Opinions of the Springfield Armory XD's

[TestPilot]

For a gun to just hit a target with, they're good pistols.

The huge problem is, it presents a risk in fighting with them: The "grip safety."

The problem, specific to XD "grip safety," is that these stupid Croatians decided to tie all functions, not just trigger, to it. It requires being pressed, not just when you want to fire, but also when you're doing emergency manipulations.

It's like the Death Star's "thermal exhaust port 2m wide." Death Start having a "thermal exhaust port" in and of it self was not the problem. The problem is that it was tied to the heart of its function that caused a "chain reaction" that blew up the whole thing.

 

[Walkalong]

I am in the "don't mind the grip safety" camp. I do not think it is a danger either.

Then again, I grew up with 1911s.

One is supposed to have a firm grip on their handgun anyway.

I don't understand the grip safety "problem".

 

[Cee Zee]

I didn't find it very conducive to accurate shooting.

I had trouble learning to shoot mine for a while but eventually I got used to the long pull and the seemingly longer reset. It's not an easy gun to do double taps with IMO. But I still like it. I also like the grip safety. Yes it could be a problem in certain limite circumstances but if I worried about it jamming under pressure I'd be using a different gun. I figure if push comes to shove and I have to clear a jam in a firefight I will find a way somehow. Maybe that's stupid but it seems like a very remote possibility to me. I know any thing that can go wrong is something that should be fixed but I have never seen a gun I thought had everything covered perfectly. I'm sure none of the guns I own are perfect and I've got some pretty expensive stuff I guess (Sig P220) that is supposed to be as robust as they come. But it only holds 7 rounds at a time unless I want to use an aftermarket mag. Some of those aren't so robust. I have a 10 round mag for that pistol but it isn't reliable at all.

 

[Mr.510]

The long trigger reset drove me crazy. Everything about my XD 45 Compact was great except the trigger reset. The break was good for a carry pistol but the reset distance was extreme for my relatively short finger. I was never able to master double taps with the stock trigger but could do them perfectly every time with nearly any other gun. I sent it to Springer Precision for a Combat/Carry trigger job. That was the best money I've ever spent on anything related to firearms. It has a four and a half pound break with just a teeny bit of creep and the reset is really short. Now this gun is perfect. I shoot it so well that I won't change anything about it or even consider carrying something else.

 

[JR24]

But what in the world would put a Ruger or PX4 into the same class as the xD?

I dumped my XD9 for a Ruger SR9c. Couldn't have been happier.

I disliked the XD trigger (both the break point and reset), the ergonomics on the SR were better for me, and the XD had the most "felt" recoil of any of my 9mms (including other polymers). Its new owner likes it just fine, so everyone won.

Carried the Ruger for a bit, but switched it for a Glock since Ruger STILL hasn't gotten out a compact in .45 ACP yet.

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by TestPilot: It [the grip safety] requires being pressed, not just when you want to fire, but also when you're doing emergency manipulations.

Not true on the XD-S.

 

[tactikel]

My XD-45 is a great pistol. I bought it over a Glock because it had the grip safety. At $385 it was a bargain. It dosent like SWC bullets,but with anything else it just will not jam. Over 5400 rounds thru her and no signs of wear. Made in a small European country? you mean like Belgium, Austria, Czech rep. Yea stay away from those!