Trade a Shield for an XD-e?

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Offhand McFlan

Offhand McFlan

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First of all, let me just make clear...this isn't an offer.

I've had a 9mm Shield for about 7 years now. It is the only striker fired gun I've ever owned. There are many things I like about it. The size, the weight, the belt clip, the super comfortable Hogue grip I put on it, the reliability, and also the affordable and plentiful aftermarket magazines are a real plus as well.

However, I've decided that I am not really that enamored with striker guns. I wouldn't rule out having another, possibly even a full-sized M&P, but I really kind of prefer DA/SA. Unfortunately, there are very few 9x19 hammer fired guns that can compete with guns like the Shield for that balance of concealment and firepower. I've considered replacing my Shield only a few times. CZ's Rami was a candidate. Beretta's PX4 compact also was a front runner. I recently dug a little deeper and became aware of the hammer fired Springfield XD-e series which seems to be one of the smallest, lightest hammer first SnglStk 9's you can get. Looks like a nice gun! You can even get a 45 ACP version, just like the Shield. However, it looks like the XD-e costs at least $200 more than the Shield. If I really thought I was getting a better gun I might do that, or possibly even trade my Shield up for one.

I'm just curious, does anyone here have experience with both, who can compare these guns along several parameters and help me figure out what I'd like to do?
 
I only have gunship experience with the XD-E but I wasn't impressed. It seems big and heavy for the capacity and I wasn't thrilled with the trigger.

IF I wanted a small DA/SA my top three would be the, sadly discontinued, RAMI, PX4 subcompact and HK P2000SK
 
The PX4 Compact, which I own, is a bigger, heavier, and harder to carry gun vs a single stack. The PX4 Subcompact, which my wife owns, lacks the rotating 1911s are still very popular, and the XDE basically had 1911 capacity and size. The Shield 45 is also about the same size and capacity as the XDE, and that is what I and a few others that I know EDC.

The XD-E is the only DA/SA polymer frame single stack on the market that had a decocker, and can be carried cocked and locked if you so choose. Most DA/SA non competition duty/carry guns have crappy triggers out the box including CZs, HKs, and Berattas. I also own a CZ 75 Compact, CZ P01 Compact, CZ P07, and a HK P30sk and P30L. The out thr box triggers on all of them aren't anything to write home about thus why there extremely popular are aftermarket companies that offer trigger improvements. The same is true for the XD-E. You can send your gun to Landon Tactical to do the work for you, you can buy the parts to do a trigger upgrade for yourself, or you can buy the XD-E straight from Landon Tactical themselves with the trigger job and several other upgrades already done to the gun. Even if you do not, the trigger is more that adequate for it's intended purpose of self defense and putting rounds on target fast at self defense distances. Just like with the HKs, Berettas, CZs, etc, a trigger job is not needed or really required.
 
I have the XDE in 45acp and have some quality time in with my shooting buddies 45acp Shield.
To me they are 2 entirely different platforms and I would highly recommend handling the XDE before considering it. The ergonomics of both are different and they each recoil in a different way with the same ammo. My impression is the XDE is a softer shooter but the ergonomics may have something to do with that. The SA triggers on both are decent. The DA trigger on my XDE is smooth.
Accessories are easier with the Shield but it isn't hard to find stuff for the Springfield.
 
I had an early XD-e, and like the XDS for me, it was a great shooter. Probably one of the best pointers I owned. Carried well in OWB too.

For me, if I had to choose between the two you mentioned, I would go with the XD-e. If I can find a one of the longer barrel versions, might get it.

Lefty
 
I prefer hammer fired as well but I carry striker. For me it’s all about size and weight and a Shield is smaller and lighter. I have handled the XDE. Nice gun but super high bore axis and it just looks awkward. The proportions are all wrong for me. I see they have a longer slide version that looks much better but now it’s even bigger.

In cooler weather I can carry my S&W 3953.
 
Offhand McFlan said:
First of all, let me just make clear...this isn't an offer.

I've had a 9mm Shield for about 7 years now. It is the only striker fired gun I've ever owned. There are many things I like about it. The size, the weight, the belt clip, the super comfortable Hogue grip I put on it, the reliability, and also the affordable and plentiful aftermarket magazines are a real plus as well.

However, I've decided that I am not really that enamored with striker guns. I wouldn't rule out having another, possibly even a full-sized M&P, but I really kind of prefer DA/SA. Unfortunately, there are very few 9x19 hammer fired guns that can compete with guns like the Shield for that balance of concealment and firepower. I've considered replacing my Shield only a few times. CZ's Rami was a candidate. Beretta's PX4 compact also was a front runner. I recently dug a little deeper and became aware of the hammer fired Springfield XD-e series which seems to be one of the smallest, lightest hammer first SnglStk 9's you can get. Looks like a nice gun! You can even get a 45 ACP version, just like the Shield. However, it looks like the XD-e costs at least $200 more than the Shield. If I really thought I was getting a better gun I might do that, or possibly even trade my Shield up for one.

I'm just curious, does anyone here have experience with both, who can compare these guns along several parameters and help me figure out what I'd like to do?
Click to expand...

The Shield works well for you. Keep it.

I'm curious as to why "hammer vs. striker" is a thing at all for you.
 
If I wanted to ccw a single stack 9mm in DA/SA I would definitely make the trade. I've spent fair time with an xd-s 9mm and it's effectively the same as the Shield with an additional safety. If I was going to carry the xd-e in cocked and locked mode I might look at other options but for DA/SA in a single stack design your options are few. I'm selling a barely used Shield 9mm locally right now and the market is surprisingly soft for it at the moment.
 
In this size and configuration, my choice was the CZ hammer-fired, DA/SA, 75D Compact. Big enough to shoot easily but compact enough for edc, at least for most purposes. For purposes requiring smaller pistols, the SIG 365 XL and Ruger LCP fill those roles.
 
CZ PCR, alloy framed, 15+1 SA/DA with decocker, get some slim aluminum grips and enjoy!

I was interested in the XD-e when it came out and read too many reviews of persons not being impressed with it. That is what lead me to the CZ PCR purchase and it is a very nice gun.

Hint: one doesn’t have to fill up the magazine if one doesn’t feel the need for the capacity and wants to trim weight, and then have a full magazine for backup.
 
I too am tired of striker pistols, sure they make for a good, consistent shooter, but when it comes to the ins and outs of daily carry a DA/SA hits all the key notes.

I would buy the XDE before dumping the Shield. Get accustomed to both and then bring them to the range together a few times before making a final decision on which one you want to let go of.

I would not wait for a DA/SA P365 type pistol to show up on the market, the industry outside of Beretta and Bersa have pretty much abandoned the DA/SA semi auto pistol.
 
The problem is is DA/SA firing systems take up room in key areas where it makes a gun feel bigger and more obtrusive.

it would be difficult to develop a pistol with the ergos and size of a G43x/48, P365, Hellcat, Or the new pistols from S&W and Ruger in a DA/SA configuration and compete on all fronts (I.e. capacity, dimensions, bore axis, etc.)

Striker fired handguns are so prominate because of efficiency in their design, it affords manufacturers a lot of flexibility in size and ergos compared to DA/SA type handguns as well as better bore axis’.

I too like the manual of arms of DA/SA but I got to the point that I couldn’t refute the benefits of the striker design for daily concealed carry, they are slimmer, lighter and simpler in terms of parts.
 
Every time I look at an xde I'm put off by how tall they are. This kind of comes with the territory of a da/sa though.

Might be worth looking at the Ruger LC9. They don't make them anymore but were essentially a scaled up lcp. Hammer fired double action but doesn't have second strike capability.
 
bassjam said:
Every time I look at an xde I'm put off by how tall they are. This kind of comes with the territory of a da/sa though.

Might be worth looking at the Ruger LC9. They don't make them anymore but were essentially a scaled up lcp. Hammer fired double action but doesn't have second strike capability.
Click to expand...

Hammer fired guns typically have higher bore axis, true. But the XDE is freakishly tall. Just doesn’t look proportional.
 
bassjam said:
Every time I look at an xde I'm put off by how tall they are. This kind of comes with the territory of a da/sa though.

Might be worth looking at the Ruger LC9. They don't make them anymore but were essentially a scaled up lcp. Hammer fired double action but doesn't have second strike capability.
Click to expand...
That pretty much defeats any reason to have a hammer fired gun, especially one that doesn't have a true double or single action pull.
 
I EDC both striker fire and hammer fire handguns and do not find them any harder to carry or conceal. They aren't that much bigger either. The main issue why striker fire handguns are favored over hammer fired is they require more skill and practice to master. The SA trigger pull on DA/SA and SA handguns can often be better than striker fire guns.

Revolvers, CZ, Beretta, HK, 1911s, many clones are still popular and collectively still sell and are carried a lot, so the assertion that hammer fired guns aren't popular and are hard to conceal and carry us rediculous IMHO.
 
Homerboy said:
Hammer fired guns typically have higher bore axis, true. But the XDE is freakishly tall. Just doesn’t look proportional.
Click to expand...
There are many popular striker fired pistols that have high bore axises. IMHO all the hullabaloo about bore axises is one of those things that are a huge issue only because operators and internet forum experts say it is. Can't say that I noticed a huge difference if one at all when shooting Sigs, XD's, etc especially while shooting 9mm.
 
lee n. field said:
The Shield works well for you. Keep it.

I'm curious as to why "hammer vs. striker" is a thing at all for you.
Click to expand...

I can deal with striker pistols. I have had one for years. I prefer hammer fired. I feel they are safer and more versatile. I like the ability to cock and uncock my weapon as I please. It's simply a matter of preference, just as I have always preferred manual transmissions on vehicles because it gives me more choice and control. They are much rarer now and I haven't owned a manual for about 7yrs. It's not a big deal...but if I have a choice? Well, I have spoken. However there may be other considerations than just striker vs hammer...which is why I've already expressed that this isn't some big problem, just something I'm looking into so I can have as much balance between my preferences as possible.

It's not like I've shelved my Shield! I have at least three other handguns I could use for EDC which aren't striker fired and occasionally I do. I've carried my Shield every day since the end of last Winter.

I want something hammer fired, around the same size as the Shield or maybe a Makarov or PPK...but is 9x19 or larger in caliber. I was once enamored with Sig's 938 but SA only was the deal breaker. They have some other nice guns but their hammer fired DA/SA specimens are usually bigger and heavier than the Shield. If the 938 was DA/SA I'd almost surely have bought one a long time ago.

I also used to carry a KelTec P11, AIWB, also with a belt clip. The accuracy and durability is what made me sell that one, but otherwise the concept was great. The heavy DAO trigger pull was my safety and I was totally confident with it. Another one I've considered was the compact internal hammer version of S&W's 69 series...but the reverse (negative?) safety is not for me. I would still buy one if the price was right, but I wouldn't trade my Shield for one. If the XD-e is what I hope it could be, then maybe I would....
 
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Styx said:
There are many popular striker fired pistols that have high bore axises. IMHO all the hullabaloo about bore axises is one of those things that are a huge issue only because operators and internet forum experts say it is. Can't say that I noticed a huge difference if one at all when shooting Sigs, XD's, etc especially while shooting 9mm.
Click to expand...

i don’t think they’re a huge issue, and I’m no Internet forum expert or operator. Truth is, I never use that term because it’s largely irrelevant, but in the case of the XDE, it is freakishly large. Reminds me of a double decker bus. When they came out I eagerly sought them out but when I finally found one, it just felt awkward in my hand. Totally out of proportion. I exclusively owned hammer fired for years until I got my Shield, then I got a Ruger LC9S since it’s even smaller and lighter. I have several of the M&P line of pistols. I’d much prefer a hammer for many reasons, and was hoping the XDE would be the answer, but it wasn’t, at least for me. I’ve never had the opportunity to fire one and I’m sure I would be reasonably accurate with it. Never found a gun I couldn’t shoot to combat level accuracy and that’s what these guns are made for, so I doubt the high bore axis would be an issue as far as using the gun. It just doesn’t look or feel right to me.
 
TTv2 said:
That pretty much defeats any reason to have a hammer fired gun, especially one that doesn't have a true double or single action pull.
Click to expand...

I prefer the higher trigger pull of double actions for safety reasons. This is the reason my two carry guns are an LCP and a dao revolver, IF for some unforeseen reason one of my kids managed to get a hold of my guns it'd be much harder to pull the trigger. It's a second layer of safety.
 
Bore axis difference is simple physics, nothing else. The higher the reciprocating mass in relation to where the gun is being held (high grip vs low grip) causes a difference in controllablity of the pistol.

This is the same difference between piston carbines versus DI ARs. It’s hard to refute that DI carbines mass being lower and in line with the projectile and recoil impulse provides a more controllable outcome during recoil compared to fighting against a reciprocating mass higher on the weapon such as with a piston gun.

To say it only matters because internet operators and forum geeks say so is ignoring simple physics. I have both piston guns and pistols with higher bore axis and to me there is a difference. It it shouldn’t be the end all be all of what to buy, but it should be a consideration in my opinion. This is a reason why I gravitate towards CZ pistols for hammer fired pistols with the slide inside the rail design which provides the ability of the reciprocating mass to be lower.
 
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bassjam said:
I prefer the higher trigger pull of double actions for safety reasons. This is the reason my two carry guns are an LCP and a dao revolver, IF for some unforeseen reason one of my kids managed to get a hold of my guns it'd be much harder to pull the trigger. It's a second layer of safety.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I also think the slightly more accurate trigger pull of a light striker action trigger (which means nothing for self defense shootings. A torso hit is a torso hit), is outweighed by lessening the likelihood of a shot fired when you didn’t mean to. I’m sure I’m about to be given a lesson in “keep your booger hook off the bang switch”,
But people make mistakes.
 
MY handgun experience started at MCRD Parris Island SC in 1964 with the 1911A1. Over the decades, I've witnessed change a constant in life. As this is written my EDC is a S&W Shield 9X19mm. I still have 1911 Series pistols for target shooting.
 
I am a strong proponent of hammer guns, but the XD-E platform has it's geometry all wrong. No comparison to similar feature competitors like the P239/P225/39XX.
 
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