Springfield XD, which size to choose?

[Tuxedo.Bond]

I plan on buying a Springfield XD 9mm or .40 that I will use for carrying concealed and for home defense, but I don't know which size to get.

How much of a difference is there in comfort and concealment between the service model, compact, and sub-compact? Is having a compact with extended magazine like having the full service model or are there key difference to make one want to choose the full size grip?

How useful is it to have the 4" over the 3" barrel for self defense? Does it provide a higher velocity?


Where is a good place online to buy an XD for the best price?

I used to know of a magazine with a name like CDNN or something which supposedly had good prices, but can't remember the correct name.

 

[IlikeSA]

I have the XD9SC (3 inch) and it is a good gun. I bought mine as a backup weapon, but it gets used as a primary every now and then. If I were going to use it as a HD or regular carry weapon, I would get the 4 or 5 inch version, because with 9mm you could use the velocity. I'd also pick out the .40 cal version, because I have heard, and you'll need to verify this, you can change it out for 357 sig or 9mm with a barrel change.

The nice thing about the SC is it has a short flush fit 10 round mag and an extended 16 round mag, which I use for range work. The 9mm out of it I find comfortable, and I never shot a 40 cal XD so I wouldn't know about the recoil on it. It is a good, reliable, and fairly accurate gun. In response to your barrel length question I think it is 100 fps per inch, give or take. I don't know of a place to recommend to get one, but I am sure there are plenty of places for it.

 

[The Expert]

The new XDm comes in a 3.8 variant now for the .40 and I think the 9mm as well.

Maybe it's a good compromise between the two?

An XDm is the next thing on my list. As they won't be making an XD in 10mm anytime soon (my dream gun) I'll probably go with the .40 S&W in bi-tone with the 3.8 length. Seems like a good mesh of portability, accuracy, and capacity.

 

[OregonJohnny]

I have an XD40 Subcompact, and an XDM 40 full size. I know this sounds crazy, but I just seem to shoot better with the subcompact. Even though it's only a 3" barrel, and the .40 S&W is a lot of caliber in a little gun, it's very accurate. It fits my hand well, and the snappiness of the caliber only results in a sharp and fast muzzle flip, without much push into the hand, if that makes sense.

The XDM 40 has to be a more accurate gun with a longer "match-grade" barrel, but it seems harder for me to keep on target. The grip feels slightly slimmer on the XDM than on the subcompact, but it's so long it sticks out way below my shooting hand. Something about it just doesn't jive with me as well as the little subcompact. Now that I think about it, the short little grip on the subcompact kind of allows me to completely wrap both my hands around it in a cup shape, thus feeling like I have a more secure hold on the gun.

As far as 9mm vs. 40, I think either would be a great choice, but the .40 S&W, even in the subcompact, is very manageable.

If you're planning on carrying this gun concealed, the subcompact, or even the compact, are much better choices than the service line.

 

[Tuxedo.Bond]

I do plan on carrying it concealed as it will be my only carry and home defense gun.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Self defense range...

...is about 15-20 feet.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I've had an XD40sc for several years and it's never given me a moment of trouble. I think for SD it's fine choice even if it's a bit flippy. A Pearce Grip extension for my little finger fixed a lot of that. Before that I had a 4 " XD40 and one of the first XD45s . All good weapons.

I bought a conversion barrel from EK Firedragon to run 9mm in the XD40sc, I have had some failures to feed with that barrel installed so I would not carry it for SD in 9mm mode but it's fine for plinking.

 

[arizona98tj]

I've had two XDs now for several years and have put thousands of rounds through them. One is a XD9 4" while the other is a XD45c (compact) 4". The XD45c was purchased as a carry .45 and a range gun. It served those roles well until the XD9 came along (new range gun that is much cheaper to feed). It lost the CC role when I picked up a Kahr PM9. Simply put, there is not comparison between the two as to which is easier to conceal. Yes, it is somewhat an apples and oranges based comparison but not so much because of the caliber but rather the noted difference between a single stack 9mm and a double stack 45ACP. I carry OWB and so the Kahr wins hands down.

As for the barrel length vs. velocity between the 3" Kahr and the 4" XD, there is some difference. One of my reloads using a 124 gr Hornady bullet does 1209 FPS out of the XD and hits just 1077 FPS out of the Kahr. The velocity difference will certainly vary from barrel to barrel and powder to powder.

 

[6x6pinz]

I have an XD40 and an XD40 sub compact. For the difference is size between the two I would carry the XD40. The sub compact is just rude to shoot, so practice time is very limited. Both of my XD's are as reliable as any other weapon out there, I just don't like the way the sub compact shoots.

 

[-v-]

XD9 and XD9sc. Very happy.

9x19 was designed around a 4" barrel, so with a 3" you will loose some, and with a 5" you will gain a little extra. Overall, at most SD ranges, and with most SD ammo, that extra bit of velocity won't really make any appreciable difference.

The XD9sc comes with a flush fitting 10 round magazine and a standard 16 round magazine with a grip extension on it (basically turns the sc grip to a full-szie grip). The OEM 16 round mags can easily accommodate 17 rounds.

Both guns are very easy to shoot. The 4" is a little easier to shoot accurately due to longer sight radius. Both are adequately accurate (6" rapid fire 21 feet and closer) for SD/HD ranges.

9mm recoil is very controllable and has a smooth profile to it. Sort of like a shove to the hand. Most .40 S&W recoil I find snappy. Like a punch to the hand. Equal force, different impulse (force/time). I find the 9mm easier to bring back on target and overall easier to shoot.

The old motto Accuracy first, penetration second, expansion third holds true in 99.999% of the cases. Hit with a .22lr to the eye beats a miss with a .50 BMG any day.

9mm ammo is cheaper = more practice time = more accuracy. .40 is a little more expensive (10% or so more). Depending on your budget this may or may not be an issue.

 

[bigfatdave]

Didn't I answer this already?

 

[DasFriek]

I bought the XD SC 40 for CCW since my 5" 1911 is kinda large and heavy for hot Ohio summers.
I use the Flush 9 round mag while carrying it, I also have the pinky extension from Pierce but don't use it for carry since it sticks out a tad.
I use a Kholster to carry it in and its completely invisible to anyone and my cell phone stands out more than the gun does.

The extended mag which is 12 rounds iirc and i carry it in my back pocket as a spare mag but would be great for HD also.
I don't think id want to carry anything over the 3" version XD as the slide is kinda thick and if it were longer i could see issues with comfort.

At the range it shot like a dream with no issues and with good sights. Accuracy i cant speak on much since my outdoor range requires you to shoot at 25 yards minimum and with iron sights i cant see that well and is also too far for a SD gun imo.
Recoil is very manageable and the gun is fun to shoot and not a pita.

I carry 165gr PDX1 but Hornady Critical Defense would be my first choice had i found it first.

If your buying this gun to carry you definitely want the 3" SC imo.
Im a "The bigger caliber is better" type of person so id go with the .40 but in reality the 9mm will work just fine with good ammo.

 

[basicblur]

The XD9sc comes with a flush fitting 10 round magazine and a standard 16 round magazine with a grip extension on it

The old XDSC9 flush mags held 10 rds-the redesign upped it to 13 rds.

When I bought my old (pre-Melonite) XDSC, I was weighing the 9 vs. 40-I went with the 40 because at the time, the 9 held only 1 more round than the 40.
With the mag redesign/increased capacity, I bought an XDSC9, which replaced my 40 as my main CCW (less muzzle flip/increased capacity).

Aw, who am I kidding...I just wanted another gun!

 

[easyg]

I do plan on carrying it concealed as it will be my only carry and home defense gun.

Get the sub-compact, it will be much easier to carry concealed.

You can always save up and get a larger handgun later for home defense.

 

[frankge]

I have the 9sc and like the small size, find it accurate, reliable, and the extra safetys a good thing - in florida we are clothing challenged and I like the small profile so I can use a tucable IWB holster. I load with 124+p golden sabers to make up the velocity. Look in an SD situation you are not splitting hairs over accuracy, youll be within FEET of the BG. You smack a person with almost anythin at that range and it changes the conversation. Yes, I own .45's too. All the talk around accuracy for SD IMHO find just interesting internet forum banter. Use a longer barrell for the range and action shooting. My wife carries a S&W .38 with a 2" barrell, so you really thing she is playing William Tell? If you are really worried about the long shot and power why arent you carrying a rifle or a shotgun?

 

[possum]

at one time i had a sc and a service model, now i have 2 service models. i liked the ease of concealment of the sc but i prefer a sight radius and barrel lenght of the service model. i think my perfect gun would be a service model in .40 with a service model slide and a sc frame. though the service model isn't as easy to conceal i have no problem carrying it. with the sc you will almost certaintly have to have a base plate to extend the grip just enough for all your fingers to fit on the grip, i achieved that with a pearce grip. i have been shooting, training and carrying the service model for a while, and with over 17,500rds i couldn't be happier.