New SA XD 40.

[ar10]

I picked up a new XD 40SW sub compact last week. I had been carrying the XD 9mm sub compact and wanted a little heavier caliber. Since I own only XD's I could compare it to the others I own.
I found it was stiffer than the other NIB XD's and am not sure why.
After putting 500 + rounds through it the accuracy is no better or no worse than my others and there were no misfires or jambs.
The .40 sub does have significantly more kick than the 9mm sub and the 40 service model. So if anyone has a history of the "limp wrist syndrome" it might not be the best choice.
It was definitely heavier to carry than the 9mm even though they both look pretty much the same. When I get some time I'll weigh them empty.
The 40SW sub mag lists only nine rounds but I found you can actually get 10. With the extended mag it's 12 rounds.
I do like the feel and weight of the gun but then I'm partial to XD's, and will probably use it as my primary CC gun. It hides just as well as my 9mm and I use the same Blade-Tech holster for all of my XD's (the .45apc is the exception)

 

[Walkalong]

I looked at an XD SC and an XD service model. I picked the SC because like you stated, I liked the feel. I really like it. Great little gun. It is a little snappy with full throttle 155 or 165 Gr loads. I like the 180's better.

 

[abuelo]

I have an XD 40 service model, looked into the sub not wasn't sure about recoil.Thanks for the imput. Maybe worth another look.

 

[ar10]

Well, I collect the damn things. Got 7 now, every caliber they have in XD. I have got to stop doing this crap.

 

[Walkalong]

Have you got all the caliber conversions for them too.

Seriously, you may want to look at a .400 Corbon conversion barrel for your .45. I have one for a 1911 and it's a fun caliber.

I have an EFK Firedragon 9MM conversion barrel for my XD SC. Works quite well. I had planned on getting a .400 Corbon barrel for my XD .45, but traded the XD .45 before EFK brought them out. I liked the XD .45, but traded it off in favor of my 1911s in .45.

 

[ristmo]

I'm going to hijack your thread here, but it's as good a place as any I've seen.

I've had the XD-9 for a couple months now and thoroughly loved it. I've spent a lot of time lurking on here and practicing. Every year or so, I get a new hobby, and just try to learn all I can about it. Amazing how much information is in this forum. Anyway, I did a lot of reading before deciding I wanted to get a .40 as my main carry weapon. Next, I spent a couple days researching my three finalists -- M&P 40c, Glock 23, and the XD-40 sc. I loved the way that both the 4" M&P and the 3" XD-40 fit my hand, but I couldn't find the M&P compact at the gun show I was at. Eventually I decided to get the XD-40 sc and quickly felt quite confident that I'd made the right choice... everything about it was just perfect.

Only to get back and re-read a number of posts that it has quite the recoil to it. Which now has me second-guessing my decision. I know, I know, I should have rented one first instead of simply going off my research (although it worked out great with my XD-9, my car, my computer, etc).

Anyway, not to sound like a wimp but how bad is it really? I guess my main concern is that if it's going to be uncomfortable to practice with, I'd just as soon sell it before putting any rounds through it. I want something I can enjoy practicing with, although I have a membership, so often I'll just shoot 50-100 rounds a couple times a week, rather than a couple hundred at once -- it could be that it's not so uncomfortable not shooting a lot at a time. My XD-9 feels a lot smoother than the Glock I learned on, and while I'd like to have a heavier caliber to carry, I've never shot a full size .40SW, and I'm just wondering if I'm smart to jump straight into a .40 sc when a lot more experienced shooters than I am are making comments about it being "snappy". I guess I just don't know what to expect.

BTW, what ammo are you using for it?

The XD-9 has done fine with the 250 rd Remington UMC and seems to do alright with Winchester white box. Walmart had a good deal on Blazer brass, which from what I can tell is far better than Blazer steel, so I picked up a bit of that -- again, this is for my 9mm which is just to get as much practice as possible out of. For a gun I'm going to trust my life to, I guess I'm just wary of any reliability issues that might result from using cheap ammo. Is that a just concern?

P.S. You sent in your "Gear Up" rebate, right? (http://www.springfield-armory.com/gearup/gearup.pdf)

 

[ar10]

Anyway, not to sound like a wimp but how bad is it really? I guess my main concern is that if it's going to be uncomfortable to practice with, I'd just as soon sell it before putting any rounds through it. I want something I can enjoy practicing with, although I have a membership, so often I'll just shoot 50-100 rounds a couple times a week, rather than a couple hundred at once -- it could be that it's not so uncomfortable not shooting a lot at a time. My XD-9 feels a lot smoother than the Glock I learned on, and while I'd like to have a heavier caliber to carry, I've never shot a full size .40SW, and I'm just wondering if I'm smart to jump straight into a .40 sc when a lot more experienced shooters than I am are making comments about it being "snappy". I guess I just don't know what to expect.

I don't think it's any worse or better than any other gun, and I've managed to shoot quite a few. I can think of a couple examples:
I owned 3 different Glocks, 2 9mm and 1 .40SW. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the guns but I just didn't like the type of recoil, (always pulled up and to the left), it takes getting used to. Once you have it mastered they are extremely accurate.

One of my neighbors down the street had a little .380 he wanted me to shoot, (It had been sitting in a drawer for quite awhile). I took it to the range and fired about 40~50 rounds. It recoiled more than my 40, because it was very light.

Any gun you buy is going to take getting used and every one is different in one way or another. The important thing is, is practice. They all recoil. I read somewhere "always fear the person with one gun". I think that's very true. I see a lot of shooters at the range and the ones that seem to be most confident always seem to have one or two guns.

 

[texaspunk]

Thanks, this is a great post. I have an XD-9 SC that I carry often, but i find myself pausing at gun shows and staring at the XD-40. I like the $$$ factor when shooting a lot of 9mm, but have wanted a bit more BANG for a while. Very informative post, thanks again.

 

[OregonJohnny]

With the XD-40 sc, it's not the "recoil" that you notice, but the "muzzle flip". For instance, my little S&W 642 .38 snub smacks straight back into the web of your hand. The XD-40 sc doesn't push or smack, it just "flips" up. So it all depends on your comfort limits with recoil and muzzle flip. Personally, I have never found my XD-40 sc to be unpleasant to shoot. In fact, I often shoot it more accurately than my other full size autos. It's a great gun and currently resides in my truck 24/7.

 

[7.62Reaper]

I just picked up the 3'' in the .40 cal- Damn! For the price ($419+tax) it cannot be beat!

 

[neal7250]

I just purchaced the XDM in 40, and my early observations lean me to say that is is an outstanding gun in every department. I'm really thinking of taking a look at the 9mm.

 

[ristmo]

Thanks for distinguishing between recoil and muzzle flip, Johnny.

I was able to pick up some ammo yesterday, and I just finally got out to the range tonight to try it out.

I'm no gun expert, but as a consumer, I'm honestly not sure how it could get much better than this. Everything about it is just perfect, from looks to size to how it fits in your hand. And most importantly, from what I can tell it's designed to do some serious business! It's just an incredibly sturdy piece of equipment.

And in case anyone else was wondering, I've heard LEO's and instructors talk about how .40 cal handguns kick a lot harder than 9mm, and I've seen several reviews about how this gun in particular is a bit "snappy", but if I'd never heard those comments, I'd have hardly noticed the difference. You know how some rounds feel like they shoot a little softer and some others a little harder? If somehow my XD-9 had been replaced in my hand with my XD-40 SC without me knowing, all I would have thought was it was one of those that felt slightly harder. So in case anyone else was hesitant for that reason, you can dismiss it!

This is definitely going to be my primary carry gun.

Just a couple other things -- someone in another thread had mentioned the trigger felt like it was "cutting" into his finger and that it bothered him to shoot. I only remembered it because after about my 4th or 5th round, I noticed the same thing. However, by the time I went to reload, I'd forgotten all about it, and I didn't notice it at all the rest of the night.

Also, about it being slightly stiffer, I think I agree, but I also personally like it. In fact, "sturdy" may be the word I'd use. I especially like how when I took up the slack, it got to this point where it just stopped. It didn't feel like it wanted to budge (like my XD-9), it plain stopped like a wall. Then you pull it back and BAM! I just like that feeling of knowing exactly what's happening and when. Again, it's just sturdy all-around. I love it.

Something weird, and my guess is it has nothing to do with the gun, but probably about 15 rounds in or so, I had what I'm guessing is a jam. The shell popped out after I shot, but the slide got caught on the next bullet. It's weird, though, cause I was using Winchester white box, which I also use in my XD-9 with no issues. A few rounds later, though, something else happened, I pulled the trigger and it literally looked like shards (or should I say chunks of shards?) flew off from the round as it left the barrel. Again, I'm guessing this just isn't good ammo? Or maybe there's something about using it in this gun? I have some 9mm Blazer Brass to try out, so I guess if it does well, I'll give it a shot in this gun, too. Remington UMC seemed to do alright, too, for my 9mm, and since it's actually cheaper than Winchester, I may just go back to that.

Any suggestions? I'd like to handload, but that's probably quite a ways off. (Although if I get the right brand, I can start saving the brass now.)

 

[ristmo]

I just picked up the 3'' in the .40 cal- Damn! For the price ($419+tax) it cannot be beat!

Think I paid $429, but yeah! Just don't forget your gear up rebate:
http://www.springfield-armory.com/gearup/gearup.pdf