Lets Talk About Springfield XDs

[Richard]

I want to make it clear that I do not own a XD. Why? I hold a grudge towards Springfield Armory. How, so? I remember when the Croat pistols sold for $249 and I was busy buying other handguns. I am now very sorry that there is this gap in my collection.

I have fired a whole bunch of XDs and they have all shot well for me. These include the 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45Gap. I liked each and every one of the XDs I shot. I like the grip and I also like the trigger on these Springers.

Let me know your opinion of the Croat. Thanks and

Regards,

Richard

 

[Bilt4Comfort]

I love mine. I currently own 2 and have owned a .40 tact that I sold in favor of the .45 that I wanted. Several thousand rounds combined through all 3 and not a single ftf, fte from any of them. They eat whatever ammo I feed them and are great right out of the box imo.
I'm sure you will get many replies just like this one. Having shot XDs before, you probably expected it.

 

[ChuckB]

My most recent acquisition is an XD9 Service. It has a couple thousand rounds through it. It has become my fave autoloader. 100% reliability, excellent accuracy, and it fits my hands just fine.

Chuck

 

[wally]

Over all I'd say the XD is my favorite plastic pistol. I do like the HK USP varients that do cocked and locked better, but they cost a whole lot more -- too much to provide good value, although they are great guns if money is not an issue.

--wally.

 

[Detachment Charlie]

I've got an XD45 Service (4") and it's proven to be a true performer. Accurate (as any of my carry 1911s). Reliable (more so than my 1911s). Big firepower (14 rounds).
I love to carry and shoot my 1911s, but if I knew I was really, honestly gonna need a pistol, I'd grab the XD (and an AR).

 

[TX1911fan]

I own 2, and have a hard time deciding whether to shoot them or my 1911s. Excellent guns.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

XD-40 here, very solid, accurate, reliable, comfortable. Its my favorite semi-auto in my collection, no other gun feels as good in my hand as the XD does.

 

[atomd]

True, the HS2000 was almost 1/2 the price. So? All of the XD's competition today are all somewhere around the same price as the XD. Others have done the same (Wilson just did not too long ago). When I go the the gun shop I see lots of $500 polymer pistols. The XD certainly compares to the others in that market as far as I can tell. If the XD is ovepriced, then many other pistols must be too.

So what is a full sized polymer autoloader in 9mm that is generally as good quality as a $500ish gun like an XD, Glock, PX4, Walther p99, Kahr, FN, SigPro, M&P, etc etc but costs only $250 new? I can't think of any. I like the XD (especially the .45) and I think the price is average. If you like it you should buy one too.

 

[Quoheleth]

Supply and demand. Rock Island Armory 1911's were only $250 or so a year or two ago. Now they're in the mid $350s.

Asi est la vida.

 

[skinewmexico]

Got 3, love them all.

 

[SuperNaut]

I've never liked polymer handguns, swore I'd never own one, then Correia showed me an XD. Like a crack dealer he is...

I now have an XD .45 Service w/Trijicon night sights.

BTW one good reason to buy a current model XD is that the pre-Springer XD's and older post-import Springers didn't have the new more durable finish (melonite?).

The new finish and Springer's NQA warranty justifes the mark-up IMHO.

Here's mine:



The positives of the XD line have been covered in many threads on THR and I agree with all of them. That said, it has some things I'm not entirely in love with:

1. The slide-stop lever is right where I rest my right thumb, this prevents it from locking on the last round. If you don't utilize a high-grip, it isn't an issue.
2. The mag-release button spring is a lot heavier than it needs to be.
3. The trigger-feel bothers a lot of people, described as "gritty." Mine isn't gritty, it instead has a kind of "boingy" break that I dislike. I could be spoiled by my 1911 triggers.
4. Mine flips a little, I've heard the Tactical flips less.
5. I wish it had a de-cocker (Not really a con, just personal preference).
6. Springfield is stingy about selling parts.

 

[MaterDei]

I really like the XDs and am surprised that they haven't taken more of the Glock market share.

My father has an HS2000 and when he had an extractor problem SA fixed it for him for free.

My next pistol might be the XD 45.

Supernaut, nice pic!

 

[BrainLazy]

If the XD is ovepriced, then many other pistols must be too.

I think you hit upon the answer there.

It's not so much an issue of supply and demand, but what the market will bear.

When the RIA 1911 and HS2000 didn't yet have much of a reputation, people weren't willing to spend as much on something they saw as a risk compared to something they knew would be 'worth' their money even though the quality was just as high then as it is today.

The RIA 1911's following grew from word of mouth and the prices were raised as people were willing to pay more. But that 2 year old $250 RIA is 'worth' the same (quality wise) as a new $350 RIA. The cost of making them did not rise $100, the supply did not decline, but the perception of quality in the public's eye had increased so the price was raised to take advantage of extra potential profit.

With the HS2000 there was an artificial marketing blitz instead of slow word-of-mouth growth.
Springfield, as an investment, bought the rights to something they knew was a good value, and then doubled the price while advertising the hell out of it. The combination of similar price, similar exposure, and SA name recognition would make people consider the XD an equal of other guns already selling at that price point and which had more established reputations.
Again, the cost of making an HS2000 did not double when it became the XD, and the supply did not shrink (it in fact exploded overnight), but the perceived value rose because of Springfield Armory's association and marketing. It didn't become twice the gun it was when a $500 price tag was slapped on it, it became a gun that doubled SA's investment.

Now, SA and RIA aren't "evil" for charging more, people seem more than willing to give them money, but realize that both of these guns could easily sell today for ~$300 and still turn a profit.
Keep that in mind the next time you see a new, inexpensive gun and immediately dismiss it as being "cheap", give it the benefit of the doubt and research it a little or you may just end up paying twice as much for the exact same thing a year later once it has a "quality" pricetag.

 

[xpun8]

I've got a .45 and .40 service and I've had very few issues. The only FTF was with Aguila FMJ, I don't know if it was just the box I had or what. I had 3 boxes, the first box there were 3 FTF's. No issues other than that. If you're used to a tricked out 1911 trigger, the XD's will probably bother you at first. There are some drop in trigger enhancements available that I've heard and read good things about.

 

[10-Ring]

During those few months when SA took over & put their name on these guns, I was interested in buying one before the $$ went up (as I knew it would). Just as I was getting ready to buy a Tactical version, the range gun I was shooting broke Not that big a deal, it was sent back to SA & its replacement was sent -- free of charge. But, that broke too and then one of the other XD range guns broke in the same fashion too. Total of 3 XD's in about 4 months
Since then, the range XD's have not broken, but I'm still a little leary and it has been A LONG time since SA acquired the rights to these guns

 

[Nil]

I have a XD 9 Service that's been perfect through 5000ish rounds. It's had only one malfunction, a stovepipe from a Remington Golden Saber. I've even gone around 1000 rounds without cleaning it and it's still worked fine.

 

[Ala Dan]

XD-.45 ACP Service Model

Shot mine on Saturday (09-01-07), without a single problem or any type of
malfunction. Of all the guns I own, this Springer was my weapon of choice
for the day. With its performance, its earned a spot in my collection~!

 

[Rokman]

XD45 Tactical for me. 100% reliable and as accurate as I need to be. It has taken my home defense job away from my Glock 23. I am a certified Glock guy and this pistol is a keeper for me.

 

[Ops Officer]

Like Rokman, my XD45 Tactical occupies the position as my HD gun, though I tend to rotate my primary HD gun. Why? It is 100% reliable and surprisingly accurate for quite a bit less than a SIG or Hk. The grip angle is about as ergonomic as it gets. The felt recoil is markedly less than most .45 ACP guns I've fired. I've fed this gun various factory loads in FMJ and JHP. It likes them all. The 13+1 capacity is a hoot, but I have to be careful I don't get wild at the range. I stuck a Streamlight TLR-2 and a Bedair SS guide rod on it.

I'll probably send it off eventually to Canyon Creek for a trigger job and a TruGlo sight. But I'm in no rush. No, I'm not wild about the lack of aftermaket parts and the fixed grip. But I'm impressed enough with this Tupperware gun. I have an Hk USP45 Expert, which is also a plastic gun. Yes, the Hk is way more accurate than the XD and has nearly the same capacity, 12+1. But the Expert is way more costly too.

 

[CajunBass]

I remember when a lot of things were cheaper, but I don't see much profit in sulking about it.

I've got an XD-9 I like a lot. If you want one, get one.

 

[capitolpeak]

xd .45 service

had one fail to feed with winchester fmj's. I think this was my freinds lack of experience on how to shoot it though. I only have about 200 rounds through it, I know I know I need to break it in:banghead: but I just dont have time to get to the range enough. Anyway....I love it and the ergo's imo blow any glock out of the water especially for being a dbbl stack .45

 

[brashboy]

Why the sideswipes at the XD all the time?

Again, the cost of making an HS2000 did not double when it became the XD, and the supply did not shrink (it in fact exploded overnight), but the perceived value rose because of Springfield Armory's association and marketing. It didn't become twice the gun it was when a $500 price tag was slapped on it, it became a gun that doubled SA's investment.

It's not as simple as that. SA needed a polymer gun they could put head to head with the Glock, and got it. But they spent a lot buying those distribution rights; the Croats get a piece of every gun, you can bet. They didn't sell the XD, they licensed it. The new finish being applied ain't cheap, and the insurance costs on guns marketed in the USofA are huge. Oh, and there is marketing. Plus SA added the NQA warranty. Before SA came along, the Croats simply dumped as many of the HS2000s here as they could, and the distributors worried about insurance and other issues. So the HS2000 was cheap. (I wish I'd bought an armful) The XD is every bit the equal of the Glock and other good polymer guns, and priced equivalently. Why shouldn't it be?

Why do so many talk as if, yep, the XD is another instance of corporate greed? And why do so many deride SA for its marketing acumen? In America of all places, isn't that considered to be adroit? If the XD was a POS, the marketing it does might be offensive, but it's a fine weapon and local gun shops can't keep the XD in stock. That is hardly SA's fault - people like the gun. All the marketing in the world won't sell a gun people don't like.

Glock himself was one of the all-time great gun marketers, placing ads, selling guns cheap to LEOs to get them out there, product placement in movies and TV, you name it - he worked all the angles. Browning worked all the angles, too. So did Winchester and Colt. Making and selling firearms is a business.

The XD is as good as the Glock is, if no prettier (or uglier). Both work fine, tough and reliable. It really is a matter of ergonomics and preference, and 1911 addicts seem to like the XD better b/c of the grip angle, or the Glock better b/c of the bore axis. It's about what each shooter likes. I don't like the Glock b/c of the feel in my hand - feels like (as somebody said on some forum) there is a robin's egg taped to the backstrap. But the Glock is a great gun, indisputably.

How nice that we can choose between so many great polymer guns! And - I also get to have my Kimber 1911 and CZ97B. I could almost hug myself I feel so lucky.

 

[308win]

XD9SC Not a hiccup. Am considering an XD45 4". It will never replace my 1991A1 though.

 

[Muddflap]

I had an XD9 Service model. I enjoyed shooting it, and it was very accurate. Absolutely no problems. I think I am going to miss it. I sold it to get a Sig, but someday I might pick up another XD.

 

[fltrucker73]

xd 40

i love my xd 40 i carry all the time new to site but looking for info on my next gun thinking of a taurus 1911 but dont much about taurus and their relibilty????anybody have one tell what you think of it thks