A custom XD45

[deezulsmoke]

I got an XD-45 for the pure purpose of playing with it to see what could be done to make it better. One of the first things this one got is a lighter trigger work over for a 4. lb crisp trigger pull with adjustable pre-travel. And all of the usual internal fluffing and buffing. I also added a set of Tru-Glo Tritium/Fiber Optic sights. These sights rock! Very bright in the daylight and very nice at night. And the air gap on the back sight is just perfect for my aging eyes. Plenty of daylight showing around the front blade. I highly recommend them. Part of the reason for getting the XD was to turn it into a carry gun for myself, but also explore what could be done to the gun from a custom standpoint. I really like to checker and stipple metal guns. Well, now I have found a way to really do a nice stippling on the polymer guns. One of the things that bugged me about the grip on the XD45 is the overall size. While managable with large hands, it is still pretty big and blocky. So, I removed the front checkering. I was looking at removing the back checkering but the plastic is just too thin. I then re-radiused the front strap for a better more ergonimic feel. Then came the stippling. I have been doing some stippling on some M&P 40s with good success, so the XD was a natural. The stippling tool that I use mimicks the stippling that I like to do on metal. Random punch patterns that don't repeat too often and still offer a semi factory look and nice texture. Slimming the grip on this by removing the front checkering, re-radiusing the grips and then stippling as totally transformed the grip. It has gone from clunky, blocky and slippery hard to hold to ergonomic with the right shape and texture to make gripping it a sure and secure pleasure. Add the X2 tac light with laser and you have one very capable 14 round home defense or carry gun with a great sure grips and very shootable sights and a very nice and smooth 4 lb trigger. It was worth the work over and now is my main carry piece. I use a Blackhawk CQC setup for paddle carry with a FBI cant. Very comfortable and secure. Anyway, I talk too much. Here are the pics.

 

[MikePGS]

Very nice

 

[BsChoy]

I gotta know how you stippled that thing! I love it...I think I am going to trade my Springer Loaded for an XD45 today actually. We shall see.

 

[dstorm1911]

stippling = spring loaded center punch, My stippling on metal comes out exactly like the above, ya simply lay out your borders with a marker then randomly work over all the material within those borders change the angle of the punch frequently UNLESS ya want to add extra grip to an area then ya punch in the opposite direction the part will try to slip away in under recoil etc... after all your punching is complete (avaiod punching at 90 degree angles ya want to allways have the punch hitting at an angle rather than dead on) after your done go over it with 600 grit wet/dry paper ya are only knocking down the edges and blending here so don't get all crazy bout it, just wipe your work with the paper, After I'm done however I use small key files to clean up the edges and create defined borders it looks more professional than just leaving it as is..

 

[deezulsmoke]

I have a variety of punches that I use when stippling metal. It is a whole different story with the plastic pistols. I have kinda made stippling one of my specialties when building custom pistols. If you look at the website, you will get that impression, especially the Stronhold HP that I did for a customer. This is done with heat. And a temperature controlled soldering iron. And a knowing hand and touch. Stippling the plastic is faster than doing metal, but it is also much easier to make a mistake. I have done several plastic pistols including my XD, and an M&P 40 that I put pics up here of, or the customer did. It turned out really nice as well. I am just glad to be able to expand out a bit and start to offer custom work on the M&P, XD and will do Glocks too. Not that I don't have enough 1911 and HP work right now because I do, but the custom work on the XDs and M&Ps can be done pretty fast. It would be no problem to do a trigger job, stippling and some other custom work on one of these pistols and be able to have it back to the customer in a week. It goes pretty fast.

Jess

 

[Frazier]

Very nice gun and professional work. I had been looking at the truglo sights, it's good to get real user info - I'm sold. I have old eyes as well. Do you find having the light mounted makes a noticable positive difference with muzzle flip and speed to follow on shot?

 

[deezulsmoke]

The TruGlo's are the best sight my old eyes have ever seen.

Jess

 

[deezulsmoke]

Stippling on a metal gun is done with a series of punches. Thousands of punch strokes ovef several hours of time. Lot's of time. Typically 3-4 hours to do one gunj. With the plastic guns I use a temp controlled soldering iron to keep from burning tthe plastic. I have a link under DYI section for mre information on chreckering and stippling,

 

[Ala Dan]

Custom Work On XD's

Check out Springer Precision~!

 

[Ed Ely]

Nice job, good looking XD!

Ed

 

[deezulsmoke]

sold!!

SOLD thanks for the interest.