Critical XD Flaw

[Island Beretta]

From the HS2000 came out and its transformation to the XD they have been noted for flyers. GunTests attributed this to the steel rails up front and the polymer rails at back that caused the lockup not to be consistent. They recommended that steel rails be used at the back in any upcoming modifications.

I have also seen other articles, e.g. Dave Arnold (Handguns March 2002) that complained about flyers. Recently a colleague of mine got one and had this flyer problem. I shot it and tried to call the shot each time the trigger broke and every now and then (no fixed pattern) I would have a shot that went against the sight alignment and placement. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!

Is it all of us that have the problem or is their really a problem with the XD??? For the more technically knowledgable would steel rails and polymer rails cause instability in the lockup and how/why??

What has been your experience??

 

[Owen]

BAH!

Gun Tests seems great until they start talking about something you know about. I don't think they are qualfied or have the equipment to do a good job of what they claim to do.

I would trust the consensus on THR before I paid much attention to what Gun Tests has to say.

And No, I don't think the mixed steel/plastic rails would cause flyers.

Owen

 

[Island Beretta]

Owen,

...and what about the other articles and our experience???

Also, the post is a request to get the opinion of the THRers!!

 

[railroader]

I know what your saying about flyers in articles. I don't think I would call it dangerous though. The shooters would have a nice tight group going say 2 inches and then one round would open it up to say 3 and a half or 4 inches. Alot of guns shoot groups that size all the time and I wouldn't call them dangerous. I have an HS 2000 and I personally think it is a very good gun. Is it as accurate as my cz75b, no but I trust just as much. Mark

 

[m.i.sanders]

I haven't noticed any problem with mine with flyers, then again, the way I shoot a pistol, I wouldn't notice anyway . In spite of that, I don't think poly/steel rail combo would have much affect on the hook up.

 

[PCRCCW]

How the gun shoots?....Well, how any gun shoots with its design configuration is dependent on its engineering and R&D. If the gun was properly designed with steel/plastic contact in front and plastic/plastic in the rear...it shouldnt effect is accuracy.

Another and probably more important point about accuracy is very little of it is dependent on slide/frame rail fit...seriously.

This point was made in great detail regarding the accuracy of blowback designs vs locked breech guns. The main contributers in a guns accuracy are the barrel/sight alignment...right? Well, on most gun designs the slide has the most to do with this point.

The sights are on the slide...directly mounted (in most cases) and the barrels fit/alignment within the slide have more to do with a guns accuracy/consistancy than the frame/slide fit......

This is the case with 98% of the guns out their...once you get into Race/Comp. guns..your getting on a different level..beyond most shooters abilities.

Alot of research goes into this type of R&D when most makers build a gun.......
Inherent flex of the poly at the point of firing.....how much?etc...

My little SP101 was "factory sighted" for 125 gr fullhouse loads...
If you shoot 110's it shoots low...less recoil than the gun was built around given the OEM sights...opposite with 158's...shoots a tad high....to much recoil for the factory POA/POI. Its all in the design....

Shoot well

 

[emc]

I just took my new XD9 to the range yesterday. Lacking a huge amount of time, I test fired it with CCI Blazer in 115 gr. From a rest at 27 yards, the best group was about 2 inches or so, for five shots. Standing offhand, for ten shots, the grouping was around 8 inches or so. The outside temperature was about 19 degrees or so, and I had heavy gloves on, which did wonders for my handling of the pistol. So, from the standpoint of firing about 35 rounds or so, in an abbreviated session, I did not having much problem with accuracy.

FWIW,

emc

 

[45R]

The HS2000/XD series is a great handgun. The gun points good and accuracy is excellent for a "combat gun". At 20 yards with a 3" black area, In my hands I was able to put my shots in the black. Its not uncommon to get an occasional flyer, but I would contribute that to user error.

If you so worried about your HS2000 shooting flyers, use good ammo and try it on a rest.

 

[Marshall]

It's been my experience that the shooter has more to do with fliers than the gun!

Like I said "my experience," dangit !

 

[EOD Guy in VA]

FWIW my XD-357 has been flawless & accurate

 

[railroader]

With this mag so what if you get a flyer. Mark

 

[George Hill]

The XD series is one of the better guns to have come out in a long time. An occasional flyer from the group is a pretty common thing. I have seen this in other guns as well.

 

[railroader]

With this mag what's a couple of flyers? Mark

 

[Brad Johnson]

XD is my primary gun

6000+ rounds and counting. No problems other than a failed extractor at 3000 rounds (it was promptly and courteously replaced under warranty).

Brad

 

[Correia]

Most of the "fliers" I've seen at the range are because the shooter jerked the trigger or flinched.

The XD has a poly frame so you know it wasn't tested in a Ransom rest, so therefore there is the chance for human error.

 

[10-Ring]

The 2 rental guns I've been using for the last couple of months have been very accurate & fun to use. Haven't experienced these flyers.

 

[Island Beretta]

From what you are all saying I see we have nothing to worry about.. I will borrow it this weekend from my colleague and shoot it off a sand bag and sees what happen!!