Got some questions about a new gun (XD40)

[CrudeGT]

So a few days ago i picked up a new XD40. I really like it, it's a lot better for a concealed piece than my Ruger p89 was.

I took it to the range the other day, and had some interesting things happen.

First I discovered that the magazine release is incredible difficult to push in with the mag is in there. It takes a good bit of force to drop the mag, unless you press up on the bottom of the mag, then it drops easily.

Second, Every now and then, at least once per magazine the gun would jam. The round would become stuck with the bullet itself in the chamber, but the brass would be diagonally lodged between the edge of the chamber, and the magazine (Does that make sense?). And one of the ways to fix this is to tap the bottom of the magazine, that puts the round completely in the chamber.

This is my first new gun, so I'm a bit confuse about the 'break-in period'. Do these things sound normal for a brand new gun? I put about 400 rounds through it, and an going to put a few hundred more through it this week. in hopes of 'breaking it in'. But if these sound more like defects, than I'll send it back to Springfield before I fire it anymore.


Thanx guys.

 

[critter]

That sounds more or less like normal for a new not-broken-in-yet gun to me. I think I'd shoot it some more first. Then, if neede, those problems should be easily addressed if need be. I understand they have a good warranty so they should fix it if need be. Good luck and have fun.

 

[CrudeGT]

I'm gonna go put another 400 or so rounds through it next weekend. I'll think I'll take your advice, if it's still doing it by then, I'll call Springfield Armory, and yeah, they've got a lifetime warranty on defects.

 

[Marshall]

Although I haven't had any problems in the type of ammo I shoot with my XD-40, you might try using a different brand of ammo too. Unfortunately, all semi auto's can have can have some finicky specimens sometimes.

 

[thefitzvh]

the mag release thing is a break in issue. Mine was like that for a while too....


As for the jams, are you using Speer Lawman? I can't get that stuff to function reliably in my XD40. Anyways, I never had any issues like that, so I can't advise you as to what would cause that.

 

[CrudeGT]

I used 400 rounds of winchester white box, Which I've heard is really reliable, so I'm not too sure it was the rounds. I'll pick up some other stuff this weekend when I go out again and see if that fixes it.

 

[Catbird]

I haven't experienced any problems whatsoever with my HS2000 (pre-XD9) or my XD40 and they are extremely accurate to boot.

 

[CrudeGT]

Catbird, If you got a second XD40 and had the problems I explained in the above post, would you call Springfield right away about it being defective?

 

[Plinkerton]

You might as well call Springfield and ask them what they think anyway. It won't hurt to ask them. If they say it's a break in thing, then maybe give it a chance. If they actually say that it's not normal, then at least you would know to send it in.

 

[CrudeGT]

Good point, I'll have to wait until Monday anyway, but I'll go ahead and do that, just to be sure.


See that's why i'm glad I'm on this board. On those days that my brain forgets to get back in my head (pretty much every day of the weeK), you guys are here help me see the logic

 

[CrudeGT]

I think I narrowed it down to the magazine release. I'm not sure if it's the spring, not being broken in, or being too tight. but I think it is not holding the magazine right, causing it to be incredibly difficult to release the magazine, and also I beleive it is not holding the magazine correctly, either too high or too low, causing the bullet to not completely enter the chamber every now and then. That would also explain why the quick remedy for the jam is to slap the bottom of the magazine.


I will still call Springfield Armory on Monday morning, and see what they say, but I think it has something to do with that. I don't want to blow this out of proportion, but this is the gun I want to trust my life to, if the time arrises, and I don't want it to jam at the worst possible time.

 

[Catbird]

CrudeGT asked:

Catbird, If you got a second XD40 and had the problems I explained in the above post, would you call Springfield right away about it being defective?

Yes, I sure would...without delay. I would discuss the issue(s) with a SA technician and see what he/she thinks could be the problem. If you have to send it in for examination, SA should pay for shipping.

QUESTION: With the slide removed, insert an empty magazine. Do the mag feedlips touch the ejector or is there a small amount of space between the two? Try the same procedure with a round in the magazine.

FYI, one negative issue with XDs is that there have been some amount of broken ejectors due to magazines being inserted too forcefully.

Let me know what you see.

(I also have a Bar-Sto .357SIG barrel for my XD40 and it shoots great. Actually, it's the best .357SIG in my collection.)

 

[CrudeGT]

I will need to play with that again, when I get off work, to be sure abuot that Catbird, I'll get back to ya tonight when I get home.

 

[CrudeGT]

OKay, Catbird, I checked it out. When the slide is off the magazine, when full or empty sits snugly in the frame, with no play. When the slide is on and the magazine in full the magazine has about a millimeter of play, where I can push it up. If I push it up and press the mag release it drops out easily, if I don't push up on the mag, and try to push the mag release it takes a LOT of force to drop the loaded magazine. Now I'm starting to wonder if the slide is not milled properly, causing the mag to not sit properly.

I'll know more when I call SA tomorrow morning, thanx for the help guys.

 

[zaijian]

I've had my XD40 Tactical for a month now, and have run about 650 rounds through it, mostly WWWB - here are some things I've noticed so far:

mag release - putting a full mag into it with a closed slide requires more force, and so does releasing the mag. Are you having problems releasing the magazine when it is full, or while it is < full?

FT Feeds - I had a couple of fail to feeds just yesterday, when trying out some WWWB HPs, but I ran a couple more mags' worth through, and didn't have any problems. It was probably due to my sloppy loading of the magazine, maybe a few rounds weren't properly seated all the way back.

The only things I don't like about the XD40 is the trigger pull, way too hard for my liking - and that the barrel/guide rod finish wears off so quickly. I'm thinking about getting a combat trigger job + hard chroming. Then, I think I'd be plenty satisfied

 

[pale horse]

First things first.

The magazine is generally tough to eject when its fully loaded. My guess is you are dropping one in the chamber from the mag, ejecting the mag and inserting another round in the mag and putting the topped off mag in the weapon. Correct? If that is the case mine does the same thing.

The ammo question can be a simple fix. Try new ammo at least 3 different kinds. If it does that with all the ammo you have tried then you have a problem. One other thought the P89 is a 9mm and you may be limp wristing the .40 which would cause the problem. The way to fix that is not letting you wrists roll around when you are shooting, keep them a little stiffer than you normally would and that should fix the problem.

 

[Jim Watson]

We had two XDs at the local IDPA shoot Saturday.

The 9mm did ok except for the time the shooter did not get the magazine in far enough to latch up.

The other, a .40, had numerous feedway malfunctions. We didn't slow down to diagnose the exact failure mode, but it was not working at all well.

We had a woman shooter, now transitioned to a SA 1911A1 9mm, who started out with an XD 9 with many instances of not being able to break the second shot. Not letting the tricky trigger reset? Probably, but I don't know for sure.

 

[CrudeGT]

zaijian Said

mag release - putting a full mag into it with a closed slide requires more force, and so does releasing the mag. Are you having problems releasing the magazine when it is full, or while it is < full?

This is exactly what is happening. The issue I am refering to is when the mag is full, when it is empty there is no problem.

Pale Horse said

The magazine is generally tough to eject when its fully loaded. My guess is you are dropping one in the chamber from the mag, ejecting the mag and inserting another round in the mag and putting the topped off mag in the weapon. Correct? If that is the case mine does the same thing.

That's what is happening, except that I don't load one in the chamber and then drop another in the mag. I keep 9+1. I only got a pack of 20 personal defense rounds (federal Hydra-Shock), so I keep 2 mags, both loaded with 10 each.

And I was't really paying attention to how perfectly the rounds were seated in the mag, I was too excited by the eye candy brought by the other shooters. I will be going back this week, and I wil watch it more carefully.

This basically answers all my questions, and helps me feel a lot better about my gun. I was starting to be think it was defective. That would have sucked.

Thanx guys, I'll post another range report when I get back. It'll probably be on wednesday or thursday.

 

[Catbird]

Just my thoughts -

One thing that I think most of us would agree upon is that it's very difficult to sometimes diagnose a gun's performance when it's being shot by someone inexperienced (<--- NOT a negative criticism). They don't often know exactly what is normal vs. what is not. Jams, for example, may be caused by limpwristing, unintentionally activating the slide stop while shooting, using poor quality ammo, etc. It would probably be best to have a more experienced shooter evaluate the pistol.

 

[CrudeGT]

That is very true. And I am unexperienced, it's the truth, I won't take offense. I'm going to be at the local gun store shooting this week, and it the problem persists I will have one of the gunsmiths there take a look at it, and shoot it. See if they can get an idea of what is causing it.

 

[Catbird]

I wish you luck with it. Please write back and let us know what you find out.

 

[Jim Watson]

I only got a pack of 20 personal defense rounds (federal Hydra-Shock), so I keep 2 mags, both loaded with 10 each.


But how much have you SHOT? It is dangerous to your health to not fire substantial numbers of the actual load you depend on for self defense. I know it is expensive, the Bullet of the Month racket and the mini-boxes of ammo at high prices work against confidence. But you gotta do it. Reason I shoot Federal 9BP plain hollowpoints. They may not have the latest astronautical design but I KNOW they shoot from my guns.

 

[CrudeGT]

You do raise an interesting point. Maybe if I have some extra cash left over I'll pick up a few more boxes of the Federals, to fire at the range.