treebeard]

The XD looks like the inbred offspring of a glock and a sig that grew up near Chernobyl.

 

[InnerVision]

I've had My XD (4'' 9mm) for a year now and have found it to be very reliable and durable so far. I've only put a couple thousand rounds through it, but it has never jammed up on me or had any other malfunctions (unlike one of my buddy's glocks).

I do have problems with rust sometimes, but as long as you keep it oiled and cleaned it's not much of an issue. Great gun IMO.

 

[hmp32]

I have an XD45 Tactical 5" I use in IPSC and IDPA. I bought it March 2006. Shot the WA State IDPA Champs with it too =) . The finish has been olding up nicely with my Blade Tech Holster.

I use to own an XD40 4", and experienced the rusting. I also didn't like it for a .40cal gun so I sold it.

Now, I have expierenced 1 problem with the XD45. With my reloads using Winchester Large Pistol Primers, I have had about 1/2 dozen failure to denotate. The firing pin put a dent in the primer, but didn't set the round off. I put the round in my 1911 and they go off.

My theory is that the firing pin is hitting 'off-anvil' and given the hardness of the Winchester primers, it isn't enough when off center to set it off properly.

 

[GTSteve03]

Do all XDs have to be sent into the factory for any kind of work or is Springfield finally letting people buy parts to do work at home?

That's the main reason I won't consider an XD.

 

[ArkansasFatboy]

I love my XD .45, I have the 5inch tactical it points well and is accurate. I just took my ccw certification with it and hade no problems passing. All told I love the gun and have had only one hiccup in about 500 rounds.I am also thinking of buying a compact model in .40 s&w

 

[legion3]

Well I'm afraid I am not very Bias, all my 45's are XD's...I own all three XD 45 ACP's - Tactical, Service and Compact... all shoot very well and the grip and capacity sold me...I have had the Glock 20,29 and 30 (never the 21) and the grip was just too big. The new compact is basically the same size as a Glock 19/23...just a little beefier. The tactical has less felt recoil over the compact.

But all my 9mm's are glocks...except for one HKP7

The Glock 19 is awesome for a 9mm
The Springfield XD is awesome for a 45ACP

And phooy on "high bore axis" "made in croatia" and "no track record" oh yeah (to be fair to Glocks) "grip angle" - Both guns shoot about the same really. Given the differences in ammo...

 

[tinygnat219]

Love it

I have the XD 45ACP in the Service model (4 inch barrel) and love it. It's comfortable, accurate, and holds lots of rounds. The Grip is slightly larger than the 9 or the 40 model, but it works just fine for me. I had the XD 40, enjoyed the pistol, but wanted a Rock-Ola M-1 Carbine even more, so I sold it. The purchaser has been equally happy with it.

TJ

 

[Autolycus]

I have not shot one nor had the chance to hold one. However it looks like a promising gun. I like the idea of all that .45 goodness in a gun.

What is the going retail on those guns with night sights?

 

[philbo]

My XD45 service is one of my favorite pistols. In over 2000 rounds this last year the only problems I've encountered was its inability to handle lead SWC reloads. It has been 100% with everything else put through it. If you want a pistol that looks pretty, then the XD might not be the first choice. If you want a reliable, accurate pistol that you can depend on for self defense, it just doesn't get any better than the XD45.

 

[History Prof]

The XD looks like the inbred offspring of a glock and a sig that grew up near chernobyl.

Darn good description. But it hits what I point it at.

 

[StrikeFire83]

5 inch Tactical. 650 rounds through mine, no failures of ANY kind.

As for accuracy, well, I'm far from a marksman when it comes to pistols, but here's what I can do with mine.

50 rounds @ 7 Yards


25 rounds @ 15 Yards


More accurate than I am, for sure. It's loaded and ready to go as my house gun right as I type this. By the way, I also Love my Glock 17, which is also loaded as a house gun in another room. But having 13+1 rounds of 45 on tap in a home invasion situation make me happy.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

Personally, I find the XD's to be pretty attrative looking. I do not own glocks or sigs, of course. It just feels and looks well made.