I haven't kept up with the handguns that have become available in the past ten or fifteen years. Tonight an old friend called (he is 75) and said he wanted to get a CCW and purchase a semiauto carry gun. He had been to a gunshop and was interested in a used Springfield XD 40 sub compact. The dealer wanted $400. for it. I said that the only thing I knew about them was that they were ugly as sin. But I said I would run it by you guys. So, what should I tell him?
Opinions on the Springfield XD 40 SubCompact
- Thread starter owlhoot
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skinewmexico
Member
Mine was great, but I traded it for a bitone XD9SC. Great gun, great accuracy.
I'm really in the air about this one. I have some people telling me to go for a glock 27, and some other people telling me that the xd is better. I like the feel better of the xd compared to the glock, but i'm still not sure. I just want to here feedback.
eagle45
Member
I have some experience with the XDs. I have four of them, three 40s and one 45.
My 40s are the sub compact, the service model and the tactical, and the 45 is the compact model.
Of all the 40s, the sub compact is my favorite. It is very easy to conceal, especially with the 9 round mag in, but is not bad even with the 12 round mag in it. The 40 round is a little on the 'snappy' side and that has been mentioned many times here on THR as one of the detriments of the round. I personally don't have a problem with it, but if I was 75 I would try to rent one before I buy.
If your friend thinks he can conceal the 45 compact he might want to consider that one as well. It is not prone to the 'snappyness' of the 40 round and comes with 10 round and 13 round mags.
New XDs (not the XDM) in my neck of the woods go for around $420 to $450, but the sub compact may go for a bit more.
One more thought - the XD points more naturally for me than the Glock, just a personal preference. There are many accessories available for each now.
My 40s are the sub compact, the service model and the tactical, and the 45 is the compact model.
Of all the 40s, the sub compact is my favorite. It is very easy to conceal, especially with the 9 round mag in, but is not bad even with the 12 round mag in it. The 40 round is a little on the 'snappy' side and that has been mentioned many times here on THR as one of the detriments of the round. I personally don't have a problem with it, but if I was 75 I would try to rent one before I buy.
If your friend thinks he can conceal the 45 compact he might want to consider that one as well. It is not prone to the 'snappyness' of the 40 round and comes with 10 round and 13 round mags.
New XDs (not the XDM) in my neck of the woods go for around $420 to $450, but the sub compact may go for a bit more.
One more thought - the XD points more naturally for me than the Glock, just a personal preference. There are many accessories available for each now.
Rmart30
Member
I have a XD 9 sub compact and a 45 compact. Both have been great guns without a single malfunction in about 6000 rds. 
$400 is a fair price.
$400 is a fair price.
possum
Member
i have one with over 2k rds through it, i love it, it is reliable, accurate, and easy to shoot even though it is so small. i carry it daily in an iwb holster. i couldn't be happier with it.
cajun 48
Member
the xd40 that I shot had more felt recoil, more muzzle flip and more muzzle flash than the 45 in either xd or m&p pistols. ajb
eagle45
Member
cajun 48's explanation of the felt recoil and muzzle flip is an accurate description of the 'snappy' aspect of the 40. It bothers some people more than others. It's an attribute of the round itself, more than the gun. My XD 45 has less felt recoil than the 40s do.
I agree with what others have said about reliability of the XD also. I've had only two problems with mine. One was related to the bullet type in my reloads, and only in the Tactical model. I switched from a Rainier FP bullet to a RNFP and all was well. I had one issue with the Service model during an IPSC match that was caused by a bent mag after it was dropped on a concrete floor. That's the only two problems after thousands of rounds, and I've never had an issue with the Sub Compact.
They're good but so is most other guns of the same type.
I never really looked at modern firearm as "beautiful". I prefer functional.
Of course the .40 and even the 9mm are "snappier" than the .45. look at the differences between them on any of the reloading sites and you'll see why.
I have more than 3 and lest than 10 xd''s. The subs are not that accurate if you want to shoot something more than 50' away. Anything less than that is great.
I never really looked at modern firearm as "beautiful". I prefer functional.
Of course the .40 and even the 9mm are "snappier" than the .45. look at the differences between them on any of the reloading sites and you'll see why.
I have more than 3 and lest than 10 xd''s. The subs are not that accurate if you want to shoot something more than 50' away. Anything less than that is great.
possum
Member
the "snappy" muzzle flip and such that pepople talk about so much with the .40 is and has never been an issue for me, maybe i was raised shooting it so i don't notice it. with proper grip the "snappines" will not be an issue.
Babalouie
Member
Jestic, the "snappy" comment is accurate. The 40S&W uses fast powder and high pressure to create a powerful self defense round. Visualize a graph where you have recoil on the vertical and time on the horizontal. When you ignite a 40S&W the graph would appear to go straight up to maximum recoil the instant the round was detonated and then drop off suddenly. With the 45acp on the other hand the graph would appear to move up and away along the time line before reaching max recoil then hold max recoil for a time before dropping. The result is that the 40 truly feels snappy and the 45 feels more pushy, kind of the difference between a slap and a shove but not as pronounced. Same is true for the 9mm compared to the 45. I agree with Possum that the "snappy" characteristic of the 40 has never bothered me and its a great defensive round.
Hope that helps.
XD-40 Shooter
Member
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I have an XD-40 4" that has been flawless. I love the 40 round and I don't find it to be all that "snappy", the 40's recoil certainly doesn't affect my accuracy, I'm just as good with it, as anything else.
orvpark
Member
I have a 40SC and like it a lot. It is indeed a snappy little gun, but something you can overcome if you practice. He needs to honestly commit to shooting it often. If not I wouldn't recomend it. It conceals well even on my 5'10" 150lb frame with a good ITWB holster in jeans and a untucked t-shirt.
$400 is about the going rate for any used XD, though the SC tend to be a little higher. I have seen one with significant holster wear marked at $399 Deals can be had on new ones, Mine was $479 OTD from a local dealer with all the "gear" for me it was worth the piece of mind.
$400 is about the going rate for any used XD, though the SC tend to be a little higher. I have seen one with significant holster wear marked at $399 Deals can be had on new ones, Mine was $479 OTD from a local dealer with all the "gear" for me it was worth the piece of mind.
76shuvlinoff
Member
My XD40sc is my everyday truck gun but when I do cc a sidearm that's the one I use. It's taller than a Glock, some guys don't like that. It has a grip safety , some guys don't like that either.
I have a drop in conversion barrel from efkfiredragon to shoot 9mm when the mood strikes me and I've never had an issue even when using the same 40 cal mags.
I had an XD40 4" and then an XD45 when they first came out (not the compact) and I had trouble concealing both of those. For me the XD40sc gives very little up to it's bigger brothers and is a truely reliable firearm.
.02
Mark
I have a drop in conversion barrel from efkfiredragon to shoot 9mm when the mood strikes me and I've never had an issue even when using the same 40 cal mags.
I had an XD40 4" and then an XD45 when they first came out (not the compact) and I had trouble concealing both of those. For me the XD40sc gives very little up to it's bigger brothers and is a truely reliable firearm.
.02
Mark
possum
Member
i have found the same to be true.
oh now since we are talking abou the 4" models, i have one, over 8k and it has been 100% i love it.
Jestic,
I have owned an XD40 subcompact for about 4 years, and it's a shootin' son of a gun. A natural pointer. My only complaint (and is probably more about the grip size/snappy caliber than it is about the brand) is that when rapid firing the gun tends to work itself a little loose in my grip (my hand is too big to get my pinky on the grip) on the 3rd and 4th shots. Other than that, I love the gun - accurate, compact, reliable, natural pointer.
I have owned an XD40 subcompact for about 4 years, and it's a shootin' son of a gun. A natural pointer. My only complaint (and is probably more about the grip size/snappy caliber than it is about the brand) is that when rapid firing the gun tends to work itself a little loose in my grip (my hand is too big to get my pinky on the grip) on the 3rd and 4th shots. Other than that, I love the gun - accurate, compact, reliable, natural pointer.
76shuvlinoff
Member
on the 9 round mag use the Pearce grip extension, it just adds the pinky finger to the grip but it makes a world of difference for me.
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