SA XD-9 Durability???

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The Reverend

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I have heard that one of the attributes of the Glock's famed durability under torturous extremes is the simplicity of the design and the low number of parts (35) that make up the gun. The Glock also has the reputation for being easy to repair and detail strip.

With the XD-9 gaining in popularity and even some going from Glock to the SA, I want to know how the XD design stacks up in these areas and if the XD is REALLY a serious alternative to the Glock?

Thanks and God Bless!
 
The only aspect I can see that the XD isn't as durable as the glock is in the finish department... The XD is clearly behind in this case... However, to me the added safety and proper grip angles outweigh the finish issues...
 
mechanically, i've seen nothing to indicate that the xd is any less durable than glocks. it's a really great design, and more comfortable to shoot as well.

as mentioned, the only weak spot is the black finish. the stainless works great, and refinishes work great... but the basic black finish wears off on some (but not all!) guns.

flip side is they look REALLY sharp in a satin hard chrome :)
 
I can't quite remember which magazine it was but one of the handgun mags did an extreme torture test. They fired 20,000 rounds and put it through tougher versions of the glock torture test within a few months. The XD didn't malfunction at all during the whole test (i think), I remember that it surprised the heck out of the guys that tested it because it breezed through everything they threw at it.

Maybe someone else will remember the magazine and issue I am talking about, you might be able to find it as it was only last months issue. I have an XD9 and have not had the oportunity to shoot it since I got it (except for a quick 15 rounds in the back yard before the neighbor could complain). It looks pretty solid and I would put it up against any glock.
 
A friend of mine has an XD-9 all black with Trijicons. He got it new with the sights and 15rd mags for about $475. try that with a glock.

That said, he is having problems keeping the slide rust-free, mostly because he carries it next to his body and it's getting muggy around here.

Other than that though, I think it meets or exceeds the Glock in all areas except marketing hype.
 
MattW: Sure!! Rob Leatham tried that against Dave Sevigny and got an ass whupping!! The worst he could recall ever getting in years..
Click to expand...

ok, are you talking reliability/durability or competition-style match shooting accuracy and speed? (I don't know what you're talking about at all except that Rob shoots for Team Springfield)
 
It's more liable to rust and not as easy to replace some parts by yourself (especially the extractor). Aside from those issues, it's looking to be just as tough and reliable as a Glock.
 
Xd-9

I've had my XD-9 for two years now and fired about 2.3 K rounds of 115 and 124 grain FMJ and JHP through it. I am waiting for the first malfunction. I live in North Carolina which is perhaps not the best place to test corrosion resistance (thank you, Lord), but I have not had any rust problems whatsoever. The XD-9 is a fine weapon and certainly comparable to the 9mm Glock.
 
Having just tried to disassemble my XD's slide, I have to admit that I couldn't get the extractor out. On the other hand, I didn't have an appropriate tool.

My bitone XD went through 650+ rounds over 4 days at Front Sight, and all I did was spray a bunch of breakfree clp in it the night of day 2. Zero problems. When I got home, I poured the congealed breakfree/sand sludge out, took it to the range, and it is chugging along fine. (Only a 1911 failed during the class, afaik.) That doesn't have anything on the torture test, though...

The 20,000 round torture test is/was in Handguns magazine. See the thread on HS2000Talk about it: http://www.hs2000talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=20502

My black XD came with a bit of rust on the locking block retaining pins, but once I cleaned it off, it hasn't come back. The finish is coming off a bit faster around the edges than I'd like, but I don't anticipate any problems on that front any time in the near future. I expect I'll have it refinished for asthetic reasons before it becomes a maintenance issue.

That said, I held a glock once in the store right before I bought my first XD. My hand told me it wasn't going to let me buy the glock, so I can't very well compare them.
 
I shot a Glock 17 for 8+ years and traded it for the XD-40. The grip and trigger is ten times better on the XD than the Glock. I have not expereinced any rusting on my XD-40 and I have carried it outside in the heat, humidity and sweaty summer months here in South Texas-sweat capital of the world. If anything is going to rust, it will do so here. Again...no rust at all.

My XD-40 has been utterly reliable with everythignI have thrown in it. No malfunctions at all and it hits where I aim it...gotta love that!

The torture test in the June 2005 Handguns Magazine ought to put to bed anyone's reservations of how durable the XD line-up really is. They're very tough indeed.

-Brickboy240
 
So, you torture your guns?

I own a XD9, and I have had a few problems with it, but nothing serious.

1. Finish wear. If you can't clean and take care of your guns, you are going to have rust issues. The finish has worn to the bare metal on the portions of the slide that get a lot of wear. I use BF-CLP or Eezox, and have never had a rust issue.

2. Due to dry firing, the firing pin retainer roll pin broke. The pin was still functional, but it did have another split down the opposite side of the normal gap in the roll pin. SA sent me a new one for free.

3. My locking block chipped. A small chunk of my locking block broke off where the barrel lug engages it. Nothing horrid, and the gun still functioned. I called SA and sent it in for a replacement. Came back new as morn.

4. The cocked indicator broke last time I was at the range. My wife was using the gun, and it snapped off and hit her in the cheek. No biggy for her, and the gun is functional still, it just has no cocked indicator. I have to call SA and see if they will replace it.


In all honesty, all of the above did not effect the gun's performance. It still went bang every time the trigger was pulled, and it never had feed or extract issues.
 
The XDs are designed and built well. Finish is a minor concern, but honestly I think those problems are few and far between.

The XD is amazingly simple to field strip. Takes only a matter of seconds, and is very easy to clean. Mine has functioned without any problems so far and it is a carry gun as well.
 
I have four Glocks and one of the original and still most important reasons for my purchases is their toughness. Since I have had them, I have become completely familiar with how they work and know how to detail strip them down to the last part. So when I looked at the Springfield for the first time, I field-stripped it in the store and looked to see how well it was built as best I could tell. I was sold. Or more specifically, it was sold...to me.

I was convinced then and now that it is designed to be extremely rugged and to last for at least as long as Glocks. My only concern (other than the finish, which I got redone by Mac...so it is no longer a concern) are that some unnecessary features it has could break, as happened to Mr. Tuffpaws with the cocked firing pin indicator. However, I am surprised the locking block broke on his gun. But hey, that has been known to happen to Glocks. Nothing's perfect.
 
If the cocking indicator in mine broke, I would be happy. I hate cocked indicators, loaded chamber indicitors, and mag disconnects.
 
If the cocking indicator in mine broke, I would be happy.
Click to expand...
The cocking indicator is the easiest part in the slide to get to. Do so, file a few millimeters off the end. Put it back in. I don't think it would affect functioning, and wham, no more cocking indicator.

You could probably file a bit off the loaded chamber indicator's front edge to that it was no longer pushed up.
 
Gratitude

Thank you all for the informative replies. I have been entertaining the purchase of a Glock 19 for sometime now and have even posted my desire to buy in our very own classified forum here at THR.

After handling the G19 in a couple of retailers around the Memphis area and not really falling in love at the jump, I decided to hold off and continue to wait for another opportunity. I even tried out a G17 which I prefered (due to length of the grip). After owning S&W auto's, SIGs, Taurus, and Kahr amidst others, and now having fallen in love with a SW1911 the grip angle of the Glock is just to foreign for me. I think I ought to stay with that which I am familiar. Hence my need for info on the XD.

While my 1911, SIGs, and S&W, and Kahr pistols all serve as CCW and house guns, I am looking for that single down and out pistol that will go anywhere and function in any environment. Think of it as a survival gun...

In any case if there is more information that I need, I thank you all in advance for passing it my direction, otherwise Via con Dios.

God Bless!
 
Search the web for reviews, message boards and comments from owners of XD pistols...if that does not sway you to the XD, nothing will.

-Brickboy240
 
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