I jacked my XD today

[XD-40 Shooter]

I was testing out loads I had put together with Hodgdon Longshot, 155 gr XTP with 9.5 grains, 180 gr XTP with 7.5 gr. The velocity I was getting was awesome, 1300 fps with the 155's and 1130 fps with the 180's and then.......the recoil spring self destructed, freezing up the slide.

I consider myself to be a careful reloader, I've loaded 5000 rounds of 40 S&W with Unique, without any problems. My longshot loads were .5 grain under max, so I didn't think it would be an issue. I guess I was wrong, off to Springfield it goes, hopefully they will cover it.

The barrel, chamber, and frame are all intact, so its not a KB, thank god.

 

[RNB65]

Just buy a Don's guide rod and 21lb or 22lb Wolff recoil spring and dump the one piece unit. Then you won't have to worry about breaking anything.
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[Spartacus451]

I wouldn't blame your loads on destructing the recoil spring. The spring should never reach full compression.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

Maybe the spring was fatigued after 5000 rounds and it just let go, under the additional strain of a hot load, that would make sense.

 

[Idano]

Don't send the gun back go on line to Wolff Gunsprings and order yourself an assortment of springs for your XD. I usually end up with two one heavy for normal loads and one light for paper punching. Spring weight affects how fast your gun cycles, for heavy loads you want a heavy spring to slow the slide down so it doesn't slap the stops but on light loads you need to back off the tension or the gun won't cycle or else it will stove pipe. I don't think your loads were the problem, I just think the spring prematurely failed.

 

[PTK]

The XD spring and recoil rod, much like the Glock, should be replaced upon purchase. I'm not sure why some companies go cheap in areas like that, where they really shouldn't.

 

[possum]

Just buy a Don's guide rod and 21lb or 22lb Wolff recoil spring and dump the one piece unit. Then you won't have to worry about breaking anything.

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this is what i would recommend as well i have the wolff 18# and it is awesome no issues.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

5000 rounds is quite a few rounds on that spring. Suggest you replace as part of your maintenance routine at around 2000 rounds, especially if you use this pistol as a carry piece. When you shoot firearms a lot, things wear out and break. In this case, it was your spring.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Eb1]

boing!

Just kidding. That really sucks. I would get an after market spring.

 

[gandog56]

If you do send it in don't mention handloads. That would void most warranties.

 

[GaryL]

Springs can fail, nothing new there. They are more prone to failure when they get hot. They also get fatigued with use and over time, which is why auto racers replace valve springs after every season or race, depending on the application.

In the shooting business, I seldom hear of prople checking spring pressure and rates, but it's very common in the automotive world, as a spring not functioning as specified can lead to expensive failures.

 

[kasTX]

My XD9 did the same exact thing at around 5K to 6K rounds. It has never seen a handload. There is a replacement interval specified somewhere for the spring, but I can't remember where. Either way, I sent mine back and they replaced the spring under warranty and repaired some battering of the frame just ahead of the magazine well. I suspect the spring was well worn a thousand rounds or so before it failed, hence the battering of the frame.