Glock finally has some real competition...

[euclid]

I finally had a chance to stretch out the legs of my newly-acquired XD-40 today and all I can say is: holy smoley! This pistol just flat out, plain shoots. The fit and finish are superb. It is VERY accurate and 100% reliable with everything I stuffed in it, including hollowpoints (Win STX 180 grain) and my reloads. In summary, it is a GREAT pistol.

What this means to me, the consumer, is that I can purchase an XD for around $100 less than a Glock and get a remarkable pistol.

This is not a bash-the-Glock thread. I own or have owned various Glock models including the 23, 30, 33, and 20 and I think Glock makes a great pistol. I just don't think that the Glock pistols I have shot are worth $100 more...at least not after today's session at the range!

Just a few of the pros and cons of the XD over the Glocks I have sampled include:

Pros
-better trigger (smother, with a crisp let-off)
-much better chamber support (no base-of-brass bulge)
-better fit (you can throw a cat through the slide-frame gap of a Glock!)
-better price

Cons
-higher bore axis
-sightly heavier
-has less time on the market...i.e. the XD is not as "battle proven"

In summary, I think Glock may have it's hands full.

Glockophiles - flame away

 

[Blueduck]

Don't even own a Glock at the moment but have owned several the second generation G-17 being my favorite.

The low bore axis, light weight, and tenifer treatment of the slide before finishing were really the big points I liked about the it.

Doesn't really seem like the XD has anything I liked Glocks for

 

[Shmackey]

I handled an XD the other day and liked it a lot more than I expected. However, I have no idea how anyone could say it has a crisp trigger. Still very Glock-like. I would get one over a Glock, however. In fact, if they made one in 10mm, I might consider it.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

I have Glocks, and have handled the XD. I will admit, it seems like a very quality pistol. Balances and points well. Good trigger. I don't like the grip safety. It is a little top heavy.

It is a good pistol, but I prefer the Glock and I am willing to pay a little more.

 

[Mylhouse]

I have handled the XD and the HS 2000. Whatever you want to call it. It seems like a very nice, well made pistol.

I will agree that out of the box, the XD trigger is nicer than a Glock's.

However, the one thing holding me up on being impressed with the pistol and going out and buying one is the polymer rear frame rail. I mean, what's up with that? The front rail is a nice, beefy steel rail....why put a polymer one in the rear? How hard would it have been to keep it all homogenous?

Maybe it's a minor nitpick....but it is keeping at least one consumer from opening up his wallet....

 

[Bren]

They were a better deal as the HS2000 at aunder $250.

I fondled the little one and wondered WHY these things have to be so fat! Blew the whole reason of having a compact.

I will look at anything in 10mm though, lets hope they build one.

 

[New_comer]

I liked the way the HS2000 (XD) felt in my hand, better than the Glock 19. Way more grippable that the blocky G19.

The trigger is also a bit better. But I do have some apprehensions about the grip safety.

Wish they'd remove it...


But all in all, it's a great gun. Wouldn't hesitate to own one myself...

 

[10-Ring]

I liked shooting the XD in 9 mm & 357 sig. The only complaint I had was the inconsistent trigger. The 9mm had a seemingly endless trigger pull while the 357 sig had a nice short, smooth & crisp trigger.

 

[Wildalaska]

Finally...??I thought the race was over long ago when the P99 came out...

XD? Blocky, lousy trigger pull, poor ergonomics, top heavy...destined to be an also ran...

WildwaltherfirstglocksecondxdpoorthirdAlaska

 

[DigMe]

The fit and finish are superb.

I want one of these but I've heard that the finish is anything BUT superb. In fact that's been the biggest complaint I've seen from XD owners is that the finish begins to wear off quickly.

brad cook

 

[Tacblack]

The big plus on the XD is the grip angle, I tried and tried the Glocks but the grip angle just doesn't work for me

 

[PCRCCW]

Wow....Id like to know what some of you have been smoking?

Im not a glockophile...more a CZophile but I love the XD. The trigger in SA I would call crisp and even in in DA I prefer it over a SHPRONGY Glock trigger. The 9's Ive shot were more accurate in my hands. Had better balance and pointed more naturally than alot of other guns....Anthing but top heavy...

As far as not trusting a mechanical safety that you controll, like the grip safety....Id sooner trust one of these than one thats built in like the 3423 safeties the Glock has that you cant see except the stellar trigger safety.
Flame away.....just my take.

Shoot well

 

[GeneS]

Im not a glockophile...more a CZophile but I love the XD. The trigger in SA I would call crisp and even in in DA I prefer it over a SHPRONGY Glock trigger.

The XD does not have a DA pull. It is a single action only, though with a long take up and long trigger reset.

 

[euclid]

Based on many of the responses I have read, I don't think I made my point clear enough.

I am not writing that that the XD is THE best polymer framed pistol on the market. Personally, I think that the P99 (which I also own) is better than the XD and the Glock. What I am trying to articulate is that, FOR THE PRICE (i.e. around $420 in my neck of the woods) it is, in my view, one of the best bangs you can get for your buck in today's handgun market. Period.

What this means to me is that instead of purchasing a G19 (which was next on my list) the presence of the XD in the marketpalce has forced me to consider purchasing an XD-9 instead. This is why I feel Glock has some serious competition in the mid-price range pistol market. Based on some of the other responses I have read I amprobably not the only one thinking this way.

As for the trigger, I stand by my statement: I think that the XD has a better trigger than the Glock.

poof...

 

[9x19]

I had an XD-9... briefly. For a single action trigger design it has a loooooonnnnnnggggg trigger reset, much longer than that of the Glock, and I can't stand that goofy grip safety.

"...real competition."? Not here.

BTW, NIB Glock prices at the last Dallas gun show were $429 - $439.

The XD a $100 cheaper? Not here.

 

[Blueduck]

Bren makes a good point on the price.

Springfield bought the rights to the gun, stuck thier rollmark on it and raised the price $200. Thanks a lot S/A :banghead:

 

[litework]

Congratulations on your purchase. The XD does represent a bargain.

I think the XD lacks steel in the rear frame rail because of the beefy rail on the locking block. It has way more metal than the Glock slide/frame rail system. Not saying the Glock system is bad, just saying the XD system is reliable.

I have heard many people complain about the price increase when Springfield put their name on the pistol. In addition to the higher price, Springfield also put a lifetime warranty on the pistol, and included their customer service. They answer their emails, too. I think this more than makes up for the price difference. They also had to start marketing the pistols and paying salespersons with higher, American salaries. I don't think too many people heard of the HS2000 before they heard about the XD. Springfield will warranty the HS2000. If you got an HS2000, you got one heck of a deal.

 

[Tom B]

It's amazing how these guns suddenly became competition for the Glock after Springfield purchased them and upped the price by 1/3 ! I am just kidding as I have never shot or even held one.

 

[digex]

I was looking at one of these the other day. I didn't pick it up, but it looks like it has some nice features. My only real complaint is the aesthetics. Not a very pretty piece IMHO.
Tommy

 

[Nero Steptoe]

"The trigger in SA I would call crisp and even in in DA I prefer it over a SHPRONGY Glock trigger."

Per Gene S's post, there is no double-action trigger pull on the XD, which begs the question........how much have you actually shot the XD, and/or do you know the difference in a single and double action trigger?

 

[Boats]

As someone who almost exclusively shoots 1911 style pistols, I have been attracted to the XD's relatively smooth breaking trigger. My only complaint about it is the re-set distance, but I find it to be oddly and rapidly shootable in spite of this "drawback."

Of course I also don't hate the trigger on a properly set-up Glock, but between the finger grooves and the alien grip angle the Austrian shooting experience suffers by comparison. The grip safety on the XD is even more invisible than it already is on a good 1911 and it doesn't hurt to know that my son cannot fire the pistol until he can get an adequate grip on it. Not that I am irresponsible or anything.

I will make mine Croatian when a 4" bi-tone XD-45 is launched.

 

[TheMariner]

Definitely agree with Wildalaska here... P99 is an excellent weapon which has been around longer than the XD.

 

[Blueduck]

I have heard many people complain about the price increase when Springfield put their name on the pistol. In addition to the higher price, Springfield also put a lifetime warranty on the pistol, and included their customer service. They answer their emails, too. I think this more than makes up for the price difference.

From $250 to $425, thats a 70% price increase. Seems pretty steep to me for an e-mail response and warranty that hopefully most will never need or use.

Don't wanna sound like I'm just bashing Springfields capitalist behavior (better than the alternative ) I love Glocks, but put the company itself in the same boat of selling a pistol that one of it's chief virtues is the low cost of manufacture, yet not seeming to pass any of the savings on to the consumer.

 

[NevadaPistolero]

I own and shoot the XD 4 inch service model in 357sig, Im more than satisfied with the gun. I think they will put the hurt on Glock sales in the future. Ive ownd Glocks but the XD beats them in my opinion. Theres one(rental) in a firing range in Arizona(cant remember the name) that has 175,000 rounds thru it with minimal cleaning. Its an excellent gun. Price is right and very good quality.

 

[litework]

Blueduck,

From what I understand, the $250 price tag was an introductory offer. I have heard that once the gun got established, the price did go up to around $300 bucks ( 3rd generation...just before Springfield stamped their name on the slide). Springfield is paying American dollars for marketing and customer service. We like fanciful things and our salespersons expect a little more compensation to afford those luxuries. The latest price I got on the Springfield XD was $389. To me, 89 dollars isn’t a lot to pay for a lifetime warranty and customer service that can actually be reached by telephone or email and backed by Springfield Armory. Not to mention, all the accessories that seemed to have appeared as soon as Springfield got involved. Prior to Springfield, you had a solid but obscure pistol with a reasonable warranty and virtually no accessories. Springfield heavily marketed the pistol, and we’ve got a few toys for it. The really weird thing about the price...it wasn’t until the price increase that the pistol was taken seriously.

Additionally, in a competitive environment, you don't start a price war. You want the market to be relatively stable, especially when entering the market. Glock is probably better equipped to slash their prices and force Springfield out of the market. The price is better for everyone.