new firearm for summer carry?

[Spike_akers]

So I'm considering a new firearm for carrying during the warmer months.. Ive been carrying my 1911 full size, but I'm noticing (or others are noticing) its harder to conceal during the summer months with fewer clothes.. so I was considering a sub-compact for the rest of the summer and early fall. I've been looking at the Springfield XDs and the m&p shield... Unfortunately I haven't gotten a chance to fire either of them, so I was wondering who has and what do you think of them? Is one better than the other or are they overall the same in terms of how they shoot. I'll probably go with .45 and I'm not here to argue about whether .45 or 9mm is best or how every time I walk out of my house ill need the extra capacity for that firefight on my way to work, or how shot placement is everything. We can argue that somewhere else. I just want to know from those of you who own, or have been lucky enough to get your hands on one or both, how they operate and compare to one another.

 

[Water-Man]

I don't have any experience with the XDS but hear good reports about them.

I do have a Shield in 9mm and it's one fine pistol. It has fed all HP & FMJ I've run through it, handles recoil well, fits in most of my pants pockets although I usually wear it on a belt and is quite accurate for a small pistol. I put rubber Talon Grips and AmeriGlo Hackathorn night sights on it. The holster it rides in is a Raven Concealment Phantom.

 

[TIMC]

I'm a big 1911 fan and have owned the XD. The XD is a very nice little gun but it just wasn't for me. I now carry a Kahr CW45 for my summertime gun, very light weight, virtually rust proof from sweat and it is a super reliable good shooting gun. Another plust is it is cheaper than the XDS.

 

[Godsgunman]

I can't personally speak on the XDs in .45 auto but I just acquired a XD subcompact 9 and am very impressed with it. Very accurate and smooth shooting gun. The trigger is the best polymer frame trigger out of the box that I have fired, and yes, much better than the Glock trigger. I can't see how the XDs in .45 would be any different except maybe more recoil. I would say if you like the way it fits you get it, I am very pleased with mine.

 

[herkyguy]

I go back and forth between an XDs 45 and Sig P238. The XDs will conceal for me with an OWB and button down printed shirt. But with just a t-shirt, I fall back on the 238.

Look up light primer strikes on XDs pistols. I've had two in about 250 rounds. Could be a problem developing with the XDs.

 

[horsemen61]

I also have the little xds and i love it I pocket carry it in cargo shorts I can conceal it owb with a T shirt or iwb if I am forced to wear pants I can ankle carry it mine has been nothing but reliable since I bought it with over 2000 rounds through it so far

 

[VetPsychWars]

For summertime carry of my full-sized 1911, I got a tank-style undershirt and bought a few T-shirts one size too large. This keeps the gun off my body, is a little cooler, and covers the gun.

Tom

 

[Spike_akers]

It's not that my 1911 is uncomfortable or anything, I use the crossbreed supertuck, and during the winter my shop jacket or my pullover hide it great, but in the summer my shop shirts only barely cover my belt and they will ride up over the gun just from walking (I don't get to spend much time in anything but my shop clothes in the summer)... So I'm looking for something to pocket carry or something much smaller iwb.. im really leaning towards the XDs, the gun shop I go to let me put one in a pocket holster to see how it felt and I really loved it. And I figured the shield wasn't much different, and I was just wanting to see what yall thought of them, if one was significantly better than the other or one was just garbage. And I have heard the trigger on the xds is really good compared to others... I guess now it just comes down to price.. unless someone crops up with a searious fault against one or the other...