Considering XD grip chop

[improperlyaged]

I have recently decided I don't like the 3" barrel on my XD subcompact. I would however like to buy an XD service model and have the grip cut to subcompact size where it takes the 13 round mags made for my XDsc. Has anyone done this? Also is there anyone I can send my gun to do it for me? I figure I can do it but I would rather send it to a professional.

 

[cluttonfred]

Seems to me like a bizarre thing to do just to add 1" of barrel length, especially considering that the XD and XD(M) together cover just about every combination of grip and barrel length that you could ever want.

I can't imagine that 1" is going to make that much of a difference, but everybody has their preferences. Is the chop-down idea just because you want to reuse your existing magazines? Why not just sell your XD Subcompact and get an XD(M) Compact (same grip size, .8" more barrel and slide, better barrel, interchangeable backstraps, some other tweaks)? I am quite sure that .2" isn't going to make much difference.

If your XD Subcompact and magazines are in decent shape, they should net you more than half the price of a new XD(M) Compact and magazines, and your total investment would not be much more than the cost of the custom work, and you'd have a brand new gun.

 

[improperlyaged]

I want to keep the XDsc. I do like it, I just don't like the barrel. The added 1" gives me peace of mind that the round will reach acceptable velocity to expand reliably and the grip cut makes something unique to me.

 

[cluttonfred]

Obviously, it's your gun, and sometimes just having something custom can be a lot of fun.

That said, you didn't mention the caliber of your gun, but you can see some actual test numbers of common calibers and factory ammo with varying barrel lengths at the Ballistics by the Inch web site. Taking 9mm as an example, ten different factory cartridges, standard and +P loads, 90-124 grains, yielded an average velocity difference between 3" and 4" barrels of just 69 fps.

So if you prefer the sight radius, balance or just the looks of a the longer barrel, go for it, but the average ballistics will not change that much with just the 1" increase. A couple of loads did seem to get a bigger kick out of the 1" increase, notably the Corbon 90 gr DPX +P that jumped 99 fps and the Speer 124 gr Gold Dot Short Barrel that jumped 95 fps, so I guess it does depend a lot on what you are shooting.

 

[Voodoochile]

Will the slide & barrel on a XD fit & function on a XCsc?
Since you plan to keep your current sidearm why not try that first, kind of like a Franken-XD.

 

[JTQ]

...is there anyone I can send my gun to do it for me?

Bowie Tactical http://www.bowietacticalconcepts.com/index.html

 

[improperlyaged]

Will the slide & barrel on a XD fit & function on a XCsc?
Since you plan to keep your current sidearm why not try that first, kind of like a Franken-XD.

From what I understand, no it won't function that way.

 

[verdun59]

There's lots of info, including how to do this on the XD forum, as well as shops that will do this.

 

[breacher]

I chopped my Steyr M40 down to take Steyr S40 mags. (12 rds to 10 rds) Can still use the longer mags, just stick out a little.

Before:


and After.

30 minutes with a hacksaw and a file. I've since stippled it for texture.

 

[improperlyaged]

Breacher I can't see your pics

 

[cluttonfred]

I notice friom the Bowie Tactical link that a Glock grip reduction including stippling goes for $195 plus shipping and insurance. If prices for work on an XD are similar, then selling the XD and moving to a different model of gun with a longer barrel and slide still seems like a more economical option.

 

[JTQ]

cluttonfred wrote,
I notice friom the Bowie Tactical link that a Glock grip reduction including stippling goes for $195 plus shipping and insurance.

Possibly, you don't understand Bowie's Glock grip reduction is turning the 2x4 shape of the Glock grip into something similar to other guns (and stippling it), and not shortening the grip to allow a G17 to use G19 mags, which is what the OP is planning on doing to his XD. The Short Grip mod, which is what the OP is looking for, is $70.

 

[breacher]

Super simple on the XD. In fact I got my inspiration to chop my Steyr on XD Talk as well as GlockTalk. Pistols with removable backstraps present a little more challenge. I saw a chopped Smith M&P and the guy had to use epoxy to glue the backstrap on after the chop. Might be the same for the XDm, I dunno.

Just remember to cut about 1/8 inch long and file down from there to avoid a big gap at the mag base.

 

[GLOOB]

Great job on the Stery cutdown. That looks much better than the factory gun!