Springfield Armory XD Defender Series

[tercel89]

Springfield is now selling their older style XD pistols in 9mm fullsize and sub-compact for $339 MSRP. That is a street value of under $300 for a new double stack reliable 9mm pistol that has been well proven for several years since around 2000 in the US at least when it was the HS2000.
I got one last week at a local shop for $299 . To me that is the best bang for the dollar going on right now. It even beats the Ruger Secuirty 9 and its low price. Palnetto State Armory had them for $299 also last week. It comes with the case and just one magazine .I choose the Sub-Compact. Here is a photo of it .

 

[railroader]

That's a great deal. I paid $280 for a HS2000 in 2000 before Springfield started importing them as XDs. For years people complained about Springfield raising the price but you also got a real warranty with them unlike when I got my HS2000. Enjoy your new gun.

 

[dave333]

As long as Springfield still has the lifetime warranty on the XD's that's a great price. I have a XDM 5.25 I bought back in 2011 or 2012 that Ive put about a million rounds through. Shot it so much the breachface developed a small hairline crack a couple years ago. Called Springfield, no questions asked shipping label issued, got it back in about 2 weeks with an entirely new top end, my total cost was exactly $0.00.

Hope you enjoy the new pistol.

 

[Birdhunter1]

You won't find a better pistol than the original XD, I've got a service model XD9 from 03, its pretty much indestructible. I always find it comical when Glock guys talk about them being in sand, mud and whatever else and still firing. I've sawed truckloads of firewood with mine on my hip, looked at it afterwards and it is plum full of saw chips everywhere they can get in. I fried it just to see if it would go bang, it did and there was a cloud of sawdust and chips all around me.

 

[mcb]

These are all in 40S&W but I was a fan of the XD. The XD-40 Tactical in the upper left corner now has nearly 40,000 rds through it since I bought it in 2005.

 

[tercel89]

As long as Springfield still has the lifetime warranty on the XD's that's a great price. I have a XDM 5.25 I bought back in 2011 or 2012 that Ive put about a million rounds through. Shot it so much the breachface developed a small hairline crack a couple years ago. Called Springfield, no questions asked shipping label issued, got it back in about 2 weeks with an entirely new top end, my total cost was exactly $0.00.

Hope you enjoy the new pistol.

Are you serious ? What all did they ask or demand ?

 

[dave333]

Are you serious ? What all did they ask or demand ?

Not really serious about the 1 million number, but just based on the sheer amount of reloading components Ive gone through during that amount of time it has seen a way above average amount of rounds through it.

Not sure what you mean about them asking or demanding anything from me. I called, told them about the crack, they took care of me. No questions about what ammo, number of rounds shot, or any other questions, just issued a shipping label. I didn't even take out the Powder river precision trigger kit before shipping and they didn't mess with it either, which I was a little surprised about. Ive heard they will sometimes remove aftermarket parts, replace with factory, and return the aftermarket parts in a baggie along with the gun when they return it from service.

Honestly, there is no telling how long the crack may have been there. I discovered it when doing a somewhat rare cleaning job. Was cleaning the breechface and couldn't get a line of dirt that went from the firing pin hole down to the edge at about a 5 o'clock angle. Turns out it was a crack. Springfield did reuse my original barrel, but the slide and all guts were brand new.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I called them to order a pin, I think the one that holds the loaded chamber indicator in place and that it pivots on. It was booggered up from removal and I think I bent it while putting it back in.
Whatever pin it was they said its covered under lifetime warranty and they sent me a new one, as well as the striker indicator sleeve thingy that was cracked again from repeated removal and re installation.
I ordered mag springs too which I had to buy but they covered all the shipping. I have to say they were great to work with.

I also have to throw a good note to Pro Shot Products, another Illinois company, that has offered top notch replacement service of broken stuff.

 

[mgresh]

So, what are the differences in this gun vs. the original XD9? I know it comes now with one magazine and not with all the extras, but SA still shows the XD9 at an MSRP of $508. What are the differences in the Defender series?

 

[mgresh]

I looked at the XD9 and XD9 Defender on SA'a website and the descriptions and specs are identical. Also, one of my LGS's had the 4" XD9 Defender and it comes with a cardboard box and no case.

 

[tercel89]

Not really serious about the 1 million number, but just based on the sheer amount of reloading components Ive gone through during that amount of time it has seen a way above average amount of rounds through it.

Not sure what you mean about them asking or demanding anything from me. I called, told them about the crack, they took care of me. No questions about what ammo, number of rounds shot, or any other questions, just issued a shipping label. I didn't even take out the Powder river precision trigger kit before shipping and they didn't mess with it either, which I was a little surprised about. Ive heard they will sometimes remove aftermarket parts, replace with factory, and return the aftermarket parts in a baggie along with the gun when they return it from service.

Honestly, there is no telling how long the crack may have been there. I discovered it when doing a somewhat rare cleaning job. Was cleaning the breechface and couldn't get a line of dirt that went from the firing pin hole down to the edge at about a 5 o'clock angle. Turns out it was a crack. Springfield did reuse my original barrel, but the slide and all guts were brand new.

WOW , now that is AWESOME !!! Thanks for sharing that with me and the rest . Very happy to hear that. I reload also so that especially helps. I reload mine very low powered just enough to cycle the gun and hit steel for practice. Thanks again !

 

[tercel89]

So, what are the differences in this gun vs. the original XD9? I know it comes now with one magazine and not with all the extras, but SA still shows the XD9 at an MSRP of $508. What are the differences in the Defender series?

Both are the same pistols. They are just discounting the "Defender series" since it just comes with one magazine and no XD Gear . Here is a picture of my new XD9 SC "Defender" on the left and my old XD9SC on the right . They are identical. The serial number on my old one starts out with XD81**** and the new one is XD87**** . My old one is only 5 years old so they are the same gun. So that being said , it would be dumb to buy a new XD with the regular "package" vs this one at almost half the price . Mine came with the hard case but I hear the full size comes with a card board box.

 

[tercel89]

In my opinion , this is an awesome thing to get your teenagers or older kids into shooting and stuff. heck a video game system goes for like way over $300 and this is less than that and it gets the kids outside and they learn way more .

 

[mgresh]

Thanks! That is a lot of fluff ($$$) for one mag and some cheap holster(s) or whatever else they came with. I assumed there had to be some difference in the guns as well. Even internally they are the same?

 

[mgresh]

In my opinion , this is an awesome thing to get your teenagers or older kids into shooting and stuff. heck a video game system goes for like way over $300 and this is less than that and it gets the kids outside and they learn way more .

Agree. Seems like multiple manufacturers are going back to the basics and offering lower priced options. That segment of the market is what a few are going after harder, but with what seems like some quality stuff, especially here in SA's case.

 

[tercel89]

Thanks! That is a lot of fluff ($$$) for one mag and some cheap holster(s) or whatever else they came with. I assumed there had to be some difference in the guns as well. Even internally they are the same?

Yes sir , the internals and ejectors , extractors , strikers and springs are all the same. Stand by I'll try to post a picture of the slide internals .

 

[tercel89]

Here is my "Defender" on the left and my 5 year old XD9SC on the right .

 

[mgresh]

Thanks again. Great comparison.

I don't see the barrel and recoil spring assemblies. Those are what have to be different, right?

 

[Sebastian]

The slide is melonite finish right?

 

[tercel89]

Thanks again. Great comparison.

I don't see the barrel and recoil spring assemblies. Those are what have to be different, right?

They are exactly the same just like everything else. I didn't include them in the picture cause they were rolling all over the place.

 

[tercel89]

The slide is melonite finish right?

Same Melonite metal treatment.

 

[needmorecowbell]

You can find great deals on the mod2 right now which has nicer ergos and features. I just ordered the mod2 45 subcompact with 3 mags from RKguns (Rural King) for $379. For some reason the XD mod 2’s just feel and shoot great for me. Like them as much as my CZ’s and more so than the PPQ’s that I sold and replaced with Mod2. I currently have the sub & full 9 and full 45.

 

[tercel89]

Rural King has some good deals.

 

[NorthBorder]

Are the Defender mags interchangeable with the newer models? I ask this since they only come with one mag.

 

[tercel89]

Are the Defender mags interchangeable with the newer models? I ask this since they only come with one mag.

yes , these "defenders" are the same regular old XD's which use the regular old XD mags which also use the newer Mod 2 mags .