This may help:
http://www.sniperworld.com/content.aspx?ckey=Sniper_World_Glock_Index
Now that's a Glock, not an XD. But you get the idea.
First, the only way for the gun
(your gun anyway) to be "uncocked" is to dry fire it. Dry firing is pulling the trigger on an empty gun.
If you're going to do this,
you need to double and triple check that the chamber is empty and there is no magazine in the gun. The "chamber," if you're stiill getting used to the terminology, is the first part of the barrel. Check it visually and physically with the slide locked open. You should also be able to see straight down through the magazine well.
But seriously, don't even worry about dry firing at this point. Just do not pull or even touch the trigger until you're at a range and on target.
I'm going to say that again.
Seriously, don't even worry about dry firing at this point. Just do not pull or
even touch the trigger until you're at a range and on target.
Please don't think I/we are treating you like an idiot. Do a search for a thread called "How did you accidental discharge happen?" and you'll see how easy a gun can go bang when you expected a click.
If the slide goes from its rearmost position to it's forward position
while there is a magazine containing at least one round in the gun, that round will be loaded into the chamber.
What you said about going to the range and not having to cock the gun
is possible, and also dangerous and unsettling -- it means you had a round chambered and ready to go, and you did not know it. At some point between buying the gun and going to the range, you racked (pulled back) the slide on a loaded magazine. Which like I described above, lets the slide move from its rearmost position to its forward position with a loaded magazine in the gun.