Melt an XD

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25cschaefer

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A friend of mine has an XD sub compact that she would like the edges rounded on for better concealment and drawing. Has anyone done this or have tips/concerns? Also, is there a way to make it easier to rack the slide while keeping the reliability the same? New springs?
 
Haven't seen it done to an XD, but it's been done to 1911's plenty and it looks / works fine. As for the slide, you're messing with something that will affect reliability. The XD is damn near perfect as far as reliability goes. There's no real way to go but down.
 
I'm picturing both of the XD pistols in my household (xd9sc and xd45c) and I'm not sure where one would shave off material to make the gun conceal better.
 
I would just be rounding all of the corners so when it does print it doesn't print so sharply and would snag less as it is drawn(not trying to grind the gun down to where you can't see it). Cost isn't a consideration because I would be doing the labor, more of a project. As for the reliability, how much metal could be removed before one start seeing an effect in cycling?
 
XD is blocky, wide. Instead of butchering it with poor results (at best), she can sell it and buy something more thin and concealable - like Kahr P9 for example.
As for the reliability, how much metal could be removed before one start seeing an effect in cycling?
Click to expand...
I don't want to sound rude, but please, ask yourself a question - do you really think, that the engineers who designed the XD failed to remove the excessive and unnecessary amount of metal already?

Boris
 
The XD doesn't have what I would call "sharp" lines. It is quite rounded at most corners.

I agree with an earlier comment that "melting" the XD makes little sense. The end result will be a gun that has zero resale value. It has zero warranty with Springfield. It won't result in any advantage in concealing it. There is little material to remove and once the corners are "rounder" it won't feel any different.

IF the sub compact XD is hard to conceal, seeking a more compact and flatter gun is advisable. Depending on HOW the gun is carried there are holsters that will help this matter. If she is carrying this gun in a waistband without a holster and that is the cause for complaint of sharp edges, get her a proper holster.
 
We've got several XD's, XDM's, and the SC version which my Daughter in law carries. She is a small woman and hasn't had any experience what so ever prior to my Son buying her the XD SC, and she quickly took control of the functional operations. And quite honestly, the slide is so smooth and anyway. If I had to complain about anything regarding the XD it would be the 17 round magazines being almost impossible to load to capacity, without the use of the speed loader that comes with them. If the holster is well matched to the person, and their carry style, to which there are many holster options available, it should be very comfortable to wear.

But even if it's a no go regarding the slide and carry problems, melting it, and, or clipping or replacing springs that may, or may not be specifically intended for the XD, would be a shame, not to mention destructive in my option. And as already established by another individual here, the XD's are as close to perfectly reliable as it gets.

When someone buys a handgun, it is imparative they take the time make sure it fits their physical abilities in every aspect. By melting and making other bizzar alterations is just asking for trouble. And it's an XD, selling it, or trading it in for near what you've got into it shouldn't be to difficult to accomplish.
 
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