I shot the XDS today

[Plan2Live]

I think I received a delayed Father's Day gift from "the gun universe" today. I'm a Range Saftey Officer at one of the local ranges and pulled a shift this morning. The reason I say it was delayed Father's Day is the unbelievable variety of guns on the range today and everyone offering to let me shoot them. Just today I shot the XDS, Shield, Kahr MK9, S&W 945 in Performance Center Trim, S&W Recon 45 and Recon 9 which were limited production Performance Center beauties. The Recon 9 is based on the 6906, not sure about the Recon 45. A Performance Center 686 Plus, XD Subcompact 9mm, Sig 290, Taurus PT 92(?), Ruger Mark III which was amazingly accurate at 50 yards and of course my own Sig 239 in 9mm and XDm 3.8 Compact in .40 cal. Talk about a great day at the range!

The guy that had the XDS also had the Shield and he has a Sig 938 but just sent it back to the factory because the trigger pull was measuring out at like 13 pounds so I didn't get to shoot that one.

So, the XDS. It was nice and slim as advertised. I carry the XDm 3.8 Compact and the XDS feels just like a slimmed down version of that. Duh! There was plenty there to grip even though it's a tight little package. The groups were nice and tight but man o man you knew you had shot something once you pulled the trigger. The recoil is substantial but without a lot of muzzle flip, mostly just straight back. The grip texture is very aggressive and for us office workers, would be very abrasive and hurt after 50 rounds. Glad I didn't shoot that many rounds through it. As I said, it grouped well, wasn't difficult to shoot but not a weapon for those with weak wrists or soft hands

 

[skeeziks]

I sure wouldn't want to shoot 45acp all afternoon out of a 21.5 oz. pistol.
Wouldn't be too good for my Carpal Tunnel.

 

[jon86]

Thanks for the review! These little things sound really good, but I haven't even seen one to handle.

 

[Plan2Live]

It seems like there are three Unicorns out there right now, the XDS, Shield and 938 and this one guy has all three! I'm envious on several levels.

Other than having access to all these guns today, my biggest surprise of the day was how well I shot the Kahr MK9 and how easy the DAO trigger is. I've shyed (spelling?) away from DAO as I tend to pull the gun off target before it goes bang but the MK9 was very pleasant to shoot and accurate. Not to meniton it felt like a quality item.

 

[klash545]

how was the muzzle flip? XDs have a really high bore axis

 

[wwace]

how was the muzzle flip? XDs have a really high bore axis

did you bother to read the original post?

 

[checkmyswag]

How was the trigger?

 

[Plan2Live]

I'm no expert and to be truthful, all this stuff about triggers that are like glass rods breaking and all that escapes me. Overall the trigger felt just like my XDm. It has enough resistance and enough take up travel to let you know you are moving the trigger then bang. The reset is pronounced enough that you can feel it if you are paying attention. What else can I say, it goes bang when you pull it back and honestly I was paying more attention to the vibration through my hands and the grip texture cutting into my hand and fingers to pay much attention to the trigger after the first shot.

 

[ritepath]

Where did I go wrong in my education?


I want one of these 3 pistols....or all three of these. Then again I want any 3 you can name.

 

[Plan2Live]

Ritepath - I feel your pain. It's amazing what you see when you spend even a moderate amount of time on the range. A few weeks ago a guy came out to the pistol side totin' a rilfe case. He placed it on the stand and opened it up. I walked over to remind him he was on the pistol side and he had the case jam packed with CZs, Makarovs and a Tokarev or two. He said he decided to bring out his "Eastern Block" guns that day and left his "normal" stuff at home. It does spark envy.

 

[verdun59]

wwace,
apparently you didn't know there's a "high bore axis conspiracy" out there when one mentions XDs.